Chapter 9 Chapter VII The Dagger and Staff

Entreri stood on a knoll a few miles away from the City of a Thousand Sails, the campfire burning faintly behind him.Regis and his companions had used the same spot as their final resting place before entering Luskan, and in fact, the killer's fire was on the same spot where they had been.But this is no coincidence, when he found the footprints of the halflings and their party on the south side of the Spine of the World, he followed every step of their footsteps here.He acts on their actions, trying to understand more of what they've done. Now, unlike what the gang had done before, Entreri's eyes were not on the walls, or even on Luskan at all.Several campfires were lit on the road north to Ten-Towns during the night.It wasn't the first time these lights appeared behind his back, and the killer felt like he was being followed too.He had slowed down his galloping pace, thinking he could easily catch up with the party while they were still on errands in Luskan.He wanted to get his worries out of the way before focusing on hunting down the halflings.Entreri had even left clues on purpose to lure his pursuers into getting closer to him.

He kicked the embers of the fire below and climbed back into the saddle, deciding it was better to hold the sword face to face and not leave a thorn in the back. He rode till night, bolder in the dark.This is his time, and every shadow adds an advantage to those who live in the dark. Before midnight, he tied up his horse, and he was close enough to the campfire to reach it on foot.He saw that it was a caravan; nothing out of the ordinary on the road to Luskan this time of year.But his sense of danger still kept reminding him.Years of experience had honed his survival instincts, and now he knew it was best not to ignore that part.

He crawled in, looking for the easiest way into the carriage circle.The merchants always had many sentries around their camps, and even the horses in the trailer were a trouble to him, for the merchants kept them tightly tied to their harnesses. Of course, the killer will not make a trip in vain.He had come this far, and was determined to find out why someone was following him.Gliding on his belly, he moved toward the perimeter of the camp and began to circle the tents under the cordon.He moved so silently that even very alert ears could not hear him, passed two guards fishing, and then he came under the horses, who lowered their ears in terror, but remained silent.

Halfway through the circle, he was almost convinced that this was just an ordinary caravan, and just as he was about to sneak back into the night, he heard a familiar female voice. "You said you saw a point of light in the distance." Entreri paused because he knew the speaker. "Yes, there it is," replied a man. Entreri slipped between the two nearby carriages and peered the other way.The speaker was standing nearby, behind the next carriage, looking closely at the night scene in the direction of his camp.Both are dressed for battle, the woman comfortably carrying her sword.

"I underestimated you," he murmured to himself when he saw Catti-brie.His jeweled dagger was in hand and ready. "I can't do it again," he added, before crouching down to find a path to his goal. "It's very kind of you to go so fast for me," said Catti-brie. "I owe you a debt, as does Regis and the others." "Then tell me," the man urged. "What made you so anxious?" Catti-brie struggled with the memory of the killer, and she couldn't get over the horror she felt that day in the halfling's house, and she knew she had to avenge the killing of the two dwarves, and calm her down. The humiliation she suffered, otherwise it would be impossible for her to face it.Her lips were tightly shut, and she made no reply.

"If you don't want to say it, forget it." He gave in. "We don't doubt that you have reason to travel this way. If we ask you, it only shows that we want to help you as much as possible." Catti-brie turned her face to him and smiled sincerely and gratefully.All that had to be said had been said, and the two stood silently looking out over the silent horizon. Silence also signifies the approach of death. Entreri slipped from under the wagon and stood between the two of them, grabbing one with the other.He gripped Catti-brie's neck so tightly that she couldn't scream, and with his blade he silenced the man forever.

Catti-brie looked over Entreri's shoulder and saw her partner's startled expression on the other end, but she didn't know why he didn't yell, because his mouth wasn't covered. Entreri moved back a bit, and she knew it.All she could see was the hilt of the jeweled dagger, the space between the blade and the hilt resting just below the man's chin.The slender blade reached the man's brain before he realized the danger. Entreri quietly lowered the victim to the ground by the hilt of the weapon, then pulled it out. Once again the woman found her fear of Entreri, but could not move.She felt that she could turn away and yell at the battalion, even though she was sure she would be killed; or she could draw her sword and at least try to fight back.But she just watched helplessly as Entreri drew her dagger from her waist and drove it into the man's mortal wound.

Then he took her sword and pushed her from under the wagon and beyond the circle of the camp. Why can't I call out?She asked herself again and again, because the killer knew how frightened she was, and took her into the deep night without even grabbing her.He knew, and she had admitted to herself, that she would not give up her life so easily. Finally, when they were at a safe distance from the camp, he forced her to turn and face him, and his dagger. "Are you following me?" he asked mockingly. "What do you hope for?" She didn't answer, and at the same time found that part of her strength returned to her body.

Entreri felt it too. "If you call out, I will kill you." He declared coldly. "Then, I swear I'll go back to the caravan and kill them all!" She trusts him. "I travel a lot with merchants," she lied, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "This is the responsibility of my class as a soldier of Ten Towns." Entreri laughed at her again.Then he looked into the distance, lifting his face in pretended thought. "Maybe it's beneficial to me." He said pretentiously, a plan had already taken shape in his mind. Catti-brie studied him, worried that he had found a way to turn her trip into a disservice to her friends.

"I'm not going to kill you, at least not now," he told her. "When we find the halfling, his friends won't defend him. It's because of you." "I won't do anything to help you!" said Catti-brie scornfully. "anything!" "You're right," Entreri hissed. "You won't do anything. Without a knife pointed at your neck—" He drew his weapon, and pressed it against her neck with horrific mockery, "to cut across your smooth skin. When I'm done I'll Brave girl, I'll leave, and you'll stay there with your shame and your guilt. And what you say to the merchants who believe you killed their buddies!" In fact, Entre Li didn't believe at all that he could fool the merchants with his simple trick with Catti-brie's dagger.It was just a tool to mess with the young woman's psyche, trying to instill another dose of doubt and worry into her chaotic mind.

Catti-brie didn't show any emotion to react to the killer's statement.No, she told herself, it wouldn't be like that! But in the back of her mind, she wondered if her determination was merely a mask for her fear, for her inner certainty that, facing Entreri's presence again, she would still be immobilized by fear; It unfolded as she expected. Gildan found the camp without any difficulty.Dandiba had used his magic to track the mysterious rider all the way up the mountain, and had pointed the sergeant in the right direction. Gildan tensed up, drew his sword, and walked in.This place has been abandoned, but not for long.Even a few feet away, the sergeant from Luskan could feel the aftermath of the extinguished campfire.He stepped low and lowered himself to the ground, crawling to the fire where the bundle and blanket were. Entreri rode slowly towards his tent, anticipating that what he had left had attracted some visitors.Catti-brie sat in front of him, firmly bound and gagged, and though she herself retched, she was fully convinced that her own fear had made the restraints less important. The vigilant killer noticed that someone had entered the tent before he got close.He slid from the saddle and walked with his captive. "It's a nervous steed," he explained to Catti-brie.He gave her a stern warning as he tied her to the horse's hind legs, and was clearly amused. "If you struggle, it will kick you to death." Then Entreri left her, mingling in the night as if he were an extension of the darkness himself.    Gildan threw the package back to the ground, disappointed that the contents were nothing more than standard travel equipment and offered no clues about its owner.This sergeant is a battlefield veteran who has experienced many battles. He has defeated humans and half-orcs more than a hundred times, but he is very nervous now, feeling that there is something unusual and deadly in that rider.A man who dared to ride alone from Icewind Dale down the wild roads to Luskan was no novice at war. Then he was taken aback, but not too unexpectedly, when the tip of a blade came up against the fragile hollow at the nape of Gildan's neck.He didn't move or speak, hoping the rider would ask him for an explanation before driving the knife into his vitals. Entreri saw his bags searched, but he could tell through the leather uniform that the man was not a thief. "We have crossed the borders of your city," he said, holding his dagger steady. "What is your business in my tent, Sergeant Luskan?" "I am Gildan of the North Gate," he replied. "I came here to find a man who came from Icewind Dale on horseback." "who?" "you." Entreri was confused and displeased by the sergeant's answer.Who sent this guy, and how did they know where to find him?The killer's first thoughts focused on Regis and his party.Perhaps the halfling has enlisted some assistance from the gatekeepers.Entreri slid the dagger into its sheath, sure he would be able to draw it out in time to block any attack. Gildan also knew the calm and self-confidence represented by this action, and all his thoughts of attacking this person were swept away. "My master wishes to receive you," he said, thinking it wise to explain more clearly. "A meeting that is beneficial to both parties." "Your master?" Entreri asked. "He lived in a towering city," Gildan explained. "He heard that you are coming, and I believe he will be helpful to your mission." "What does he know about me?" Entreri snapped, furious that anyone dared to spy on him.But his anger immediately subsided, because the fact that this matter involved certain power structures in the city had already taught him a large part, and greatly weakened the logical assumption behind the meeting that the halfling had hidden. Gildan shrugged. "I'm only doing what he orders. But I may be of help to you, too, at the gate." "To his gates," Entreri growled. "I was able to scale the walls with ease. It was the most direct path to where I was looking." "Even so, I know those places well, and I know the people who control them." The dagger was pulled out again, slashed forward, and stopped just in front of Gildan's throat. "You know a lot, but you don't talk much. You play a dangerous game, Sergeant Luskan." Gildan didn't even blink an eye. "Four heroes came to Luskan from Ten-Towns five days ago: a dwarf, a halfling, a barbarian, and a dark elf." Not even Artemis Entreri could hide the look on his face. Surprised, because his suspicions were confirmed, and Gildan noticed the signs. "They've escaped my grasp for sure, but I know they're generally hiding in that area. Are you interested in that?" The dagger was back in its sheath again. "Wait here," Entreri ordered. "I have a companion who will go with us." "My master said you acted alone." Gildan asked. Entreri's wicked smile sent shivers down the sergeant's spine. "I got her," he explained. "She's mine, and that's the only thing you need to know." Gildan didn't press on.His gasps of relief were audible as Entreri was out of sight. Catti-brie hadn't been bound or gagged on the ride to Luskan, but Entreri held her as if she had been bound.When he unties her, the warning to her is succinct and undeniable. "One stupid move," he had said at the time, "will cost you your life. And you die knowing that the dwarf, Bruenor, will suffer for your rash action." The killer didn't tell Gildan anything more about her, and the sergeant didn't ask, although the woman interested him quite a bit.Dandiba would have an answer, Gildan knew. Later that morning they came down to the city under the suspicious eyes of the guards at the north gate.It took Gildan a week's salary to bribe him to let him go, and he knew he would have to pay more when he came back in the evening, because they had agreed to let a man in without mentioning the woman.But if Gildan's actions can be appreciated by Dandiba, it will be worth the price. According to the city's regulations, the three left their horses in the stables just inside the city wall, and Gildan led them through the streets of the City of a Thousand Sails, past the dozing merchants and peddlers who had come out before dawn, and entered the center of the city. The killer was not surprised when they came an hour later in a large thick pine forest.He had long guessed that Gildan had something to do with this place.Then they passed the gap and stood in front of the tallest building in the city, the Sorcerer's Tower. "Who is your master?" Entreri asked bluntly. Gildan chuckled softly, emboldened by the sight of Dandiba's tower. "You'll see him soon." "I want to know now," Entreri growled. "Otherwise our meeting is over. I'm already in town, Sergeant, and I don't need your help anymore." "I can ask the guards to throw you out," Gildan retorted. "Or worse!" But Entreri had the last word. "They won't even find a piece of your body!" he said, the cold confidence in his voice draining the blood from Gildan's face. Catti-brie watched the back-and-forth struggle with concern, wondering if she might have a chance to exploit the paranoid nature of her enemy to her advantage later. "I serve Dandiba, the mottled wizard, the master of the North Tower." Gildan said, gaining a lot of strength by mentioning the name of a favorable backer. Entreri had heard the name before.The Sorcerer's Tower is often talked about in Luskan and the surrounding area, and the name of the striped wizard Dandiba is often mentioned in the conversation, describing this wizard as a man who seeks power in the tower. ambitious, and secretly accuses him of a dark and evil side that will do anything to get what he wants.He is dangerous, but also a potential ally.Entreri was beginning to be interested. "Take me to him right away," he told Gildan. "Let's see if we have something in common to do." Sydney was waiting to escort them in.She didn't provide any introduction, and didn't ask anything, but just led them through the winding corridors and secret doors, to the hall where the spotted-clothed wizard Dandiba received them.There the wizard was waiting for them, in his best robes, with an unbelievably sumptuous luncheon before him. "Welcome, knight," Dandiba said after the necessary and uncomfortable silence passed after the two groups looked at each other for a while. "As you know, I am Dandiba, the mottled wizard. Would you and your lovely companion come to dine with me?" His piercing voice seemed to scratch Catti-brie's nerves, and although she hadn't eaten since dinner the day before, she still didn't dare to appreciate the man's hospitality. Entreri pushed her forward. "Eat!" he ordered. She knew Entreri was testing her and the wizard at the same time.But it was also a good time for her to experiment with Entreri. "No!" she answered, looking straight into his eyes. He backhanded her to the floor.Gildan and Sydney started to move reflexively, but seeing that Dandiba did not extend a helping hand further, they immediately stopped and drew back to wait and see.Catti-brie moved away from the killer and remained in a defensive crouch. Dan Diba smiled at the killer. "You've answered some of my questions about this girl," he said with an amused smile. "Why do you want her to follow you?" "I have my reasons," was Entreri's only answer. "Of course, can you tell me your name?" Entreri didn't even move an expression. "You're looking for a party of four from Ten-Towns, I know," Dandiba went on, not intending to change the subject. "I'm looking for them too, but for a different reason. I'm sure." "You know nothing of my reasons," Entreri replied. "I don't want to know either," the wizard laughed. "We can help each other achieve different goals. That's the only thing I'm interested in." "I didn't come here to ask for help." Dandiba laughed again. "They are a formidable force, Riders. You underestimate them." "Perhaps," Entreri replied. "But you asked about my purpose, but you didn't reveal your own. What does Wushi Tower have to do with travelers from Ten Towns?" "Fair question," Dandiba replied. "But we have to come to an agreement before we can tell you the answer." "Then I'll be too worried to sleep," Entreri said scornfully. Dandiba laughed again. "You can change your mind before it's over," he said. "Because now I want to offer a sign of my sincerity. They are in the city now, by the docks. They were supposed to stay at the Crooked Sword Inn, do you know that?" Entreri nodded, he was now very interested in what the wizard had to say. "But we lost track of them in the alleyways of the West Side," Dandiba explained, glancing at Gildan, which made him shudder uncomfortably. "What is your price for this information?" Entreri asked. "No," replied the wizard. "Helping you is to achieve my own goals. You will get what you want, and what I want will stay with me." Entreri smiled, realizing that Dendybar wanted to use him as a hound to sniff out his prey. "My apprentice will take you out," Dandiba said, and motioned for Sydney to lead the way. Entreri turned to leave, stopping suddenly to exchange glances with Gildan. "Be careful out of my way, sergeant," the killer warned. "The vulture only dares to come down to feed after the lion has feasted." "After he finds the drow for me, I want his head!" Gildan growled after they left. "Don't get close to him." Dandiba ordered. Gildan looked at him suspiciously. "You must find someone to watch him." "Of course," Dandiba agreed. "But I'm looking for Sydney, not you. Hold back your anger," Dandiba said to him, noticing his scowling. "I saved your life. Your ego is strong, and you have earned the right to it. But his martial arts are superior to yours, friend. Before you even know that he is at your side, his dagger will die. It's already done for you." Outside, Entreri led Catti-brie away from the tower without a word, quietly replaying and reviewing the meeting in his mind.Because he knew that it would not be the last time he saw Dandiba and his army just now. Catti-brie, too, was delighted by the silence, lost in her own thoughts.Why would a wizard in Sorcerer's Tower seek out Bruenor and his companions?Was he seeking revenge for Acar Kessell whom her friends had helped defeat the previous winter?She looked back at the tree-like building and the killer beside her, surprised and horrified that his friends had attracted so much attention. Then she looked deep inside herself, trying to bring her heart and her courage back to life.Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis would need her help until these matters came to an end.She cannot abandon them.