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"The deed is completed now and ca
"And Entreri gets the sword," Sharlotta remarked.
"Everyone wins," the assassin said again.
"Until we step too far, and too boldly, and all the world unites against us," said Sharlotta.
"Jarlaxle has lived on such a precipice for centuries," Entreri replied. "He has not stumbled over yet."
Sharlotta started to respond but held her words at the last moment. Entreri knew them anyway, words taken from her by the quick give and take of the conversation, the mounting excitement and momentum bringing a rare unguarded moment. She was about to remark that never in all those centuries had Jarlaxle possessed Crenshinibon, the clear inference being that never in those centuries had Crenshinibon possessed Jarlaxle.
"Say nothing of our concerns to Rai-guy and Kimmuriel," Entreri bade her. "They are fearful enough, and frightened creatures, even drow, can make serious errors. You and I will watch from afar-perhaps there is a way out of this if it comes to an internal war."
Sharlotta nodded, and rightly took Entreri's tone as a dismissal. She rose, nodded again, and moved out of the room.
Entreri didn't believe that nod for a moment. He knew the woman would likely go ru
It did occur to the assassin that perhaps Sharlotta, Rai-guy, and Kimmuriel were correct in their apparent assessment that Crenshinibon was having unfavorable influences on Jarlaxle, that the artifact was leading the cu
Entreri didn't like the odds at all.
He knew, without doubt, that Jarlaxle's fall would almost immediately precede his own.
Kimmuriel walked along the tu
There were some things that psionicists alone could understand and appreciate.
Around a sudden bend in the tu
I chose well in siding with Bregan D'aerthe, it would seem, the illithid telepathically remarked. There was never any doubt.
The drow are stronger than the humans, Kimmuriel agreed, using the illithid's telepathic link to impart his exact thoughts.
Stronger than these humans, Yharaskrik corrected.
Kimmuriel bowed, figuring to let the matter drop there, but Yharaskrik had more to discuss.
Stronger than Kohrin Soulez, the illithid went on. Crippled, he was, by his obsession with a particular magical item.
That brought some understanding to Kimmuriel, some logical co
You were sent to observe the powerful sword and the gauntlet, he reasoned.
We wish to understand that which can sometimes defeat our attacks, Yharaskrik freely admitted. Yet neither item is without limitations. Neither is as powerful as Kohrin Soulez believed, or your attack would never have succeeded.
We have discerned as much, Kimmuriel agreed.
My time with Kohrin Soulez was nearing its end, said Yharaskrik, a clear inference that the illithid- creatures known as among the most meticulous of all in the multiverse- believed that it had learned every secret of the sword and gauntlet.
The human, Artemis Entreri, confiscated both the gauntlet and Charon's Claw, the drow psionicist explained.
That was his intent, of course, the illithid replied. He fears you and wisely so. You are strong in will, Kimmuriel of House Oblodra.
The drow bowed again.
Respect the sword named Charon's Claw, and even more so the gauntlet the human now wears on his hand. With these, he can turn your powers back against you if you are not careful.
Kimmuriel imparted his assurances that Artemis Entreri and his dangerous new weapon would be closely watched. Are your days of watching the paired items now ended? he asked as he finished.
Perhaps, Yharaskrik answered.
Or perhaps Bregan D'aerthe could find a place suited to your special talents, Kimmuriel offered. He didn't think it would be hard to persuade Jarlaxle of such an arrangement. Dark elves often allied with illithids in the Underdark.
Yharaskrik's pause was telling to the perceptive and intelligent drow. "You have a better offer?" Kimmuriel asked aloud, and with a chuckle.
Better it would be if I remained to the side of events, unknown to Bregan D'aerthe other than to Kimmuriel Oblodra, Yharaskrik answered in all seriousness.
The response at first confused Kimmuriel and made him think that the illithid feared that Bregan D'aerthe would side with Entreri and Charon's Claw if any such conflict arose between Yharaskrik and Entreri, but before he could begin to offer his assurances against that, the illithid imparted a clear image to him, one of a crystalline tower shining in the sun above the palm trees of Dallabad Oasis.
The towers?" Kimmuriel asked aloud. They are just manifestations of Crenshinibon."
Crenshinibon. The word came to Kimmuriel with a sense of urgency and great importance.
It is an artifact, the drow telepathically explained. A new toy for Jarlaxle's collection.
Not so, came Yharaskrik's response. Much more than that, I fear, as should you.
Kimmuriel narrowed his red-glowing eyes, focusing carefully on Yharaskrik's thoughts, which he expected might confirm the fears he and Rai-guy had long been discussing.