Disclaimer: Entreri and Jarlaxle are not mine. The world is originally not mine. They belcong to R.A. Salvatore, Wizards of the Coast, and (for the world as far as I'm concerned) Ed Greenwood.

1

"I can't believe we're alive," Callahan said to his companions as they sat around the fire.

"I guess even we can be blessed by Tymora sometimes," Avariel responded. This drew a chuckle from everyone around the fire, even Artemis.

Jarlaxle looked around and thought of all he had learned about the different members of their group. He had met Avariel, who had turned out to be the most powerful thief among the ranks of Mask. She was a slender elf with golden hair. Her eyes were a fiery gold, and she was dressed in much worn black and red leather armor. Her favored weapon was the longsword.

Turning to the next member of the circle he saw Akilah. She was Entreri's horse. He didn't choose to summon her often but had recently decided to simply make her a member of the group and to have her around at night. Otherwise she could do as she pleased. She was a pitch black horse and very fast. Seeing her at full speed was seeing a black streak of lightning. Jarlaxle liked her. She was very definitely a member of the group; her intelligence was not something to be sneezed at. If only she liked the drow. She had a tendency to buck him off unless Entreri were already in the saddle first and told her not to.

Next to her was Entreri himself. He was the one who was hardest to understand. Avariel didn't seem to trust him, and yet listened to everything he said. What was most disturbing about the man was something he had recently done. The man had erected a wall of fire by sheer force of will. Jarlaxle knew that he was no magic-user—so how had he done it?

Next to Entreri was Sahide. Jarlaxle did not like the great black panther, and Avariel seemed to like him even less. Unfortunately for the "Let's kick Sahide out" organization, Entreri, Callahan, and Akilah were all very fond of him. Still, the cat had proven loyal. When Entreri, Callahan, and he had been captured, Sahide had immediately gone to get help.

Next was Callahan. He was a young elf, sixty years at the most. He was Entreri's apprentice! The two even seemed to be getting close. Callahan put more faith into Entreri than anyone else in the group.

Jarlaxle smiled, realizing how odd this group truly was. It consisted of a drow, two surface elves, a panther, a Calishite (who Jarlaxle had reason to believe held noble blood), and a horse. To top things off, they had just fought a group of about twenty Sharites. It had looked like they might lose, but not for long.

The group sat around the fire and talked for a little while, then retired.

11

Entreri couldn't sleep. He lay on his bedroll for an hour, and he still couldn't sleep. He knew he needed it—it had been a tiring fight—but he felt too restless. He glanced over to Avariel, who was standing guard. So protective, like a mother should be, he thought. At that thought his eyes began to slowly close.

He saw the face of a beautiful woman. She had thick raven-black hair, dusky skin, and light gray eyes. Even though he had only seen her once in his life he knew who she was. This was Hasna.

"Mother," he said quietly.

"Quiet, my little one," she said in a hushed voice. "You need to go to sleep."

"I am asleep," he responded quietly.

"Not enough," she answered as she pulled him into her arms.

He felt like he was a little kid. His mother protected him in her soothing arms. She began to sing.

"Sleep little one, sleep
Have faith in your family and friends.
Let the world turn without you for the night,
Sleep little one, sleep."

It was a short lullaby, but by the time she was through, he was fast asleep.

111

"What a beautiful morning!" Jarlaxle exclaimed as he greeted the morning sun.

Avariel smiled and nodded in agreement, as did Callahan.

Entreri didn't even respond. He was too busy thinking about last night. After his mother had sung to him, he had felt himself asleep in her arms. It was like dreaming you were asleep. Her voice had been so beautiful!

"What do you think, Artemis?" Jarlaxle asked. He didn't even realize that Entreri hadn't heard his first comment.

"What do I think about what?" he asked.

"Do you think it's a beautiful morning?" Jarlaxle said, now realizing that the man was paying very little attention to his surroundings. That worried Jarlaxle.

"At least it's not cold," the human assassin replied.

Indeed it was a beautiful morning. The sun was bright, but the temperature was perfect. Unfortunately, that meant it was probably going to be hot later on. Of course, that wouldn't bother Entreri. Since he was a native-born Calishite, heat bothered him quite a bit less than cold.

1111

Sokale Von Houchie felt the warm patch of earth. The boot print had probably been made about two days ago, and it was still warm. This one was worth double-checking.

With a flick of his wrist, the vampire cast a not-so-simple-spell to show him the face of the person who had made the print. The face of Artemis Entreri flashed in his head. How ironic, he thought. Bounty hunters had made this spell, and now it was being used to track one down.

Sokale felt the burning of Artemis's blood in his own veins. The vampire had tried fire and heat resistance, but all that did was stop it from destroying him completely by burning him from the inside out.

As a vampire, Sokale could stand the warmth of normal human blood, but this was hotter. It seemed to cling to him, no matter what he did to get rid of it. It was almost like the blood were trying to destroy the person who had harmed the person it belonged to.

The only way he was going to make this burning stop was to get rid of Artemis's resistance. Then the sweet taste of his blood would fill Houchie's mouth.

Smiling, the tireless vampire hunted his quarry.