Entreri gazed out of his room's window in dismay. The fighting was well underway and killing the Dread Lord had done very little. He hadn't left his room since Nova died.

The fighting was an odd spectacle. An assassin from one side would try to sneak to the back of the other's ranks and kill someone. Sokale's undead were a much bigger threat. There is indeed something horrible to having to kill someone you know and love. Nova had been Aramil's lover.

"Aramil," he whispered quietly under his breath. Why did everything seem to tie to Aramil?

Entreri's stomach growled. He winced; he hadn't eaten in two days. Silently, he got up and went down to the dinning hall.

"Jarlaxle!" Jori called out happily when she saw him walking down the hall towards Entreri's room. She ran up and embraced him. For a moment Jarlaxle stood there, then he kissed her in relief.

"How is Entreri?"

Jori looked down. "He hasn't come out of his room since the fight. It was close you know."

"Did anyone die?" Jarlaxle asked, gripping her shoulders.

Jori nodded and whispered, "Nova's dead, but don't let anyone know." Jarlaxle stepped back, stunned.

Jori looked at him then wrapped her arms around his waist and pushed herself close to him. He looked at her, and they walked towards her room.

Watching from the shadows Entreri wrinkled his nose and continued on his way to the dining hall. If Jori got pregnant he would kill Jarlaxle—or neuter him. Entreri mulled this in his head for a few moments, then chuckled. If the two were married he wouldn't mind being a grandfather so much.

"How could you have failed so miserably?" Ali roared at Marilak. The tent would have blown into flames, except for the fact that it already had.

"At least I was there," he said calmly. Much more calmly than most would have around an angry Entreri, but Marilak had been working with this family for over five-hundred years. He had long ago equipped himself for fire resistance.

Ali seemed to calm and conceded the point. "We have still lost an ally, and they are liable to come after me next."

"Probably not, actually," a villainous and intelligent voice called from the side. Ali and Marilak turned to see Sokale von Houchie approaching them.

"And what makes you say that?" Ali questioned dangerously. He didn't like vampires. It wasn't anything moral, it was just that undead seemed to have a taste for Entreris.

"The only way to defeat you is for Artemis to come to terms with his heritage. He has not done so yet."

"And what do you mean by coming to terms with his heritage?" Ali snapped.

"He means that Artemis must decide his emotions for you," Marilak interjected.

Sokale nodded in satisfaction. "As I'm sure my now nonmoving daughter would have pointed out to you: he loves you."

Ali paused and bit his lip, then he walked away to survey the battle. Sokale chuckled.

"He was dumb enough to love Artemis," Marilak said quietly.

Sokale nodded. "It is far easier a mistake to make than you would like. Humans and elves and almost every other race are meant to love." He looked directly at Marilak. "Some individuals, be it a race or a single person, try to block it out. Very few succeed completely. Very few."

Jori nestled against Jarlaxle and listened to his heart beat in his chest. It was a wonderful sound to hear.

Jarlaxle pulled her up against his bare chest until their eyes met and rubbed her softly.

"Jarlaxle, have you ever loved anyone before?" she asked softly as she bit his hear.

Jarlaxle paused for a moment wondering if he should tell her or not. As silently as he could he rolled on top of her and looked into those dark gray eyes.

"Yes," he said quietly.

"What did it feel like?"

Jarlaxle looked at her in surprise. "I can't really describe it. It was so long ago, but you know. Why?"

Jori merely smiled mischievously and kissed him hard.

Sahide yawned as he awoke, very grateful for the cat's amazing ability to be comfy. He had felt Artemis's raging emotions and pain sense Nova had died. He wanted to comfort Artemis like one might a child, but he couldn't. Artemis wasn't a child like he had been when Aramil had known him. The years had affected him.

The great cat heaved out a sigh, maybe it was time to pay an old friend a visit again.

Jarlaxle stumbled out of Jori's room more than walked. He didn't even realize that he had a silly grin on his face, until he heard a chuckle from the shadows.

Jarlaxle spun on Entreri and glared at him.

The man merely jumped from his perch, clapped Jarlaxle on the back, and said, "I hope you like weddings." He then walked away in a much better mood than he had been in for a long time.

Jarlaxle just stood there confused. "I hope you like weddings?" he mouthed. What was that supposed to mean? After all it could mean...

Avariel watched as Entreri approached her. She wasn't very bothered by Nova's death, but for some reason seeing Entreri kissing the dying Nova had struck a nerve.

Entreri sat on the perch beside her overlooking the battle.

"We need to get Sokale first," he said suddenly.

Avariel looked at him. "It is true that the undead present our biggest weakness. But why else?"

Entreri looked startled. "What do you mean, why else?"

"There's another reason."

"I don't believe we're ready to take on their Lords yet."

"You mean to say that you don't believe you are ready to take on your father yet." She emphasized the word father and scooted in a little closer.

Entreri nodded. Avariel wrapped an arm around him and looked into his eyes.

"A father instills a love in a child that can never be fully taken away. Ali instilled that in you, Artemis."

Entreri looked at her, understanding the words for the truth they were. He then stood up and walked away. They would attack Sokale. Then, Ali would die.

Marilak looked at the sleeping Entreri through Ali's scrying and just barely contained a sigh. The man was obsessed with his son! Ali often watched Artemis in his sleep, and it was getting to be annoying. Ali seemed to imagine Artemis as a child; Marilak imagined him with a bright line of blood across his neck.

"Artemis Entreri," he muttered. The only black spot on his record, the only smudge. Marilak wanted to kill Artemis. When somebody saw Marilak assassinate someone he killed them too, and he had failed to kill that five year old boy. Looking at Ali, he was probably glad of the fact, but that didn't change the matter of pride.

"I will not get involved," Lolth said persistently. Murue looked at her queen in dismay.

"We can destroy those of Mask, M'lady! We can destroy Vhaeraun's allies," Murue said for about the fiftieth time that month.

Lolth looked at the yochol angrily, "NO!"

Murue Von Houcie stood to face her deity eye-to-eye then sighed and backed down. She would just have to try again.

The next day Entreri went to Jori's room and lightly knocked on the door. There was no response. "Jori, I hope you're in there."

"I'm in here, Father. I'm busy though," came her soft rely from through the door. Entreri smirked, and the door swung open.

Sure enough there was Jori, HIS daughter, lying with Jarlaxle.

"You didn't have to do that," she complained. Jarlaxle's ears just turned red.

Entreri leaned against the doorframe and eyed Jarlaxle and Jori together. They made a good couple, and Jori liked the drow.

"I need you to explain what happened with our plan, Jarlaxle. I also hope you two enjoy your wedding." With that he just left.

For a moment Jarlaxle and Jori just lay there, then Jori rolled on top of him. "I think we're getting married as soon as this is over."

Jarlaxle's eyes went as wide as saucers, and he started getting ready for his meeting with Entreri. Married?

Jarlaxle groaned and looked at her. He had been afraid that was what Entreri had meant.