When Callahan descended the inn stairs, he found his master sitting without Jarlaxle. What was the problem? Why wasn't Jarlaxle with him? Cautiously, Callahan approached and sat by Entreri.

"Where's Jarlaxle?"

"Still up in his room," Entreri responded.

"His room?" Callahan asked. Now he was really worried.

"Yes, his room."

Callahan looked down, his shoulders slumping.

"I couldn't bear it if he stopped traveling with us," Callahan said softly. Then he got up and moved to another table. He sensed that his master needed some time alone.

44

The cellar was cold and dark, just perfect for Wraith and Nightwing.

"We can't let Jarlaxle leave the group," Wraith said decidedly. "They really are close."

Maybe we should call Nova. Nightwing suggested.

Wraith nodded and pulled a small orb out of her satchel. "Nova, we need to talk." Without warning, the orb exploded. It had never done that before, than Wraith remembered where Nova probably was. Except in Wraith's tower there was nothing that could get into the assassin Citadel.

"It looks like we're on our own," Wraith sighed.

We are three, just as we normally are.

Wraith looked at Nightwing. The Guardian was right. "We're not our normal three, though."

You're worried about how he'll take it.

Wraith smiled. Nightwing was observant. She then looked at her companion. "It's just so much at once," she said. "How will he take it?"

Nightwing looked at her friend, but didn't respond. Wraith understood. They would travel with the group. Things would play their course.

444

"You want to travel with the group?" Entreri asked incredulously.

Wraith had begged the whole group to join together. Jarlaxle refused to look at Entreri.

"I won't be a hindrance," she replied casually.

"The drow is enough extra," Avariel said sharply. "We don't need you."

"Nova Von Houchie seemed to think you did," Wraith replied defensively.

Avariel sat back, stunned. "She wouldn't dare!" the Thief Lord finally hissed.

"It is necessary," Wraith responded angrily. Avariel looked like she would attack the ghost right then and there. She probably would've too if Entreri hadn't intervened.

"She can join," he said quietly. Wraith smiled.

4444

Jarlaxle looked at Entreri as the man packed. He had hurt the man. He knew that. He needed to do something about it. The truth was Entreri's friendship was important to him.

"Artemis, there's something I need to tell you," he said quietly. He was determined that he would do this.

"What?"

"I am also noble, and highly so," he said. "I shouldn't have yelled at you." Then he said the two words he had thought he would never say: "I'm sorry."

Entreri was stunned. He didn't know what to say. "I forgive you," he finally settled with, "just don't tell anyone else, please."

Jarlaxle nodded. He was just glad that their friendship seemed to be on the mend.

44444

Not everyone was glad of this news. Once Sokale had learned of the argument, he had been hopeful that the drow would leave. One less person to deal with would have been nice. Not only that, but the vampire understood the way Entreri worked. He would not have been very efficient afterwards.

Houchie paced around the small room he was using, hardly fit for a lord, and was struck by a sudden and vicious idea.

Undead seemed to want to eat Artemis. The only times he had lost control was when he had smelt Entreri's blood. He had heard about the incident with the ghosts. Maybe, he could get Wraith to lose control.

444444

"At least it is a lovely day for travel," Jarlaxle remarked cheerily as the group headed out.

"I just hope we get even a day out of here before something tries to kill us," Avariel responded sourly. Somehow she knew it was only wishful thinking.

444444

"Nova, what news do you bring of my adversary?" the Assassin Lord begged.

Nova smirked. She had said that someone was coming to kill him, just not who. As far as he knew it could be some upstart. That's what she wanted him believing anyway.

"We seem unable to find any records of an assassin planning such a thing," she began.

"Where have you looked?" he asked eagerly.

The buffoon, she thought, he doesn't even think about the fact that Mask hasn't shown up since . . . since Aramil died. She didn't want to think about that.

"Only the highest ranking assassins," she responded.

He nodded. "That means they're low in power," he mused. "Thank you, you may take your leave."

Nova did just that and was almost immediately stopped by High Priest Cletran.

"What did you find about Artemis?" he asked eagerly.

"Let me show you," she said, her tone grim.

444444444

Deep underground Sokale Von Houchie finished his spell.

44444444444

The scent was so strong. Wraith could hold off against it normally, but this was too much. She lost control.

Entreri felt the cold as Wraith entered his body. He had never felt it before and fell to his knees. It didn't take long for the rest of the group to figure out what was happening. They couldn't attack Wraith, though, because she had put her whole self inside of his body.

Entreri screamed as she began to pull the life energy out of him; there was nothing his friends could do.

44444444444444444444

Nova felt the screams and cursed. Cletran looked at her curiously.

"I have to go," she yelled. She vanished through the wall.

444444444444444444444444

There was nothing they could do. Jarlaxle felt completely helpless.

Then someone appeared out of midair. Nova!

She grabbed onto something and yanked. Jarlaxle couldn't see what she had grabbed, but Wraith was hurled out of Entreri's body.

"What are you doing?" Nova asked. Then Nova smelt something she couldn't resist.

When Artemis had fallen down his knees had scraped on the hard road. She tackled him.

Entreri was so weak he could barely move. When Nova pounced him, he just looked at her. Those eyes... "Aramil," she whispered. How could he have Aramil's eyes and yet have their eyes be different colors? She backed off and stared at Entreri as he tried to get up.

"Aramil," she said again.

Entreri looked at her. She stood up and did the thing he had expected least. She grabbed him. Just as Entreri was about to fight her off, she leaned in close and kissed him.

Startled was not the right way to describe what Sokale felt at that moment. Aramil was inside Artemis. Now Houchie realized just how much would be accomplished by killing the Calishite, but he'd need help. However, Sokale Von Houchie was resourceful and knew exactly where to get it.

Sokale was not the only one stunned. Everyone in Entreri's not-so-little group was also stunned. They were nothing compared to the amazement Entreri felt, though.

He didn't want this. He did not need a woman in his life. Something inside of him, though, wanted him to wrap his arms around this woman who he didn't even know (although he could guess who she was), and make this last as long as possible.

Finally, she backed away. "I guess I'm traveling with you," she said simply. Entreri nodded. He had only felt like that once before, and he wasn't sure if it were a bad thing or a good thing.