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"Why should I trust you?"

"Why would you sendto believe ni’s command, Effron had used his spells to covertly follow the assassin into the forest A creature of shadow, both because of his heritage and training, even the clever Barrabus failed to notice the surveillance And froe between Barrabus, the elf, and the drow

"Perhaps Lady Dahlia seeks alliance," Effron offered

"Dahlia, who ni reminded him sourly, and Effron quickly backed away "Barrabus has joined forces with Dahlia after she murdered my patrol! And more than a dozen other Shadovar besides"

"I didn’t o unpunished," Effron was quick to reply "Perhaps after he kills Sylora, you can reni turned away and walked to the edge of the bridge to regard the last colors of daylight The siht him the head of Sylora Salni’s face as he considered his stealthy champion, and remembered all of those times over the last decades when Barrabus the Gray had exceeded expectations so co at thethe head of Sylora, and the head of her chani would surely reward the assassin

Of course, if Barrabus failed hini could use Effron’s startling information as an excuse to torni alh, for defeating Sylora Salain him accolades from his superiors in Shade Enclave, would perhaps silence even the wretched Draygo Quick for a while

The Netherese lord glanced back at Effron as the light diminished in the west, and that dimness seemed somehow to help complete the crooked and misshapen warlock’s form, to make him seem more substantial and less … defective

In that ni wished he didn’t have to loathe this one so greatly, wished that the o Alegni walked onto the bridge that bore his naers of Neverwinter typically avoided that route There were two other bridges, after all, though neither h Alegni and his band had been declared heroes of the city, feere co, and fewer still would dare to interrupt him in any case

So when a sainst the wind and with her red cloak and hood pulled tight, stepped onto the bridge and headed his way, Alegni eyed her curiously, then with grinning recognition

She didn’t slow

"Take a different bridge," Effron called out, and lifted his wand at the approaching figure

Herzgo Alegni grabbed the young warlock by the forearm and forcefully pushed his arni shook his head

The wo her curly red locks

"Welconi?" she replied "Your posture tells hed at that Arunika had told hie was her true power

"Have youher inquiry "A warlock strong beyond his years"

Arunika glanced at hini’s face screwed up with surprise when he saw Effron--Effron the insufferable!--return that look with a sincere slanced back at Arunika and scrutinized her in a different light then

"What news?" Arunika pressed "You just caht to speak with our guardian here" She ni, and flashed him a rather wicked smile and a wink

Effron seeni off-balance When ever before had this cynical and s ever teetered in disarray?

"It’s no news as of yet," Alegni answered, and Arunika looked at him doubtfully, and a bit, he understood, as if she’d been wounded by his lack of trust

Herzgo Alegni thought back to the night before, to their alanced over at Effron and waved the warlock away, then turned to face Arunika ni cast hilance

"We may have found unexpected allies in our battle with the Thayans," Alegni ade "Her champion returns from the north"

"Her chani corrected "This warrior, Dahlia, returns with a vendetta against Sylora, it would seereat renown"

"A drow ranger? Drizzt Do’Urden?"

"Yes, and now my man Barrabus has joined with them on their path to rid us of Sylora Salm If they succeed, if they can behead this Thayan beast that has infected Neverwinter Wood, ill claireat victory"

Arunika stared at hirin "That’s quite a trio of power," she said "And likely, Sylora’s chah theni agreed "With those two beside him, I’ve no doubt that Sylora Salm will soon be dead Barrabus is an annoyance, to be sure, but a useful one, else I would have destroyed hiood that you didn’t, then," said Arunika She paused for a few heartbeats then smiled once more and turned to leave As she lifted her hood back in place, she whispered, "Will you join o Alegni had every intention of doing just that, whether Arunika invited him or not