Chapter 10 Chapter 7 Selling Friends

The big man stepped in front of him with just one step.It was too late when Josie Pardus saw him.Josy leaned nervously against the wall, trying to hide himself, but Wulfgar caught him in no time, lifted him up with one hand, and easily slapped away all his defenselessness with the other. Then, with a "bang", Josie was thrown heavily against the wall. "I have come to get my own things," said the Savage coldly.Perhaps Wulfgar's calm voice and expression were the most terrifying things to poor Josy. "What are you looking for--what--something?" the little fellow replied timidly.

Still using only one arm, Wulfgar pulled Josy back and flung him against the wall again. "You know what I mean," he said, "and I know you took it." Josy shrugged, shook his head, and immediately ushered in his third intimate contact with the wall. "You took the tooth of Aegis," Wulfgar clarified, turning his scowl into Josy's face, "if you don't give me back, I'll tear you in two Son, and assemble your bones for my next weapon." "I...I...I lent it to..." Josy's rambling explanation was interrupted by another bump. "I thought you'd kill Ellen," cried the little man, "I thought you'd kill us all."

These strange words made Wulfgar pause for a moment. "Kill Allen?" He repeated in disbelief. "When he was going to kick you out," Josy explained, "I knew he was going to kick you out. He told me all about it in your sleep. I thought you were going to kill him because you were mad." "So you took my warhammer?" "Yes," Josy admitted, "but I wanted to get it back. I tried to get it back." "Where is it?" Wulfgar asked. "I gave it to a friend," Josie replied, "and he gave the hammer to a pirate lady to keep it out of your reach. I tried to get it back, but the lady Pirates turned upside down. She's trying to smash my head off with it, yes, she's trying to!"

"Who?" Wulfgar asked. "Sheila Krell of the Leaping Lady," Josie blurted out, "she's got the hammer, and she wants it for herself." Wulfgar paused for a moment, digesting the news, weighing its accuracy.Then he looked at Josie again, the anger on his face tenfold. "I hate thieves," he said.The barbarian began to squeeze Josy, and when the smaller man struggled to fight back, the stronger Wulfgar hurled him against the wall again and again. "In my hometown we stoned thieves to death." Wulfgar roared and slammed Josy against the wall with such force that the whole building began to shake.

"In Luskan we are throwing them into prison." A voice came from the side, and Wulfgar and Josie turned their heads together to see Alan Juddpike coming out in droves, followed by many people .The bodyguards stopped at a distance, though they were obviously nothing to Wulfgar, and Alan approached cautiously, stick in hand. "Put him down," said the tavernkeeper. Wulfgar slammed Josie down again before setting him down on his feet, but still shaking him roughly so he wouldn't let him go easily. "He stole my warhammer, and I have come to get it back," said the barbarian firmly.

Allen glared at Josie. "I tried," Josy wailed, "but Sheila Krill—yes, that's her, she's got the hammer, and she's the one who doesn't want to give it back now." Wulfgar gave him another violent shake, which rattled his teeth. "She's got the hammer because you gave it to her," he reminded Josie. "But he tried his best to get it back," Allen said. "He did everything he could. Now you're going to tear him in half? Does that make you feel better? Worf Is Ja such a cruel man? This won't help you get your hammer back."

Wulfgar stared at Alan for a moment, then looked down at poor Josy again. "Yeah, it would make me feel better," he admitted, and Josie looked visibly huddled in terror. "Then you'll have to fight me too," said Alan. "Josie is my friend as much as I consider you my friend, and I'll fight for him." Wulfgar scoffed at the idea with contempt.With just a slight flick of his powerful arm, Josie was thrown on his back to Alan's feet. "He has told you where to find your hammer," Allen said. Wulfgar took the cue and started to leave, but when he glanced back, he saw Alan helping Josy to his feet before putting his arm on the man's shoulder and leading him back to the Cutlass .

That final scene, that sense of true friendship, haunted Wulfgar deeply.He had known that same kind of friendship once, and there had been a time when he had prayed and hoped that his friends would come to his rescue—even when that possibility seemed almost zero.The appearance of Drizzt and Bruno, the appearance of Regis and Guenhwyvar, and most of all, the appearance of Catti-brie flashed through his mind quickly. But that was all a lie, Wulfgar was reminded by a voice from a darker place in the deepest part of his being.The savage closed his eyes and swayed, almost falling to the ground.It was a place that no friend could touch, where no friendship was accepted.It's all lies.Friendship, that's just a superficial relationship fabricated by human beings. In the end, it's just a childish need for one's own safety, wrapping oneself in self-deceiving hope.He knew this because he had seen the futility, had seen the truth, a dark truth, to be exact.

Barely aware of his movements, Wulfgar ran to the door of the Cutlass and pushed it open with such force that the crash drew the attention of everyone inside.It only took a simple big step for the barbarian to come to Alan and Josie, slapped Alan's wooden stick away, slapped Josie in the face, and knocked him over several times. Lie on the floor with your feet up. Alan came up behind him and swung the stick, but Wulfgar grabbed it with one hand, pulled it away from the tavernkeep, and pushed Alan back.Wulfgar picked up the stick that had fallen in front of him, grasped the end of it with his other hand, and with a growl and a sweeping movement of his huge neck and shoulders, the barbarian snapped the hard wood in half. part.

"What do you mean by doing that?" Allen asked him. Wulfgar didn't answer, didn't even bother to look at them again.Already in the vortex of his thoughts he sensed a small victory, here, over Errtu and his band of demons.The action here was his rejection and denial of the lie of friendship, and it was also a weapon against Errtu, the weapon that hurt him the most.Wulfgar threw the splintered wood to the floor and stalked out of the Cutlass, knowing that none of his tormentors would dare follow. He was still roaring and muttering and cursing, at Errtu, at Aaron, at Josie Pardus, until he reached the pier deck.He strode down the pier, his boots thumping dully on the planks.

"Hi, what can you do?" an old woman asked him. "Where is the Jumping Lady," Wulfgar asked, "where?" "Kriel's ship?" the woman asked, but the words were more to herself than to Wulfgar, "Oh, she's out to sea. She's out to sea, no doubt , because I'm afraid of that." After she finished speaking, she pointed to a ship moored on the other side of the pier, which was only silhouetted in the darkness. As Wulfgar looked closer, wondering, he noticed the three masts, the last of which had triangular sails, a design he had never seen before.As he kept getting closer, he finally remembered the stories Drizzt and Catti-brie had told him, and it finally dawned on him.Sea Spirit. Wulfgar stood up straight, the name waking him out of his scrambled thoughts.His eyes followed the thick planks, from the name of the ship to the side, where a sailor stood, looking back at him. "Wulfgar," Veran Mason greeted, "how are you!" With the sound of heavy footsteps, the barbarian turned and ran away. "Maybe he needs our help." Captain Deudermont analyzed the reason. "It seems more likely that he was just lost," Robillard replied in a skeptical tone. "According to Mason's description, the barbarian's reaction when he saw the Sea Sprite looked more like a surprise." "We can't be sure." Deudermont insisted, and started to walk towards the cabin door. "We don't need to be sure," retorted Robilla, taking the captain's arm to stop him.Deudermont stopped and turned to stare at the mage's hand, then at the man's unwavering eyes. "He's not your child," Robila reminded the captain, "he's just an acquaintance, you don't have to bear any responsibility for him." "Drizzt and Catti-brie are my friends," Deudermont replied, "our friends, and Wulfgar theirs. Shall we ignore this fact for the sake of convenience?" The mage, hopeless, let go of the captain's arm. "Safety, Captain," he corrected, "not convenience." "I'm going to see him." "You've tried it, and it was rejected immediately," the mage reminded him bluntly. "But he came to us on the last night of this sailing, probably reconsidering that rejection." "Or lost on deck." Deudermont nodded, reluctantly acknowledging this possibility. "We won't know the answer to this if I don't go back and ask Wulfgar." He explained, and headed for the door again. "Take one more person," said Robillard suddenly, the idea just popping into his mind. "Maybe Mr. Mason should be taken. Or I should go." "Wulfgar knows neither you nor Mason." "Then take those sailors who sailed with Wulfgar," insisted the stubborn mage, "and those who knew him." Deudermont shook his head, that firm jaw represented his determination. "There is only one man on Sea Sprite who can convince Wulfgar," he said, "and I will go back to him again, if possible, before we set sail for sea." Robilla protested at first, but finally admitted that it was useless to say anything, and shook his hand to give up. "The streets of Luskan Docks are not a refuge for your friends, ship," he warned. "Watch every shadow that might bring danger." "I've always been like this," Deudermont grinned, and when Robilla walked up to him and added a lot of magic to him-such as blocking blows, defending against projectiles, etc., and even one with To dispel the magic attack - the grin made his mouth grow wider. "Pay attention to the maintenance time of the magic." The mage warned. Deudermont nodded, thanked his friend for his precautionary work, then turned and walked out the door. As soon as he went out, Robilar sank down in a chair in despondency.He looked at his crystal ball, gauging the power required to operate it. "Unnecessary work," the mage said to himself with an exasperated sigh, "both for the captain and for me. An unnecessary effort for a gutter not worth saving." rats in the house." It's going to be a long night. "Do you really need it?" Morik asked worriedly.Given Wulfgar's bad mood, he knew he was taking a big risk by asking the question now. Distraught, Wulfgar didn't answer the ridiculous question, and just glanced at Morik, which was enough for the little thief. "Then it must be a very nice weapon," Morik said, turning the subject abruptly to cover his apparently offensive thought.Of course Morik had known for a long time what a magical weapon the Fang of Aegis was, how perfectly it was crafted, how well it fit in Wulfgar's strong hands.But in the rogue's practical mind, that alone was no reason to go to sea after the brutal Sheila Krill. Maybe he was more attached to the weapon than he thought, Morik thought in surprise.Perhaps Wulfgar had attached some vulnerability of his own to that hammer.After all, it was done for him by his adoptive father.Perhaps the tooth of Aegis held a little life of its maker, and it was this that reminded the barbarian of the one he had seen.It was a question Morik didn't dare to ask, because even if Wulfgar forgave him the question, the proud barbarian wouldn't admit it - though Morik still thought he was more likely to be thrown for half a day than Get answers to your questions. "Can you arrange this?" Wulfgar asked again, impatiently.He wanted Morik to hire a boat fast enough and a captain knowledgeable enough to go after Sheila Krell, perhaps to another seaport, or just close enough that Wulfgar Drive a small boat to use the dark night to quietly approach the pirate ship.He wanted no help in recovering the hammer, not even Krill.It never occurred to him that he needed help. "And how about that captain friend of yours?" Morik replied. Wulfgar looked at him suspiciously. "Dudermont's Sea Spirit is the most famous pirate hunting ship in the Sword Coast," Morik said frankly. "If there is any ship in Luskan that can catch Sheila Krill, it is the Sea Spirit. And in other words, Captain Deudermont also invited you, I bet he will accept this mission." Wulfgar gave no direct answer to Morik's claim, and his one sentence trumped all answers: "Find another ship." Morik stared at him for a long moment, then nodded. "I'll do my best," he promised. "Go now," Wulfgar ordered, "before the Leap Lady gets far enough." "We have work to do," Morik reminded him.In order to save enough charter money, the two of them had already won a hotel owner at a low price to let them unload for him tonight-a load of freshly slaughtered beef. "Let me unload the meat," Wulfgar suggested, which Morik sounded like a fairy tale, since he didn't really like the job at all.The little thief has no idea where to hire a boat that can catch up to Sheila Krill, so relatively speaking, he is still more interested in finding the funds needed to rent a boat, and maybe he can "pick" it along the way Some pockets, of course, can be found in a pile of soaked and stinking bacon. Robilar stared at the crystal ball, watching Deudermont as the captain walked along a broad, well-lit road where the city guard was stationed.Many of them stopped to pay their respects and words of praise to the captain.Robilar guessed what they were saying, even though he could not hear their voices through the crystal ball but only saw the images. A knock on the door interrupted the mage's thinking, causing the image on the crystal ball to become a whirlpool of fuzzy mist.He had to recast the spell immediately to show the image. Deudermont in the crystal ball was not in any danger, and I believe it was during that short unknown period of time, especially because the mage had already cast a lot of protective magic on him.But because he always likes to be alone, Robila still lost his temper towards the door: "Go away!" Then he reached for a glass of strong drink and drank it down. Another, more insistent knock came. "Last look at this, Mr. Robillard," called a voice Robillard knew.Mumbling and protesting while holding his wine glass, Robila opened the door and found a crew member standing there, beckoning the mage to look at the deck on the other side of the ship with his eyes. Willan Mason was standing with another seaman, looking down at the pier, apparently talking to someone. "We have a guest," said the sailor at Robilar's door, and the mage's immediate thought was: Wulfgar, it must be.Robila walked towards the deck, thinking whether this was good news or bad news, and then immediately stopped and went back to close the door of his room, because the expression on the seaman's face had become overly surprised by what he saw . "You can't come up unless Mr. Robilla agrees." Mason shouted down, and a pleading voice came from below. Robillard walked over to Mason.When the mage looked over the side of the ship, he found a poor guy, wrapped in a blanket, muttering obscenities, obviously not for this not cold night. "I want to talk to Captain Deudermont." Weilan Mason explained. "Indeed," replied Robilla.He said to the man on the pier, "Do you think we'll make every bum who wants to go to sea talk to Captain Deudermont?" "You don't understand," replied the man below, lowering his voice and looking nervous, as if he feared that some assassin might attack him at any moment. "I have news that you want to hear. But I can't say it here." He looked around nervously and continued, "It can't be in a place where anyone can hear it." "Let him come up," Robilla said to Mason.When the crew member looked at him suspiciously, the way the mage turned and stared at him reminded Mason of who the man in front of him was.It also meant that the mage thought it absurd to worry that the poor little man might do him harm in the presence of Robila's mighty power. "I'll meet him in my room," the mage instructed as he walked away. A moment later, Veran Mason led the trembling little man through the door of Robilla's cabin.A few curious crew members poked their heads into the room, but Mason shooed them all away before Robilar could order, closing the door behind them. "Are you Captain Deudermont?" asked the little man. "I'm not," the mage admitted, "but I'm the closest thing you're going to meet on board right now." "Let me see Deudermont." The little man explained. "What's your name?" the mage asked. The man shook his head. "You'll just tell Deudermont," he said, "instead of asking me that, if you can understand." Robilla was not a patient man, and he was sure he didn't understand what the fellow was saying.He flicked his fingers and shot an energy arrow at the man, shaking him back. "Your name?" the mage asked again, and when the fellow showed hesitation, he made him shake it again. "There's a lot waiting for you, I promise," Robilla said. The little man turned and ran for the door, but was thrown headlong into a magically created whirlwind, which struck him and turned him around to face the mage again. "Your name?" asked Robillard coldly. "Josey Pardus," Josie could only blurt out before she could think of an alias. Robillard put his finger to his chin and thought about the name for a moment.Then he leaned back in his chair and put on a thoughtful look: "Tell me your news, Mr. Pardus." "It's about Captain Deudermont," replied Josy, who was clearly devastated. "They're looking for a chance to kill him. They've paid for his head." "Who was hired?" "A big man," Josy replied, "a big man named Wulfgar, and his friend Morik the Rogue." Robilla hid her surprise well. "So how do you know that?" he asked. "I heard it all on the street," Josie replied, "If you kill Deudermont, you can get 100,000 gold coins, that's what they said." "Is there anything else?" Robila asked, his tone approaching the edge of a threat. Josy shrugged, her small eyes rolled around. "Why are you here to tell us this?" Robilla began pressing. "I think you need to know that," Josy replied, "if Wulfgar and Morik were hired to kill me, then I'd love to know that." Robillard nodded, then chuckled, "This ship is the most notorious of the most dangerous people on this pier—a pirate hunting ship—and you came here to warn someone who never acquainted, and at the same time aware of the great danger to themselves. My friend, Mr. Pardus, I think this is a very contradictory place." "I think you need to know," Josy said again, lowering her eyes, "that's all." "I don't think so," said Robillard coldly.Josy looked up at him, his expression full of fear. "How much do you want?" This sentence caused Joyce's expression to immediately change to one of surprise. "A wise man will give a price before giving information," Robillard explained, "but we will not be so ungrateful. Is fifty gold coins enough?" "Yes—yes, yes," Jucy stammered, and then he said, "No, I mean—I think a hundred—" "You're a fine trader, Mr. Pardus," said Robillard, nodding to Mason, who was still here, to calm the growing agitation. "Your information may prove to be valuable, of course, if you have not lied." "No, sir, absolutely not!" "The hundred gold pieces, then," said Robillard, "will be paid to you when you come back tomorrow and tell Captain Deudermont." Josy rolled her eyes, "I won't be coming back, with your permission, Mr. Robilla," he said. Robila chuckled again. "Of course," he answered, reaching into a pouch around his neck, and pulling out a key, which he tossed to Veran Mason. "Take him," he said to the man, "you'll find that amount at the bottom of the locked drawer on the left. Pay him in bundles. Then escort Mr. Pardus off our ship." Good ship, send two more sailors to see him safely through the docks." Methan could hardly believe what he was hearing, but he didn't want to quarrel with the dangerous mage.Mason took Josie Pardus by the arm and led him out of the room. When he came back after a while, he found Robillard leaning against his crystal ball, studying the scene inside intently. "You believed him," Mason said, "you paid him so much money without verifying that the news was correct and reliable." "A hundred copper coins is not a lot of money," replied Robilar. "Copper coins?" Mason asked, "I saw gold coins." "It looks so," explained the mage, "but it's actually copper coins, and I can even tell you with certainty that I can trace our Mr. Pardus through those coins—to punish him, if need be, or Properly reward him if his information turns out to be true." "He's not coming to ask us for any reward," said the sensible Mason, "and he's no friend of Captain Deudermont's, I'm sure of that. No, it seems to me that our friend Pardus is not Very fond of Wulfgar, or that fellow Morik." Robillard stared at his crystal ball again, then leaned back in his chair, thinking. "Have you found the captain?" Mason asked boldly. "It has been found," replied the mage. "Come, look at this." As Mason got closer to Robilar, he saw that the vision in the crystal ball had changed from the streets of Luskan to a ship parked somewhere in the open sea. "The captain?" he asked concerned. "No, no," replied Robilar, "Wullfgar, perhaps, or at least his magic hammer. I know that weapon. The description of it struck a strong impression on me. Consider Knowing that it would show me Wulfgar, my magic searched for the ship, and it was called the Leaping Lady." "pirate?" "Possibly," replied the mage, "if Wulfgar is indeed on this ship, then we should meet this man again. Although our friend - if he is one - Mr. Pardus' story sounds It's a little unreliable." "Can you tell the captain?" Mason asked, still concerned about the matter, "bring him back to the ship?" "He can't hear," laughed Robillard, "our obstinate Captain Deudermont must learn something for himself. I'll watch him at a close distance. Go take care of the ship and double the guards, Even triple that, and tell everyone to watch those shadows carefully. If anyone tried to kill Captain Deudermont—if there was one—they might believe he was here." Robilar sat alone again, and he turned to face the crystal ball, switching the image back to Captain Deudermont.The mage sighed in disappointment, as hopeful as he had been, he was sad to find that the captain had once again wandered into a more dangerous part of the city.Just when Robilla turned his attention to the captain again, Deudermont happened to pass the street sign on Half Moon Street. If Robillard had scanned the vast area more carefully, he might have noticed two figures sneaking into the alley parallel to Half Moon Street, just as Deudermont entered it. Crip Sharkey and Tiannini sneaked all the way, and then stopped in an alley, from which they could clearly see Half Moon Street next to the Cutlass Tavern.They rushed in, because Shakey was sure that was where Deudermont was going.The two sat at a table in the corner to the right of the gate, and roared away the two customers who had been sitting there.They ordered drinks from Delly Curty, and the smug smiles on their faces grew wider as Deudermont stepped through the door to the bar. "He won't stay long without Wulfgar," Tianini said. Krip thought about it and first deciphered the meaning of this sentence grammatical error, speechless...), then nodded in agreement.He knew exactly where Wulfgar and Morik were.A fellow pirate had seen them on the docks earlier in the night. "Give me an eye," Kripp instructed.He took out a purse he had prepared earlier and started to leave. "It's too early," Tiannini cautioned, reiterating his complaints about the plan Kripp had drawn up earlier in the day. "Yes, but look, what a beautiful night, my friend," said Cripp, "Morik is too pompous and critical to make him desperate. No, he will, he will , our plan will make him move faster." Krip stepped into the night and scanned the street.He saw many homeless children lurking in certain places on the street, observing or passing on various information. "Hey, boy," he called to one of them.The waif was about ten years old, and he was looking at him suspiciously, but he didn't come over. "Here's a job for you," Krip explained, raising his purse. The boy tentatively approached a dangerous-looking pirate. "Take this," ordered Cripp, handing the purse, "don't look in!" he ordered again when the boy tried to undo the bag for a sneak peek. But Krip immediately changed his mind, realizing that the waif might think that the purse might contain something special—gold coins or magic—and might take it and run away.So he pulled the money bag back from the child's hand, opened it deliberately, and revealed the contents inside: some claws, which looked like cat's claws, a small bottle containing a clear liquid, and a very ordinary-looking stone. "That's all, you've seen it all, so you know there's nothing worth stealing," Kripp said. "I didn't mean to steal," the boy argued. "Of course you didn't," said Cripp with a knowing chuckle. "You're a good boy, aren't you? Well, you know a guy named Wulfgar? A big guy with yellow hair , the guy who used to help Alan beat people at the Cutlass Tavern?" The boy nodded. "And do you know his friends?" "Morik the Thief," said the boy as if endorsing, "everyone knows Morik." "That's right you," said Cripp, "they're on the pier now, or right here on the way to the pier, I suppose. I want you to find them and give this to Morik. Tell He and Captain Wulfgardudermont will be waiting for them at the door of the Cutlass. It's a thing about a sledgehammer. Can you do it?" The boy smirked like it was a stupid question. "So what would you like to do?" asked Cripp.He reached into his pocket and took out a small silver coin, just about to hand it over, but immediately changed his mind, put his hand back into his pocket, and took out several silver coins this time. "You send all your little friends in Luskan," he ordered, handing the silver coins to the wide-eyed waif, "if you can bring Wulfgar and Morik to the Scimitar Come on, there's more for you here, don't believe it." Before Krip could say the second sentence, the kid grabbed the money, turned around and disappeared into the alley. When Krip reunited with Tianini he smiled, trusting that the child and the vast network of street children he knew so well would soon complete the task entrusted to him. "He's been waiting," Tianini explained, referring to Deudermont, where the captain had been standing leaning against the bar, slowly sipping a glass of wine. "Patient guy," said Cripp, showing his yellow and green teeth in a smile, "if he knew how much time he had left to live, he might act a little more urgently." He motioned Tiannini, the two stepped out of the machete.They soon discovered a very low roof, which was very close to the tavern, and provided them with an excellent place to observe the front door of the tavern. Tianini pulled a long, empty tube from the back of his shirt, and from his pocket a cat's paw, tied with a feather for balance.Crouching low and moving with great care, the savage tattooed half-Qulan held a cat's paw in his left hand and squeezed a small bag concealed on a bracelet on his right wrist.Slowly, slowly, the tattooed man built up the pressure until the packet burst open and a droplet of fruit pulp-like fluid flowed from it.He applied most of the liquid to the tip of the cat's claw, then tucked the venom-soaked thorn into the bottom of the blowpipe. "Tiannini, patient man, too," he said, grinning evilly.