Aramil listened to the bustle of Calimport's streets.
How could he have done it?
Aramil watched the naked, starved children run in the streets.
Artemis had counted on him.
Suddenly, Aramil's vision started to blur. He knew it was tears.
He shouldn't have done it.
Aramil started to sob uncontrollably.
Aramil had hit him, just as he was beginning to trust.
Artemis had been out so Aramil had contacted an old friend. She had suggested that the kid have a party. Aramil had decided to bring the offer up to Artemis. When Artemis had started to bring up the problems of such things, Aramil had hit him.
Artemis's voice rang in the elf's ears. He had been ordered out of Artemis's room. They had been sharing it for the boy's training. The training that might never be complete now.
Aramil rocked back and forth on the roof, sobbing. The left side of Artemis's mouth had been covered with blood.
To Aramil hitting Artemis was one of the worst things he had ever done.
Sahide watched the Callahan as the boy left his home. His lady had planned for this and the timing had been perfect. The horses had also kept their end of the deal. Now, Callahan just had to keep his.
It was to quiet. Night was just about to fall; yet there was no sound. Callahan looked through the trees wondering what was causing this to happen.
A black bolt soared through the sky and landed next to him. Callahan spun around and was ready to fire his bow in an instant.
"There is no need for such behavior," Sahide said calmly.
Callahan just stared at the talking…panther?
"Do you want to get Artemis, Jarlaxle, and the horses out of prison?" he paused for affect. "Do you want to leave the Moonwood?"
It took Callahan a moment to realize that his was nodding his head eagerly.
"Then come with me."
Callahan smiled and followed. He did not trust Sahide, but the cat had pointed out exactly what Callahan wanted to do.
In Its throne chambers Mask, the god of thieves, assassins, and disguise, watched the boy follow Sahide. Everything was going well so far. That was good; it was time for a new assassin, and for the assassins to be put back into order.
"What did you see that I didn't?" Jarlaxle asked Entreri. It was late, and the assassin still hadn't said anything.
"Red eyes," Entreri mumbled.
"On who?"
Entreri shook his head and turned to Jarlaxle. It occurred to the drow that he hadn't been paying attention to anything.
"Who caught your eyes the most?" Entreri asked.
"That boy we saw," Jarlaxle started. Entreri cut him off.
"He was the one with red eyes."
"Why does this bother you?" Jarlaxle had heard of the red eyes. It normally meant someone saw differently. However, only those with a similar case could see the red. It was another insider on who Artemis Entreri was. Jarlaxle had suspected it, now he knew. Entreri had seen death at a very young age.
"I wanted to go to the Moonwood, Sahide showed up with horses that could get us there fast, and then this boy shows up." Entreri looked at Jarlaxle.
There was a sorrow there that the drow couldn't understand. Entreri knew he couldn't understand. To Artemis Entreri the meanest joke had just been played. To Artemis Entreri, the man who hated clerics and religions so much, it was a joke, a joke against him made by a deity. He didn't want this. Then again, Artemis Entreri didn't know what he wanted.