the last battles?" Robillard went on, seeming hardly impressed or nervous. "We are a team, well-disciplined and each with a role to play. When one does not play his prescribed part, then we are a weakened team, working in spite of each other instead of in unison. That we can not tolerate. Not from you, not from anyone. So spare me your insults, your accusations and your empty threats, or you may find yourself swimming."
Wulfgar's eyes did widen a bit, betraying his intentionally stoic posture and stare.
"And I assure you, we are a long way from land," Robillard finished, and he started up the ladder. He paused, though, and looked back to Wulfgar. "If you did not enjoy this day's battle, then perhaps you would be wise to remain behind after our next docking in Waterdeep.
"Yes, perhaps that would be the best course," Robillard went on after a pause, after assuming a pensive posture. "Go back to the land, Wulfgar. You do not belong here."
The wizard left, but Wulfgar did not start after him. Rather, the barbarian slumped back to the wall, sliding to a sitting position once again, thinking of who he once had been, of who he now was - an awful truth he did not wish to face.
He couldn't even begin to look ahead, to consider who he wished to become.
Chapter 9 PATHS CROSSING... ALMOST
e'lorinel stalked down Dollemand Street in Luskan, the elf s stride revealing anxiety and eagerness. The destination was a private apartment, where the elf was to meet with a representative of Sheila Kree. It all seemed to be falling into place now, the road to Drizzt Do'Urden, the road to justice. The elf stopped abruptly and wheeled about as two cloaked figures came out of an alley. Hands going to sword and dagger, Le'lorinel had to pause and take a deep breath, recognizing that these two were no threat. They weren't even paying the elf any heed but were simply walking on their way back down the street
in the opposite direction. "Too anxious," the elf quietly chided, easing the sword and dagger back into their respective sheaths.
With a last look at the pair as they walked away, Le'lorinel gave a laugh and turned back toward the apartment, resuming the march down the road for Drizzt Do'Urden.
* * * * * * * * * *
Walking the other way down Dollemand Street, Drizzt and Catti-brie didn't even notice Le'lorinel as the elf spun on them, thinking them to be a threat. Had Drizzt not been wearing the hood of his cloak, his distinctive long, thick white hair might have marked him clearly for the vengeful elf.
The couple's strides were no less eager than Le'lorinel's, carrying them in the opposite direction, to a meeting with Morik the Rogue and news of Wulfgar. They found the rogue in the appointed place, a back table in Arumn Gardpeck's Cutlass. He smiled at their approach and lifted his foaming mug of beer in toast to them.
"Ye've got our information, then?" Catti-brie asked, sliding into a seat opposite the rogue.
"As much as can be found," Morik replied. His smile dimmed and he lifted the bag of coins Drizzt had given him to the table. "You might want to take some of it back," Morik admitted, pushing it out toward the pair.
"We shall see," Drizzt said, pushing it right back.
Morik shrugged but didn't reach for the bag. "Not much to be learned of Sheila Kree," he began. "I will be honest with you in saying that I'm not overly fond of even asking anyone about her. The only ones who truly know about her are her many commanders, all of them women, and none of them fond of men. Men who go asking too much about Kree usually wind up dead or running, and I have no desire for either course."
"But ye said ye did learn a bit," the eager Catti-brie prompted.
Morik nodded and took a long draw on his beer. "It's been rumored that she operates her own private, secret port somewhere north of Luskan, probably nestled in one of the many coves along the end of the Spine of the World. That would make sense, since she's rarely seen in Luskan of late and has never been known to sail the waters to the south. I don't think her ship has ever been seen in Waterdeep."
Drizzt looked at Catti-brie, the two sharing silent agreement. They had chased pirates with Deudermont for some time, mostly to the south off