Chapter 14 Chapter Eleven Silvermoon City

It's really quick to ride here from Luskan.To curious onlookers, Entreri and his party were nothing more than faint, blurred points of light in the night wind.The magic mounts left no trace after flying by, and no living creature could catch up with them.Untiring as ever, the golem was behind, lumbering forward on its stiff legs. The steeds cast by Dandiba were so secure and relaxed that they could gallop right past the dawn, even requiring no rest from morning to night the next day, except for a temporary stop to eat.So when they camped at dusk after a long day on the road, they were over the cliffs.

That first day Catti-brie was at war inside.She didn't doubt that Entreri and those working with him would catch up to Bruenor.Under the circumstances, she could do nothing but harm to her friends, a pawn that Entreri would use. She doesn't have much of a solution to this problem, unless she finds a way to reduce, if not overcome, the grip of the killer's fear of her.She spent the first day focusing on isolating as much as possible from her external environment and finding in her inner spirit the strength and courage she might need. Bruno has given her many tools for this kind of warfare over the years, and the skills of self-control and self-confidence have carried her through many difficult situations.On the second day of the flight, she felt more confident and a little more comfortable, so Catti-brie was able to focus on her captors.Most interesting of all was Gildan and Entreri's stare at each other.The proud sergeant had evidently not forgotten the humiliation of his first encounter on the outskirts of Luskan.Entreri felt the resentment so keenly that he even deliberately stoked it, turning the issue into a direct confrontation, watching the man's every move with distrust.

A growing sense of confrontation was her best (and probably only) hope of escape, Catti-brie thought.She acknowledged that Pork was an invincible, mindless destruction machine beyond her means, and she soon learned that Sydney had no objection. The next day, Catti-brie tried to bring the young mage into the conversation, but Sydney's focus was too narrow to distract her.No matter whether it is perfunctory or persuasion, there is no way to change her obsession.She didn't even know that Catti-brie greeted her when they sat down to lunch.And when Catti-brie continued to bother her, Sydney said to Entreri, "Keep that whore near me."

Yet even in this failed attempt, the aloof mage managed to shake off Catti-brie in a way none of them could have predicted.Sydney slaps Catti-brie across the face, blatantly defying and humiliating her, which equips her with another tool for overcoming the paralysis of fear: anger. The next day they were halfway through the distance, and the scenery around them became surreal as they flew by quickly, and then they camped on a hill northeast of Nesme, with Luskan two hundred miles behind them. . A campfire flickered some distance away, and Sydney deduced it was Nesme's patrol. "We should go and find out what we need to know," suggested Entreri, anxious for news of his quarry.

"You and me," Sydney agreed. "We can go over and be back before midnight." Entreri looked at Catti-brie. "What about her?" he asked the mage. "I can't keep her with Gildan." "Do you think this sergeant will take advantage of her?" Sydney replied. "I guarantee he's upright." "I don't care about it." Entreri smiled smugly. "If it weren't for Bruenor Warhammer's Daughter, I wouldn't worry. She'll deal with your righteous sergeant before we get back, and flee into the night." Catti-brie did not welcome the compliment.She understood that Entreri's statement was an insult to Gildan, who was out collecting firewood, rather than a recognition of her ability, but the killer's unexpected respect for her made what she had to do even more difficult. Difficult.She didn't want Gildan to think of her as dangerous, or even resourceful, because that would keep his attention on her actions.

Sydney relies on Polk to solve it. "I'm going," she told the golem, loud enough that Catti-brie could easily hear her. "If the prisoner tries to escape, run after her and kill her!" She gave Entreri a wicked smile. "Are you satisfied?" He returned her smile, waving his arms in the direction of the distant tent. Then Gildan returns, and Sydney tells him of their plan.The sergeant didn't seem too happy about Sydney leaving with Entreri, but he didn't dissuade the mage either.Catti-brie watched him closely, and then she knew what was actually going on.It didn't bother him to have him stay with her and the golem, but he was afraid of any friendship growing between the two fellow travelers.Catti-brie knew, even expected it, because Gildan was the weakest of the three—subservient to Sydney and afraid of Entreri.If there is any cooperation between the two, Dandiba and Wushita may be excluded, but at least he will not be counted, which may mean his end.

"May their evil deeds come back on themselves!" Catti-brie said in her voiceless voice as Sydney and Entreri left the tent, speaking loudly to reinforce her own escalation. self-confidence. "I'll help you," she offered Gildan as she left to finish camping. The sergeant glared at him. "Help me?" he snorted. "I should tell you to do it all." "I understand your anger," Catti-brie retorted sympathetically. "I myself was at the hands of Entreri." Her pity angered the proud sergeant.He charged at her threateningly, but she remained composed, not blinking. "In your position, you shouldn't be doing such a menial job."

Gildan stopped abruptly, all anger dissipated by the intrigue aroused by the compliment.It was clearly a ploy, yet the woman's respect was too welcome to Gildan's wounded ego to ignore the past. "How do you know my position?" he asked. "I know you are a Luskan soldier," Catti-brie replied. "Those people are feared throughout the Northlands. You don't have to do menial jobs when mages and that night hunter are out at night." "You're making trouble!" Gildan snarled, but he paused to think about the point of what she was saying. "Then you pitch the tent!" He ordered immediately, winning back some of his self-esteem by exercising power over her.Catti-brie didn't mind, however.She went to work right away, playing the submissive role without complaint.Now that the plan in her mind began to take concrete shape, this stage required cooperation between her and the enemy, or at least planted the seeds of jealousy in Gildan's heart.

She heard the sergeant as he walked away, and was content with his low murmurs. Before Entreri and Sydney could get close enough to see each other's camp, the ceremonial chant told them that this was not a caravan from Nesme.They approached more cautiously, to confirm their suspicions. The long-haired barbarian, dark and tall, wearing a ceremonial feather suit, is dancing around the totem of the strange beast. "Wuska," Sydney explained. "Half-griffin tribe. We've approached one of their ancestral mounds, called 'Yaobai.'" She moved sideways away from the glow of the campfire. "Come on," she whispered. "You can't get any valuable information here."

Entreri followed her back to his camp. "Do we need to fly some distance?" he asked when they were within safe range. "Stay away from those savages?" "No need," Sydney replied. "The Usgar dance all night long. The whole tribe takes part in the ritual; I doubt they sent anyone out to stand watch." "You know so much about them," the killer remarked disapprovingly, alluding to his sudden suspicion that there might be some hidden conspiracy controlling events around them. "I have prepared a lot for this trip." Sydney retorted. "The Uska have no secrets; their way of life is known and written. Travelers in the North have a chance to learn about these peoples."

"I am lucky to have someone as learned as you traveling with me," Entreri said, bowing in a sarcastic apology. Sydney stared straight ahead without answering. But Entreri would not let the conversation be cut off so easily.He solves doubts step by step.He had chosen the moment consciously to show his wrists and the distrust he had harbored even before he learned the nature of the camp.It was the first time the two of them were alone together, without Catti-brie or Gildan around to fuel the flames, and Entreri was there deliberately to address his concerns, or to get rid of the mage. "When will I have to die?" he asked bluntly. Sydney didn't lose her pace. "When the fateful moment arrives, each of us is the same." "That lets me ask the question another way," Entreri continued, taking her hand and forcing her to turn to face him. "When were you instructed to kill me?" "Is there any other reason for Dandiba to send this golem?" Entreri reasoned. "Wizards don't value pacts and honor. He only uses what is best for him to accomplish his goals. When I am no longer of value to you, I will be killed. You will find that this is more than you expected. Still a difficult task.” "You're so perceptive," said Sydney grimly. "You were right about Dandiba's character. He would have killed you to avoid any possible trouble. But you have not considered my role in this whole thing. Dandi has made the decision The power of your fate is placed in my hands." She paused, letting Entreri weigh her words.Both knew that he could easily kill her now, so her frank acquiescence that there was indeed a plot to kill him stopped his immediate action and forced him to continue to listen to her. "I'm sure we're looking for a different outcome in our confrontation with the dwarves," Sydney explained, "so in this case I have no intention of undermining a current or potential future partnership." Regardless. He was suspicious by nature, and Entreri could see the logic of her arguments well.He finds a lot of his own qualities in Sydney.She is cruel and will not let anything stand in the way of her chosen path, but no matter how strong her feelings are, she has not turned away from the path she should take.He relaxed her arm. "But the golem did come with us," he said absently, turning to the night sky. "Does Dendybar really believe we need it to defeat the dwarves and his allies?" "My master does not leave a chance," replied Sydney. "Pork was sent to make sure he got what he wanted. To prevent any unexpected trouble with that gang. And you." Entreri pushed the thread of her thinking a step further. "What the wizard wants must have great power," he reasoned. Sydney nodded. "Possibly tempting a young magician." "What do you mean?" Sydney asked, annoyed that Entreri should have doubted her loyalty to Dandybar. The killer's assured smile made her squirm uncomfortably. "The Golem was sent to prevent unexpected trouble. On you." Sydney faltered for words to answer.She hadn't thought about the possibility.She tried to logically dispel Entreri's odd conclusion, but the killer's next comment overshadowed her ability to think. "Just to avoid any possible trouble," he said grimly, repeating her earlier words. The logic of his assumption seemed to slap her in the face.How could she think she was outside of Dandiba's malicious plots?She shuddered at the revelation, but she had no desire to seek answers while Entreri was still standing by her side. "We have to trust each other," she told him. "We must understand that we all gain from this cooperation, and that it costs us nothing." "Then tell the Golem to go back," Entreri replied. A warning flashed in Xini's heart.Was Entreri trying to instill doubt in her just to gain an advantage in their relationship? "We don't need this thing," he said. "We have the girl on our hands. And even if the group refuses our request, we can afford to get what we want." He returned the mage's suspicious look. "Did you just talk about trust?" Sydney didn't answer, and started walking toward their camp again.Maybe she should send Pork away.This action should reassure Strayer of her misgivings, but when trouble does arise, he will have the upper hand on her.But sending the golem away would solve the problem that bothered her more, that of Dandiba. The second day is the quietest day, but also the most productive day forward.Sydney battles inner turmoil over the question of why the golem followed them.She had come to the conclusion that Pork should be sent away, if for no better reason than to prove her master's trust to herself. Entreri watched with interest the signs of an inner struggle she couldn't hide, knowing that he had weakened Sydney's relationship with Dandybar enough to strengthen his own standing against the young mage.Now he just has to wait and watch for the next opportunity to join his allies. Likewise, Catti-brie seeks further opportunities to plant the seeds she has planted in Gildan's mind.The fact that she saw the sergeant avoiding Entreri and Sydney told her that her plans were off to a good start. They arrived in Silvermoon City just after noon the next day.If Entreri had any doubts about his decision to join the Sorcerer's Towers, it disappeared when he thought about what they had accomplished.With magic horses that never tire, they covered almost five hundred miles in four days.And in the effortless journey, in the complete relaxation of steering their mounts, they reached the hills on the western side of the mountains of the charming city without wearyness. "This is Loffin River," Gildan, flying at the head of the procession, shouted to those behind. "There's one more sentry post." "Fly over there," Entreri replied. "No!" Sydney said. "These are guides through the Moonbridge. They'll let us pass, and their help will make our way into the city a lot easier." Entreri looked back at Pork, who was lumbering along behind them. "All of us?" he asked suspiciously. Sydney hadn't forgotten the golem. "Pork," she said as the golem caught up with them. "You are not needed now. You go back to Dendiba and tell him that everything is going well." Catti-brie's eyes lit up at the thought of calling the golem back, while a startled Gildan looked back in growing anxiety.Watching him, Catti-brie saw another advantage in this unexpected turn.Sending off the golem, Sydney planted Catti-brie in the Sergeant's mind, adding credibility to the fear of Entreri and Sydney working together. The golem didn't move. "I tell you to go!" Sydney demanded.Out of the corner of her eye she caught the unsurprised look at Entreri. "Fuck you!" she whispered to herself.Polk still didn't move. "You're so prophetic!" she growled at Entreri. "You stay here, then," she whispered to the golem. "We'll be in this city for a few days." She slid off her seat and turned and jumped away, the killer smirking contemptuously behind her back. "What about the horses?" Gildan asked. "They were made to let us ride as far as Silvermoon City," Sydney replied.As the four of them walked down the road, the light that had been the horse faded to a soft blue twilight, and then suddenly disappeared. They got through the sentry post without much trouble, especially after Sydney introduced herself as a representative of Sorcerer's Tower.Unlike most hostile cities in the Northlands, who strictly guarded their borders in paranoia of fear of outsiders, Silvermoon City did not surround itself with pre-set walls and high-security troops.People here see visitors as enhancements to their culture, not a threat to their way of life. One of the Knights of the Silvermoon, who stood guard at Loffin's Watch, led the four travelers to the entrance of the Moonbridge, an arched and invisible structure that spans the river before the city's gates.These first-timers try to walk over and are uncomfortable with the lack of visible substance under their feet.But soon they found themselves wandering the winding streets of the enchanted city.Their speed slowed unconsciously, contagious by the lazy, relaxed, contemplative atmosphere here, dispelling even the nervousness of Entreri's narrow vision. Tall, intertwined towers greeted them with grotesque shapes at every street corner.No single form of architecture dominates Silvermoon City, other than the freedom that allows builders to exercise individual creativity without fear of judgment or slight.The result was a city of infinite splendor, rich not in untold riches, like its two mighty neighbors, Waterdeep and Mirabar, but in its unparalleled beauty.We go back to the early days of the Forgotten Realms, when Elves and Men had room enough to roam in sun and starlight without fear of crossing the unseen frontier of some hostile kingdom, and Silvermoon blatantly despised it. There exists the conqueror and tyrant of the world, where no one can claim the right to enslave another. People of all good races are free and fearless to walk the streets here in the deepest night, and if someone passes another person without saying hello, it is because he is too deeply absorbed in his own thoughts inside. "It's been less than a week since the dwarves left Longsaddle," Sydney said as they made their way through the city. "We may have days to wait." "Where are we going?" Entreri asked, feeling a little uncomfortable here.The values ​​that prevailed in Silvermoon City were obviously different from any town he had been to before, and it was also very different from his own feelings about this greedy world. "There are countless hotels in the street," Sydney replied. "Too many visitors here! And openly admitted." "So once that group of people comes here, our task of finding them will become more difficult." Gildan sighed. "It's not like that," Sydney smiled sarcastically. "The dwarves are here to find information. As soon as they arrive here, Bruno and his friends will immediately go to the Sage Library, the most famous library center in the entire Northland." Entreri squinted, then said, "We'll welcome them there."