Chapter 8

Jarlaxle glanced at Anna and then addressed the wererat. "A down payment? You know as well as I do that a beautiful young human with such fair skin would be worth a king's ransom to the right buyer in Calimport." He scoffed.

The wererat's nose twitched as it considered the drow's words. It was foolish to deal with a dark elf. Still, with her glossy dark hair, and silky skin, the girl would be considered very beautiful by human standards. She would fetch a fine price in Calimport. "The artifact is worth more than any one human female." The rat challenged.

Out of the corner of his eye Jarlaxle saw Anna reach for Artemis' jeweled dagger. It was with great effort the drow turned his attention back to the wererat. "Show me the artifact and then I will tell you its value." He said.

"The artifact will be in my people's hands tomorrow. Meet me here at the same time tomorrow and I will take you to my camp and show you the artifact. Then we will discuss the cost." The wererat said. Jarlaxle nodded in agreement. As the rat started into the cave, Jarlaxle called after him. "Jarlaxle of Bregan D'aerthe. Should you need my name." He explained. "Perhaps you have heard of me?" It sounded like an afterthought. The wererat knew better.

Stopping dead in his tracks, the wererat stiffened. Glancing over his shoulder, he asked. "Jarlaxle, you said?" The rat's voice was almost a whisper. Smiling broadly the drow swept the wide brimmed hat from his head, then bowed with a flourish. "At your service."

Quickly averting his face, the wererat scurried towards the mouth of the cave. Pausing at the entrance, he looked back at Jarlaxle and said. "Be sure to bring the human female."

"But of course!" Jarlaxle cheerfully replied. The drow's next comment was cut off by the low growl from Artemis Entreri. It was too much for the dark elf to resist. Allowing the rat to slip into the shadows, he looked over just in time to see Anna's hand close around Artemis' dagger.

Grabbing her wrist in a vice-like grip, the assassin snarled. "What is this obsession with death that you have?" Anna glared back at him. "I'll give it back." She whispered fiercely. When Artemis didn't ease his grip she tilted her head towards the drow. "All I want to do is cut off one or two small parts." Anna hissed viciously.

"Oh? And what small parts might you want to relieve him of?" Artemis asked, amusement creeping into his eyes. Anna looked pointedly at the assassin's crotch. Entreri's lips twitched slightly before he peeled her hand off of his dagger. "Then use your own knife." He told her. Anna scowled at the assassin and then glared at Jarlaxle who was doing his best not to laugh. Unfortunately all it took was one look at Anna's furious face to push him over the edge. Doubling over in laughter, Jarlaxle held up a hand to stall her approach.

"YOU WERE GOING TO SELL ME!" Anna bellowed accusingly, her entire body quivering with rage. If the dark elf hadn't been laughing so hard, he would have enjoyed the fire blazing in her indigo eyes. Anna closed her eyes, counted to ten and then walked over to the drow and reached for his cloak. She was sure he carried a knife.

Anna wasn't quite sure how it happened, but one minute she was reaching for a weapon and the next her arm was twisted behind her back and the knife was at her throat. "Tell me. Do you even know how to remove those one or two little things?" The drow asked pleasantly from behind her. "Yes." Anna answered without hesitation. "There are no bones there. It's simple. One smooth cut and they're gone." She elaborated. Standing behind her Jarlaxle grinned broadly and leaned forward bringing his lips to her ear. "Why deny yourself the pleasure of my talents?" He asked suggestively. "And just to put your curiosity to rest. Nothing on me is small." He said, releasing her and stepping back.

Anna flushed crimson, and stared at the ground trying to stop her imagination from running wild.

"Come, let us eat. I, for one, am famished." The drow said cheerfully, walking towards the assassin. Artemis shook his head and fell into step beside the dark elf. "I would have slit her throat." He said. Jarlaxle laughed. "Now where would the fun in that be?" He asked.

"I believe she actually intended to unman you." Artemis remarked.

"Oh yes, she had every intention of causing me grievous bodily harm." Jarlaxle said with satisfaction. The assassin stared at him. "And this, of course, would please you." He said dryly. The drow grinned back happily. "But of course. I would have it no other way!" Artemis muttered something unintelligible under his breath and shook his head. Turning his attention back to the path, the assassin wondered why he bothered trying to understand his companion.

Embarrassed, yet fuming, Anna followed behind the two men quietly. Jarlaxle hadn't even hesitated at the idea of selling her. That knowledge hurt. A lot. Far more than it should have. Anna glared at the fine cloak covering the elf's back. How could he? Strangely, she wasn't angry at Artemis at all, and he had been fine with the elf selling her. Of course, she already knew her relative was a coldhearted killer, so it wasn't a surprise coming from him. Why had she expected different from Artemis' companion? She shouldn't have, but she had expected better of Jarlaxle. What would she do if he tried to sell her?

"This looks like as good a place as any." Jarlaxle announced as they entered a circle of trees. Pulling out the now familiar box, the elf set it on the ground and stepped back as the tent appeared. Placing a hand on his hip, the drow swept the hat from his head and sighed dramatically. "What?" Artemis asked against his better judgment. Plucking at his shirt Jarlaxle said morosely. "It's ruined." The assassin immediately wished he had kept his mouth shut. Unfortunately his silence only served to encourage the drow. "I will never get the smell out of it. Wererat stench is almost impossible to remove." Artemis shook his head and walked away leaving the drow to suffer the loss of the shirt all by himself.

Anna stood at the edge of the clearing glaring at the drow when a hand grabbed her arm. She started and looked up to see Artemis scowling at her. "Come." He said shortly, pulling her with him. Anna didn't even hesitate. Throwing one last glare at the elf, she spun on her heel and followed Artemis into the woods. Walking in a forest all alone with a man known only for his coldhearted cruelty should have terrified her. Anna felt totally at ease. How strange. A week ago she would have been shaking in fear. When had she lost her fear of the infamous assassin?

"What does Jarlaxle know that I don't?" Artemis growled, grabbing Anna's arm and pulling her to a stop as soon as they were out of the clearing.

"What?" Anna asked, staring back at him blankly.

"You aren't alive because of Jarlaxle's kindheartedness." The assassin's sour tone confirmed Anna's suspicion that the drow was no better than her ancestor. "What is it about you that fascinates him so?" Artemis demanded.

Should she tell him? "I'm your granddaughter." She blurted, and then clarified. "Several generations removed." Dead silence. Oh dear, maybe she shouldn't have said anything.

"My granddaughter?" The assassin scoffed at the idea. "And how is this miracle supposed to have happened?"

Anna shuffled uneasily. "Um, the usual way I suppose." she choked out. The assassin rested his hand on the jeweled dagger at his waist. "Do you think I am a fool?" He ground out. Anna's eyes darted to his. "No! I mean, there isn't a lot of information about you. I knew you existed, but beyond that…" Anna spread her hands helplessly.

The assassin knew when he was being lied to. Anna wasn't lying. The image of her strange clothing, covered in blood flashed before his eyes. Artemis had been to many lands, and had never seen anything even remotely similar to her clothing. Then there was Jarlaxle's obsession with her. The drow was far too wily to ever be taken in by such a ridiculous story. He felt the urge to massage his temples.

"My granddaughter?" Artemis looked over her diminutive form. "I see no resemblance."

"Then you aren't looking hard enough." Jarlaxle's voice interrupted. Anna watched the assassin's left eye twitch. Oblivious to the storm brewing within the assassin, the drow continued. "Look at her face, Artemis. The eyes, the jaw bone, that strangely familiar irritated expression…" Jarlaxle snickered.

"You actually believe it's true?" Artemis asked.

"I had suspected as much for some time. When Anna informed me that her last name was Entreri it merely confirmed my suspicion." The drow paused for a moment, "And then there is this…" Reaching into his cloak, Jarlaxle pulled out the diary. "There is a date stamped in this journal." The assassin remained silent. "February 9, 2010." Jarlaxle paused over the pronunciation of the foreign words.

"2010?" Anna repeated, her delicate brows pulling together.

"Does this mean something to you?" The drow inquired.

"That is nearly a hundred years in my future." She answered quietly. Jarlaxle turned the diary over in his hands, mystified. One hundred years in the future from whenever Anna came from? There was a pattern here. He just needed to figure out what it was.

"Perhaps we may find our answer within these pages." The drow suggested. "Come, let us return and see what we may learn." He said, running a thumb along the rough leather of the diary.

Anna looked at Artemis, but the assassin was busy glaring at the drow. Jarlaxle thought this pale little girl was his descendant? The thought was ludicrous, yet the drow wasn't prone to flights of fancy. Well, maybe he was prone to flights of fancy, but he was never stupid. For that matter, the drow was rarely, if ever, wrong. The assassin glanced at the slender girl watching him anxiously. How could this fragile little thing be related to him? There had been an occasional woman over the years, but the assassin was not so foolish as to leave his seed behind. His eyes darkened further at the possibility of offspring and a possible mate.

"Artemis, if you continue glowering so, there may come a time you may not be able to stop." Jarlaxle remarked, unconcerned with the assassin's displeasure.

Anna turned her attention to the diary. 2010. If the diary wouldn't be written for another hundred years then how had it ended up in her possession? Then there was the mystery of the missing handwriting. "Are there any more entries?" She asked, drawing the assassin's attention away from the drow.

"There is indeed." Jarlaxle agreed, smiling at her approvingly. Anna licked her lips and nodded. "Then I would like to know what it says." She said, before turning to the assassin. "Wouldn't you?" She asked. Artemis gave the girl an appraising look. If she was truly his descendant he would know soon enough. "You may not find the answers you hope for." He said, his earlier temper cooling as curiosity took its place. Without another word he started towards the camp. When she didn't fall into step beside him he paused to give her an annoyed look. Anna hurried over.

His eyes were so cold. Anna wondered what kind of life gave someone such an icy stare. Murderer. Assassin. Whenever his name was spoken, one of these terms was always attached. Artemis Entreri. The name had been used to scare her when she was a child. A man so evil that even death hadn't been able to purge the world of his wickedness. Now, this man of nightmares walked beside her. Who exactly was Artemis Entreri? Anna had thought she had known, but she had a feeling that nothing she had heard was right. Oh he was a cold blooded killer. She had no doubt about that, yet she sensed more. He was more than just a common killer. Far more.

Once back at camp, they entered the tent and settled among the many jewel toned pillows. Actually Jarlaxle and Anna settled on the pillows, Artemis kicked them out of the way and sat on the floor.

Seeing Anna and Artemis were waiting, Jarlaxle opened the diary and began reading.

Entry 1

A most unusual event has occurred today. The day started out quite normally; I dressed impeccably and my fierce companion dressed hopelessly rumpled. When will my lessons bear fruit? Really Artemis, would it kill you to use the pressed, freshly laundered shirt I had provided for you?

Oh yes, the event! We encountered a young woman today. Not such an unusual event except for the fact that she was wearing clothing of such uncommon fabric and design that I cannot identify it. Interestingly, her clothing was soaked in blood. Not her own she assured us! She spoke a language that sounds like nothing I have ever heard. Interesting though all this is, there was one thing so extraordinary that I was unable to take my eyes from her.

When I looked into her eyes…it was Artemis that looked back.

Entry 2

There is more to our young guest than I had imagined. It would appear she is a long ways from home; a very long ways. To my disbelief she was more afraid of an orc than a drow! I wonder exactly how far away home is? It would also seem she has never seen magic, and is reluctant to eat. How very strange.

Entry 3

How inconvenient. The artifact is missing and my contact is dead. Not just my contact, but my contact's entire village! Really, you would think they could have waited one more day before dying.

My young guest is proving most unusual. She has seen death before. From her calm acceptance I would say she has seen death on a massive scale. I have become quite curious about her home.

Artemis has found a link to the artifact. It seems we will be traveling again. My poor shirt.

Entry 4

Ah city life. Why don't humans like to bathe? Surely this must be one of the mysteries of the universe.

There was another mysterious death today. My young companion knows something. What is she hiding?

I do not like this strange death.

Entry 5

The wererat has finally arrived. Beware, my younger self. It has begun. Find the artifact.

Author's Note: Oh….I am going to have fun with this.

General zargon: Thank you! Keeping everyone in character can be a challenge! Don't worry; Anna is losing her fear of Jarlaxle and Artemis….

Silver yoko kitsune: Sigh…I have great intentions of updating monthly. Perhaps I should make it my New Year's resolution.

Nedy Rahn: I am glad you're enjoying this. It's wonderful when someone else enjoys my overactive imagination!

Musingsage: lol….me…give Jarlaxle a handgun? *Gasp* Perish the thought!

Surreptitious Chi X: I love the idea of combining today myths with the FR series! It feels like you are merging two worlds. How cool is that?

San-san: Oh, the three characters are so much fun to play with! Thank you for pointing out what stood out to you. It is fascinating to see what amuses different people! As for leaving things hanging….hehehe…I'm just getting warmed up.

Anon: I know, making them deal with nasty, smelly wererats was just cruel of me. Still, I have plans for the wererat…

Jenni78: I absolutely love the books with Artemis and Jarlaxle! I actually like Jarlaxle better than Drizzt. Drizzt is too nice. I am glad you're enjoying this. I love this storyline; of course I know what is going to happen. Actually Jarlaxle can be considered Fae, he is just different from the Fae we know. Any guesses as to why that might be?