As Aramil Galaedon looked at the drenched boy, no man now, at the docks he couldn't have been more proud.

This was the apprentice he was training. This small 16 year-old. Suddenly, Aramil realized that Artemis was approaching him.

"I did it." he said flatly. No, it wasn't quite flat. There was satisfaction and pride in that voice as well.

Of course, Artemis had just passed the coming-of-age test in the one of the worst storms Calimport had ever known.

"Indeed you did Lieutenant Entreri."

Artemis Entreri looked at his mentor with amazement. Aramil had never called him lieutenant before! It lasted only a second, but it was there.

On the way to the guild house Aramil could've sworn that Artemis looked a little taller.

They had been traveling hard and Jarlaxle was hungry as well as exhausted. Entreri didn't seem to even notice.

"How much longer are we to go without rest?" the drow complained.

Entreri didn't even stop as he replied, "We go on until we fall."

"By the blade at this point. We would be to tired to even defend ourselves."

"Then we avoid the blade."

"If we get horses we can," Jarlaxle's sentence was cut off by a loud whinnying sound behind them. As the two companions spun around and looked, a mare and a stallion looked back. The mare was a beautiful pitch-black horse, while the stallion had a gray tent. In front of the two horses sat a large male panther.

"Sahide?" Entreri questioned.

The panther looked at him and answered, "Do you want to get to the Moonwood or not? These horses will require no direction and you can be there in about 3 days."

"Sahide," Entreri stated. Obviously the talking confirmed that question.
Jarlaxle stared and shook his head in amazement. "What about food?"

"You'll have enough beside you in the saddlebags. If all goes well, you won't have to stop."

Before Jarlaxle could say anything Entreri went to the mare. "Akilah, I would be honored if you accepted me as your new rider."

Jarlaxle could've sworn the horse smiled.

"We had best be going," Entreri stated as he mounted. Jarlaxle had no time to aregue and for a change it was Jarlaxle who could only shake his head and follow.

As Entreri and Jarlaxle rode off even their keen ears could not hear the laughter over the thundering of hooves.

I'm sorry all of the chapters are so short, on my other stories they'll be longer.