The Last Threshold (Neverwinter #4)(61)

Beniago looked from Drizzt to Entreri, then back to the drow. “I am a businessman,” he said.

“I counted on that.”

“Then what do you offer,” Beniago asked, and he looked to Entreri and remarked, before Entreri could, “in addition to my life?”

“That which you once asked of me,” said Drizzt. “I, and Dahlia, and my friend Entreri here, can serve House Kurth quite valuably, from afar. We are in a position now to give High Captain Kurth a tremendous advantage over his peers.”

“Pray tell,” Beniago prompted.

“We come as emissaries of Port Llast.”

Beniago appeared greatly surprised at that. “Port Llast? It is a name I am hearing more often in the last few tendays.”

“And you will hear more of it in the future, I assure you,” said Drizzt. “The populace grows in number and in strength. They are reclaiming their city from the minions of Umberlee, and indeed have brought their city limits to water’s edge once more.”

“It is a rival city to Luskan’s designs.”

“No more,” said Drizzt. “The tides will not favor Port Llast. She will not rise as a trading port, but from her cold waters comes a bountiful harvest of shellfish and other delicacies, and fine rocks from her quarry. There is nothing in Port Llast to threaten Luskan, but plenty of opportunity for one wise enough to see far ahead.”

“That would be Ship Kurth,” Beniago said.

“That would be your choice,” said Drizzt. “And you would have the eyes you once claimed to want. My eyes, Dahlia’s eyes.”

“Why? You don’t seem like the type who would throw in with Ship Kurth, as you made clear in our last encounter.”

“I’m not, but is one crew better than another here in Luskan? I don’t intend to fight for you, nor to provide you anything you might use against undeserving innocents. But I expect that I can stay within my moral boundaries and still be of use to a … businessman.”

“Persuasive,” Beniago admitted. “And so I would be a fool not to take that bargain. I assume that in exchange for this arrangement, Ship Kurth should not accede to any coordinated attacks on Port Llast from Luskan.”

“Correct, and if you change your mind, understand that Port Llast is much better defended, and with far more capable hands, than her small size would indicate.”

Beniago laughed at that unveiled threat.

“Then we are agreed?” Drizzt asked.

“I have to speak with my high captain, but it seems reasonable.”

“And the dagger?” Drizzt asked

“And your life?” Entreri interjected.

“The deal is separate, I think,” said Beniago, “now that I understand that you won’t let your friend attack me. Without me, your tie to Ship Kurth is greatly diminished, of course, and since my associates know that I came out to find you at your request, if I turn up dead or missing they will be more likely to initiate an action against Port Llast, don’t you think?”

“I’m growing bored,” Entreri warned, but Drizzt held up his hand to keep the dangerous man at bay.

“We have prisoners from Luskan who assaulted a caravan bearing refugees to Port Llast,” he told Beniago. “They are unharmed, and are being treated well. We want no war with Luskan. They are from at least three of the other Ships, as well as one man from your own.”

“And you will give them to me,” said Beniago, and Drizzt nodded.

“Their rescue, by you, will buy you good will and capital, I expect.”

Beniago considered it for a few moments, then nodded. “It’s a good start. But I need something else, and you are just the drow to do it. I have a ship of goods sailing for Baldur’s Gate as soon as winter fully breaks—perhaps four tendays. She will be well-armed and manned, a crack crew, but I would have some of my own mercenaries aboard her for extra protection of certain … interests I have on the boat.”

“You ask me to run guard on a merchant ship?” Drizzt asked incredulously.

“She will see no trouble on the seas.”

“Then why—?”

“There are things aboard I would have doubly protected, perhaps from other mercenaries aboard. But again, you will likely find no trouble. None in Luskan would move against Drizzt Do’Urden without more support than they might find on a small boat.”

“Ship Rethnor might disagree with that assessment, particularly if Dahlia accompanies me.”

“There will be no Rethnor agents aboard. I promise that much.”

“My dagger?” asked an impatient Entreri.

“It is a valuable dagger,” said Beniago. “I hate to part with it.”

“You have no choice,” said Entreri, and he started forward.

“Drizzt?” Beniago asked.

“Deal,” said the drow.

Beniago drew out the jeweled dagger, flipped it over, and handed it out hilt first to Entreri.

“Do I ride with you back to Port Llast to retrieve the prisoners?” Beniago asked.

“You haven’t a steed that can pace us,” Drizzt replied. “You, or your emissaries, ride out in two days. Our wagon with the prisoners should meet you on the road about halfway to the city.”

Drizzt glanced at Entreri, who stood holding his jeweled dagger before him, staring at it, his expression filled as much with confusion as relief at having it back in his hand. Drizzt understood that; surely feeling the weight of the jeweled dagger again was evoking in Artemis Entreri a flood of memories, some good, many not so good.