I Read What?!

So, I DID end up meeting my deadline, so now I am free to resume my book reviews. And we're celebrating it by rejoining Drizzt and Company in the Halfling's Gem.



If you recall, Drizzt and Wulfgar are heading south aboard the Sea Sprite, captained by Deudermont. They're coming close to the Sword Coast, and shall be heading south "around the edge of the world" and then back east to Calimport.

This would probably mean more if I were looking at a map of the Forgotten Realms. Which I am fully capable of doing. That's okay, I'll take Deudermont's word for it.

Interestingly, Drizzt does not. Drizzt looked at Deudermont suspiciously, knowing that this was not an ordinary practice of sailing vessels.

Okay, how does Drizzt know this? I'm not opposed to Marty Stu characters, as you well know. And I'm not opposed to characters having applicable knowledge. But Salvatore is always very bad at telling us where Drizzt gets this knowledge!

Drizzt is from an underground civilization. He now lives in the Icewind Dale, which does admittedly have fishing vessels and sailing, but he doesn't engage in civilization. He lives in a cave and hangs out with dwarves.

So how does he know anything about sailing vessels? I'd accept something as simple as Drizzt having talked to Cassius or one of the other Dale leaders about sailing as preparation for the Mithril Hall trip. But give me something.

Anyway, Deudermont will be using Waterdeep's flag north of Baldur's Gate, and then Calimport's flag to the south. This is because both cities are rivals and while they desire profitable trade with each other, they don't always allow ships flying their rival's flag to dock.

...that's pretty fucking stupid. And Wulfgar agrees:

"A foolish pride," Wulfgar remarked, painfully reminded of some similar traditions his own clannish people had practiced only a few years before.

Anyway, both rulers actually want trade, so there are a scant few ships that manage both ports. Everyone profits. It's also strategic: pirates to the North respect Waterdeep's flag, pirates to the South don't want to piss off Calimport.

...wow, these are fucking wimpy pirates. Anyway, there is the occasional trouble, which is where Drizzt and Wulfgar come in. Wulfgar endears me more here:

Wulfgar brought Aegis-fang up in front of him. "I pray that I have learned the movements of a ship well enough for such a battle," he said. "An errant swing might send me over the rail!"

"Then swim to the side of the pirate ship," Drizzt mused, "and tip her over!"

...okay, that was pretty funny, Drizzt.

We shift scenes now to Baldur's Gate, where the wizard Oberon is watching our heroes through a crystal ball. He notes Wulfgar's dress and coloring, figuring that he's from one of the distant tribes to the North.

Is he still wearing the clothes suited for an icy tundra? I feel like that's a heatstroke waiting to happen. Oberon muses briefly about the debt he owes Entreri, and how happy he is that Entreri is calling in the debt with a very easy favor. Then he looks at Drizzt:

Oberon's curiosity kept him tuned to the departing Sea Sprite a bit longer. He focused upon the elf - Drizzt Do'Urden, as Pellman, the harbormaster, had called him. To the wizard's experienced eye, something seemed amiss about this elf. Not out of place, as the barbarian seemed. Rather something in the way Drizzt carried himself or looked about with those unique, lavender orbs.

Those eyes just did not seem to fit the overall persona of that elf, Drizzt Do'Urden.

Of course they don't.

But it is interesting that a wizard can sense something wrong with the mask's disguise. Oberon is tempted to investigate further, but decides against crossing Entreri. Fair enough.

We shift scene again to a ship called the Devil Dancer, 200 miles to the south. Entreri has gotten the signal from Oberon and knows that Drizzt and Wulfgar are a week behind him. Regis is despondent and afraid of what his old master will do. Enteri is excited:

Pook would get the gem and the halfling, and Entreri would be paid well for the service. But in the assassin's mind, Pook's gold was not the true reward for his efforts.

Entreri wanted Drizzt Do'Urden.

Have you tried sending flowers and a love note?

Back to Wulfgar and Drizzt, who have made it to Baldur's Gate. They notice fireworks in the sky. Deudermont and Drizzt ponder whether or not a wizard is fighting with a dragon or some other sky monster. Wulfgar is the one who realizes that there's a pattern though, realizing that it's a signal.

Go Wulfgar. Deudermont wonders if it's meant to signal a ship (because a land message would be easier than this), and...oh for goodness sake:

Drizzt had already entertained that very thought, and he was becoming more than a little suspicious of the display's source, and of its purpose.

Deudermont studied the display a moment longer. "Perhaps it is a signal," he conceded, recognizing the accuracy of Wulfgar's observations of a pattern. "Many ships put in to and out of Baldur's Gate each day. A wizard greeting some friends or saying farewell in grand fashion."

"Or relaying information," Drizzt added, glancing up at Wulfgar. Wulfgar did not miss the drow's point; Drizzt could tell by the barbarian's scowl that Wulfgar was entertaining similar suspicions.

Because no one can be smarter than Drizzt. Of course.

We shift scene again, this time to Oberon making his report to Pook. They're confused about Entreri's motives here. They speculate that Drizzt and Wulfgar may be friends of Regis, and Entreri might be leading them into an ambush.

Oberon is a bit more suspicious though. Entreri's not the ambushing sort, he prefers face to face challenges.

Pook doesn't want any complications when it comes to getting the pendant or Regis back though, so he decides to utilize a pirate named Pinochet, to set up an ambush of three ships.

The chapter ends pretty stylishly:

Oberon considered the task for a moment. "A pity," he remarked. "The Sea Sprite was a fine vessel."

Pook echoed a single word for emphasis, making it absolutely clear that he would tolerate no mistakes.

"Was."

You have a stupid name, Pasha Pook, but a knack for a closing line.