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Kurth led them to the back of the room, pulled aside a curtain, and threw open the double doors leading out onto a balcony The porch faced the east, where the uard Island, they were afforded a wonderful view of the city of Luskan

"The docks," Kurth explained, pointing to the wharves and warehouses "No high captain has h Luskan sees considerable trade through her land gates, this is the heart of our commerce, and this is where the best deals are to be found Pirates seeking to off-load booty don’t expect market price, after all So while Rethnor and the others have focused their efforts on the walls and the merchant section, I’ve aimed at the docks"

He looked at Drizzt directly "And at the drow," he added, "whenever they deign to grace us with their wares Perhaps you can help an D’aerthe’s movements or intentions," Drizzt answered

"And of Jarlaxle?"

Drizzt shook his head

"Good enough, for now," said Kurth "They will return They always return And in that event, I’ll be glad to count Drizzt Do’Urden a my … allies"

"And my role?" Dahlia asked "I am no friend of the pirates or the drow"

"The docks are my focus, but not my only endeavor My reach extends beyond these walls--far beyond, and farther will it go If you think I risked somy rival Hartouchen Rethnor, then you underestimate me, dear lady I wish to extend my enterprise far and wide, and will need scouts and warriors to facilitate ns I can think of no better than Dahlia and Drizzt"

The two glanced at each other, working hard to keep their expressions nonco back into the rooht find enlightening, perhaps even enjoyable"

They moved down Kurth’s small tower and out the front door A collection of soldiers rushed out ahead of the out left and right Beniago and a pair of wizards reht-armored warriors formed a rank directly in front of the Luskan’s streets, heading toward the merchant section

"You think it wise to ith us openly so soon after the fight?" Drizzt remarked

"Better now than when the extent of it is known to the three uninvolved high captains, and before the fool Rethnor can properly regroup," Kurth replied with a laugh "You’re clearly under ainst a high captain, especially when that high captain is of Ship Kurth?"

Theyup their kiosks The smell of fruits and herbs, thick in the air, mixed with other,her nose "Perfue in Luskan," Kurth said

Dahlia wore a skeptical expression "In Thay, I would expect, but here?" Her expression turned to one of disgust as she looked around at the filth and mud so comged clothing

"Have you ever sailed with pirates … privateers, I rin "A truly s that their shiprin, though hers was a helpless one, defeated by the high captain’s siic

"And I, of course, was first to note that trend," said Kurth

"Note, or forinned and bowed "And so I doht interest you as a benefit of serving in my employ For yourself, perhaps even for your drow companion" He looked at Drizzt "No offense intended, of course, but battle does bring forth the body’s natural oils, and I’m not the first to note that drow carry their own peculiar scent"

Drizzt remained too incredulous at the entire conversation to take offense

"Oh, and so else," Kurth said, as if the notion had just come to hi, its s still shuttered by heavy metal blinds "I note, pretty Dahlia, that you have a fancy for shiny stones" He tapped her left ear, where the ten diaht, then o stepped up to the spot, rapping out a rhythmic sequence The roup went On Beniago’s warning, they held near to the entrance for a few moments as the merchant picked a careful path across the floor to the side of the rooroup heard the creak of levers being thrown, followed by the sounds of sliding floorboards

He was disar pit traps, Drizzt knew, and the drow looked on slyly, wondering why Kurth had so readily shown them some of the defenses of the place

As soon as the h the curtain and nodded, Kurth led the off rubies and eht bathed the roolass cases

"You fancy dia them to one particular case

Dahliawith their sparkling reflections She didn’t hide her fascination with one stone in particular, prominently displayed in the center of the case