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"Another benefit," Kurth offered "Go ahead, lady, take any one you wish"

Dahlia looked at him with open suspicion

"Free of any cost to you," Kurth assured her

"Free, other than hed aloud "Lady, please," he said, ain to the shopkeeper, who rushed over and reached under the case to shift a few unseen levers, no doubt incapacitating a trap or alarain to Dahlia as he opened the hinged top of the case

Dahlia looked at Drizzt, smiled, and shook her head "No," she replied "But you have ratitude for your offer"

"You will not be indebted," Kurth assured her

"I’ll feel indebted, and that’s not so gerated exasperation

"Perhaps you would care to purchase an item instead," the merchant remarked, and the poor man knew as soon as the words left his mouth that he should have remained quiet Dahlia looked at hin of the looks co his way Kurth and all of his soldiers stared hard at the dio even took a step closer to hi sound and seeaze went to Drizzt, who htly back and slid his hands to his weapon belt She nodded

"Perhaps I shall do so, good jeweler," she said in a light tone to pierce the tension "Sadly, however, I’m short of funds at the h that situation ht be open to soh captain’sthat was not ive you the finest deal possible," Kurth said, casting one disconcerting glare at the siven me--us--much to consider," Dahlia said to Kurth "Will we find you on Closeguard Island toun," Kurth reht," Dahlia replied "Drizzt and I will take our leave here"

"You uard Island," Kurth said He looked past Dahlia to a pair of burly soldiers, who quickly shifted to block the exit "I insist"

"We have much to consider," Dahlia replied "You understand that we prefer to discuss our plans in private, of course"

"You will not be safe anywhere in Luskan, outside of h captain said "Do you think one minor failure will put off Ship Rethnor?"

"But noe know of the threat," Drizzt said "And so we’re not worried"

"Then you’re a fool"

"Then ould you want me in your employ?"

That set Kurth back on his heels, and forto decide whether to lash out or back off

"Midday touard?" Dahlia asked, and she pressed the point by walking over to Drizzt, who stood closer to the door

High Captain Kurth looked to Beniago, to his wizards, then to his soldiers, and finally nodded his agreement The burly soldiershis way," Drizzt whispered to Dahlia when they were back on the market square

"And yet he allowed us to leave, not even knowing our course"

"Do you think he’s punishing the poorto speak up?"

Dahlia looked at Drizzt skeptically, as if the notion was ridiculous, which of course, she kneas not "Why would he? What would be his gain?"

"His pleasure, perhaps," said Drizzt

"Finding one with a good jeweler’s eye is no easy task, particularly this far north"

"But were it to his gain, he would beat the

"It matters," Drizzt re asdesperately to hold on to beliefs that had carried hih a century of fierce battle, beliefs that shielded hirief and pain of so much loss

He saw the pity in Dahlia’s pretty eyes But was there so else there, as well?

Envy?

They went to the Cutlass to get some food and drink, but didn’t re to heart Moving carefully through the shadows of Luskan, they went back to the scene of the fight, and stood in front of the wreckage of the porch, below the door of what had been Jarlaxle’s apartile are you?" Dahlia asked with a wry grin "You control your blades so well, but can you also control your body?"