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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 4

Chapter 4.

A quiet rapping at his door awakened Artemis Entreri. He didn’t feel overly rested, and had no way to determine the hour in this place. The realization disoriented him. Cursing, he grabbed his shirt and threw open the door. On the other side was Aramys, leaning against the wall and looking at him expectantly.
"What!" barked the annoyed assassin.
The girl raised her eyebrows at his tone. " Are you always this charming when you first wake up?" She asked. Entreri swore again and yanked on his shirt. "Never mind." She continued. "Its time to start training you in the use of your infra-vision."
"Is that something that needs training." Entreri questioned, going back into his room and gathering his weapons. He hated feeling so tired and disorientated; he was used to always being at the peek of physical perfection. He supposed the seriousness of his injuries had left him drained despite the healing magic.
Aramys followed him back into his room and watched him with interest. The man noticed her stare and looked at her sharply. " Sorry."she said. "I’ve never seen a human up close before."
"Well, I hope I’m everything you always dreamed." The assassin said saricalically. Aramys shrugged. "About the infra-vision?" Entreri prompted.
"Yes," she answered, "It will be difficult for one not born with it to get used to. You will see heat, not light, and will need to learn to interpret what you are seeing."
Entreri eyed the girl squarely, recalling what Jarlaxle had said about her the previous evening. She was small, perhaps only an inch above five feet, but her body did look extremely trim and well toned, her movements were graceful and balanced. He knew that drow females were frequently more skillful than males, but could she really be such an excellent fighter? He decided to waste no time in finding out.
"If it’s all the same to you, I find I think better after a bit of exercise. Would you be interested in sparing with me before our lesson?"
Aramys flashed one of her rare smiles. This man was said to be the equal of a legendary drow warrior, and Aramys was greatly interested in seeing this for herself. "Why, certainly, master Entreri."she replied, almost as if accepting an invitation to dance. " This way to the practice area."

An hour later Entreri had to admit that Jarlaxle''s seemingly overblown praise was deserved. If Aramys had been born is a less dangerous place, she might have become a dancer or gymnast; Entreri had rarely witnessed anyone with such speed and grace, not to mention stamina. However, her best weapon was her wits: she was surely the craftiest person he had ever fought against. After a few moments of basically avoiding his strikes and carefully assessing his moves, it seemed almost that the young elf woman could predict his actions before he knew what they would be. This infuriated Entreri, and he attacked with all his strength, knowing beyond doubt that this was one area were he was superior. He quickly surmised that this was a card that had been played against Aramys repeatedly, and she knew how to turn it against him. He suddenly found his dirk was out of his hand and sailing through the air.
As they continued to spar, the assassin realized that Aramys wasn’t actually trying to defeat him, but rather to extend their practice as long as possible. The Stoneskin spell that was in place wasn’t the only thing that was keeping her strikes from hitting. He knew that with only one weapon there were several openings she could have taken advantage of and was fully capable of recognizing. She pointedly hadn''t. His eyes nearly black with fury, Entreri stepped away from her suddenly and tossed his remaining blade across the room.
Aramys watched as the man turned away from her, muttering and cursing under his breath. "What''s the matter?" she questioned, sounding honestly confused.

Entreri whirled back on her and glared, and Aramys knew that if looks could be lethal she surely would have been struck dead were she stood. For a moment it seemed that he couldn’t speak, then he choked, "You are toying with me!"
"No." the sta stated.
"You could have defeated me!'' Accused the incredulous Entreri.
"Maybe." Aramys replied. "I wasn’t really trying too. The point was to exercise, not to kill eachother." A nasty look passed through her eyes. With mock-innocence she asked."Why, were you trying to defeat me?"
Entreri nearly rushed her. Instead he sat down heavily on the floor and sighed."How is it you you have gotten so good?
Aramys looked at him and snickered."Well, let me see… I have lived all my life in a city with twenty thousand nasty individuals who want me to die horribly! I had two choices: go along with their wishes, or become very good at what I do." She looked at him meaningfully." I didn’t feel like dying."
As the human continued to glare at her, Aramys found herself getting angry as well. "Jarlaxle has spoken highly of you". She snorted derisively, "But he never mentioned you were such an egomaniac."
Entreri was surprised yet again."What do you mean?" he asked.
"Twelve hours ago you were nearly dead." Aramys''s eyes flashed. "In fact, you should have been dead, will power alone was sustaining you. Since then you’ve eaten nothing and barely slept, and yet here you are practically weeping because you were unable to best me! Really, is your pride so hurt!"
Entreri stood and looked closely into her purple eyes. He suddenly recalled Drizzt and found his anger towards the girl begin to fade. There was a difference here, He realized. The thing that had infuriated him most about the drow ranger wasn’t his level of skill or Entreri''s own inability to defeat him, but rather the judgment he had seen in his eyes. Drizzt had no way of knowing Entreri''s life experience, what had led him to make the choices he had, and yet he had determined himself superior because of his unreachable moral standards. This young womawoman was not Drizzt, and had none of his moral pretensions. Her words could have come from his lips. She was simply doing what she must in order to gain some respect in a world that didn’t want her, and Entreri saw that clearly. Her skill was a source of pride to her, and she didn’t apologize for it. And, he realized, She wasn’t asking him to apologize for what he was either.
Aramys didn’t understand the man''s anger towards her. He had lived up to all of Jarlaxle''s praise, and more. Here he was with barely healed injuries, obviously exhausted, with strange weapons, and yet he had kept her on her toes. He might have disarmed her several times, if he hadn''t been loosing his temper and trying to out muscle her. Yet here he was in a fit because he hadn''t defeated her outright. Hell, whom did he think he was fighting anyway? If she weren''t good, she wouldn’t be alive. She was surprised when she heard his next words.
"I, I apologize." He said hesitantly. It was obvious to both that he didn’t say the words often. "I guess I''m seeing insults were none are intended.'' Entreri shoved a hand trough his dark hair. He didn’t know why, but it bothered him that he was acting like an ass, or worse, the infant Aramys had deemed him when told to help him. "Its like you said, I need food, and perhaps more rest. Maybe we can take up the lesson later?"
The girl sheathed her swords and nodded curtly. "I think that is probably a good idea." The eyes that had sparkled during their practice were cold now, and Entreri didn’t like it. "Surely a strong and brilliant rivvil like yourself can find his own way to the kitchen, then back to his room?" She asked sarcastically. " No need for a bit of iblith like me to foul you with her company!" The girl turned on her heal and stalked out the exit.
Apparently he wasn’t forgiven.
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