Author's Note: Guess what? This is the end of this part. I know they're dinky, but it helps set mood. Anyway, enjoy!

2

Jarlaxle hadn't been in his room, and it wasn't hard for the angered Entreri to figure out where he was. Fire burned in his blood and lit up his eyes.

He knocked on Jori's door again, trying desperately to calm himself.

"We can't let him in!" Jori yelled at Jarlaxle. She had never been this happy not to be heir.

The door burned down, and then an exhausted and defeated Artemis Entreri slumped to the floor. Cautiously, Jori walked over to her unconscious father.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. The tears that had been brimming before now flowed as she gingerly lifted him, with the help of a Bull's Strength spell, and laid him down on the bed.

Jarlaxle looked at her. "What happened?"

Jori looked at him. "Memnon is getting restless," she said quietly.

"Come," Jarlaxle said in a coaxing tone, "we should let him rest."

Jori nodded. "We should only be gone about an hour; I fear he will suffer the same fate I did in the realm of dreams."

Jarlaxle nodded and led her through the door.

22

"Where's Artemis?" asked Cletran as Jori and Jarlaxle came outside.

"He's asleep," Jori said. She sounded worried, and both Cletran and Jarlaxle looked at her wondering why.

"Why so worried?" Jarlaxle asked.

Jori didn't answer; she looked to Cletran instead. "Why did you want us to come down?" she asked.

Cletran paused. "Do you think you could help with that?" he asked Jarlaxle, motioning towards a metal dome that several men were trying to erect several yards away.

Jarlaxle nodded and headed out. When the drow was out of earshot, Cletran turned to Jori.

"Why so worried?" he asked.

"I'm going to go check on Father," she answered evasively and turned away.

Cletran sighed. She was young and easy to confuse, but she should have told him. Cletran had been raised to be High Priest; everyone in his family was trained that way so Isra herself would select the right person to become the High Priest.

222

The sand covered him. It rose and rose until it was above his head. Entreri tried to scream, but it had covered his mouth.

"Welcome, My Child," said a deep and powerful voice. Entreri turned to find an Efreet standing in front—no, above—him.

"Memnon," he breathed. The Efreet looked at him with those powerful eyes and reached for him.

2222

"Father! Wake up!" Jori screamed, shoving him off the bed.

Entreri awoke with a start. "Jori, did this happen to you?" he asked, worried.

Jori nodded. Entreri looked down. "I think this is going to be a very vicious war," he said quietly. Jori nodded again.

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"Where did Jori go?" asked Jarlaxle. He had just finished helping deal with putting the metal dome up and arrived to find Jori gone.

"I don't quite know," Cletran admitted. He looked up at the blazing sun. "I believe she went to see Daggerlord Entreri."

Jarlaxle stood beside Cletran and studied the man carefully.

Cletran was small, shorter than even Jarlaxle and Entreri. He had dark gray eyes, dark skin, and pitch-black hair. He was also dreadfully worried. Jarlaxle couldn't blame him for that. They were going into a war after all.

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It was not a restful night for Jori Entreri, even with Jarlaxle beside her. They would attack this night, she was sure of it.

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"Awful peaceful," one of the tower guards noted. The other nodded.

"The calm before the storm," a dwarven assassin said quietly. They all nodded. This was going to be a long night.

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Artemis Entreri sat on his windowsill wondering when they would attack. It was no longer a question of would, he knew that, but when.

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Avariel looked at Cletran. "When do you think?"

Cletran opened his eyes from meditation and looked at her in return. "Now," he whispered.

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Marilak crept upon Entreri ready to strike him unconscious. However, Sahide had a better idea. With a mighty roar to sound as an alarm, the panther pounced on Marilak. The poor drow was on the floor and pinned instantly.

"Good job, Sahide," Entreri said sleepily. Marilak noted this with some interest. Ali had not been sleeping well himself.

Entreri leaned down and looked at Marilak. It was his first time actually looking at the drow in the eyes. Even he felt a shudder go down his spine as Marilak eyed him without fear.

"Why did you come here?" Entreri asked. He knew it was a dumb question, but you never know what answer you'll get.

"To capture you," the drow said simply, calmly.

Entreri eyed Marilak. There would be no use in trying to imprison him.

"Tell me everything," he breathed.

Marilak weaved the tale, which despite everything, was true.

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As the sun rose everyone awoke with some feeling of trepidation. Something had happened, they just weren't sure what. One guard found out the hard way.

As the young assassin was going upon the tower a crossbow bolt landed solidly in his chest. He didn't even have a chance to scream.

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"He has assassins in hiding around our perimeter, undead ready to take the front, and wizards, clerics, and thieves, all in the front. I suspect the thieves will be the ones sending supplies to the assassins," Avariel told the assembled council.

"We are outnumbered, and many of us have no clue how to deal with undead," Entreri said quietly. Avariel turned to regard him. He was right, but…

"Artemis, what happened?"

He looked at her. "We are beaten if we can't destroy their leaders."

"Then we destroy their leaders," Cletran said. The three looked at each other; they didn't even have to say anything.