"So the Lady Cassandra has no part in this?"
"I did not say that," Elaith cautioned him. "She may have no choice but to take action."
"What form will that action take?" Arilyn asked.
The elf was silent for a long moment. "I thought that I held the Mhaorkiira. I had reason to think so. I ar shy;ranged for certain people to use the dream spheres, and from them I gained information I used to take action against the two-city consortium."
"What kind of action?" Danilo said cautiously.
"I had nothing to do with your sister's death," the elf began.
"That was Oth," Arilyn said decisively. "If he can take the form of a cat, why not a tren? Of course Isabeau had reason to run from him-from what Elaith says, she stole from Oth not once but twice. She probably named Elaith from sheer spite. What of Belinda Gundwynd?"
"Ilzimmer, I suspect," the elf said wearily. "The path to that is rather convoluted. I had a fatal dispute with a mercenary captain, a retainer of the Ilzimmer clan. The killing blade was made by the Amcathra clan and was stolen during the ambush."
Danilo looked puzzled. "What has that to do with the Gundwynd clan?"
"It is common knowledge that the Amcathra family is not among the two-city consortium. That is why I sent you to Regnet," the elf admitted. "It was a diversion, nothing more. The Ilzimmers assumed, as I intended for them to do, that the blade was a sign from Gundwynd. After all, it was lost from their caravan. Its use to attack an Ilzimmer soldier-especially considering that the man was the caravan master-could be seen as a direct accusation. The death of Belinda was intended to be a warning."
"So were the attacks on Danilo and me," Arilyn said. "What of Simon Ilzimmer?"
Elaith's smile took on a hard edge. "That was my doing," he said without the slightest hint of guilt. "The woman was in my employ and dying from a wasting dis shy;ease of the lungs. A few illusions, a few well spent coins, and there are many who will swear that Simon Ilzim shy;mer was seen coming from her room."
"I cannot shed too many tears over such a man, but I do not approve," Danilo said heatedly. "Let's set aside the consideration of whether Simon's 'innocence' is gen shy;eral or specific. What about those who give testimony? I assume that they were chosen to implicate some other family and to further fuel the flames?"
The elf admitted this with a nod. "I will undo what I can. You said that you had words with Simon Ilzimmer that same day-do you remember the hour?"
"The bells of Ilmater's temple were ringing," Arilyn recalled.
"That answers all," Elaith said with satisfaction. "The hour is close enough. You can speak for him. That will help build favor between the Ilzimmer family and the Thanns. It will be easy enough to blame this on Oth. We know he has done murder in other forms. Why not claim that he took on the physical shape of Simon Ilzimmer?"
Danilo started to protest, then gave up with a sigh. "We have to find Oth before we can accuse him of any shy;thing. The question is, how do we proceed?"
"I see several possible paths, none of them very at shy;tractive," the elf said. "We could turn this matter over to the Lords of Waterdeep, but these accusations would be hard to prove, and that might only deepen the animos shy;ity between the families. We could let the families settle this among themselves and hope that the bloodletting is minimal. This is the course I myself prefer, but for the fact that you and the princess are in line for reprisal."
Danilo grimaced. "Or?"
The elf's smile was cold and ruthless. "We could serve up Oth to the two-city families-but first, we will have to find and stop him."
"Not easy to find a dead man who can change his appearance at will," Arilyn pointed out.
"It will be easier than you think," Elaith said. He took the red crystal from his pocket and flipped it onto the table. "Oth has been sending information to me through this-things he wants me to know. He wants all three of us dead and he is trying to entrap us. Let's oblige him."
"I've heard better plans," Danilo said dryly, "but please, continue. This can only improve."
Elaith reached out and tapped the stone. "In two nights there will be a massive, coordinated tren attack against members of both the Thann and Ilzimmer clans."
"Why would Oth do that?"
"Several reasons. These families have longstanding rivalries. They will believe that the attacks come from their rivals and will continue to act upon them. They will fight until both are weakened. At some point, the other families will step in and settle the matter."
"Why would Oth want to create problems among these families?' Dan wondered.
"The Eltorchul fortunes are fading," the elf reminded him.
"No wonder," Arilyn put in. "New tunnels don't come cheap. Neither do the services of tren assassins."
"Or magical research," Danilo added. "The cost of developing the dream spheres must have been ruinous."
Elaith shook his head. "The cost would be a small thing compared to the profit Oth could make if he could worm his clan into the two-city trade. Using the dream spheres, Oth could learn enough bits and pieces of the illegal trade to make a convincing bid. Fortunately," the elf said grimly, "he failed in his most ambitious ploy. He drew me into the dream sphere trade, no doubt hoping that I would be tempted to use the devices myself and thus betray secrets that I entrust to no man. If he ac shy;complished what the seven families could not do, and handed them both my ruin and my fortune, the other families would welcome him into their midst with open arms."
Danilo and Arilyn absorbed this. "There are still a number of loose threads," Arilyn said. "It is clear that the peerage does not embrace elves, but the Eltorchul family seems extreme in their dislike."
"Oth is an arrogant man," Danilo explained. "The thought that some magic might elude his grasp is deeply offensive to him. You should have seen his face at the Gemstone Ball, when he asked me to teach him spell-song magic."
"That is well said," the elf agreed. "A number of years ago, Oth tried to purchase elven spells from the priests at the Pantheon Temple. He was firmly rebuffed."
"Sibylanthra Dezlentyr was a mage," Arilyn pointed out. "Is it possible that she, too, rebuffed Oth? Perhaps he was working on the Mhaorkiira back then. If he thought that she understood too much of his intent, he might think it necessary to silence her."
Elaith looked startled, then grimly angry. "I would say it is very possible."
"That fits, as well," Arilyn mused. "She was most likely killed by poison. Diloontier deals both in poisons and the services of tren-clearly, Oth has some contact with the man. That could also explain the attack on Myrna Cassalanter."
"No, that was my doing," Elaith said candidly. He shrugged off their incredulous stares. "She had it coming. Who do you think ordered the attack outside of Regnet's house?"
Danilo massaged his temples. "Let us come back to that at a later time. I take it that you know where the attacks will be."
"I do." Elaith sighed in deep and profound frustration. "Unfortunately, I do not have enough men to counteract these attacks. Oh, there are many in my employ, but none whom I trust in this matter. The shipment of dream spheres I acquired in Skullport is no doubt a paltry thing compared to Oth's store of them. I would wager that dream spheres have made their way into the hands of every man, woman, and monster seen frequenting my establishments or taking payment from me."
The elf fell silent for a moment. "The only people I trust are in this room. I know of none others."
"I do," said Arilyn suddenly.
Danilo nodded slowly, understanding what she in shy;tended. "The elves from Tethyr came expecting to fight at your side if need be. There are other elves in the city. They might be recruited to this cause."
Elaith snorted. "Forgive me, but you do not under shy;stand the elven mind. Most of Waterdeep's elves are gold or moon folk like Arilyn and myself. Who would they follow? A band of forest elves, who to them are nothing but unknown savages? Or a half-elf? Or a rogue such as myself? The elves of this city know of my re
putation," Elaith said, "and more than one of them has suf shy;fered vicariously because of my deeds. They will want no part of this. They have no reason to trust me, even less if they hear that the Mhaorkiira Hadryad is in shy;volved. No, I am sorry, but the People in this city have no reason to unite under any of those banners."
"Send out messengers," Arilyn said with grim cer shy;tainty. "Gather all the elves you know. I'll do the rest."
Lady Cassandra regarded her youngest son with un shy;certainty. "No more flaming books?"
"Just a simple warning, Mother. I have come to the end of the path, and you should know what I have found."
She nodded as if she had been expecting this. Danilo told her what he had learned.
"I did not order the tren assassinations," she said in a tight, worried tone, "but if this comes to light no one will believe it and the Thann family will be anathema. How much more so, after the battle between the fami shy;lies is over!"
"It will not take place," he said adamantly, "at least, not in any way that touches Thann. For once, stay your hand and let someone else handle the problem. Take precautions to protect the family, but keep all your retainers out of this."
Cassandra did not agree, but neither did she dis shy;agree.
After a moment, Danilo spoke the one question to which he must have an answer. "Arilyn and I have shared the elven handfasting. We have bonded in rapport. She wears my ring, and we intend to marry. Know that she has my first and deepest allegiance. She is worthy of that and more."
"That I never doubted," the woman murmured.
"Then tell me why you have been so opposed to our union."
For a moment Cassandra looked weary, almost fragile. "You and Arilyn might have children. It is possible that one of them might be half-elven in appearance. That would raise questions."
Danilo nodded encouragement.
"When you spoke of your elven heritage, I thought you knew, but after the first moment of surprise passed, I realized that Khelben must have passed along some tale of distant ancestry. The son of Arun had a half-elven father. However, there is a closer tie."
She took a long breath. "I was born before my father came to Waterdeep. My mother died in childbirth, at shy;tended by none but my father. He remarried soon after. The Khelben whose name the archmage borrows was born of that union, and I always called his mother mine. Very few knew otherwise. None living know that she was half-elven."
"You were ashamed of this," Danilo said in wonder.
"Not so, but you have seen how the nobility regards those of mixed blood." She swept a hand toward the well-tended estate. "See what I have done. The family business was in utter disarray when I married your father. I have earned this place for myself. None of my family-not even those who have the magical gifts I so notably lack-have achieved nobility. It is what I have. It is what I am."
A faint tremor underlay the cool tones. Danilo con shy;sidered it long and well before he spoke. "I have no desire to take this from you, lady."
She shook her head. "Without the two-city trade, all is lost. I am not speaking merely of fortune. Do you think the others would let Thanns survive, if we at shy;tempted to remove ourselves from this alliance?"
Danilo had already considered that. For good or ill, this was a secret he would never speak. "Thann will survive," he said.
Still Cassandra was not content. "What do you pro shy;pose to do? And how will this not come back to our door, if it is known that you are involved?"
"Rest your mind on that," he said. "I have allies no one will connect with this noble house or any other."
She considered that, then let out a short, humorless laugh at the irony of the situation. "Do what you must, my son." She hesitated, then gave him a smile that was genuine-all the more so for its self-mocking edge. "Sweet water and light laughter until we meet again."
The traditional elven farewell surprised him, then left him feeling both confused and deeply touched. He did not understand this woman and would never find his way through the many layers and convoluted pas shy;sages of her mind. This much he knew: she had given him her blessing, in words she knew would be mean shy;ingful to him. He took her hand and kissed her fingers, then turned and walked swiftly from the hall to prepare for the battle ahead.
Nineteen
The gathering at Greenglade Tower was far from cor shy;dial. Danilo soon realized that Elaith's assessment of Waterdeep's elves had been distressingly on the mark. Some of these elves had recently been evicted from the tower and were none too happy to learn that Elaith had given that order.
Nor were they willing to follow him. The mother of the elf who was slain at Belinda Gundwynd's side angrily demanded to know if Elaith had anything to do with her son's death. "Tell me, my lord," she said with bitter mockery, "was this part of your vendetta against the noble clans?"
Before he could speak, Arilyn stepped forward. She placed a hand on her moonblade. "All of you know what this is. You know it cannot shed innocent blood, and that it can never be used to harm the People. If the task Elaith Craulnober asks of us is a right and true path, if the elf himself is worthy of our loyalty, the sword will honor him. If he falls, you will follow me. Will you accept that?"
There were many doubtful faces, but a murmur ran through the crowd as a tall male stepped forward from the small knot of forest elves. Danilo knew at once who the elf was. Arilyn had spoken of her friend Foxfire as a warleader. This elf moved with the fluid grace of a war shy;rior. Dan had seen leaders before who possessed that quiet, indefinable strength that flowed like an aura, who inspired confidence in those around them. Never had he seen one who possessed this quality in such ample measure. If that were not proof enough, there was the elven naming custom in which given names were taken from an elf's skills or appearance. Foxfire was aptly named, for his long russet hair had the gloss and color of a red fox's pelt. Danilo noticed as objectively as possible that the elf was possibly the most strikingly handsome male of any race he had ever beheld.
Foxfire took a band from his arm and tossed it at the moon elf's feet. It was a ritual Dan had read of-no doubt the band carried the insignia of Foxfire's position as warleader.
"I will honor the moonblade's decision, and my people with me," he said in musical, deeply accented Elvish. The forest elves rose and came to stand behind him. Of course, they could not know that the moonblade's magic had been unreliable, even contradictory.
At that moment Danilo understood what Arilyn was doing. Fear rose in him like a tide. As if she sensed this, she turned and met his eyes. Gone was any hint of reserve. Her heart was in her eyes, and Danilo had no doubt that it was his. Nor did he doubt that this last, supremely honest gaze might well be her silent farewell.
Arilyn spun away and turned to Elaith. She drew her sword, raised it in challenge.
White-faced, the elf drew his weapon and mirrored her salute. There was no fear on his face, though he clearly expected to die. Danilo suspected that he wished for death. The answer Elaith sought from the Mhaor shy;kiira had never come, but death by moonblade's decree would lay to rest the question that had haunted his soul. Danilo marveled at the unlike pair, the incredible courage of both elves.
Arilyn raised her sword for a powerful two-handed blow and brought it whistling down. She never got close.
A terrible flash lit the room. For a moment, Dan's horrified gaze perceived the outline of skull beneath Arilyn's face, the bones in her arms. Then the vision was gone, and the half-elf lay on the floor. Her hands were blackened. Her eyes were open and staring, but she was utterly still.
Before Danilo could move, Elaith threw aside his sword and dropped to his knees. He balled one fist and pounded on the half-elf's chest. He struck again, and then again. Instinctively Danilo moved to stop him, but Foxfire caught him and held him back.
"He does right," the warleader said softly.
Danilo realized the truth in it. He nodded to show that he understood, then put aside the elf's restraining hands and went to kneel be
side his love and his elven friend. For several moments he could do nothing but watch as Elaith continued his brutal ministrations.
Arilyn suddenly drew breath in a sharp gasp. Her eyes shut as she struggled against the pain of her burns. When she had mastered herself, she opened her eyes and regarded the somber, watching elves.
"You have your sign," she said in a faint, ragged voice. "Do as the elf lord bids you."
A forest elf came forward, a small female, brown as a wren. "Go with the others," she told Danilo brusquely. "I am a shaman and will heal her." She looked to Foxfire to help her move the wounded half-elf. The warleader shook his head and nodded to Dan.
Danilo carefully eased Arilyn into his arms and fol shy;lowed the shaman out of the room. "You expected that to happen," he said softly.
She nodded once, with great effort, and turned to Elaith. The moon elf followed at Dan's side, his eyes intent on Arilyn. His inscrutable calm was gone, shat shy;tered by the sacrifice his "princess" had made for the elven folk, the family of her human love, and for him.
"You did not get the Mhaorkiira, but you have your answer," she said. "Are you content?"
An expression of wonder suffused the elf's face. "All these years," he marveled. "The things that I have done. I am beyond regret-beyond redemption, or so I thought."
"Sometimes the difference between a rogue and a hero," she said carefully, "comes down to who is telling the tale. Ask these elves who I am. They will speak of the moonblade. Ask humans, they will say assassin. It could be the same for you."
"You're talking too much," scolded the shaman.
Arilyn's eyes drifted shut. "Needed to be said."
Danilo left her with the fierce little elf woman and returned to the main hall. Since Elaith did not seem to want to discuss what had just happened, he left that conversation for later and sought out Foxfire.
"That was a noble gesture," he said. "A rare kindness to offer a stranger."
The Dream Spheres (single books) Page 33