Part 7

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They were both awakened the next day by someone rattling the door to their cell. Artemis sat up, rubbing his eyes, and Drizzt got to his feet, combing a hand through his tangled hair.

"Heh." The guard smirked at them when he gave them the two wooden trays heaped with food. "Execution tomorrow. Enjoy your last meal." He pulled the door shut with a rusty shriek.

Drizzt looked at him in alarm.

That expression made the guard shake his head and chuckle all the way down the hall.

Artemis snorted at Drizzt's expression, seeming almost as amused. "Eat your sweet potatoes," he said. "They'll grow cold. Do you want your last meal to be a poor one?"

Drizzt scowled at him. "It's not our last meal." He showed Artemis the river stone. "Remember? I'm getting us out of here."

The drow ranger rubbed the stone and spoke the word written on it in drow language. He didn't know what it meant, but he could still sound it out. "Y'ghrathe."

Drizzt stumbled back. The results were instant. An enormous cloud of blue smoke erupted in the middle of the cell, smelling strangely of pumpkin and candy.

"Artemis! I knew you'd call on me sooner or later!" Jarlaxle burst into chatter even before the colored smoke dissipated. He looked around in confusion. "Artemis?" Then he saw the ex-assassin sitting in the corner, and his smile turned back on again. "There you are!" He swept Artemis into his arms and hugged him.

Drizzt was staring. He thought his eyes might fall out from the shock.

Artemis hung in Jarlaxle's arms limply. He didn't even look at Jarlaxle's face. "Hello," he whispered.

"I'll get you out of here," Jarlaxle said kindly. "We'll talk later. You're exhausted by your ordeal."

He turned around and pretended to be surprised. "Oh. Hello, Drizzt. How are you this fine morning?"

"Not so fine," Drizzt said dryly. "But you'll fix that, I have no doubt. Are you here to rescue me, as well?"

Jarlaxle shrugged. "Well, since you're here…" He shook his head and chuckled. "My, you do get into trouble, don't you." He was still holding Artemis.

Artemis looked as though he didn't care. About anything. His expression was completely unchanging.

Jarlaxle tipped his plumed hat and gestured grandly to the solid wall. "Let's be out of here, shall we?"

On cue, a sparkling blue portal appeared in front of them. Jarlaxle grinned smugly.

Drizzt stared at it. "Kimmuriel."

"Of course!" Jarlaxle said. He waved a hand. "After you, Drizzt."

Drizzt cautiously walked through. He found himself high on a hill, looking at Luskan in the distance. Kimmuriel was sourly standing there, and so were his friends.

Artemis and Jarlaxle appeared soon after him, and the portal closed.

"He told us he was bringin' ye," Bruenor said. He wiped his face with a fist to get rid of something that looked suspiciously like a tear. "But I didn't believe him." He rushed forward and squeezed Drizzt so tight the drow almost popped.

When the dwarf let go, Drizzt laughed and rubbed his sore ribs. "I'm glad to be free of that place, too."

"We can't go back to Luskan anytime soon," Catti-brie said. "They'd arrest ye again."

Jarlaxle stood there, grinning at everyone with one arm around Artemis' shoulders. Artemis leaned on him as if exhausted. "I love reunions."

Kimmuriel wrinkled his nose. "May I be excused?"

"Sour puss," Jarlaxle said fondly. "Go, you cranky elf."

Kimmuriel glared at him and disappeared through another blue portal, which he closed after himself.

"I thought you would never call," Jarlaxle said softly to Artemis.

Artemis averted his eyes. "Drizzt called. Not me."

"But you gave the stone to him to use."

Artemis didn't deny it.

Jarlaxle smiled at him. "I'm glad to have you back."

Artemis grunted.

Drizzt was watching this scene with interest. They were far closer than he had suspected. Artemis was letting Jarlaxle touch him, and Jarlaxle was treating Artemis like a puppy or something.

Wulfgar tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned around. Wulfgar hugged him. Then he stepped back and let Drizzt and Catti-brie embrace. Seeking privacy, Drizzt held her hand and led them both into the woods. Having no reason to stay, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis followed at a distance.

"I am sorry about the flute," Jarlaxle said, trying to meet Artemis' eyes. His smile faded.

"Don't be," Artemis said. He was struggling with some emotion. "Why would I want to carry around the name of that man, anyway? You did me a favor."

"It hurt you." Jarlaxle finally got Artemis to look him in the eyes.

Artemis' eyes flared angrily. "Life is pain. I should have expected that by now. I should never have trusted the gift you gave me." He visibly struggled again. "But I have not thanked you for what came out of it."

"Still, I did not want to hurt you," Jarlaxle insisted.

Artemis looked away. "Save it. You did. Debating that part of what happened is pointless. What is not pointless is accepting that some good came out of the pain, and to take that positive aspect with me."

Jarlaxle seemed to have difficulty with this, but he nodded, swallowing hard. "What do you do now?"

"I don't know." Artemis grinned. "Drizzt and I are no longer enemies. Perhaps I should stay a while with him before he tires of me."

Jarlaxle winced. "I never tired of you."

Artemis sighed. "Never mind. You can say what you want. The fact remains that I no longer felt wanted or needed, and I left. If you truly missed me…" He frowned. "I can't go with you." He shook his head. "Things will never be the same. I hope you know that."

Jarlaxle had trouble keeping his expression from showing deep hurt. "I do."

Artemis sighed again. "I don't want it to be so…but I cannot help what has already occurred. You know that too."

Jarlaxle nodded. "But I had hoped…" He trailed off.

The assassin looked at the ground, then raised his eyes to Jarlaxle's. "We are still friends…We will always be that. But I no longer feel I can be your companion."

Jarlaxle held himself together. "I understand. I've returned to Menzoberranzan anyway. My people…needed me there. Kimmuriel grew bored, and Bregan D'aerthe resented me for leaving." He forced a smile. "If you ever need me." He waved a finger sternly.

Artemis smiled. His smile came naturally. "I'll ask." Then his expression grew wicked. "You'd best be prepared for some unpleasant favors."

This drew a chuckle from Jarlaxle. "I will." He saluted. "Good-bye, my friend. I hope you have success wherever you find it." He paused, as though he wanted to say something more, but the shimmering blue portal appeared. He shook himself out of it and walked through the portal. The portal closed.

Artemis looked around. He stood atop a hill, Luskan in the distance, and trees were all around him. Pragmatism told him that the easiest way to get somewhere he knew would be to follow Drizzt and his friends and ask to travel with them until they once again reached Mithral Hall.

He shrugged, and set off into the woods, following their trail.