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That notion ca the iain, as with every tih its logic in his thoughts But even before he came to the saut that it was so He glanced over at the assassin, lying low again and studying the fortress and thearound inside of it
Drizzt kneould be glad to have Arte beside him when he, too, went over that wall
"When the sun sets," Drizzt prolance to the west told them that was nearly upon them "We would do well to deterht has flown The tower, I would guess"
"The tower," Dahlia answered without hesitation "Sylora is vain above pragmatic, and confident above cautious She wouldn’t allow anyone to gain a seat above her, whatever the risk of identifying herself"
"Unless she was trying to ensure that she could not easily be found," Drizzt replied "She’s surrounded by enehtest bit afraid of the Netherese, or any others, she wouldn’t have built this … place," Dahlia interrupted, shaking her head
"Vanity above prudence?" the drow asked
Dahlia nodded "She’s in that tower"
They lay in hile the shadows lengthened around the
"The darkness won’t protect us frorowing thick The assassin slid over to join the other two and pointed down at the wall Drizzt and Dahlia could just ht, Drizzt at first thought theoblins, or kobolds, perhaps But as he watched them more closely, he realized they didn’t move in the least They just stood there, perfectly still, not swaying, not
"The ashen zombies," Drizzt said
"Darkness won’t slow theht to see us," Dahlia agreed
"Where do ant to breach the wall to find the best route to the tower?" Drizzt asked of Entreri, who had been sliding all around, after all, studying the black-walled fortress froathered," Entreri replied
Drizzt glanced down the other side of the ridge, then brought forth his onyx figurine and summoned Guenhwyvar to his side He whispered to the panther, and Guenhwyvar sprang away Drizzt drew his blades and motioned for Dahlia and Entreri to follow hie
There, the drow clih to see the wall, and the panther, as Guenhwyvar approached the cluster of zo the head from one, then darted back up the hill with the others in pursuit There followed a bit of couards tried to see as happening
As Drizzt had instructed, Guenhwyvar circled back around to ensure that she would be clearly seen by the guards She growled at thee, past Drizzt as he dropped down fro zo warriors, four blades, and a pair of spinning flails
Only heartbeats later, the trio lay at the ridge-top again, looking down at the wall, which had gone quiet once ain Drizzt whispered his instructions to the panther
"It’s a dozen feet, perhaps," Entreri said "No more"
Drizzt produced a fine elven cord from his pack and tossed one end to Entreri "I’ll brace," he explained
Sylora Salm opened her eyes and was almost surprised to find herself back in her chaht in the forest through the eyes of one of her zo end at the decapitating swing of a scimitar She started to shake her head, but nodded instead, conceding a bit of respect for what she’d witnessed
"They’re co," she explained to Jestry and Valindra, ere in the roo for her to return "They’re in the forest nearby, already fighting our ," Sylora ad" Her expression revealed her honest surprise "Truly, I believe Dahlia the least of these three warriors, and by no sin"
Valindra seemed as if she didn’t knohat to h he seeht of that statement
Yes, they wouldn’t truly understand, Sylora ree of Dahlia’s considerable hting in Gauntlgryer, frenetic battle, and at a tiht th "We know the reputation of Barrabus the Gray, of course, though few thought hiree," said Sylora "She’s quite his equal But, yes, they are quite formidable More than I expected"
"Then ould you let thelare
"It’s a valid question," Valindra put in, and Sylora turned her glower her way
"We’re surrounded by warriors," Sylora said, "but understand that I hope Dahlia and her two coet much closer" She held up the wand as she spoke "You have brought a group of zombies close by, for my … use?" she asked Jestry
"More than a dozen," he replied "Just to the side of the hill, as you instructed"
"Yes, I can feel theainst the side of her head She whispered so the others couldn’t hear, and waved the wand