Chapter 12 Chapter 9 The Burning Puzzle

Affected by the rushing water of the Chongsa River, coupled with the angle of the sea wind coming from the north, it is just enough for the sails to receive some thrust. Now the Sea Spirit sails away from Baldur's Gate at a very fast speed, spit out on the calm sea. There was a long white streak. "We'll be on the Sword Coast in the middle of the afternoon," Deudermont said to Drizzt and Wulfgar. "We'll be far enough out of shore to see land until we reach the Asawi Strait. Then we'll go south around the edge of the world and head east toward Calimport." "Calimport," he continued, pointing to a brand-new flag that was rising to the mast of the Sea Spear, a gold background with blue slashes.

Drizzt looked at Deudermont suspiciously, knowing that this was not the usual thing for a ship to do. "North of Baldur's Gate, we fly the flag of Waterdeep," the captain explained. "To the south of Waterdeep City is the flag of Calimport." "Is this an accepted practice?" Drizzt asked. "For someone who knows it's good to do so," Deudermont said with a laugh. "Waterdeep and Calimport are enemies, and their hatred runs deep. They want to trade with each other (it's the only way they can make a profit), but they don't let ships that fly the other moored at the pier.”

"Stupid arrogance," Wulfgar remarked, his heart aching as he thought of what his own kind had done years earlier for similar reasons. "Politics," said Deudermont, shrugging. "However, the lords of the two cities privately hope to have a deal. They chose dozens of ships to be in charge of the communication, so that the trade can continue. The Sea Spirit has two home ports, and everyone benefits from this arrangement." "Captain Deudermont's two markets," Drizzt commented with a pointed smile. "It's pretty practical." "This is also of practical help to navigation." Deudermont continued, still showing a smile on his face. "Pirates north of Baldur's Gate especially respect the flag of Waterdeep, and those in the south will be careful not to offend the fleet of Calimport. Pirates in the Asavi Strait have many merchant ships to choose from, and they almost always go to rob A ship whose flag carries less weight."

"Has no one ever robbed you?" Wulfgar couldn't help asking, his voice half-trusted and sarcastic, as if he hadn't come to a conclusion on whether he approved of it or not. "Never?" Deudermont repeated. "Not 'never,' just not many. When pirates do come for us, we sail with full sail. When Sea Sprite's sails are full, there are few ships that can catch up. " "What if it does catch up?" Wulfgar asked. "That's why we'd like to give you two a ride," Deudermont said with a smile. "I guess the weapons you bring can soften a pirate's desire to plunder and stop chasing us."

Wulfgar held Aegis-fang forward. "I'm praying that I've learned the way the boat rocks to the point where I can fight," he said. "I'm worried that if I swing the hammer too hard, I'll drop myself in the sea!" "Then swim up to the pirate ship," said Drizzt with a smile, "and blow it up!"    In a dark room in the tower of Baldur's Gate, Obernor watched Sea Sprite set sail.Looking more closely inside the crystal ball, he saw the elf and the huge barbarian standing beside the captain on the deck.The wizard knew they were not brought from here.Judging from their clothing and skin color, the barbarians are more likely to have come here from tribes far north of Luskan and the Spine of the World. That isolated place is called Icewind Dale.How far he was from home, and how uncommon to see such a man in a boat in these parts of the sea,

"Are these two connected with Bashar Pook's recovery of the gem?" Obernor questioned loudly, really wanting to know.Had Entreri gone all the way to the northern tundra looking for halflings?Are these two people here to chase him? But it's not about wizards.Obonor was glad that Entreri asked him to do such a simple thing, as a favor he owed.The Killer had helped Obonor kill someone (not just once) years ago, and even though Streri didn't mention it every time he visited, the wizard always felt as if the Killer had a heavy chain around his neck.But that night, with one simple signal from him, all debts were paid.

Obernor's curiosity made him look at the Sea Spirit for a while.He focused on the elf, Drizzt Do'Urden, as Harbor Master Perlman called him.From the eyes of the experienced wizard, there was something wrong with the elf.This is not something wrong with being out of tune with Zhou's environment like a savage.Rather, it's his demeanor and his unique lavender eyes that make people feel strange. Those eyes seemed out of tune with his whole being. Perhaps some kind of magic, Oberno guessed.A disguise of some kind of magic.The curious wizard wished he had more information to report to Bashar Pook.He wished he could teleport himself to the deck for further investigation, but he wasn't ready for such a spell.Besides, he reminded himself one more time, it was none of his business.

He didn't want to annoy Artemis Entreri, either.    That night, Obernor stepped out of his tower and climbed into the night sky with his staff in hand.He unleashed a series of fireballs hundreds of feet above the city.    Two hundred miles to the south, Artemis Entreri saw this sight from the deck of a Calimport ship called the Demon Dancer. "Take the sea route." He paid attention to the signal of the fireball explosion and murmured.He turned to the halfling standing in front of him. "Your friends came after us by sea," he said. "We're less than a week away! They've done a good job."

Regis' eyes did not sparkle with hope at the news.During this period of time, the climate changes day and night are very drastic.They had put winter far behind them, and the hot winds of the Southlands kept the halfling's souls restless.They would go straight to Calimport without stopping, and no ship could hope to catch up with the Demondancer, even if it was only a week away. Regis struggled internally, trying to accept the fact that he and his former master would inevitably meet. Bashar Pook was not a forgiving man.Regis himself had seen Pook punish thieves who dared to attack fellow guildmates.What Regis had done was far more serious than that; he was stealing from the guildmaster himself.And that thing is Puck's most important item.Frustrated and hopeless, Regis lowered his head and walked slowly back to his cabin.

The halfling's melancholy did not calm Entreri.Puck would get the gem and the halfling, and Entreri would be paid handsomely for completing the task.But in the killer's mind, Pook's gold wasn't the real reward. Entreri wanted Drizzt Do'Urden.    Drizzt and Wulfgar also saw the flames over Baldur's Gate that night.A hundred and fifty miles behind the Demon Dancer, all they could guess was that this scene had meaning. "The wizard," said Deudermont, coming to join the two men, "maybe he's fighting some monster in the air," the captain said, trying to elicit some interesting story. "Maybe it's a dragon or some other monster!"

Drizzt squinted to get a closer look at the flames.He did not see shadows passing in front of the flames, nor did he see that the fireballs were aimed at a particular target.But the Sea Spirit was too far away, so he couldn't see the details at all. "That's not combat, that's a signal," Wulfgar blurted out, seeing the pattern of those bursts of fire. "Two blows and one, three and one." "It's too much trouble to send a simple signal," Wulfgar added. "Wouldn't it be better to send a messenger on horseback?" "Unless he's sending a signal to a ship," said Deudermont. Drizzt already thought that this sentence might be true, and he began to doubt who the sender and receiver were. Deudermont observed the scene for a while. "Maybe it's really a signal," he admitted, and he also saw the pattern Wulfgar said, "every day there are so many ships entering and leaving Baldur's Gate. Maybe it's a wizard's stunt to use Say hello or goodbye to a friend." "Or pass on information," Drizzt added, casting a glance at Wulfgar.Wulfgar hadn't misread the dark elf's implication; Drizzt could see from Wulfgar's scowl that he shared his own suspicions. "But for us, it's just a show," said Deudermont, who said goodnight to them before patting them on the shoulder. "It's just fun entertainment." Drizzt and Wulfgar looked at each other, doubting Deudermont's conclusion.    "What the hell is Artemis Entreri up to?" Pook asked aloud. Obernor, the wizard in the crystal ball, shrugged. "I never pretended to understand Artemis Entreri's motives." Pook nodded in agreement, then continued to pace Ravel's room. "But I guess those two have nothing to do with your pendant," Oberno said. "Probably Entreri made a connection with someone on the road," Pook agreed. "Perhaps a friend of the halfling?" Obernor said suspiciously. "Then why did Entreri lead them in the right direction?" "Whoever they are, they will only cause trouble!" said Ravel, who was seated between the master and the crystal ball. "Perhaps Entreri planned to hit them on the way," Pook suggested to Obonor. "That would explain why he needs you to signal for him." "Entreri told the Harbor Master to tell the two men that he's waiting for them at Calimport," Obonor reminded Puck. "He deliberately wanted to get rid of them," Ravel said. "Maybe it's just to reassure them that there will be no accidents until they reach the great ports in the south." "That's not Entreri's style," Obonor said, and Pook thought so too. "I've never heard of the killer using such obvious guile to gain the upper hand in a confrontation. Entreri's greatest joy is in meeting and crushing opponents." Both wizards, and the guild masters who had survived and thrived on their ability to solve such puzzles, thought for a moment.All Puck cared about was his pendant coming back.With this he could expand his power tenfold, and perhaps rule Calimshan himself. "I don't like it," said Pook suddenly. "I don't want to complicate the return of the halfling and the pendant." He paused for a moment, thinking about the procedure he had decided to proceed, and then leaned forward on Ravel's back, bringing himself a little closer to Oberno's image. "Do you still have contact with Pinocchio?" he asked the wizard sinisterly. Oberno guessed what his master meant. "The pirate never forgot his friend," he replied in a flat tone, "Pinocchi would come to see me every time he came to Baldur's Gate. He also greeted you and hoped his old friend is well. " "Is he on the island now?" "The winter merchant ships are coming south from Waterdeep," Obernor replied with a smile, "Where will a successful pirate be at this time?" "Great," murmured Pook. "Should I arrange for him to welcome Entreri's pursuers properly?" asked Obernor wistfully, delighted by the episode and the opportunity to serve his master. "Arrange three ships and don't give them any chance," said Pook. "Nothing will stop the halfling from getting back here. He has a lot of things to talk to me about!" Oberno thought about the task. "What a pity," he remarked, "that the Sea Spirit was a fine ship." Pook repeated a few words for emphasis, making it clear that he would not tolerate any mistakes. "Originally."