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"Who is that?" Barrabus the Gray asked Herzgo Alegni when he caught up to the tiefling outside Alegni’s tent Not far away, the twisted newcoers in apparent spellcasting practice
"No one of any concern to you," Alegni answered, his voice rough-edged and clearly filled with aggravation
"Good I detest wizards"
"Warlock," Alegni corrected
"Even worse," said Barrabus, taking no pains to hide the utter conteht a strange look to Herzgo Alegni’s face, as if the tiefling was suddenly pondering soni said, and his smile unsettled Barrabus "Perhaps I spoke too hastily"
"What does that nored him and walked past him "Effron!" he called out to the warlock
The young tiefling looked over, then began shaust at the infir "Shall I kill him and end his lare fro Barrabus had ever seen fro--and he’d seen, and evoked, er!--told him he’d hit a peculiar nerve with his off-hand coni said when the warlock approached, "this is Barrabus, your new partner"
"You can’t be serious," Barrabus said
"Oh, but I am"
"He’s a child"
"You’re an old human," Effron countered
"One to learn froni, clearly pleased with himself "I expect that your respective skills will compleain an appreciation of ic"
"Only if it twists over itself and destroys its caster," BarrabusEffron, "will perhaps come to understand the true power of the sword, the nobility and courage of he who confronts his enemies in mortal melee"
"I understand the value of fodder," Effron replied, turning a narrow-eyed stare at Barrabus, and only then did Barrabus notice the young tiefling’s weird eyes: one red, one blue
"And woe to either of you if the other is killed," Alegni finished "Now be gone, the two of you Find your place together and do not disappoint me"
He turned on his heel and headed back to his tent Barrabus glared at hini reached the tent flap, Barrabus glanced over at his new partner, and realized that this warlock, Effron, watched Alegni with equal consternation
Perhaps they had a bit of coht
Sylora continued to stare at the surprising Brother Anthus for just a few er then finally relaxed in acceptance at the undeniable truth of the young nty need any spies? Sylora had witnessed telepathy often in her time beside Szass Tam, of course, and, since she often dealt with the undead, including powerful liches and vaers and powers of possession as well But she’d never seen such a display of psionic strength to equal that single example offered by the aboleth ambassador and its servitor The aboleth could do h its slave, and relay back her responses with perfect translation
She, too, had felt an intrusion in their time in the cavern, very brief, a mere flicker of invasion, hardly more than an introduction But in that mere heartbeat of intrusion, the aboleth had stripped her emotionally naked Sylora hadn’t tried to deceive the ambassador because she’d known from the instant she felt the intrusion that there was no way she could possibly do so
She’d heard the ruhty u the walls only served as a reminder to the creature’s ability to dominate--and now that she considered it, Sylora was relieved that she’d gotten out of that cha enslaved
She had no intention of returning to the underground pond and its otherworldly inhabitant She looked at Valindra
"Yes, Sylora, I’ll serve as your a her every thought
Perhaps she was, Sylora feared Perhaps the ah Valindra’s eyes
It occurred to Sylora Sal and moved on to a different mission in a far different location, the better off she would be
"When you return to the cavern, take Jestry with you," Sylora said
Valindra’s laugh caught her off guard "Your plaything is strong of body, but not of mind," the lich explained "He will likely be overwhelmed by the wondrous ambassador"
"In that instance, he’s no use to me anyway," Sylora replied "Dahlia will soon return to Neverwinter, I aies upon her Jestry will be recreated to defeat her The ring is the first piece only--now I need that which Arunika promised me"
Valindra offered a bow in response, an aard, stiffnoise in her dry skin
Chapter 11: Devilish Pursuit, Devilish Deceit