A/N: Just a quick note - I have discovered that the later chapters that were saved to my computer (which were crappy) were not the same as the ones I uploaded (which were not nearly so crappy), so I'll probably only make superficial changes to most of them and upload them all at once. Cheerio, pips!
Entreri was at once relieved and apprehensive as he saw the slender silhouette of the drow ranger coming down the mountain's slope towards him. He kept his expression carefully schooled, all too aware of the dozens of dwarven archers just beyond his line of sight, ready to kill him should he make even a hint of a false move. So, he kept still, staring at the dark face concealed beneath the ranger's hood. All-too-familiar violet eyes glared back at him.
Drizzt finally halted several strides from where Entreri stood. The two glared at one another, neither making a move. After an uncomfortable pause, during which Entreri was certain he could hear bowstrings tightening all around him, Drizzt spoke; "What is it you want, assassin? I had hoped our dealings with one another were through." His dark face was stony, his displeasure clearly shown.
"Your assistance," was Entreri's calm reply.
Drizzt stared at him, barely able to conceal his shock. Entreri? Asking him for help?
"Assistance with what?" the ranger asked warily, hands resting lightly on the hilts of his scimitars. "What could you want with me, Entreri?"
Entreri gritted his teeth. He really, truly loathed doing this, asking his most hated enemy for help. But he had to – Aari's life depended on it.
"I am … searching, for someone, and I …" he struggled with the unfamiliar and unwelcome words; "require … assistance."
Drizzt scowled, disgusted. "I am not helping you with one of your murder missions, assassin," he spat, turning to leave.
"No!" Entreri barked, loosing his composure for a moment, startling Drizzt into turning back. He collected himself and repeated, more calmly; "No. It's not what you think."
"My … traveling companion has … vanished. Kidnapped by … one of my old enemies. I am … unable to locate him," Entreri managed to grate out. Gods, but this was difficult!
Drizzt raised a white eyebrow at the assassin. "You place value on the life of your companion?" he asked dubiously.
Entreri scowled, but could not refute the drow's logic, considering what he had been like only a few years ago. But that had changed – at least, for Aari, it had changed. And he would not leave here without help. But how could he convince the ranger of that? His word meant nothing to the drow.
Entreri let out a long, slow breath. "What can I do to convince you that I am in earnest?" he asked heavily of Drizzt.
Drizzt looked at him curiously and did not deign to reply. Was this truly Artemis Entreri, the cold-blooded assassin, that he was speaking with? The years had certainly left their mark, in more ways than one.
"Can your companion not take care of himself?" he inquired cautiously, testing the assassin.
Entreri glared at the drow with barely-concealed hatred as he spat, "He is but a child! Will you help me find him or not?"
Once again that day, Drizzt was shocked. Truly, Entreri had changed – but how? And more importantly – how much?
"Stay here," he commanded, and sped off towards the entrance to the dwarven mines.
Inside the mines, Drizzt related the entirety of his conversation with the assassin to Bruenor, Catti-brie, Wulfgar, and Regis, who had just awoken and was as dismayed as any of them that Entreri had returned to the dale. "He seems to be truly in earnest," the ranger added with a confused sigh as he finished.
His friends pondered the information for a small time. Catti-brie was the first to speak.
"I'm thinkin' we should help him," she slowly began; "But not t' trust him. We're comin' with ye, Drizzt, an' don't ye tell us not to!"
Drizzt grinned at his fierce, auburn-haired friend. "I wouldn't dream of it," he assured her. "I don't wish to journey with that one alone for any length of time."
"I don't wish to journey with him at all," Wulfgar grumbled, still scowling at the thought. "But … you're right, Catti-brie. Anything that has Entreri that shaken up should concern us." He frowned, then added grudgingly, "I suppose."
Bruenor grunted in agreement as he hefted his axe. "Well, then, what're we waitin' fer? Get yer things! The sooner we're off, the sooner this'll be over with!"
As all four were in agreement with the dwarf in getting the whole thing over with as soon as possible, they were soon packed and ready for a journey. Regis surprised everyone by gathering his things, as well – the halfling was not known so much for his adventurous spirit as for his love of all things comfortable. When questioned, however, he replied; "I'm not going to be left out – not this time. I hate Entreri, and I won't leave my dearest friends alone with him!"
As none could refute that, no one resisted his coming, though Bruenor made sure to pack some extra food, grumbling that Rumblebelly would eat them out of provisions within a day.
The five found Entreri resting upon a rock nearby the spot Drizzt had left him. The assassin quickly stood upon seeing them approach, the image of readiness. Wulfgar glowered at the assassin, hefting his warhammer Aegis-Fang ominously. Entreri ignored the silent warning, seeming cool and completely in control. Catti-brie and Regis both eyed him in distrust – both had been captives to the man before, and neither were ready to travel readily with him, though they knew it must be done. They weren't about to risk a child's life on their suspicions – it had been a few years, after all.
"Well?" Drizzt asked of Entreri as they approached. "Where do we begin?"
Silently, Entreri tossed a crumpled piece of paper to the drow, who caught it easily. "This came to me in Luskan," he explained. "A warning and a hint."
Drizzt unfolded the paper and scanned it, picking through the crabbed and ornate handwriting:
Artemis Entreri. So long have I waited for this, this sweet revenge. Who could have thought it would come so easily? In the form of this broken child?
I see the worry twisting your face. How exquisitely pathetic – the great Artemis Entreri, fallen to this, coddling a helpless child. Come and find us – we'll gladly welcome you here. Seek us where winter ends, and autumn begins. Oh, and don't worry – we shan't kill the child. Not yet.
After all, there are things so much worse than death.
-R
Drizzt read through once, and then again, before handing it to Catti-brie.
"So. It seems yer story's true," the young woman commented after reading the note. Bruenor, and then Wulfgar, read it through, Wulfgar's eyebrows rising steadily throughout before tossing it back to the assassin. Entreri nodded, almost imperceptibly, as he easily caught the note.
A stiff pause hung over the group for several moments, until Catti-brie finally shrugged and set out for Ten Towns, Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis at her heels. Entreri paused and straightened the pack about his shoulders before following.
"Just hang on, kid," he muttered under his breath. "I'm coming."
Drizzt's keen ears caught the oath, and once again, he wondered about Artemis Entreri.