wary," he said. "And, for your health, Dwahvel Tiggerwillies, be neutral. I owe you and see our friendship as to the benefit of both, but if I learn that you betray me by word or by deed, I will bring your house down around you." With that, he gave a polite bow, a tip of the black bolero and slipped back through the portal.
One globe of darkness after another filled Dwahvel's chamber, forcing her and the three standing soldiers to crawl about helplessly until one found the normal exit and called the others to him.
Finally the darkness abated, and the halflings dared to re-enter, to find their sleeping companion snoring contentedly, and then to find, upon searching the body, a small dart stuck into his shoulder.
"Entreri has friends," one of them remarked.
Dwahvel merely nodded, not surprised and glad indeed at that moment that she had previously chosen to help the outcast assassin. He was not a man Dwahvel Tiggerwillies wished for an enemy.
"Ah, but you make my life so dangerous," LaValle said with an exaggerated sigh when Entreri, unannounced and uninvited, walked from thin air, it seemed, into LaValle's private room.
"Well done-on your escape from Kadran Gordeon, I mean," LaValle went on when Entreri didn't immediately respond. The wizard was trying hard to appear collected. Hadn't Entreri slipped into his guarded room twice before, after all? But this time- and the assassin recognized it splayed on LaValle's face-he had truly surprised the wizard. Bodeau had sharpened up the defenses of his guild house amazingly well against both magical and physical intrusion. As much as he respected Entreri, LaValle had obviously not expected the assassin to get through so easily.
"Not so difficult a task, I assure you," the assassin replied, keeping his voice steady so that his words sounded as simple fact and not a boast. "I have traveled the world, and under the world and have witnessed powers very different from anything experienced in Calimport. Powers that will bring me that which I desire."
LaValle sat on an old and comfortable chair, planting one elbow on the worn arm and dropping his head sidelong against his open palm. What was it about this man, he wondered, that so mocked all the ordinary trappings of power? He looked all around at his room, at the many carved statues, gargoyles, and exotic birds, at the assortment of finely carved staves, some magical, some not, at the three skulls grinning from the cubbies atop his desk, at the crystal ball set upon the small table across the way. These were his items of power, items gained through a lifetime of work, items that he could use to destroy or at least to defend against, any single man he had ever met.
Except for one. What was it about this one? The way he stood? The way he moved? The simple aura of power that surrounded him, as tangible as the gray cloak and black bolero he now wore?
"Go and bring Quentin Bodeau," Entreri instructed.
"He will not appreciate becoming involved."
"He already is," Entreri assured the wizard. "Now he must choose."
"Between you and ... ?" LaValle asked.
"The rest of them," Entreri replied calmly.
LaValle tilted his head curiously. "You mean to do battle with all of Calimport then?" he asked skeptically.
"With all in Calimport who oppose me," Entreri said, again with the utmost calm.
LaValle shook his head, not knowing what to make of it all. He trusted Entreri's judgment-never had the wizard met a more cunning and controlled man-but the assassin spoke foolishness, it seemed, if he honestly believed he could stand alone against the likes of the Basadonis, let alone the rest of Calimport's street powers.
But still...
"Shall I bring Chalsee Anguaine, as well?" the wizard asked, standing and heading for the door.
"Chalsee has already been shown the futility of resistance," Entreri replied.
LaValle stopped abruptly, turning on the assassin as if betrayed.
"I knew you would go along," Entreri explained. "For you have come to know and love me as a brother. The lieutenant's mind-set, however, remained a mystery. He had to be convinced, or removed."
LaValle just stared at him, awaiting the verdict.
"He is convinced," Entreri remarked, moving to fall comfortably into LaValle's comfortable chair. "Very much so.
"And so," he continued as the wizard again started for the door, "will you find Bodeau."
LaValle turned on him again.
"He will make the right choice," Entreri assured the man.
"Will he have a choice?" LaValle dared to ask.
"Of course not."
Indeed, when LaValle found Bodeau in his private quarters and informed him that Artemis