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Drizzt’s heart sank as the time slipped past When he had learned of Guenhwyvar’s imprisonment, his course seeo, and let no obstacle prevent hi her to freedom once more But now that choice had ainst the formidability of this castle before them? Were they to storm the place and leave a wake of death and destruction on their way to the panther?
That seemed a foolish choice, for Effron had repeatedly reo Quick could likely defeat all of the tiefling had also warned, looreat lord, and a o could unleash upon them
"Nohat?" Artemis Entreri asked after so h the swamp had been considerable, but co before them, those seemed minor indeed Pointedly, Entreri had asked the question mostly to Effron, and his tone showed that he was not pleased with the young warlock
"I was asked to take you to Guenhwyvar, and so I have," Effron replied
"Then point her out," the assassin replied coolly
Effron lifted his hand toward the tower, angling it to point about two-thirds of the way up the seventy-foot structure
"Is there a side door? A kitchen or servants’ entrance, perhaps, or even a waste chute?" Drizzt asked, and he desperately wanted to keep the conversation on point at that time He hadn’t coe before theh surely the foro Quick’s castle had put an excla Guenhwyvar would be no easy task
"Inside the wall," Effron replied "But the only entrance to the grounds lies through the front gate"
"Or over the wall," said Drizzt
"I wouldn’t recommend that"
"Do tell," Entreri said sarcastically, but he seemed to back off at the end of his dour remark, for now he had drawn the scowl not only of Drizzt, but of Dahlia
Drizzt noted the assassin’s retreat, and the apparent source Entreri hadn’t co for Drizzt’s sake, he realized, but for Dahlia’s
Once again, it occurred to Drizzt that he was not bothered by this
Whatever the reason, he was glad that Entreri and Dahlia were here
"The walls of ion were created by the same masons and sorcerers," Effron explained, his casual tone offering no satisfaction to Entreri’s attempt at sarcasm "They are heavily enchanted to prevent such access"
"Glyphs can be reris said, but without o’s castle is lined with gargoyles and other sentries," Effron explained "If we go over that wall, they will awaken"
"A fight in the courtyard," Dahlia re down upon us, untouchable, from his secure chah the gate," Effron said "I’o knows that I have joined forces with you He may think me still in his employ, and if that is the case, I will not be turned away I knohere Guenhwyvar is, and could perhaps find a way to break her connection to the one"
"It would seereat risk," said Drizzt
"No!" Dahlia stated at the sah to surprise all of the, clearly, Dahlia herself
"Not alone," she quickly clarified, and she see as she added, "Pretend we are your prisoners, then Or take us in for an audience with Lord Draygo--yes, go to him and explain that ish to parlay"
"He’ll have nothing to say to you," Effron replied directly to her "He will sini and the destruction of Charon’s Claw--indeed, he’ll hold that second cri Entreri "You two carry a high price on your heads from Cavus Dun for your betrayal, the dwarf at least," he said to Ao in as your prisoners," said Drizzt
They discussed the plan at length, then, trying to find soht fashion to create at least the plausibility of such a ruse, but they seeo Quick kneell Effron’s capabilities, and knew, too, those of the other five
"You have tricked us into speaking with him, then," Drizzt offered some time later "We have come to barter for Guenhwyvar, but you will relate to your for us to his feet"
"Ridiculous," Artened tone, he finished, "but probably the best chance we’re going to get"
Drizzt studied the assassin closely The risk for Entreri was truly great, and yet he had come Perhaps not for Drizzt’s benefit, but still, he had come
The discussion went down that road of possibility, trying to come up with some plausible explanation as to why they would simply walk into the spider’s web in such a h, and drarand residence banged open and a black coach rushed forth, pulled by a teaed off down the road