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Servant of Shadow	By : Giovanna Category: A through F > Forgotten Realms Views: 3740 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Forgotten Realms series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 2

Chapter 2.

Bregan D’earth’s secret complex was an impressive maze of tunnels and chambers, heavily warded by both magical and more orthodox traps and alarms, and guarded by numerous of Bregan D’earth’s soldiers. Entreri learned from Aramys that this was but one of several Breagan D’earth strongholds and that the bases of operation were rotated as the need arose. She told him that when one of the bases became too well known to outsiders it was abandoned, all evidence of its former use destroyed.
Entreri followed the elven girl as she lead him through the various rooms and corridors, competently explaining the purpose of each. She told him that though the rooms were lighted for his comfort for the time being, he would have tarn arn how to use the magical earring he had been provided with that would give him infra-visiohe ahe also began his first lesson in the drow language, telling him both the common and drow words for various objects. After an hour of following her around, the assassin found his head was spinning from an overload if information. Recalling the disdainful way she had described the nature of their association: babysitting, he reached out a hand and stopped her.
"Enough of this!", he said sharply. Aramys stopped, met his eyes and then looked pointedly to where his hand was holding her arm. Entreri let go of her quickly.
"What?" said the girl coolly, locking her gaze with his again.
"There are two drow words you used to describe me, and I’d like to know their meaning."
"What then?"
Entreri struggled to recall the unfamiliar words."Coln…"he started hesitantly.
Aramys’ eyes lit with understanding. "Colnbluth."she stated. "And the other I’ll wager is "rivvil."
Entreri nodded. "The way you said them sounded like an insult."
Aramys smiled, the first time Entreri had seen her do so. "Cluthluth simply means "non-drow". As you see, it is not an insult in and of itself, but to the drow anything other than drow are filth. "Rivvil means human, and falls into the same category."
Entreri nodded, understanding. "You aren’t drow." He pointed out to her.
The elf-maid’s smile tightened. "How very observant of you." she conceded. "Now let me teach you another word that falls into the same context as the first two." She led the assassin to an open area where Rothe were being corralled. "The word is "Iblith"", she stated, spng lng like a schoolmistress lessoning a small child.
"And what does that mean?" Entreri prompted testily.
The girl made no answer, but ins poi pointed to a distinctive pile one of the animals had deposited on the cavern floor. Entreri looked at her sharply.
"Best to learn now that this is what you will be considered by the drow." Aramys said calmly, ignoring the man’s threatening look. "And, you are doubly damned, being male. I may be iblith, but at least I am female iblith." The girl smiled at his disheartened expression.
Entreri started to question her further, but was interrupted by Jarlaxle, emerging suddenly from a tunnel to the left.
"Excellent explanation, my little one." he announced, addressing Aramys. "But I think our guest has had enough for one day." He looked to Entreri. "You will follow me, I’ll show you to your quarters. Aramys, go to my room and wait for me, I need to have a word with you later."
With one final glance at Entreri, the girl turned and left them.
Jarlaxle led the weary assassin through the maze of passages until they reached a small series of chambers. "Here are the quarters of my higher ranking luitenuits", he explained. "The common soldiers stay in barracks nearby. Considering that you are non-drow, I decided it would be simpler and safer for you to have your own room." He opened one of the doors and led Entreri into a small chamber. Inside, it was bare and plain, with no furnishings but a bed, a chest to store clothing and supplies, and a small chair. This didn’t overly disturb Entreri, though; luxury had never been of importance to him. "The room comes with some very good locks and traps on the door, but feel free to add your own,"
The assassin nodded, satisfied. "So, what will my first task for you be?" he asked.
The drow laughed, and sat on the chair, motioning Entreri to take a seat on the bed. " I think you may be getting ahead of yourself, my friend." he replied." Your first task is to learn everything necessary for survival here, which will be no small endeavor. In order to do that, I expect you to stick with Aramys, she will teach you everything you need to know. Also, you two can practice together, you should be well-matched in skill."
Entreri’s eyes narrowed in outrage at this. "First I have to listen to insults from your whore, and now you! You expect me to practice with that girl!"
Jarlaxle stood up abruptly, his normally mild and amused expression gone. "You are the one who is being insulting! If I ever hear that word used in association with Aramys again I will make you pray for death." He declared. Entreri believed him. "As for the rest, of all the rivvil on Faerun, you are the last I would expect to be prejudiced against one because of size and age! Or is itt sht she is female? That is one bias you need to get over immediately!"
Entreri was taken aback at the drows reaction. "You are seriously telling me that that girl is near my level with a blade?" he asked, honestly curious.
Jarlaxle sighed and sat down again. "You became a high-ranking member of a thief’s guild when you were very young, did you not?" Entreri nodded. Jarlaxle continued, "No offence, but you aren’t exacthe lhe largest human I’ve ever seen either. Surely you understand that speed, coordination, and intelligence can play a vital role in any battle, often besting size and strength."
" So you are saying that she is?" Entreri wasn’t actually prejudiced by her youth or gender. He was, as jarlaxle had stated, on the small end of the scale for a human, yet was the most feared assassin in the realms. "She’s just so damned…" he stopped, at a loss for words.
"Lovely?" the drow supplied, understanding.
Entreri nodded."Actually, Innocent was the word I was thinking." Though he didn’t know why, it seemed that something so fair should be incapable of inflicting harm.
"Funny you think that when you just called her a whore". the drow observed. "I promise you that she is oblivious to her charm, and quite lethal." Jarlaxle explained. He sighed. "The drow view anything other than drow to be inferior. Aramys, being half-drow, is an abomination in my people’s eyes. She has had to learn to be deadly, or die herself."
Entreri looked at Jarlaxle intently. He fully sympathized with the "kill or be killed" philosophy. "She is a half-breed." He stated. That revelation was surprising, but explained much. "I thought her to be of mixed blood, but I wasn’t sure of what her races were." Not that he had ever seen a half-drow half elf before, he thought. Entreri found himself curious despite himself. "So, she was born here?"
An odd shadow passed over Jarlaxle’s normally cheerful face, as though reliving a disturbing memory. Entreri wondered what could be bad enough to haunt someone like Jarlaxle, who survived in a treacherous and brutal society.
"Yes, her mother was brought here as a captive, taken during a raid to the surface." Entreri didn’t need jarlaxle to spell out the means of Aramys’ conception. The thought made the man shudder. Entreri might have been capable of killing for money, but there was one line he would never cross.
"How did you acquire her?" he asked tentatively. Jarlaxle shook his head, rising from his seat. "That is a long and twisting tale, best left for another time. My only wish from you is that you treat the girl with respect, for she is infinitely worthy of it." The drow’s stare became hard again. "Also, don’t ever think to touch her without her permission. She is very capable of defending herself from unwanted advances; however, if she doesn’t succeed in killing you, be assured that I shall!" With that said, the mercenary left the room, leaving an exhausted and confused Entreri behind.
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Servant of Shadow