Author's Note: This is, personally, on of my favorite parts in this story and I hope you enjoy.

"I suppose it all started the night I'd planned to ask for Jori's hand in marriage. I had spent several days designing what the ring would look like it and had received the ring itself from the jeweler the week before, but I wanted to ask her on the full moon.

"That night I sat in my room waiting for her to come. Our rooms were connecting since she was technically my servant, and she had to come through mine. I couldn't imagine why she wouldn't want to, but she had been acting strangely recently.

"It was well after midnight but still hours from dawn when she arrived. Her clothes were disheveled and at first I thought she had been attacked in the streets. When I stood up to greet her, though, I realized they had been taken off on purpose. For a moment, I just stood there. Jori turned to look at me, and I couldn't say anything.

"She smiled. 'Thank goodness you're here, Artemis. I've been wanting to tell you something.'

I looked at her. 'What?'

"She raised her left hand where…" Entreri's voice faltered.

"She had a wedding ring on, didn't she?" Nova asked.

Entreri nodded and continued. "The ring had the holy symbol of Tyr upon it, and for a moment I just stood there. The symbol burned my eyes, but I couldn't take my gaze off of it.

"'I'm getting married to the High Priest!' she exclaimed happily.

"For a moment I felt the purest rage at her I have ever known. I screamed, right in her face, I screamed, 'He wants to kill Aramil and me! And you're planning to marry him!'

"She cringed in fear, but for an only an instant. Tears began to form in her eyes, and she ran to her room and shut the door. I couldn't stay angry at her. I began to choke down my sobs and threw myself on my bed. How could I have said anything like that to her? I should've been happy for her.

"I pulled the ring out of my pocket. I don't think I actually slept that night, but I did wake up the next morning to green eyes. I smiled, but I don't think it was very convincing.

"'What happened, Artemis?' Aramil asked in his musical voice.

"'Jori's . . .,' I couldn't say it. I couldn't believe it.

"'You don't need to worry, Artemis. You know you can tell me.'

"I sat up. 'That's what I thought about her too.'

"'Is it really that bad, Artemis?'

"'She's going to marry the High Priest of Tyr!' I blurted.

"'The one from the nearby temple?'

"I nodded. 'Well, of all the priests of Tyr she could marry, he's the most reasonable of the lot.'

"My eyes went wide. 'How can you say that? He wants to kill us!'

"'Yes, but he'll listen to reason.'

"Shaking my head, I got dressed and went down to the practice room."

Entreri looked at Nova. "How much do you want to hear?"

Nova thought for a moment, "I want a feel of how your routine went, who you are. As it is I honestly don't see what Aramil saw in you, but I want to."

Entreri nodded and continued. "I spent about an hour in uninterrupted weapons work. I was still working on using two weapons and was finding that I enjoyed it to no end. You see, most of the other people didn't wake up until about noon. Aramil had awoken me because it was almost noon. It was then that one of Bassadoni's other lieutenants, Vancini, who specialized in guild combat, walked in.

"He was a tall northerner and strongly built. I was fairly convinced that he had orc blood in him. He was big and dumb. He laughed as he saw me working with my puny longsword and dagger. This guy used a sword that was bigger than I was. I also tended to end up eyeing his upper chest.

"'What tiny toothpicks. Now this is a real sword,' he said drawing his, monstrous piece of steel.

"I didn't even acknowledge his presence. It just wasn't worth my time.

"'I bet you couldn't hit, hit, a wall with those,' he said. I finally turned to regard him.

"'Why would I want to?'

"He lifted his sword. 'You're probably too cowardly to face me.'

"I looked at him, then charged in close. The main thing I had learned in my various 'sparring' matches with people like him was to get in close. Unless they weren't good enough you were screwed anyway; they wouldn't be able to fight in such close proximity. He wasn't that good.

"He positioned his sword like a spear hoping to impale me. I had predicted the move, and rolled under him. My dagger struck his knee as I came up and he turned, but I was the faster. Just as he faced me I threw my dagger and hit one of his hands. He screamed in pain, and let go with it. Even he wasn't strong enough to hold his blade in one hand and it dropped to the ground.

"I came in fast and my sword point was at his throat before he could even react.

"'Surrender?'

"He nodded. I merely walked away."

Nova stopped Entreri at that point. "How old were you when this happened?"

"About eighteen, why?"

She just shook her head. "I was just wondering how long this happened from when I first met you."

Entreri looked at her questionably.

"I'll tell you later; for now why don't you finish your tale?"

Entreri sighed and continued. "I was in a daze all day. As soon as I had done my warm-ups and other duties I went to my room and drew. Drawing has always been something I enjoy, and it helped keep my mind off of Jori.

"That night I was sitting in a chair, writing in my diary, when Jori exited her room. I looked up to regard her. She was in a beautiful dress with rose pattern. The whole dress was in the pattern and had a base color of blue. I knew because Aramil had helped me pick it out for her. She didn't even look at me.

"'Jori,' I said hesitantly.

"She finally regarded me.

"'Jori, I . . . I have something to give you.'

"She looked at me but didn't approach. I reached into my desk drawer and pulled out the ring. It was silver with emeralds and rubies around it. The gems were wrapped in by the silver. I held it out to her.

"'I designed this to give to you,' I said shakily.

"She approached and took the ring gingerly in her hands. For just an instant, I felt her skin against mine and remembered the night I had told her all my secrets, the story of my life. I withdrew quickly.

"She looked from the ring to me, then left.

"Two days later I was still asleep when there was a knock on the door. I had been sleeping in a lot and had lost a great deal of my vigor. It was about an hour after dawn. I heard the noise of the door opening and a voice I did not want to hear.

"'Good morning, Milady.'

"Also hearing this odd greeting, Aramil arose and walked past me and through the curtain that separated his side, which was the side I was sleeping on, and my side, which was the side with the door.

"'High Priest John, what brings you here?' Aramil had turned on his sweet voice, which was a sure sign he hated this man. By the sound of John's response, the feeling was mutual.

"'How lovely to meet you, Aramil Galaedon. Lady Jori invited me for breakfast.'

"'She did?' Aramil asked threateningly.

"I stood up. All I had on were my pants, so I quickly put on a shirt and headed out to meet this…man.

"By that point Aramil had already noted that fake smiles hurt the face, and the two were in a heated argument while they sat down to breakfast. Jori had joined them but just sat there drinking coffee.

"When I stepped out the room grew silent and John stood up.

"'Artemis Entreri, I presume,' he said. I nodded.

"'Jori has told me many a thing about you.'

"I eyed Jori. What had she said? She blushed when my eyes fell upon her and looked down.

"Over the next few days John visited more and my depression grew. Aramil left just a few nights after the breakfast and didn't come back,' Entreri's voice began to choke and Nova looked at him with worry.

"'I was looking for Aramil when the messenger came with his dagger. It was a small parcel, and when I tried to open it, my fingers burned. The priest had placed a holy symbol of Tyr on it, and it didn't agree with me. I finally, managed to—" Entreri's narrative was interrupted by a great yawn. "—open it and found Aramil's dagger. I immediately went to the temple.

"They had tortured him to the brink of death, Nova. I watched for just a moment, then I pulled out the dagger he had given me and threw it. It was on the cleanest kills I've ever executed."

Entreri looked at Nova, wondering if he should continue. Nova merely leaned forward and touched his arm.

"It's alright, rest now."

Despite himself, Artemis Entreri was quick to comply.