fools like Dog Perry. The Basadoni Guild had claimed him as their own, and though he would be able to go and take jobs wherever he decided, as long as they did not involve the murder of anyone connected with Pasha Basadoni, his primary contacts would be Kadran Gordeon, whom he did not trust, and Hand.
He should have been pleased at the turn of events, he knew, sitting quietly on the roof of the Copper Ante late that night. He couldn't have expected a better course.
And yet, for some reason that he could hardly fathom, Entreri was not pleased in the least. He had his old life back, if he wanted it. With his skills, he knew he could soon return to the glories he had once known. And yet he now understood the limitations of those glories and knew that while he could easily re-ascend to the highest level of assassin in Calimport, that level would hardly be enough to satisfy the emptiness he felt within.
He simply did not wish to go back to his old ways of murder for money. It was no bout of conscience-nothing like that!-but no thought of that former life sparked any excitement within the man.
Ever the pragmatist, Entreri decided to play it one hour at a time. He went over the side of the roof, silent and sure-footed, picking his way down to the street, then entered through the front door.
All eyes focused on him, but he hardly cared as he made his way across the common room to the door at the back. One halfling approached him there, as if to stop him, but a glare from Entreri backed the little one off, and the assassin pushed through.
Again the sight of the enormously fat Dondon assaulted him profoundly.
"Artemis!" Dondon said happily, though Entreri did note a bit of tension creeping into the halfling's voice, a common reaction whenever the assassin arrived unannounced at anyone's doorstep. "Come in, my friend. Sit and eat. Partake of good company."
Entreri looked at the heaps of half-eaten sweets and at the two painted female halflings flanking the bloated wretch. He did sit down a safe distance away, though he moved none of the many platters in front of him narrowing his eyes as one of the female halflings tried to approach.
"You must learn to relax and enjoy those fruits your work has provided," Dondon said. "You are back with Basadoni, so 'tis said, and so you are free."
Entreri noted that the irony of that statement was apparently lost on the halfling.
"What good is all of your difficult and dangerous work if you cannot learn to relax and enjoy those pleasures your labors might buy for you?" Dondon asked.
"How did it happen?" Entreri asked bluntly.
Dondon stared at him, obvious confusion splayed on his sagging face.
In explanation, Entreri looked all around, motioning to the plates, to the whores, and to Dondon's massive belly.
Dondon's expression soured. "You know why I am in here," he remarked quietly, all the bounce having left his tone.
"I know why you came in here ... to hide . . . and I agree with that decision," Entreri replied. "But why?" Again he let the halfling follow his gaze to all the excess, plate by plate, whore by whore. "Why this?"
"I choose to enjoy . . ." Dondon started, but Entreri would hear none of that.
"If I could offer you back your old life, would you take it?" the assassin asked.
Dondon stared at him blankly.
"If I could change the word on the street so that Dondon could walk free of the Copper Ante, would Dondon be pleased?" Entreri pressed. "Or is Dondon pleased with the excuse?"
"You speak in riddles."
"I speak the truth," Entreri shot back, trying to look the halfling in the eye, though the sight of those drooping, sleepy lids surely revolted him. He could hardly believe his own level of anger in looking at Dondon. A part of him wanted to draw out his dagger and cut the wretch's heart out.
But Artemis Entreri did not kill for passion, and he held that part in check.
"Would you go back?" he asked slowly, emphasizing every word.
Dondon didn't reply, didn't blink, but in the nonresponse, Entreri had his answer, the one he had feared the most.
The room's door swung open, and Dwahvel entered. "Is there a problem in here, Master Entreri?" she asked sweetly.
Entreri climbed to his feet and moved for the open door. "None for me," he replied, moving past.