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For soiven what Drizzt knew of Jarlaxle, that didn’t sound like ris, Drizzt, and Effron sat together that night in the back of an open wagon, one of a score that would begin the dangerous journey to Icewind Dale the next ate had promised, the caravanners were uards, for the road to Ten-Toas fraught with peril and the reputation of Drizzt Do’Urden not so easily dismissed

Drizzt put a hand on Effron’s shoulder, trying to coris related the last moments of Dahlia’s life

"All three saw the beast," she finished "All three turned to stone I got me out o’ there, but only by the hair in me ears He aitin’ for us, I tell ye"

"We certainly didn’t catch Lord Draygo by surprise," Drizzt agreed, and he sighed deeply at the sad story, though he had already come to understand that Dahlia and the others were lost to him

"It’s my fault," Effron said, his voice thick with sadness "I should never have led you there"

"Had I learned of your inforo’s secret prisoner, I would never have forgiven you," Drizzt told him "Guenhwyvar is a friend I had to try"

"Aye, and all ith ye, ris "Ye did right," she told Effron "That’s the price of companionship and loyalty, and one not willin’ to pay it ain’t one worth walkin’ beside"

"I deserted Draygo Quick’s side and abandoned all that I knew, all of my friends and indeed my home, to find ht ye did that to kill her to death," Aris reminded

"I did it to learn the truth!" Effron retorted, a vein of anger entering his tone "I had to know"

"And once ye did?"

"I found one and I aed looks at that, and both asked together, "Are you?"

"Icewind Dale," Drizzt said "When I was alone, so long ago, it was there that I found ain, and this time I am not alone, nor are you"

He patted Effron on the back, and the young tiefling gave him an appreciative nod

A ht their attention, and a form, a female elf form--Dahlia’s form!--leaped up onto the bed and skidded across to kneel before the seated Effron, whoods!’ Aris cried

"By Jarlaxle, I expect," Drizzt corrected

"Indeed," replied Arteon beside Afafrenfere, who appeared quite glued Dahlia and nodded at the reet her old Cavus Dun lower?" she asked the monk, who merely shook his head

"How?" Drizzt asked "You had been turned to stone, so says Aed

"I remember little," Dahlia admitted "I saw the horrid creature, and then I was in the catacorin"

"Athrogate told us where to find you," Entreri added "We are bound for Icewind Dale?"

"We are indeed," said Drizzt, and he felt light at that lad to see all three of his lost co, and he returned the eh to try to passionately kiss him

He kissed her, briefly, but he turned his lips away "Effron, food for our friends!" he said exuberantly, injecting energy to cover up his revealing slip

When he looked at Dahlia, though, he saw the pain there, and knew that his dodge had been unsuccessful He hugged her tight again, but this tion, pointedly on the other side of Effron and not beside Drizzt

They were going to speak, and soon, Drizzt knew, and he wondered if his coroup apart Perhaps it would, he realized, and so he knew that he owed it to her, to all of them, to have the conversation before they made the difficult journey to Icewind Dale

The six on and to the campfire to share a hot ht, and often nonexistent, for in truth, they had little to talk about Tiroup, after all, and Drizzt and Effron’s tales of their io Quick offered very little content

Aris took the lead in the conversation after dinner, recounting the lasthow she came to find Jarlaxle

That part of the dwarf’s story had Drizzt and Entreri perking up

"Tiago Baenre," Drizzt whispered when the dwarf described Jarlaxle’s rescue of her off the streets of Luskan Given what he had been told by Athrogate, it o and his cohorts obviously knew the identities of Drizzt’s coe his mind about his present plans

He would not speak honestly with Dahlia until they were all safely away, for her own sake

Not far away froht chatter Madigan Pruett served Ship Rethnor, and knew that his high captain would be anxious to hear any news of Dahlia