Elfshadow fr-2

by Elaine Cunningham

  "I suppose."

  "Well, let's find out what they are, shall we?"

  Arilyn replaced the spitted birds over the fire with the air of one determined to attend to practicalities. "I have more pressing duties."

  "Such as finding the assassin."

  "Yes."

  Danilo pointedly swept a gaze around their wilderness campsite. "Why are we out here?"

  Arilyn's shoulders slumped. "No matter what I do, the assassin keeps following me. Not to kill me-he probably could have done that a dozen times-but as the pawn in some grisly game. I don't understand his motive, but until I figure it out I don't want to be responsible for any more Harper deaths." She hurled another stick at the fire. "There are no Harpers out here to kill."

  "Is it possible," Danilo suggested tentatively, "that the assassin wants you for the powers of your sword?"

  Bitterness flooded the half-elf's face. "Of course it's possible. The sword and I are inseparable."

  "All the more reason for investigating your sword's magic. Once you know what the moonblade can do, you'll be able to figure out the assassin's ultimate motive. Once you know the motive, you have a chance of discerning the villain's identity."

  Arilyn stared at the dandy in amazement. There was truth in his words, and more than a little wisdom. "How did you figure all this out?'

  "Quite easily. After all," he said grandly, "magic is my specialty." Danilo drew back with a melodramatic flourish. "Really, my dear. If you were to advise me as an assassin, I would take your word as that of an expert. I expect you to extend me the same courtesy."

  He rose to his feet and flounced off, settling down on a log on the other side of the fire, the very picture of offended dignity. Arilyn grinned despite herself. Generally she didn't find foolishness endearing, but Danilo made it an art form and raised it to a level that commanded a certain respect.

  Danilo caught sight of her smile. "What's so funny?" he demanded in a sullen voice. The half-elf blinked. His insight had momentarily led her to assume that his foolishness was an act. Looking at him now, she wasn't so sure.

  Arilyn wiped her face clear. "I can't imagine. All right, Danilo, you win. I'll find out everything I can about the sword." She rose to her feet. "Let's go."

  "Now?" Danilo protested, with a longing glance at the sizzling partridges.

  "I like to keep busy."

  They were very busy indeed for the next hour. After they kicked the fire into ash, Danilo placed simple magical wards around the campsite to protect the horses from night-stalking predators. He and Arilyn carefully climbed down the rocky incline that led to the sea, then they headed northward along the coastline of the Waterbreak peninsula. Even with the light of the bright autumn moon to guide them, they had to pick their way carefully along the jagged rocks of the shoreline.

  At the very tip of Waterbreak stood a natural formation of black rocks, the lower part of which was submerged in the sea. Small crustaceans clung to the base of the rock, and several jagged points thrust skyward like small turrets. On the whole, Danilo thought, it looked like a drunken mage's attempt at conjuring a miniature castle.

  Arilyn reached into a niche in the rock formation and drew out a small leather box. From it she took a silver pan pipe. As a fascinated Danilo looked on, she put the instrument to her lips and played a few notes. The silvery tones rang out over the water, shimmering there like moonlight.

  "Nice tune," Danilo observed. "What do we do now?"

  "We wait."

  Arilyn motioned Danilo toward a pile of rocks some hundred yards away. He obediently withdrew and settled down to wait, and Arilyn stationed herself at the point of Waterbreak and gazed out over the water with elven patience.

  The nobleman could not gauge how long they stared out to sea. After a time he noted that a ripple disturbed the still silver surface of the water to the south. Assuming their wait was nearly over, he rose and brushed the lichen and sand from the seat of his trousers. Arilyn flung out a hand to halt him, then she gestured for him to stay back and stay quiet. Again Danilo did as he was bid.

  The ripple appeared twice more, each time closer, then the surface of the water was broken by a glossy black head. Danilo watched in amazement as a large seal-like creature emerged from the sea. As it climbed onto the rocky strand beside Arilyn, the nobleman noted that its body ended in legs rather than tapering to the flippers of a seal. The creatures's black eyes shone with intelligence, and it reached out to clasp Arilyn's forearm in the salute of fellow adventurers. In the bright moonlight Danilo could discern that its hands were like that of a man, albeit covered with dark fur and webbed between the fingers.

  "A selkie," Danilo breathed. He had heard of the rare creatures, but he had never expected to see one. His wonderment increased a hundredfold as the selkie stepped back from Arilyn and, in the span of a heartbeat, transformed into a human man.

  Never had Danilo seen such perfection in a man. The transformed selkie was no taller than Arilyn, but his pale body was perfectly formed and powerfully built. Sleek, dark brown hair fell to his shoulders and framed a clean-shaven face too masculine to be called beautiful.

  "Hello, Gestar," Arilyn said warmly. The half-elf did not seem disconcerted by the transformation or by the selkie man's nakedness.

  "Well met, Arilyn. It is good to see you, even at this late hour," said the selkie. He cast a suspicious look at Danilo, and the nobleman caught a glimpse of intense eyes the color of fine blue topaz.

  "The man over there is a friend of mine and quite harmless," she assured the newcomer. "Can you send a request through the Relay? I need some information from Evermeet, by morning if possible."

  "Anything for the elf who saved the life of my mate."

  Arilyn smiled her thanks. "I seek information about a moonblade. It belonged to an elf named Amnestria, who left Evermeet about forty years ago. I'm afraid that's all I have."

  "It should be enough. I'll see to this immediately and send word in the morning. Since I cannot transform to human shape again so soon, please expect Black Pearl."

  "Seeing her again will be a pleasure. Thank you, Gestar." The adventurers embraced unselfconsciously, and the selkie man turned and dove into the sea.

  Danilo could contain himself no longer. "That was a selkie!"

  Arilyn turned to face him. "An old friend. We'll wait here until morning for the information. If you're cold, make a fire."

  The nobleman nodded his agreement. Although he was full to the brim with questions, the night was chill. He began to collect driftwood, aware that Arilyn watched him with an amused smile.

  "Go ahead and ask," she said. "I can see the toll your silence is taking upon you."

  Danilo cast her a grin. "What is the Relay? And how can it send a message to Evermeet and back in the span of a single night? Is it magic?"

  "No, it's not magic. The Relay is a network of selkies, sea elves, and sentient sea creatures that look very much like small whales. All can move at impressive speeds, and sound itself travels three times as fast in water as it does in air. Underwater messages travel swiftly."

  "But to Evermeet and back?"

  "It may be that my inquiry need not go so far. Those who serve in the Relay are bound to secrecy concerning specific messages, but as you can imagine there is a wealth of accumulated information in its members."

  "Oh. Who is this Black Pearl?"

  "A sea half-elf."

  "That's possible? I doubt I could hold my breath long enough to accomplish such a feat," Danilo marveled.

  Arilyn let out a burst of surprised laughter. "Sea elves do not always stay under water."

  "Interesting name, Black Pearl."

  "You'll understand when you see her. Black Pearl's human mother came from a land far to the southeast. Her ship sank off the coast of Calimport and she was rescued by sea elves. There are few half sea-elves, and Black Pearl spends much time with the selkies."

  "I imagine selkies could understand her dual nature better than most other cre
atures," Danilo mused.

  His perceptive remarks startled Arilyn, who had herself always felt uniquely comfortable with selkies. "That's true," she said, and immediately changed the subject. "Any other questions?"

  "Yes. You said that the sword belonged to an elf named Amnestria. Who's that?"

  Arilyn paused for a long moment. "My mother," she said, her voice without expression.

  "Didn't Elaith speak of someone called Z'beryl? I thought that was your mother's name."

  "So did I."

  "Oh."

  Silence hung between them. "Listen, why don't you get some sleep?" Arilyn asked after a time.

  Her question caught Danilo in the middle of a yawn. "Good idea." The shuttered expression in Arilyn's eyes, combined with his own weariness, convinced him of her suggestion's merits.

  Danilo awoke when the sky was still silver with the promise of sunrise, to find Arilyn deep in conversation with Black Pearl. At first glance Danilo knew that it could be no other. The sea half-elf's far-eastern heritage showed in the slope of her dark eyes and in the hair that fell to her hips like a length of wet black satin. Her pointed ears were somewhat more rounded than Arilyn's. Although her hands and feet were webbed, her white skin was very different from the mottled green or blue color that distinguished most sea elves. In the early morning light her naked body shone with the pure translucent sheen of a rare pearl.

  "After King Zaor's death," said Black Pearl, "Queen Amlaruil became sole ruler of Evermeet. Their daughter Amnestria was sent into secret exile because of some private disgrace."

  "That would be me, I suppose," Arilyn said in a low voice. In a louder tone she asked, "Exactly when did Zaor die?"

  "At the end of the four hundred thirty-second year of his reign. The event made an great impact in the sea elf community, and I remember it well, young though I was. It was springtime, during the High Tide Festival." The sea half-elf bit her lip and calculated. "That would be the year 1321, as humans reckon time in the Dalelands. I remember the day, as well; the second day of Ches."

  "Was the murderer caught?"

  "No. Amnestria's human lover shot and wounded the assassin, who nevertheless managed to disappear without a trace."

  "Of what race was the assassin?"

  The sea half-elf dropped her eyes as if ashamed. "He was elven," she admitted.

  "Yes, but what race?" Arilyn persisted.

  "Oh. A gold elf. Is that important?"

  "It might be," Arilyn murmured in a distracted tone. She looked up suddenly. "What did you learn about the moonblade?"

  "Little is known of its powers, I'm afraid. It seems that Amnestria inherited the sword shortly before her exile, from a great-aunt whose family spent most of their time away from Evermeet. You would do better to seek the sword's history from sages here on the mainland." The exotic half-elf paused, then added, "I'm sorry I could not bring you the answers you needed."

  "You've answered many questions." Arilyn extended her hand, palm up. "Thank you for your help, Black Pearl." The other half-elf smiled and covered the offered palm with her own webbed hand, then she disappeared into the sea with a faint splash.

  Arilyn stood looking absently out to sea. When she turned, she seemed faintly startled to see that Danilo was awake. "I suppose you heard."

  "Yes."

  "We might as well get your questions out of the way now."

  "You're catching on," the nobleman said approvingly. He rose and stretched. "First and foremost, don't any of the sea people wear clothing?"

  Arilyn raised her eyebrows. "From all that was said, you gained that single insight?"

  "Black Pearl was rather hard to overlook, Princess Arilyn," Danilo said with a grin. "By the way, Your Highness, should I genuflect before you or will a simple bow suffice?"

  "The royal elves were Amnestria's family, not mine," she said curtly. "I don't claim to be a princess." The half-elf abruptly turned away. "Please see to your breakfast and wardrobe as quickly as possible. We return to Waterdeep this morning."

  "Oh, splendid." Immediately Danilo began removing garments from his magic sack and considering the merits of each. "Are we going anywhere in particular?"

  "Yes."

  Danilo looked up from the silken pile with a pained expression and a patient sigh. "Perhaps you could be a trifle more specific? I do so hate to be inappropriately dressed."

  "Blackstaff Tower." At her words, Danilo's face took on an odd expression. Arilyn had a vision of him pulling a wizard's robe out of his bag. With a touch of grim humor, she added, "Dress like a mage and you won't live to cast your next spell."

  Hastily Danilo snatched up a shirt of pale yellow silk from the pile of discarded garments. "This will do splendidly, really." Within minutes he was ready to go. Sunrise colors stained the sky as they made their way back down the rocky coast.

  "Why Blackstaff Tower?" Danilo asked, trotting easily beside Arilyn's long-legged stride as they headed back to their campsite.

  "I need to find out what there is to know about this sword. I suppose a learned mage is the best place to start."

  "Yes, but there are other mages in Waterdeep, ones with fewer demands on their time."

  "I don't know any of them. I do know Khelben."

  "Really, now. Khelben Arunsun? He can be most unpleasant," Danilo said.

  "Yes, I know," Arilyn agreed, "but if I must entrust my sword to a spellcaster, I suppose it might as well be him. At least he knows which end of a weapon is which."

  Danilo smirked. "I wonder how the great wizard would like to hear himself named a 'spellcaster.'" He smiled and held out his hand. "Listen! I've got a marvelous idea. There's no need for both of us to go to Blackstaff Tower. I'll go alone."

  Arilyn stopped so quickly that Danilo, trying to follow suit, tripped on a rock. She studied him as he bent and rubbed his bruised shin. "Why should you do that?" she asked.

  "Chivalry," he stated, still attending to his injury. "After all you've been through of late, I thought I might spare you an encounter with the old coot."

  "Your concern is touching."

  "Of course it is," Danilo said, beaming. He straightened and laid a hand on her shoulder. "You wait in town. Take a rest and get your hair done for the festival. Whatever. I'll be in and out of Blackstaff Tower before you know it."

  Arilyn threw off his hand, exasperated. "Khelben Arunsun knows me. What makes you think he'd see you?" Danilo paused a bit too long. "Well?" she demanded.

  "He's my uncle. My mother's brother, to be precise. Believe me, Mother would have Uncle Blackstaff the archmage drawn, dressed, and roasted if he slighted her baby boy. Formidable woman." Danilo smiled winningly at Arilyn. "Come to think of it, I believe you'd like my mother."

  Sixteen

  The half-elf's eyes flamed with anger at Danilo's casual revelation. "Why didn't you tell me you were Khelben's nephew?"

  He shrugged. "It didn't occur to me. You never told me you were related to elven royalty, either," he pointed out. "Family trees never came up in conversation."

  With a hiss of exasperation, Arilyn lapsed into silence. They climbed the rocky incline to their camp and found their horses calmly cropping grass. Without a word the half-elf set about saddling her horse. Danilo did likewise and once they mounted he reached toward her. "Give me your hand."

  "Why?"

  "I'm going to teleport us to Blackstaff Tower. It'll save time.

  "No!"

  It was Danilo's turn to be exasperated. "By the gods, woman, be reasonable for once." He leaned over and snatched her hand.

  Immediately they were surrounded by white, milky light. There was no sensation of movement, no sense of anything solid around or beneath them. It seemed to Arilyn that they were suspended in nothingness, a state of being that was outside of her understanding or control. Before the half-elf had time to feel the panic and sickness she expected, the light faded and the dark granite walls of Blackstaff lower came into focus before them.

  "There now, was that so bad?
" Danilo asked.

  "No, it wasn't," Arilyn said with a touch of surprise. "That's odd. Dimensional travel has always made me very ill, ever since I first tried it with Kymil…" Her voice drifted off.

  Danilo did not seem to notice her distraction. He knocked on the gate and was promptly answered by the disembodied voice of a servant. "Arilyn Moonblade to see the Blackstaff," Danilo announced.

  Within moments the gate opened and Khelben Arunsun himself came to greet them. "Come in, Arilyn. It's always a pleasure to see you." The mage's gaze fell on her companion. "Oh, it's you, Danilo."

  "Hello, Uncle Khel," Danilo replied. "Arilyn needed a spellcaster, so I brought her here."

  Khelben Arunsun's brow knit as he turned to Arilyn. "And you listened to my frivolous nephew? I hope this is important."

  "It could be." Arilyn unbuckled her swordbelt and handed the sheathed moonblade to Khelben. "I give you my permission to touch it," she said, her voice taking on a hint of ritual. "Just make sure you don't try to take it from the scabbard."

  The archmage accepted the ancient sword and examined it with interest. "Fascinating weapon. What's all this about?"

  "I need to learn everything I can about this sword and its history. Can you help me?"

  "I'm no sage, but a legend lore spell might yield some answers," Khelben said, tucking the moonblade under his arm. "Please follow me."

  The archmage led them into the courtyard. When they reached the tower he motioned for them to follow and disappeared into the wall. When Arilyn hesitated, Danilo unceremoniously pushed her through the hidden door. She glared over her shoulder at him. "I have done this before, you know."

  "Really? I wouldn't have guessed."

  "Hmmph." The half-elf squared her shoulders and stalked into the reception area of Blackstaff Tower.

  "Come upstairs," Khelben said. "We'll have a better look at your sword up in my spellcasting chamber."

  Arilyn and Danilo followed the archmage up the steep spiral stairway that wound up the center of the tower. When they came to the third and top floor, they stepped into a large, book-lined study. Khelben ushered them through it and opened an oaken door into another, smaller room. A table stood under the chamber's only window, and in the center of the room a scrying crystal rested on a marble pedestal. There was nothing else in the chamber that could distract the wizard from the process of casting spells.