Servant of the Shard

Servant of the Shard is the first book of The Sellswords trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. It was originally book three in the Paths of Darkness series, but as it did not focus on its central character, Drizzt Do'Urden, Salvatore decided to make a a separate trilogy based on the events in Servant of the Shard.

"The Assassin Surrounded by dark elves, Artemis Entreri tightens his grip on the streets of Calimport. While he urges caution, his black-skinned sponsor grows ever more ambitious. The assassin will soon find himself on a path his most hated enemy has walked before him—a path that leads to a place where someone like Entreri would never be welcome.

The drow Jarlaxle has ascended from dark Menzoberranzan with only evil intentions. The malevolent Crystal Shard’s influence on him intensifies until even the drow agents he brought with him grow fearful. When Bregan D'aerthe itself begins to turn on him, Jarlaxle will be forced to find a savior in the man he’s come to enslave."

Plot
Despite his great willpower, Jarlaxle is being seduced by the power of Crenshinibon. Artemis Entreri feels that it is necessary to help him get rid of the artifact. The two come across a great opportunity to destroy the Crenshininbon in the form of the man named Cadderly, a chosen of Deneir. They must take the artifact to the cave of a great dragon in order for to be destroyed.