"Where is it? Isra couldn't find her mask. It was the primary source of her power and the only reason she wasn't dead. Where was it?

Isra looked all around her home but couldn't find it. Where was her mask, the symbol of her power?

"Looking for this?" said a cold and calculating voice from behind her.

Isra spun around. She was far from surprised to see Shar standing there, but what did surprise her was that Shar had her mask.

"You know not to get directly into my affairs!" she screeched.

"Then you should not get into mine," the Lady of Loss responded.

"I have never been so blunt!"

"You saved the Entreri and yet you do not approve of him being part of your ranks," Shar said matter-of-factly. "Thereby you cannot say it was your business."

"It is more my business than you know," Isra said calmly. She was a deity of hiding emotion; there was no need to let Shar steal another one of her aspects.

"Ah, so the elf is involved."

"Leave," Isra said sharply.

"What of your precious mask?" Shar said teasingly.

Isra let a small smile grace her face. "I will find a way besides making any deals with you."

"As you wish," Shar said as she left. She had won this round and was content.

"Do not forget which one of us is the deity of intrigue," Isra said just quietly enough that Shar couldn't hear. Isra was ready for a return to her former glory.

8

Nova calmed down as Avariel's heart began to beat at a normal speed again. She looked at Entreri. Good--his heart was beating at a normal speed as well. Now she just wanted to know what had happened.

"How'd you sleep?" Nova asked the clearly exhausted Artemis Entreri.

He just looked at her. "I thought you had left," he mumbled.

"For a bit," she replied merrily. A motion to the side caught her attention. Avariel was signaling that it was time to talk. "Avariel and I need to talk for a moment. If you'll excuse me?"

88

"What is it?" Nova asked. She and Avariel had moved a little off of the road so that they could not be heard.

"Why are you hanging around?" Avariel asked sharply.

"You know. What's really annoying you?" She hoped that bringing the issue up hard and fast would cause Avariel to reveal herself, but it was risky.

"You left the battle."

Nova sensed that Avariel was dodging the question but decided to answer anyway.

"I wasn't given a choice. Now what's the real issue?"

"Why'd you kiss the Entreri?"

"Please, Avariel. I've already had that conversation with Wraith."

"Why'd you kiss the Entreri?"

"I saw Aramil."

"How?"

"I don't know, but I have a hunch."

"You care to share?" Avariel asked. The elf was clearly beginning to get annoyed.

"I can't," Nova said quietly. Then she walked back to the others.

888

"What was that all about?" Jarlaxle asked when Nova returned to the group. They had begun walking again, and the drow truly wanted to know.'

"Nothing," Nova said glumly. She looked at Entreri. He rode Akilah so well. Like Aramil did, she thought. The truth was she didn't like Entreri. He was too…prototype. A professional in every meaning of the word, it almost seemed as if he had no life in him.

"I wonder why he's like that?" she said quietly.

"Who?" Jarlaxle asked. He wanted to get a better feel for how she thought.

"Entreri. Why does he act the way he does?"

"I don't know," Jarlaxle answered honestly. "He doesn't like to talk about it."

"I'm sure," Nova said softly. In her mind she saw the first time she had seen Artemis. It had actually been a fairly funny event, or would've been if the boy hadn't been in obvious pain. He hadn't been able to meet his own father's gaze and because of that she knew he had been punished.

Nova looked at Entreri again. A gust of wind came and blew at his hair. A huge burn mark presented itself on his neck. Nova closed her eyes. It must've been horrible.

888

Things had been going smoothly, and the group was only a day from Waterdeep.

"I think we might actually make it without another attack," Callahan said hopefully.

"I doubt it," Entreri replied glumly. He knew well the persistence of the Entreris. His father was as stubborn as a camel. Like me, thought the assassin. Silently, Entreri prayed for the small things in life.

"Keep Jori safe," he silently prayed. Looking up at the sky Entreri thought, "I have followed the path you have laid out so far, please just return the favor by keeping my daughter safe."

Night had fallen, and the moon was full. Entreri and Jarlaxle sat just a little bit away from the rest of the group.

"This reminds of the first time I saw the surface," Jarlaxle said offhandedly.

"Oh?"

"Aramil took me. That may have actually been the first time I saw you as well."

Entreri stiffened. "He showed me to you?"

"I thought you were his apprentice," Jarlaxle said with one of his mischievous smiles.

Entreri glared at him.

"Aramil and I were…friends, I think. He wanted to show me the surface. He transported me to Calimport, and we saw a lone figure sitting on a rooftop. He left right after that." Jarlaxle looked somewhat sad. "That's the last time I saw him."

"He was executed," Entreri said simply.

"By who?" asked Jarlaxle, startled.

Entreri just looked at him and left.

Silently Nova approached. Jarlaxle was looking up at the sky, and she couldn't see Artemis. Nova hung her head down. Neither one of them knew. "Aramil," she said quietly.

How could she decide between her lover, Aramil Galaedon, and Artemis Entreri, the one who was to replace Cathi in the Circle? How could anyone decide?

8888

"Half a day and we'll be in Waterdeep," said Avariel as the group gathered around for breakfeast.

Nobody even looked at her.

88888

"Once they're in Waterdeep, we've lost!" Ali roared.

"Come now," replied Houchie, "you are the High Priest."

"What's….ah, NO, that is too dangerous!"

"It has to happen eventually," Sokale responded. "I even know somebody who would gladly help."

"Who?" asked Ali.

"The Dread Lord."

Ali smiled. "I'll do it! Oh, they had better watch out."