Part 6

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Counting Artemis as an enemy was hollow now. The story he'd told couldn't be used as an excuse for the things he had done…but he hadn't used it as an excuse. He had already admitted that his actions were wrong, his life was empty and a waste. And those words, which Drizzt had longed to hear once, also felt hollow. He derived no pleasure from seeing Artemis this way.

They'd been silent since yesterday. Since Artemis'…talk. Drizzt didn't dare speak another word to him, not today, and not tomorrow. He planned to be silent for all his tomorrows.

Even a moron could see I'd pushed him too far, Drizzt thought, glancing over at him. We were conversing for once, and I pushed too hard. Of course. There was a surprising amount of bitterness in him at his behavior.

The guards had delivered food again. Jerky that could break their teeth, and more water. Artemis was only chewing on the dried meat because he had to. Hunger had forced him out of his apathy.

Drizzt declined. Instead, he sat making marks in the mold on the wall. It was the drow language. He wasn't sure what he was writing. he was just writing what little he could remember from early childhood. Since coming to the surface, he'd lost most of his knowledge of the drow written language due to disuse.

They both jumped, startled, at the sound of something hard drawn across the bars on the door to their cell. "You've got a visitor," the guard called.

Drizzt leapt to the door and reached through the bars when he saw who it was. The guard hadn't been accurate. It was more than one visitor.

"Catti-brie. Bruenor. Regis." Drizzt was suddenly choking back tears. He hadn't realized how frightened he was until he saw their faces. "W-Wulfgar." Despite himself, tears were trickling down his face.

Catti-brie wound her fingers around his. Their eyes met, and he had the urge to press himself against the bars to get closer to her.

"Durned elf," Bruenor sighed, looking away at the display.

"Drizzt," Wulfgar said. He looked decidedly drawn and pale. Drizzt thought it was being back in Luskan that was making Wulfgar look so subdued. "Are you alright?"

Drizzt glanced back at Artemis. Artemis was sitting in the corner of the cell the furthest away, looking down at a few pieces of dirty straw. "I'm alright."

"Who'd they put in there with you?" Wulfgar asked. His brow crinkled in confusion.

"He's…" Drizzt frowned. He didn't know what to say. "He's an old friend." He immediately felt guilty. "Sort of. Look, you've got to get him out of here. He's going to die."

"So're you," Wulfgar said. His eyes hardened. "They're going to kill you, Drizzt."

Catti-brie started silently crying. Drizzt now realized she wasn't speaking because she couldn't. Her throat was too tight.

Bruenor wouldn't look at him. "Aye. They've got ye in here good."

Drizzt shattered. "What did I do?"

Catti-brie started openly sobbing. "Oh, Drizzt, ye killed a Luskan man! They said he was a spy for the Magistrate! He was on business!"

"But what – where….?"

"The man in the alley." She turned away too, unable to handle what was happening.

"The…the man in the…" Drizzt felt all the blood drain from his face. "The man who was assaulting that woman and her baby? He was a member of the law?"

"Surprise, surprise," Artemis muttered behind him.

Wulfgar scowled at the ex-assassin, even not knowing who it was. "Who is that?" the barbarian muttered.

"I…" Words failed him. "Please." Drizzt sought out Wulfgar's eyes. "You have to believe me. I…I can't leave him here. He deserves another chance."

"Who is it?"

Everyone was staring into the cell at the person in the shadows.

Drizzt shifted uncomfortably. "It's…it's Entreri. But don't say that anymore. That's not his name. It's…not a good idea. He's very upset. Just call him Artemis for now."

"What is he doing up here?" Catti-brie looked hysterical. "What is he doin' up here? I thought he was down in the realm of Calimport! I don't like him, Drizzt, I don't trust him! You're not letting him out of there! He scares me!"

"You hear that?" Artemis said, looking up at them with calm, gray eyes. "I scare her. Do what she says, Drizzt. Leave me here."

Drizzt looked at him helplessly, guilt growing inside his chest. "I…I can't leave him here." He looked at them, frightened but resolute. "Please. If you get me out, get him out as well. Otherwise…Otherwise we'll have to find a different way. I can't leave him here."

"Why do you keep saying that?" Regis demanded. He'd been silent the whole time, looking queasy because of their surroundings, but now a flicker of anger lit his cherubic features. "What has he done to you? Is he holding you hostage? He can't bully you!"

Why won't they listen? Drizzt turned away, looking at Artemis' bowed figure. "He's not the assassin we know. He's come a long way from home, and he's changed. He's being kept here against his will, I don't care why, and I'm taking him with us. He needs someone to help him. He does. He needs someone."

"Why does it have to be you?" Regis asked. He pouted stubbornly.

"I came here," Drizzt said. "I am here in this cell with him. It has to be a sign of some sort. I am supposed to do this. I am supposed to help him. Please. Help me help him."

Regis looked away, distraught by this.

"If you're inclined to listen to anything I say, hear this," Artemis said. "Take him with you. He deserves to be let out of here." He let out a bleak laugh. "Me? Let me stay here. I'll walk to my end willingly. Don't let him dissuade you. You are wise to leave me here, where I cannot hurt anyone else."

The Companions all exchanged glances amongst themselves.

Artemis sighed. "Drizzt, come here."

Drizzt hesitantly tore his eyes from his friends and went to the corner, bending down.

Artemis took a small, flat object out of his pocket. "Take this." He placed it in Drizzt's palm and sighed. He stared up at the ceiling. "This is a device that is used to call Jarlaxle. If you have difficulty escaping, call him. I am sure he will help you. I am not sure of much, but I do know this: He owes you, or your family, a substantial debt. He will not let you down."

Drizzt stared at him, stunned, and at the smooth river stone in his hand. "If you could call him this entire time…"

Artemis turned pain filled eyes on him. "Why would I want to? It has been three years, and it is too soon to talk to him."

Drizzt closed his hand around the stone and nodded. His throat was too tight to speak.

"Time's up," the guard said.

"Wait!" Catti-brie tried to stay behind, grabbing onto one of the bars in the door. She was forcibly escorted away with the rest of the Companions.

The drow ranger felt a heavier weight on his shoulders than ever before. He had the responsibility of not only getting Artemis out of here, but the responsibility of calling Jarlaxle to do it and somehow making amends between the two mercenaries. He couldn't let Artemis refuse escape just because he was so hurt over Jarlaxle he refused to talk to the drow. And Drizzt knew that Artemis hadn't been thinking clearly when he only said Jarlaxle had betrayed him. For if Jarlaxle let himself be tied down to anyone to the extent of leaving a device he could be summoned with at any time, then he cared a great deal more than anyone could ever think to give him credit for.

Drizzt could say with almost certainty that Jarlaxle cared for Artemis more than Jarlaxle had ever cared about Zaknafein. He clenched his fist around the smooth river stone.