She ignored his angry glowering for another two days, diligently changing his dressings and cleaning his wounds. He noticed she was using less and less cloth, and some of it was stained pink from his previous bleeding. But he didn't press the issue, as his wounds did seem to be healing. And she fed him a steady supply of nuts and berries with the occasional fish meat every now and again. The food was plain, but filling and nutritious, and the assassin felt his strength grow a little more each day.
They didn't speak much, and sometimes Artemis preferred it that way. It seemed like she worked hard to keep away from him and keep busy, as if she wasn't particularly interested in dealing with him anyway. Perhaps his company had worn thin on her, he thought sourly. And he felt the tiniest pangs of guilt at the notion. After all, she had selflessly cared for him, and quite patiently, for no reason that he could yet discern. And all he had given her in return was sour scowls and angry demands. So he tried to be less of a burden, taking her food without complaint, holding still while she changed his bandages and tended his wounds. He would be out of her business soon enough, he assured himself. And that would be payment enough; saving her from himself. Though she might not know that it was.
On the third day, he placed his plate and cup after his morning meal on the stump beside him and turned to the girl. He extended one arm out to her.
"Help me up?" He asked quietly when she looked at him in puzzlement.
She considered him for a moment, then gave a deep sigh. "Fine. But only for a little while."
The girl disappeared for a short while, then returned once more. She took his offered arm and lent him her strength as he unsteadily pulled himself to his feet. Tucking herself under his arm, the pair made their way slowly to the door and out into the sunlight.
When the warm sun touched his face, Artemis couldn't help but close his eyes in pleasure. Though the forests and woods had never been a favorable place to him, it was nice to get out of the bed and breathe some fresh air. The small shelter had started to feel like a strange metal coffin.
She guided him over to a large log she had obviously set up for him and helped him ease himself down.
"You did better than I thought you would." She praised him, giving him a small smile.
He grunted, but nodded. The best appreciation he could show in the moment. Then he turned his attention to their surroundings.
For a long while, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the strange structure they had just left. It looked like a massive… cone? It was the closest shape he could place to it. A cylinder that tapered into a flat, rounded point, like the rudder on a ship. But a flat wedge rested on either side of the rudder like end, making almost a T shape. As he had surmised, the strange thing looked only to be a part of something much larger. He could see the framework of the metal thing from this side; steel beams nearly as thick as he was wide protruding at odd angles with bits and pieces of the interlacing metal sheets peeling off. The covering that had been tied over the hole wasn't a blanket, as he had first assumed. It was also of a strange material, blue, with interwoven fibers. It crackled when a breeze ran over it. And the whole of the structure seemed half buried in the earth. Behind the tail end a long, deep rut was carved into the earth; fresh, no more than a few weeks old. As if this thing had fallen from a great height and skidded across the ground. Some dirt was piled near the opened end, more obviously molded, and the doorway had been dug out and smoothed. The whole thing was maybe a dozen or so feet long, maybe a yard or two more, and was surrounded by copious amounts of other strange things the assassin had never seen before. A few of the strange boxes surrounded the door, with strange instruments and devices, though perhaps someone had made an effort to hide them with blankets that looked identical to the ones in his bed. The fire pit had bits of metal surrounding it, crafted into a makeshift grill, and many more bits of the metal were stacked about.
He didn't know what to make of it. For a long time, he stared slack-jawed at the strange sight. Trying to take it all in. When he finally could tear his eyes away, he turned to the girl, who seemed to be making a point not to notice him staring.
"...What is that… thing?"
"Hmm?" She turned to him, as if just noticing he was there. "Oh, just …. Something I found."
Artemis shook his head incredulously, but moved to look at the rest of their surroundings. Though they seemed to be in some sort of pine grove, he could make out the mountains beyond…. They were much closer than they had been when last he had seen them. Had the river curved back upon itself? Bringing him instead closer to where they had been headed? Or had she merely lied about how long they had travelled to this place? He looked about again, familiarizing himself with as many of the landmarks as he could, trying to piece together what he knew of the region with what he saw.
When he next looked at the girl, there was an angry glower on his face. "We are much more than a few days from the nearest village." He accused her.
"Did I say that?" She asked innocently, waving one hand.
"Yes."
She shrugged. "My mistake."
The assassin gritted his teeth, and looked about again. "We're even deeper into the forest than…" He paused, looking about again. "...Were you here a few weeks ago?"
She looked at him with some surprise. "A few weeks? …. I suppose so-"
"Did you see something fall from the sky?" He interrupted before she could finish.
Alice paused, not saying anything for a long moment. "...From the sky?"
He nodded. "Like a falling star, but bigger. Much bigger. Some say there was a giant portal in the sky just before, then this…. thing came through…. Did you see it?"
A complicated, unreadable look crossed her face. The assassin thought he saw pain there, mixed with fear, concern, hesitation, and many others, all flashing across her delicate features. No one emotion lingered long enough for him to properly register it before it was replaced by another. Her jaw tightened and forced a shrug again.
"Can't say I did."
She was lying. He could tell she was. And he was sure she knew she hadn't hidden it well. But something was stopping her from telling him what she knew. He narrowed his eyes at her, yet didn't press the issue.
"I need you to take me to where you found me." He told her, and moved as if to stand.
"Yeah, no." She told him firmly, moving over and pushing him back down onto the log. He was still so weak, even her simple strength was able to manipulate him. "You're not in any shape to travel that far. And I'm not dragging you back here again."
Artemis gritted his teeth again and shook his head. "I think the others I came here with may not be far off." He told her, and fished around in his pocket for the small figurine. If she wouldn't take him, he'd go off himself.
She sighed. "Ok, well, a few more days and maybe we can-"
The girl stopped abruptly with a shout as Artemis summoned the hellish steed. It materialized before them in a cloud of smoke and sulfur, stomping at the ground with its fiery hooves.
"THE HELL IS THAT?" She half-shrieked. She darted in front of him, tucking under his shoulder and lifting him up with surprising strength.
She had managed to get them a few paces away before he stopped her. "Stop you fool. I summoned it. Now help me get on."
"You summoned it? From where? How?"
"With the figurine, from one of the Lower Planes. Now shut up and help me get on it." He snapped angrily, trying futilely to turn them.
She halted their progress firmly. "No fucking way I'm helping you get on that thing." She shot back, tugging him a step further away.
Artemis had to wince against the pain, setting his jaw stubbornly. "Just get me on its back and you'll never see me again."
She shook her head angrily. "You get on that thing and you'll kill yourself for sure."
"It's harmless, it's under my-"
She tugged him painfully again. "Not because of the stupid magic horse-thing, you idiot." She said, but still looked the hellbeast up and down warily. Smoke tumbled from its nostrils as it snorted at her. "You're in no condition to be riding anywhere. You can't even stand alone," She looked up at him. "What makes you think you can ride?"
He took a stubborn step forward. "That's not your concern."
"The hell it isn't." She snarled. "I just spent the better part of two weeks healing your ass." She forcibly tugged him back towards the strange shelter. "I'm not letting you make it all a waste of time."
Artemis had hardly any choice in their stumbling, rambling direction. He could barely keep his feet under him as she half-carried him back to the bed. She almost tossed him onto the bed when they reached it, panting as she straightened herself up and put her hands on her hips.
"If you're so hell bent on reaching your friends now, then I'll go find them and bring them back here."
That gave the assassin pause, and he looked the diminutive girl curiously. "...Why would you do that?"
She sighed heavily, dropping her hands from her hips and rubbing one against the back of her neck. "...I'll not see all your progress undone by your own stupidity. So… so just tell me what to look for. And I'll see what I can do." She raised one finger threateningly. "Only for a day or two. Then that's it. If I don't find anything, I don't want you to even think of going off on your own until I say so."
Artemis rubbed his jaw, not sure what to make of her offer. She would certainly be more productive than he could hope to be with his injuries. What would take him many painful days she might be able to complete in just a single afternoon or so. But he could not for the life of him fathom why she was doing all this. Obviously, she had secrets she wasn't keen on sharing, and she didn't seem overly fond of him. He had thought all she wanted was to get him out of her life, that she maybe even regretted ever stepping in to save his life to begin with. Yet here she was, once again doing more for him than some of those he might call his friends had ever done for him. It was not surprising that suspicion filled him then, wondering what ulterior motive the girl might have. But she wasn't wrong. Trying to ride off on his own might very well be the death of him…
"There's two of them." He told her finally, begrudgingly. "They are dark elves."
"Two… did you say elves?" She seemed surprised.
"Dark elves." He corrected. "Drow."
Her sky blue eyes looked at him with some mixture of disbelief and astonishment. "...alright then…" she seemed suspicious herself then, but he brushed it aside.
"No need to fear them." he reassured her, "At least…. not these two. One has a shaven head and wears a large purple hat. The other has long hair, and lavender eyes."
"...ok…"
He continued to ignore her doubting tone. "Their names are Jarlaxle and Drizzt."
She sighed heavily, sitting down. For a moment, he thought she might be having some sort of breakdown as she seemed unlikely to lift her face from her hands. As if processing this information was taking a great deal out of her. "Great. Jarlaxle, Drizzt. Got it." She looked at him with a skeptical eyebrow. "Anything else I should know?"
The assassin considered her. "The Netherese."
"The Nether-what?" she echoed.
"Netherese. Shades." He repeated impatiently. "The forest was crawling with them, and they'll kill you as soon as look at you. I'd avoid them."
"Wonderful. Should I ride your death-horse?"
He scowled at her mocking tone. "It moves faster than a regular horse. It'll get you there quicker, but it'll call a lot of attention to you-"
"Obviously."
"-So only use it when you must." He took her hand, turning it palm up to place the figurine in her hand. "Keep this with you. So you can summon it or dismiss it with just a thought."
"Just a thought?...Ok…" She turned the little statue over in her hands a few times, thumbing it curiously.
"Did my cloak come with me?"
She looked up from the statue. "Eh?"
"My cloak. Did you find it with me at the river?" he demanded impatiently.
"Oh, right. Uh," She looked around, then moved over to one of the strange cloth boxes. "Yeah, here." She pulled it out.
"Wear it." He told her. "If you wrap it about yourself and stay low and still, it has magic to conceal your presence somewhat."
"Oh cool!" She held it out before her at arm's length. "Like Lord of the Rings."
He frowned at her words, confused. When she looked over at him, his frown became a scowl. She shook her head errantly and pulled the cloak around her shoulders.
"Nevermind." She told him. She tied the clasp at her throat. "Ok. Cloak. Death-horse. Nethershade-things. Jarlaxle, Drizzt, and Athrogate." She turned back to him. "Anything else?"
Artemis considered her again, his expression doubtful. If they were really where he thought they were, the woods would be very dangerous. It was surprising really that the Netherese and other hunting parties had not yet swarmed the place, following the smoke trail she left out every night from her fire. The hellhorse would keep her somewhat safe, as would the cloak. But as far as he could gather, should she be discovered, she would be entirely helpless. Likely, he was sending her to her death.
She smirked at his doubtful expression. "Don't worry, if they're anywhere nearby, I'll find them." She offered him a teasing smile. "I'm tougher than I look."
She spent the next few minutes puttering about the shelter, gathering things, ducking in and out of the doorway. She muttered things quietly under her breath as she moved, but all he could make out was the disbelieving repetition of the word "magic" or "elves", often accompanied by a little shake of her head or a sigh. Before long, she had gathered a small pile of supplies, which she placed strategically around him.
"This should be enough for three days." She told him, considering the small collection. She picked up a sturdy looking staff of a strange material and placed it near the bed. "And this is for emergencies only." She told him firmly. "Hopefully I'll be back pretty quickly, but…" She hesitated, then cleared her throat and gathered up another small pack, slinging it over her shoulder.
Artemis knew what she had been thinking. In case she took longer than that. Or, in case she didn't come back. He felt a painful knot in his stomach that had nothing to do with any of his physical injuries. He ground his teeth again. A dozen different words danced on his tongue, but he couldn't bring himself to say any of them.
"Well, wish me luck." She told him, turning to leave.
"... Be careful," He called after her quietly. He wasn't sure she heard him.
The assassin heard a few light curses and angry stomping and snorting. Then the jingling of reigns and the loud clatter of hooves announced her departure. He even heard a surprised yelp at one point before the sounds quickly faded. He groaned, rubbing his face dejectedly.
"Are you really still looking for him?" Came a voice behind the slim drow.
Jarlaxle turned to consider the younger elf who stood by the bank of the river. He shrugged noncommittally.
"I've seen that stubborn human survive much worse." He turned back to the river before him. It had parted about a mile down river from the battle, and this part seemed to flow deeper into the forest rather than away from it.
It was silly for the drow to hold out hope, of course. They had both watched the assassin plummet into the raging rapids with the devil's sword stuck deep into his ribs. It had been more than a week since then without a single sign of him. And the drow was wasting precious time, time the assassin had bought them to keep ahead of the Netherese, but he couldn't help himself. There was some small, nagging part of him that wouldn't accept that Artemis Entreri really was dead.
Jarlaxle was so lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice his companion drop onto the rock he stood on. He landed so lightly he didn't make even a whisper of sound, his shock of white hair falling about his shoulders as he straightened to face the mercenary.
"They're gaining." Drizzt pointed out to him.
Jarlaxle nodded. He had guessed as much. The shades were nothing if not persistent and seemingly tireless. He almost chuckled at the insanity of it all. A mad dash to the finish line. But no one knew where it was, what it was, or even if it existed at all. And he kept looking for a dead man.
"Let's keep moving then." He told his younger companion, who nodded and darted off.
He followed suit, though nowhere near as fast as Drizzt with his magical anklets. He still moved quickly though, and silently hopping from rock to rock back to the bank before jogging along the bank. He paced the steadily moving waters, letting the faster elf scout ahead out of sight.
But they had been barely traveling more than thirty minutes when he came upon the ranger once again, standing still at the shore beside a small, tumbling falls. His gaze was focused on the opposite bank, a small frown on his lips.
"What's the holdup?" The mercenary asked, though his soft pant suggested he could use the break.
"I'm not sure." Drizzt replied. Jarlaxle moved up to stand beside him. The ranger pointed to the opposite bank. "...Do you see that?"
The mercenary frowned. "See what?"
"There." Drizzt pointed again. "Where the water is the most shallow… Looks almost like drag marks."
Jarlaxle's heart skipped a beat at the implication. "A bear and its kill?" he offered, trying to crush his own hopes.
Drizzt shook his head. "Too small…" He looked over at the other drow.
The mercenary barely thought about it. "We cross." He decided, and quickly skipped up onto the nearest rocks.
He gracefully hopped from place to place, not even dipping a single toe in the water as he agilely crossed the now slow moving, shallow river. He reached the opposite bank quickly and looked down at the marks the ranger had spotted. And he had been right. They were too small for something a bear or lion had dragged, and he saw no other tracks around. The rain had washed down the impression somewhat, but it still looked promising.
Drizzt stood beside him not a moment later, his more skilled eye studying the scene. Jarlaxle didn't even notice he was holding his breath until the younger elf turned to him.
"It could be." He offered, "The timing seems right, and the size." He pointed out some spots on the ground. "Old blood, washed away from the rain, but still some traces." Then he pointed up the bank. "Dragged straight that way, with some difficulty." He bounded up the bank and onto the soft soil. The ranger paced around the edge of the woods, touching a tree there and a bush here. "Look."
Jarlaxle moved closer, studying the broken branches and pressed ground. "Something moved through here?" He gathered.
Drizzt shook his head. "Something intentionally broke these. Not just in passing."
"To make something perhaps?" The mercenary suggested. "Or for a fire?"
The younger elf shrugged "The saplings would be too green for a good fire… but there's enough damage here to suggest a good amount missing and they are strong enough to make something man-sized…" He gestured to the change in shape of the dragging marks and impressions. "Maybe a stretcher?"
"Someone else was here?"
Drizzt nodded. "There's a set of faded footprints. Whatever was dragged didn't drag itself. I see full leg marks as well as the prints, not elbow or feet or knees."
Jarlaxle nodded, looking at the ground. "Could you follow it?"
The ranger rubbed the back of his neck. "...Maybe… but it was a while ago. And with the rain…." He looked over at the other drow. "Even if I could… there's nothing saying for sure it's him. Or that we'll even find him alive at the end of the trail."
As Jarlaxle turned his head, scanning the bank, something caught on the shore-side boulders caught his eye. He splashed into the water, over to a cluster of rocks just upriver from the bank they had just crossed. Knee deep in water, the elf made no attempt to conceal his movements. When he reached the cluster, he bent down, his head disappearing for a moment. When he straightened, he held something in his hands.
"What is it?" Drizzt called, skipping a few paces closer.
Jarlaxle held up the weapons belt, his breath catching in his throat as he did. It was Artemis'. No mistaking it. Void of weapons. He looked back at Drizzt eagerly. The ranger nodded.
"It's him then." He agreed.
Jarlaxle opened his mouth to answer, but suddenly dived to the side as a sharp whizzing sound filled the air where he had just been standing. An arrow bounced harmlessly off the ground, and the trio whipped their heads around. Netherese were gathering on the opposite shore, drawing up bows as several others began to cross with their own weapons drawn.
Scimitars appeared in Drizzt's hands in a flash of steel. Jarlaxle quickly scanned the area, noticing the small group of shades quickly swarming down river and across the rocks. Back to their right, the way was clear, and directly behind them. But the opposite bank and their left were fast filling with enemies. Too many of them.
Quick hands deflected arrows as Drizzt moved forward to engage the front lines of fighters who crossed the river. The small, sweeping falls to the left was only proving a minor barrier to the Netherese, who charged down the slope to cross at its base. Jarlaxle sent a few timely flying knives to embed themselves in some crossing shades, collapsing them in the path of their brethren. But although the first blood was theirs, Jarlaxle knew the pair couldn't linger here. And he was sure he saw a familiar warlord emerging from the trees far back from the shore.
Drizzt forced back the line that crossed through the water before them, while Jarlaxle drew a wand from the folds of his clothes, and with a whisper sent a fireball shooting across the river at the archers on the opposite bank. They needed something more though, if they had any hope to escape.
A dark form in the corner of his eye caught his attention. At first he thought one of the shades had managed to cross at the top of the falls. But as he dropped a knife into his waiting hand, the figure's cloak whipped behind them and couldn't help but start in surprise.
"Artemis?" He wondered aloud, but Drizzt was too far away to hear him.
The cloaked figure, cowl pulled over his head, looked down at the battle, then darted out of sight. Jarlaxle half-turned towards them, but was forced back into the battle as two Netherese slipped past Drizzt and charged at him. He dropped two daggers into his hands, and with a flick of his wrists he readied the short swords as the pair charged at him. A parry and a feint had one scrambling for his footing as he knocked the other's weapon aside. But he couldn't help but glance back up at the top of the falls. His distraction cost him, and he had to jump quickly to the side to avoid a stabbing thrust from the staggered opponent.
The pair were overly eager though, and Jarlaxle quickly had them off balance again. He tossed his sword up into the air, and as the more forward shade followed it with his eyes, Jarlaxle flicked a fresh dagger into his hand and out at the shade. He fell back, clutching at his gushing neck, but the other charged in. The mercenary feinted right and managed to catch his sword, then spun and knocked the shade's weapon, a broad axe, wide to the left. He sliced down, scoring a hit across his opponent's face that had him howling. The drow spun back to his left, hooking his opposite sword under the axe to keep it out wide and driving home with his other. The shade managed to pull himself back enough to keep the wound from being fatal, but he had to relinquish one hand's grasp on his weapon in order to do so. As he staggered back, Jarlaxle flicked his wrist, transforming the sword back into a knife which he threw with amazing accuracy into the shade's shoulder.
Blood streaming over one eye and out of his shoulder, the shade managed to fix his stance and regrasp his axe. But he was lifting it frantically this way and that as the mercenary sent a barrage of knives at him. One hit him in the knee, dropping him down, and with a swift slice with his remaining sword, the shade fell out of the fight.
A quick assessment of the scene did not encourage the drow. Drizzt was managing to keep the rest of the Netherese back, but though the bodies piled on the shore, more and more of the shades were filling the river. They plowed through the water, not caring that the waist deep river slowed them momentarily. The mercenary fired a few quick knives at several of the front runners, but it hardly slowed them. They would soon be overwhelmed, and the archers were beginning to recoordinate.
Cursing under his breath, he flicked his wrist to shrink the sword back to a knife and tossed it at a shade before reaching for his wand once more. Moments later he fired another fireball at the opposite bank, but it was less effective this time, as many of the archers dove to the sides.
A sudden rumbling filled the air, steadily growing in volume. It had everyone turning to look at the small falls, which seemed more full and gushing than moments before. Suddenly, a heavy rush of water shot over its top. So powerful was the rush that it swept away half the Netherese in the water before anyone even fully realized what had happened. The river flooded up the banks, forcing both parties back and knocking more shades off their feet. Drizzt took the opportunity and quickly finished off the remaining Netherese on their side of the river. The torrent of water continued, but the Netherese were not looking at their lost brethren anymore. Many were shouting and pointing at the top of the falls, though the drow could not make out their words.
He turned to see what they were looking at, and grinned at the black cloaked figure there. The figure gestured to them, then darted off. Calling to his companion, the drow acted quickly and followed Artemis without hesitation. Drizzt quickly caught up and even passed him. By the time the river had begun to calm, the trio were long out of sight. And the Netherese still had no hope of crossing.
"Artemis?" Jarlaxle called softly as they all slowed. He looked around, expecting to see the assassin around every tree.
Drizzt still held his scimitars in his hands, searching more warily than the older drow. When Jarlaxle looked at him, he gave him a doubtful look, shaking his head. And he was right of course. The injuries the assassin had received would not have healed so quickly. But perhaps he had been found by a wizard or priest…
"Artemis?" he called again anyway, making his way deeper into the woods.
"...Which one are you?" Came a wary, feminine voice from their right.
Jarlaxle stopped short and spun, as did his companion, facing the diminutive form in the dark cloak. A stab of disappointment filled the drow, but he shook it aside quickly. He knew that cloak. He had been the one who had given Artemis that cloak. If this new character was not Artemis himself, surely she knew of his fate.
"Excuse me?"
"Which one are you?" She repeated, taking a step back as Drizzt turned his scimitars towards her. "Jarlaxle, or Drizzt?"
The mercenary smiled broadly, tapping the brim of his broad hat. "I am Jarlaxle." He told her, then gestured to the other drow. "And this is Drizzt."
She hesitated, her cowl turning back and forth slightly as she looked them over. She still seemed ready to run at any moment. Jarlaxle reached out and placed a hand on Drizzt's shoulder. When the ranger looked over at him, he gestured for him to sheath his swords. Which he did after a moment.
"Thank you, for what you did back there." Jarlaxle said, approaching the cloaked figure slowly, trying hard to seem as unthreatening as possible. "It was you, yes? Who flooded the river?"
She didn't answer right away, but the cowl nodded slightly.
"You know where our friend is?" Drizzt asked, not sure whether to sound hopeful or doubtful.
"Huh. So he does have friends." She breathed, "How odd."
Drizzt couldn't help but smile, "Yup, she's met him alright."
"Who are you?" Jarlaxle pressed, "Have you seen Artemis?"
She hesitated a moment longer, then reached up and swept down her cowl. Her young face and delicate features left the drow rocking back on his heels in surprise. Golden blonde hair tumbled about her face, though the majority was pulled to the back of her head, and her pale, porcelain skin seemed ethereal in the sunlight that managed to pierce the leaves.
"Yeah, I know where he is." She told them. "He sent me to look for you guys. I'll take you to him."
She turned and made her way back through the woods. The pair quickly moved to catch up.
"You didn't give us your name." Drizzt pointed out as he drew up just behind her.
She glanced over her shoulder at him, then turned forward once more. "...Alice." She informed him, skipping up a small hill and around a clump of trees gracefully.
"Were you the one that pulled Artemis from the river?" Jarlaxle asked, casting a glance over his shoulder to be sure they weren't being followed. For good measure, he activated one of his many items to hide their trail.
"Yeah. He was pretty badly wounded. Lost a lot of blood." She replied.
"Where is the bastard now?" Athrogate growled, "Does he live?"
She glanced back over her shoulder at them. "He's still healing," she told them,"But I think he'll be fine." She shrugged. "As far as I can tell. I'm not a doctor though."
She paused in a small clearing and fished into one of her pockets. As she did, her cloak swept back, revealing strange garments underneath. Jarlaxle frowned slightly at that, but when she pulled out the statue he had given Artemis her clothes were quickly forgotten.
"He gave me this to get to you faster." She explained to them, turning the thing over in her hands. "But I don't think we can all ride on it..."
"No need, I have my own mount." Jarlaxle reassured her.
"I can ride with Jarlaxle." Drizzt told her.
She nodded. "Alright, should we go then?" She tossed the statue to the ground and summoned the hell horse.
She approached it hesitantly, obviously not super fond of the beast. The feeling seemed mutual, and the creature snorted angrily and stamped its hooves. But she grabbed its reigns none-the-less and pulled herself into the saddle.
Moments later Jarlaxle had summoned his mount and the drow mounted up. She led the way through the forest, and though she was much less confident with her mount and therefore moved at a slower pace than was possible, they still made quick progress. Before the sun had set she slowed the hellbeast and lead the way into a small clearing.
The sight of the strange structure had Jarlaxle pulling up his mount short. He stared at the strange shelter open mouthed, his beast shuffling restlessly beneath him. The girl had already dismounted and dismissed her hell horse and looked back at them nervously. When he finally was able to tear his gaze away from the strange sight and look back at her, he realized she was wringing her hands. But she moved into the metal-looking contraption, ducking her head through the door.
The pair dismounted and Jarlaxle dismissed his beast, walking slowly forward as they looked this way and that at the strange little clearing warily. Jarlaxle noticed the broken trees behind the structure and the deep imprint in the ground. Realization began to trickle into him as he looked over at his companion. Drizzt seemed to be on the verge of the same breakthrough, but it had not yet fully dawned on him.
"What in the Gods' names is this thing?" Drizzt pondered softly under his breath.
The girl reappeared in the doorway. "Come on in, then. He doesn't seem to believe me." She told them.
She stood aside as they each ducked their way into the strange structure hesitantly. Artemis was sitting up on an equally strange bed, bandaged and weak looking, but alive. Jarlaxle couldn't help but smile widely.
"I knew it would take more than a devil to kill the likes of Artemis Entreri." He boasted, reaching out to grasp the assassin's unbandaged shoulder.
"The river certainly didn't make it easier." Artemis pointed out sourly, but he couldn't completely hide the relief in his face at seeing his companions.
"We thought you'd risen from the dead when we saw the lady Alice here in your cloak." Jarlaxle said with a laugh.
"I wanted to go myself." He assured him, "But my wounds have not healed enough yet to ride."
"Good to see you alive, wounded or not." Drizzt piped in dryly.
"And still managing to find the artifact to boot!" Jarlaxle exclaimed.
Artemis blinked in surprise, but quickly made the same connections the drow had as he considered his words. He looked about the strange shelter, then shrugged.
"Doesn't seem like much."
Jarlaxle turned to speak to the girl, full of questions, but found her not standing in the doorway any longer. Drizzt ducked out the door in search of her, and the mercenary cast his eyes around at the strange things filling the shelter.
"What do you know of this place?" He asked the assassin.
He shrugged. "About as much as you." He nodded at the door. "The girl may know something, but she's been keeping it to herself if she does."
The drow nodded thoughtfully, picking up the strange cup that Artemis had been using for water. It bowed beneath his fingertips and he almost dropped it in surprise."I'm not sure what we can glean from this artifact, but even having found it before the Netherese is a boon I had begun to lose hope for."