Chapter 30 end

Entreri and Jarlaxle wandered the area for several days, eventually reaching a small town whose inhabitants, having heard of Drizzt Do'Urden, at least accepted the existence of the impostor Jarlaxle. In the featureless, crumbling hut that served as a tavern, Artemis Entreri found a notice for a somewhat promising career in his current circumstances. "Bounty hunter?" Jarlaxle asked in amazement when Entreri showed him the notice.Drow was sitting in a corner, sipping wine with his back against the wall. "A call from the forces of justice to the bounty hunter?" "Someone's commission," Entreri corrected, sliding into a chair across the table. "It doesn't matter if it's just or not."

Jarlaxle looked at him, grinning crookedly. "Is that so?" he said, as if in disbelief. "What did you gain by bringing Danica out of the passage?" "The good thing is that we don't have to turn a powerful priest against us," replied the pragmatic Entreri dryly. "Perhaps there may be another reason," Jarlaxle said. "Perhaps Artemis Entreri could not bear to let that woman die alone in the dark." Entreri shrugged as if nothing had happened. "How many dead souls of Artemis Entreri should be amazed?" Jarlaxle asked sharply. "How many souls of Artemis Entreri deserved better?" the killer shot back.

Jarlaxle understood that this was a justification for a being in the shadows.The drow, who had survived darker shadows than Entreri had known, could not justly argue.Perhaps Artemis Entreri could be measured more by this dialogue.And even so, it seemed odd that the killer had turned to justice. "Merciful Artemis?" he had to ask. Entreri sat motionless for a moment, pondering the true meaning of the words. "Perhaps," he said, nodding. "And if you keep talking stupid things, maybe I'll take pity on you and let you die a quicker death. But maybe not." Jarlaxle laughed contentedly, at the nonsense of the conversation, and at the new life that lay so close to him.He knew Entreri well enough to know that the man's threat was not false, but in fact the dark elf trusted Entreri as much as he trusted his own brother.

Yet Jarlaxle Baenre, third son of Matron Baenre, who had been sacrificed to Queen Lolth by his mother and siblings, had little faith in his own brother.