9/30/09

Disclaimer: I do not own Drizzt and Co. at all so don't sue me because I'm dead broke. They are rightfully the property of R.A. Salvatore and the company people above him. Everyone else is or should be mine as is the fictional story I have created around them.

WARNING: This story contains: Foul language, violent ideas, violence, inappropriate situations/ideas, most likely inappropriate situations/ideas and religion bashing. If you do not like or approve of any of these things please stop reading this story before you become offended, should you continue if you don't like the latter you do so at your own risk.

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Chapter Twelve: The Thing About Wizards

The Dock Ward was crowded as usual. People of all parts and races of Faerun covered the streets in search of either ship passage, fortune or fine entertainment. Across the street from the companions some random adventurer bragged about his recent exploits, but it was only the typical 'I killed a hundred orcs in an hour' brag. The adventurer, who was obviously quite intoxicated, approached the companions brazenly and leaned himself against the building behind them facing Kitana.

"What's a pretty little thing like you doin' with a bunch of drow?" he asked severely slurring his words. "They takin' you prisoner or somethin'?" He sluggishly tired to make a grab at Kitana but overbalanced, fell forward and hit the wall. The man sloppily tried to straighten himself up and still look tough, Kitana and the others hid their laughter and she pulled out a dagger from the back of her belt.

"Don't touch me." She commanded the man at the point of her blade. Her voice had been soft but it was still forceful enough to make the man go rigid before her. "Get away from me." The man stumbled away mumbling to himself for a moment and then faced her again.

"Fine y-you lousy little bitch...I'll have you know I killed a-a thousand of those -those bastards. You wait -you want an' see wha' I can do. You wait..." He wandered off crashing into a crossing pedestrian in the process and slamming into the street. People passing offered nothing but small glances.

"I hate it when that happens." Kitana stated to none of her companions in particular. "This is exactly why I like going around at night better, those people know not to fuck with me."

Jarlaxle chuckled softly at her, "Can you really blame our drunken friend there? I'm sure I've told you many times that you are exceedingly beautiful. Even Artemis freely admits that. It must be near to impossible for someone in his state to resist."

"That doesn't make it any less annoying." Kitana replied flatly. "We've been looking for a ship to board all day and we haven't found anything. It's sunset and the captains wont leave after dark. We should decide on what to do now."

"We may have better luck here tomorrow morning." Drizzt offered. "We may be able to find some last minute accommodations then or even tonight in one of the taverns on Dock Street. Ship crews tend to herd into them in greater numbers before leaving and smart captains don't leave their crews alone just to make sure there is no trouble."

"But fewer people leave port in Baulder's Gate and we would have more of a chance, perhaps, of gaining board there. That could in turn make up for the couple days we would lose getting there."

Drizzt shook his head, for once disagreeing and correcting his companions. "But captains of Baulder's Gate are not so accommodating. They ask for large fees and often go back on deals regarding passage. Just as well, we would have an even harder time getting a ship there being that three of us are drow. Even my reputation wont help us there, we're better off here where the captains know and speak well of me."

Kitana stared into his eyes as if searching for something. He stared back just as evenly and concealing nothing including his amazement at her transformation. She was almost completely different now even though he knew she was the same person. Still, she seemed much more untrusting and weary of the companions she had come to know so well. The ranger wondered briefly what effect this had on Entreri whom he knew to be her lover having seen them together one night.

"Alright." she said finally. "We'll stay the night and see if we can get something. But if we don't get anything by tomorrow evening we go to Baulder's Gate. Personally, I don't really care how we get to Calimport. I just want to kill the wizard." The others nodded in agreement and they entered the nearest inn on the street.

The place was unsurprisingly crowded like the street had been but there were spare rooms, two of them. Drizzt mused that it was funny how often that was the case. This time however, Kitana took a room for herself and the others shared the other one. They knew they would not see her for the rest of the night. It was shortly before eleven before Drizzt found a captain willing to let them on and take them to Calimport, the news would be relayed to Kitana in the morning but for now the ranger had other things on his mind. He looked up from his glass of mulled red wine and to the assassin sitting opposite him at the table. Jarlaxle and Kimmuriel had left to procure some useful magical equipment from their coffers in Bregan D'aerthe's hideout. "How is this effecting you?" Drizzt asked Entreri softly.

The assassin looked up with a raised eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

Drizzt warily bit his lip but decided to come clean. "I know about you and Kitana." he said simply. "I saw the two of you one night in the kitchen."

Entreri did not remove his gaze from the drow's face, somehow he sensed that there was more to what he was saying. He watched with a small bit of satisfaction when Drizzt swallowed hard and struggled to find the right words.

"I watched." He blurted. The ranger trembled in his seat wishing Entreri would stop staring at him like that.

"You watched."

Drizzt felt himself shrinking back into his chair. "I'm sorry...I just...I don't know why I stayed. I saw you and then I-" He slapped his hand over is mouth, embarrassed and realizing he had said far too much. His eyes were wide with fear and he wanted nothing more to flee from the room but he felt rooted to the spot, he couldn't move. Entreri said nothing, he just sat there staring. Drizzt cleared his throat loudly. "Excuse me." He got up and left the room as quickly as he could.

Jarlaxle and Kimmuriel chose to make themselves known at that moment. They watched Drizzt's flight curiously and slightly confused. "What was that about?" Jarlaxle asked.

Entreri shook his head. "I have no idea."

The rest of the night no one said a thing. In the morning they boarded the ship and the sea brought no more than a minor scuffle. Eight days later the deserts of Calimshan shifted beneath their feet. They were lucky and were able to have been let of in Calimport itself.

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"Master she is in the city." An underwizard said to Delmorae as he entered his room. "She is not alone."

Delmorae regarded him curiously and bade him to continue.

"She has three drow with her and..." The underwizard paused as though thinking of a different way to continue.

"And?" Delmorae pressed.

"Artemis Entreri."

Delmorae dismissed the underwizard and fell back into his chair. Things had just gotten much worse. "I will just have to kill them too." the wizard said to himself. He was reluctant to call on his master again knowing that he would be angry for yet another interruption. He pulled a book off of the table next to his chair and started to study. He would need all the spells he could have if he had any chance of winning the inevitable battle and pleasing his master.

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Kitana paced the room frustrated. No one on the street would speak but that was the usual case. She needed information on the wizard. At the moment, the demoness was waiting for the one person she knew would be able to tell her what she wanted to know. The others watched her from across the room still not knowing what to make of the situation. A grim darkness had fallen over her features, she had been angry before but now there was strange power behind it. Not even Jarlaxle could fully fathom this power, though admittedly, he did not fear it as much as he had back in the ballroom where it had been completely unbidden.

A small knock came at the door and a childish looking form stepped through. Dwahvel Tiggerwillies smiled up at the pacing Kitana uneasily. Kitana stopped and looked over at her and the parchment folder in her hand. The halfling sat down and motioned silently for the demoness to join her. Dwahvel examined her old acquaintance carefully. She had known Kitana for years and had worked for their mutual benefit many times. She was well aware of her counterpart's nature and reputation that was spoken of just as fearfully as the other assassin in the room. He looked just as uneasy.

Dwahvel set the folder down and slid it over to Kitana who opened it. "The wizard's name is Delmorae, no surname. He was the head wizard of House Del'amure of which the guildmaster was killed six and a half months ago. The wizard now leads the house. From what I've been able to gather he was of moderate talent before the take over and he still exhibits the same abilities. This makes me believe that he has someone more powerful backing him, there was no way he could have taken the guild by himself. Pasha Del'amure was too powerful for that."

Kitana nodded. "I have also come to that conclusion. No person, even a wizard, in Calimport would have been able to properly make that poison without knowing my nature and having help with it. It would have taken someone not of normal mortal abilities or a non-mortal being to get it right. I know of none in Calimport or Memnon."

"You would know." Dwahvel replied. "You do keep tabs on those certain enemies. Do you have any idea who it is then?"

"None yet. That's why I came to you."

The halfling leaned onto the small table, folding her hands and pressing her lips to them as was her normal thought sequence. "Did you not tell me once, that the herbs for those poisons must be harvested quickly and immediately put into a brew before they became useless?"

Kitana nodded again wondering what the halfling was getting at.

"The only place that those plants grow around here is on the Calimshan-Tethyr border. Whoever gave the wizard the poison would likely come from there, wouldn't they? The caves along the border would be perfect conditions for distillation."

The demoness's eyes widened. "I know who it is." What Dwahvel said made perfect sense and she only had one enemy in that particular area. He would be grounded to that place because she had destroyed his wings and he would have the ability and the knowledge to make the Demon's Bane potion. "Thank you my little friend, I owe you one." Kitana smiled warmly, bowed and left the room. The others made to follow but Dwahvel stopped Entreri with her hand on his.

"What has happened to her?" she asked the assassin.

"From the little she has told us, this wizard poisoned her and temporarily turned her human. We took a job out near Waterdeep for a noblewoman to watch her and keep her in check. From that point we learned that she was the real victim and we have been working with her ever since. She was returned to normal three days ago. But tell me Dwahvel, we know she is an assassin but we have been unable to determine which one. Who is she really?"

Dwahvel's uneasy smile returned, she took a deep breath not knowing what the consequences of revealing this would be. But then she figured that if Kitana didn't want them to know anything, she would not be working with them. "Kitana Bonicia." she said. "More commonly known as the assassin Kanashimi." She let Entreri's hand go and they left without another word.

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Memories washed over her as she walked the city streets. They were exactly the same as they were six months ago save for a few people. Her dreams had proven perfectly accurate as to the location of the guild house. And its security. Kitana moved as silently as a shadow to the back of the building where a tall, dilapidated ladder hung off the wall. Kitana eyed it thoroughly seeking any weakness. She tested it, pulling down on it lightly. Her small weight would not effect it, the others however, would have to find a different point of entry. Kitana turned to Entreri. "Do you think you could go in posing to be looking for work?"

The assassin's head tilted to the side. "With these three?"

"Say that they're your partners. I would imagine that he would be eager to have three drow on his side."

"What if he knows we are here?"

"Then keep him busy for me so I can sneak in. He will likely pretend not to know we are working together thinking he had an advantage. Wizards do like to brag 'superior intelligence'."

Entreri studied her for a few moments before deciding that she knew exactly what she was doing. He wondered how long she had been an assassin. "Alright." he agreed. "We will go in as you say. He likely already knows we're together." He left the alley with the others behind him still not saying a word. They were admitted into the building without a problem further putting them on edge.

They followed a house soldier through the richly decorated hallways. Portraits of the wizard hung everywhere they could see, some depicting him with a dark, dragon shaped figure behind him. The soldier stopped at a set of high double doors, they opened and they were motioned inside. A wizard in deep red, jewel covered robes stood before them attempting to look noble and impressive. "Gentlemen." he said richly. "It is an honor to have you in my house. It is not often that I have such distinguished guests. Do sit down and we will talk business." It was easily obvious to the them that the wizard knew them and their acquaintance to Kitana. They did as the wizard said and sat down across from him at the dark hardwood desk. "How may I help you gentlemen?"

"We are looking for some work." Entreri stated evenly.

Delmorae smiled cruelly. "As a matter of fact, I think I have the perfect job for you." Entreri inclined his head. "I have an enemy that is recently back in the city and I would like her eliminated. She is an assassin like yourself, and very dangerous. Do you know her?"

"Perhaps. But there are many female assassins in Calimport. Which one is it specifically?"

The wizard's smile widened. "Oh, I think you know. You are traveling with her after all. Do not deny it, I have been watching you."

"Well if you already know that there's no point in keeping myself secret, is there?" a cold, purring female voice said from behind the wizard. Delmorae sat up rigidly in his chair not daring to turn around. Kitana sauntered around his chair and the desk to face him. "Tell me, is Moranosvae still crying about his wings?"

"How dare you speak the name of my master!" Delmorae spat as he stood angrily. "I will kill you foolish witch! Your head will be given on a-"

"Silver platter to your master?" Kitana interrupted. "Yes, yes, I've heard it all before. How about we just start the fight so I can kill you?" Kitana's hand was already on the handle of her whip and she was drawing it. Her other hand was empty and she flexed her claws. Delmorae fell back into his chair terrified. She smiled and continued in a mocking tone, "What's the matter, wizard? Cat got your tongue? But that's the thing with your kind, isn't it? Strike from a distance but up close you are nothing but a weak little man. You should have known this was going to happen."

Delmorae uttered a quick spell and a bottle with dark purple liquid appeared in his hand. "I'll just poison you again you wretched bitch! You can't possibly survive another dose!"

Kitana's smile spread evilly. "By all means, wizard. Do it. See what happens."

The wizard was momentarily put off by her statement but grimaced and opened the bottle, he threw it at her. It sizzled lightly but had no other outwardly noticed effect. Kitana started to laugh. "Oh the pain!" she said. "Isn't there. Fool, those poisons are a one shot deal, if it didn't kill me the first time it will never work on me." She shook the liquid off and her whip cracked once. The wizard fell dead in his chair. "Well that was easy." she said off handedly.

"Where do we go from here?" Entreri asked.

"The border, his master lives in a cavern just within the Calimshan side."

"Let's go then. Maybe we can surprise him."