sensibilities of the law, and even more particularly when the hero of the hour was of a race not known for such actions. From tavern to tavern, street to street, boat to boat, and port to port went the recounting of the events at the house of Captain Deudermont, of how a mysterious drow elf and his two companions, one a great cat, throttled a theft and murder plot against the good captain's house. Few made the connection between Drizzt and Wulfgar even between Drizzt and Deudermont, though some did know that a dark elf once had sailed on Sea Sprite. It was a juicy tale bringing great interest on its own, but for the folks of the city bowels, ones who understood that such attempts against a noble and heroic citizen were rarely self-contained things, the interest was even greater. There were surely implications here that went beyond the events in the famous captain's house.
So the tale sped along the coast, and even at one point did encounter some wizardly assistance in moving it along, and so the news of the events at the house long preceded the arrival of Drizzt and Catti-brie in Luskan, and so the news spread even faster farther north.
Sheila Kree knew of the loss of Gayselle before the dark elf crossed through Luskan's southern gate.
The pirate stormed about her private rooms, overturning tables and swearing profusely. She called a pair of half-ogre sentries in so that she could yell at them and slap them, playing out her frustrations for a long, long while.
Finally, too exhausted to continue, the red-haired pirate dismissed the guards and picked up a chair so that she could fall into it, cursing still under her breath.
It made no sense to her. Who was this stupid dark elf - the same one who had foiled Jule Pepper's attempts to begin a powerful band in Ten-Towns - and how in the world did he happen to wind up at Captain Deudermont's house at the precise time to intercept Gayselle's band? Sheila Kree closed her eyes and let it all sink in.
"Redecorating?" came a question from the doorway, and Sheila opened her eyes to see Bellany, a bemused smile on her face, standing et the door.
"Ye heard o' Gayselle?" Sheila asked.
The sorceress shrugged as if it didn't matter. "She'll not be the last we lose."
"I'm thinkin' that I'm hearing too much about a certain drow elf of late," Sheila remarked.
"Seems we have made an enemy," Bellany agreed. "How fortunate that we have been forewarned."
"Where's the elf?"
"At work on the boat, as with every day.Le'lorinel goes about any duties assigned without a word of complaint."
"There's but one focus for that one."
"A certain dark elf," Bellany agreed. "Is it time for Le'lorinel to take a higher step in our little band?"
"Time for a talk, at least," Sheila replied, and Bellany didn't have to be told twice. She turned around with a nod and headed off for the lower levels to fetch the elf, whose tale had become so much more intriguing with the return of Jule Pepper and the news of the disaster in Waterdeep.
* * * * * * * * * *
"When ye first came wandering in, I thought to kill ye dead and be done with ye," Sheila Kree remarked bluntly. The pirate nodded to her burly guards, and they rushed in close, grabbing Le'lorinel fast by the arms.
"I have not lied to you, have done nothing to deserve - " Le'lorinel started to protest.
"Oh, ye're to get what ye're deserving," Sheila Kree assured the elf. She walked over and grabbed a handful of shirt, and with a wicked grin and a sudden jerk, she tore the shirt away, stripping the elf to the waist.
The two half-ogres giggled. Sheila Kree motioned to the door at the back of the room, and the brutes dragged their captive off, through the door and into a smaller room, undecorated except for a hot fire pit near one wall and a block set at about waist height in the center.
"What are you doing?" Le'lorinel demanded in a tone that held its calm edge, despite the obvious trouble.
"It's gonna hurt," Sheila Kree promised as the half-ogres yanked the elf across the block, holding tight.
Le'lorinel struggled futilely against the powerful press.
"Now, ye tell me again about the drow elf, Drizzt Do'Urden," Sheila remarked.
"I told you everything, and honestly," Le'lorinel protested.
"Tell me again," said Sheila.
"Yes, do," came another voice, that of Bellany, who walked into the room. "Tell us