"Return to the surface? If you rely on walking alone, you'll never reach it."
Tristana seemed to have suddenly seized on an idea, and she spoke rapidly:
"Samoriel City has a permanent Teleportation Circle leading to the surface. Just take me back, and I swear on the honor of the Nightwind Family that I'll get you back to the surface."
A Teleportation Circle? Renato wasn't a child who believed whatever someone told him. This promise was so blatantly too good to be true that it had to be a lie.
But Balin had also said that leaving the Underdark on foot would take twenty years...
Twenty years.
Seeing Renato waver, Tristana quickly pressed her advantage, coaxing him:
"I know my way around this stratum. I can guide you to Sammoril, rather than letting you wander in circles like someone who's lost. Besides, even if you want to keep walking upward, you can't bypass Samoriel City."
"The only trade route to the stratum above us is controlled by the Ruling Council. The Five Great Houses have troops stationed there, and the Shadowblade and the Inquisitors kill anyone attempting to slip through. You won't get past them..."
Tristana's purple eyes gleamed as she gazed at Renato's face.
She murmured, her voice dreamlike:
"Just look at that perfect face of yours... truly a gift from Lolth..."
The priestess of Lolth spoke faster and faster, her expression growing fervent.
She leaned closer, forcing Renato to take an involuntary step back.
"Yes, return to Samoriel City with me!" Tristana's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "Renato will be my personal bodyguard, and Klauthsura will be the mind flayer adviser who has joined my service... heavens! All-knowing Goddess! Forgive my foolishness, for only now have I understood your arrangements..."
With Tristana beginning to ramble feverishly to