Page 47 (1/2)

"Sylora facilitated the death of Bruenor Battleha mirth

"You have chosen your companion poorly, then," Entreri said

"I battled beside Dahlia against Sylora’s rym," Drizzt replied "Dahlia is no friend to the sorceress of Thay, nor to Szass Ta every word, and if she were trying to intimidate the man she knew as Barrabus the Gray, her words had an opposite effect

"I’htheartedly

"Any Netherese will do," Dahlia assured him

"I’m fortunate that I’m not Netherese, then," came the quick retort

Dahlia narrowed her eyes and studied hiray skin

"They pay you well, then," Drizzt reasoned "Ever was Artehest bidder"

He was surprised by Entreri’s reaction, the assassin’s face tightening into a grimace, and Drizzt knew immediately that Entreri’s relationship with the Netherese was not a bargain of gold coins Entreri had claimed he served a master, but Drizzt understood then that it was not by choice

Entreri stared hard at him

"What is it?" Drizzt asked

Entreri didn’t blink

"If not gold, then what?" Drizzt denant reminder of who held the upper hand "Why would Artemis Entreri serve the Nether--" He stopped and considered Entreri’s earlier words, a claim that Jarlaxle had betrayed hi with the line of reasoning, Drizzt looked into the eye of his old enemy and asked, simply, "Why?"

"Because he haspause

"Khazid’hea?" Drizzt asked, and he was a bit confused, for as far as he knew, that sas still in the possession of the dark elf To’sun Aro, who lived in the Moonwood in the Silver Marches

Entreri considered him with a bit of obvious puzzle "You wouldn’t know of Claw," he explained "Charon’s Claw, actually Truly a reater by far than Khazid’hea"

"And you wish to have it back, so you serve the hateful Empire of Netheril?"

"I wish it destroyed!" Entreri countered angrily, but that fast hed helplessly "I’m its slave The Shadovar lord in Neverwinter holds the sword, my sword, and it has taken power over me" He looked over at Dahlia "And so I’ personal"

His flippant re to her weapons, before Drizzt intercepted her

"He would prefer death," the woreed, and Drizzt looked at him curiously

"If you could," Entreri explained

"He just had his blade to your throat," Dahlia re ain he looked past Drizzt to Dahlia, and this ti on his face

"You’re a slave to a sword you once possessed?" Drizzt asked

"If I don’t work to its ends, I’ine the torment, my old nemesis It would do your mother proud"

Drizzt scrutinized him closely and understood froe that seemed so out of place on the face of Arte

"And its ends include killing Dahlia?" Drizzt asked

Entreri shrugged "That’s part of it"

"Then you die," Dahlia interrupted, but Drizzt continued to hold her back, and he silenced her with a look

"Does Dahlia trulyconfused expressions from both of the others "Or is she ahere?" Dahlia denored her

"She’s an obstacle in oal?"

"An obstacle to the goal," Entreri replied, and Drizzt grinned, catching on

"Then help us to kill Sylora," Drizzt reasoned, and Dahlia’s gasp did not deter hireater prize your master seeks?"

Entreri answered with a nod as he considered the reasoning, and the possibilities

"Killing Dahlia, who vows to kill Sylora, wouldn’t please your master, then," said Drizzt

"You would ally with us?" a skeptical Entreri asked "I witnessed your work on the Shadovar patrol north of Neverwinter"

"Ally with a Shadovar, a Netherese pig?" Dahlia replied, equally incredulous "Never that!"