"Not on my part, at least," the Harper said. "A tribunal of elves from Evermeet and Master Harpers decreed that I must carry the moonstone until the day of my death, but I was never told why."
"Then let's get back to Blackstaff Tower and find out," Arilyn said flatly. She turned on her heel and headed for the academy's stables.
"A woman of action, your daughter," Danilo observed to Bran as the men fell in behind her. The Harper nodded absently.
A chatty family, Danilo thought wryly. A hint of a smile lit the young man's face as he contemplated the murderous expression he'd seen in the half-elf's eyes. To his way of thinking, Uncle Khelben had it coming.
They rode back into the city in virtual silence. "You wait here," Danilo instructed Arilyn and Bran when they reached the wall around Blackstaff Tower. "It's well past sunset, and Uncle Khelben expected us hours ago. It's probably been quite some time since someone kept the archmage waiting, and he's sure to be frantic. Give me a moment to calm him down." So saying, the young nobleman walked through the courtyard and disappeared into the solid granite wall of the tower.
After a few moments Arilyn moved to follow him, but Bran put a restraining hand on her arm. "Wait. It is difficult to use invisible doors without the guidance of a mage."
Arilyn shook off his hand. "I can see faint outlines. Secret doors are difficult to hide from an elf."
"A half-elf," he corrected quietly and pointedly.
His words were meant to bring about confrontation. Arilyn tensed. She was not yet ready to acknowledge the relationship that bound them, and she struggled against the strength of her anger.
"All of my life, my mother grieved for you," she said finally. "I never had a father and I feel no need of one now, but how could you-how could anyone!-turn away from Z'beryl?"
"He had no choice."
Startled, Arilyn and Bran looked up. Standing before them was Khelben Arunsun, with Danilo close behind.
"Well, it would seem that the wandering Harper has returned," the archmage observed coldly. "Bringing trouble, as usual."
Bran returned Khelben's glare with a calm, steady look. "Many years have passed. We cannot go back and relive our youth, but must we discard the friends who shared it? Laeral and I have come to an understanding. Cannot we do the same?"
The wizard's face darkened at the mention of his lover. "What has Laeral to do with this?"
"Not enough, it would seem," Bran said sadly. "Our paths crossed shortly before I left the Moonshaes. She was on her way to Evermeet." Bran's brow furrowed suddenly, and he glanced at Arilyn. "Laeral is my friend, but it seems not right that she should be accepted by the elves when their half-elven kin are not."
"Your concern is belated, but touching," Arilyn observed with cold scorn.
"Enough of that, Arilyn Moonblade," Khelben said irritably. "You have every right to dislike the man-Mystra knows I do-but not to misjudge him. As I said, he had no choice but to leave your mother. She took that choice out of his hands. At the time, he didn't even know about you."
"It is true," Bran said sadly.
"You see?" Khelben asked Arilyn, who listened, unmoved by the explanation.
"No."
The wizard raised his eyes skyward in exasperation over her stubbornness, then beckoned them toward the tower. "Come in, come in."
Once they were inside the reception area, Arilyn faced down the archmage. "You knew about this all along."
"I had suspicions," he admitted, "but I was not free to discuss them with you. Dan says you know who the assassin is. Who?"
"In time," Arilyn said grimly. "First, tell me why my… why Bran Skorlsun carried the moonstone."
"It was decreed by the elves of Evermeet," Khelben said.
"To what purpose?"
The archmage glanced from Arilyn to the aging Harper. "Have you two talked?"
"She knows," Bran said.
"She also knows that her mother was the Princess Amnestria," added Danilo.
Khelben nodded to Arilyn. "Good, because there's no way for me to explain this otherwise. Amnestria married a human and carried his child. The elves don't look kindly on that sort of behavior in their princesses." He let out his breath in a deep sigh. "In an unconscious attempt to span her two worlds, Amnestria added a potentially dangerous power to the moonblade. The moonstone was removed before the power could be fully absorbed into the stone."
"That would be the elfgate," Arilyn broke in. When Khelben leveled a glare at Danilo, she raised her eyebrows and added, "Your nephew did not give away the game. The elfgate is a dimensional door between Evermeet and Waterdeep. How else could the elf who killed King Zaor on Evermeet be found dead in Waterdeep that same day? Not an easy feat."
"Impressive. You've put all the pieces together," noted the archmage.
"No," Arilyn said. "I still don't understand why the moonstone was given to Bran."
"Punishment," Khelben said. "Amnestria was sent into exile and pledged to protect the elfgate. She knew that as long as Bran carried the stone, they could never be reunited."
"Why was I not told any of this?" Bran demanded.
"That knowledge would put the key to the elfgate in your hands," Khelben said. "The elves of Evermeet did not have that much faith in you. Since they did not think that a half-elf could inherit the moonblade, they did not foresee the possibility of a father and daughter reunion."
"Kymil made sure we met," Arilyn stated bitterly. All three men looked puzzled, so the half-elf turned to Bran. "Who hired you to follow me?"
"Some Harpers from Cormyr contacted me," he said.
"Lycon of Sune? Nadasha?" Arilyn asked tersely. Bran nodded. "It figures. Kymil often worked with them, but they never fully trusted me. I imagine it was easy for Kymil to convince them that I was the Harper Assassin and that they should put you on my trail."
"So Kymil Nimesin arranged the death of Harpers to lure Bran to you, hoping to reunite the stone with the moonblade. Appalling," Khelben muttered. "But what would he want with the elfgate?"
Arilyn's smile was chilling. "I'll be sure to find out before I kill him."
"You can't go after Kymil," Khelben protested. "Now that the moonstone is back in the sword, the moonblade's very presence could help anyone-particularly an elf-find and use the hidden portal."
"She could meet Kymil before he finds the portal," Danilo suggested.
"Too late. He's already there," Arilyn said. "He left a message for me telling me where to meet him."
"Where-Oh, yes. Evereska," recalled Danilo. "He left word that he was going to Evereska. Well, let's go get him."
"Don't be a fool, Dan," Khelben snapped. "The moonblade must stay far away from Evereska. I take it you've already guessed that the elfgate was moved there," he said to Arilyn.
"Yes. Perhaps the moonblade can't go to Evereska, but I can." She unbuckled her sword belt and offered the magic sword to Khelben. "Here. The thing will be safe enough in your vault."
Khelben shook his head. "You can't go to Evereska without the sword, either. With the moonstone set in the hilt once more, the link between you and the weapon has been finalized. A wielder can't be separated from an active, intact moonblade for any length of time and live."
Arilyn regarded the sword in her hands for a moment, then hurled it across the room. It landed with a clatter. "So be it. If I can live long enough to meet and overcome Kymil Nimesin, I'll be content."
"Why?" Danilo demanded. He took her shoulders and shook her. "Why would you throw your life away?"
She met his eyes, defiant and resolute. "My life has never been completely my own, so it's not mine to keep or throw away. I must make amends for my misused sword." Her voice was firm and wholly devoid of self-pity. "I'll do so, but on my own terms. I may be a half-elf and a half-Harper, but I refuse to be half a person. I will not be the moonblade's shadow any longer."
"That has never been the case. You command the moonblade, not the other way around," Bran told her.
"If that were tr
ue, then I could choose to leave it behind," she said stubbornly.
"I don't suppose it would do any good to try to dissuade you," Khelben said.
"None."
"Then I'll keep the moonblade for you. You're right, the sword should stay here," the archmage conceded. "So should you, for that matter."
"Thank you, Khelben. I would ask one more thing from you. Can you lend me transport to Evereska? A griffon, perhaps, with a speed enchantment?" she asked.
"Very well," Khelben agreed. "If you insist upon going to Evereska, I'll get you there. But with one condition. Danilo goes with you."
"No." Her tone was implacable. "I go alone."
Khelben glared at Bran as if this were somehow his fault. "She is your daughter, beyond a doubt." He turned back to Arilyn. "All right, you've got transport. An enspelled griffon should suit as well as anything."
"Good. Where do I need to go for it?" Arilyn demanded.
"The stables are on the top of Mount Waterdeep." The wizard went to his desk and scrawled something on a bit of parchment. He pressed his signature ring to the note, and his rune magically burned onto the paper. Khelben handed the note to the half-elf. "Give this to the griffon master. He'll give you everything you'll need."
"My thanks." She started toward the tower's exit.
"Arilyn."
She froze at the sound of Danilo's voice but did not turn around. "You'll need a new sword." He faltered. "Permit me to lend you mine."
Arilyn nodded and accepted the blade Danilo offered her, then she stepped through the magic door.
Danilo watched her go, swearing under his breath. "Did either of you see that coming?"
"I should have," the Harper replied. "It's too much like something I would have done at her age."
Before the archmage could respond, a sharp rap that seemed to come from the center of the room drew his attention. "Piergeiron's timing is about as good as usual," the wizard grumbled, stalking to the door that led to the basement and the secret tunnel to the palace of Waterdeep's lord. "Wait here," Khelben instructed his visitors.
Danilo paced back and forth before the door, muttering imprecations against the Lords of Waterdeep and their preoccupation with protocol. Danilo had little patience for the processes of law and order. He worked independently and under cover so he could keep free of the sacred cords of propriety that bound all aspects of Waterdeep life. Never mind that Kymil Nimesin ran free, that the elven kingdom's safety had been compromised, that Arilyn was walking willingly into what was surely a trap. The Lords of Waterdeep were probably consulting Khelben about a new monument or some such foolishness.
To the impatient young noble, Khelben's whispered consultation with the messenger seemed to take an eternity. Finally the Blackstaff returned with an official-looking parchment in his hand. His face was deeply troubled.
Khelben was not given to preambles. "This is from the Lords of Waterdeep. Arilyn Moonblade has been identified as the Harper Assassin, a rogue adventurer in the employ of the Zhentarim."
"What?" exploded Bran. "By whom? I was the one assigned to make that judgment."
Khelben held up a hand for silence and continued. "Piergeiron says that the evidence is overwhelming. An anonymous source sent papers to Waterdeep Castle, precisely balancing each assassination with documentation on Arilyn's whereabouts. There was also a letter billing the Zhentarim for an assassin's services. The dates coincide with each Harper Assassination."
Danilo's eyes turned cold. "Elaith Craulnobur sold her out. He'll die for that."
Khelben looked worried. "She was working with the rogue elf, wasn't she? By Mystra, that won't look good when she comes to trial."
"A trial." Danilo slumped into a chair. "It will come to that? Can't you do anything?"
"I can speak in her behalf."
"There's no truth in this accusation," Danilo protested. He winced and amended, "At least, not much truth."
"One thing I learned long ago," Bran responded, "is that truth often has little power to sway opinion. It seems that the Harpers have never completely trusted Arilyn. Any hint of involvement with the Zhentarim will color opinion further. You must admit that with her background as an assassin, she is a credible suspect."
Even Danilo had to concede the logic in that. "Surely, when the full story is known…"
"The full story can never be told," Khelben stated in an uncompromising tone. "Evermeet would be endangered if news of the elfgate became widespread. The secret must be protected."
Filled with fury, Danilo flew to his feet and faced down the archmage. "Even at the cost of Arilyn's life?"
"Even so."
Their eyes locked like horns, Danilo's blazing with condemnation, Khelben's fixed on his commitment to duty. The younger man broke away first.
"I'm going after Arilyn," he said abruptly.
"Be reasonable, Dan," growled Khelben. "How will you find her? Did she tell you where the elfgate is?"
"In Evereska, that's all I know." Danilo's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. Don't you know?"
"Evereska's a big city," Khelben snapped. "And I wasn't the one who moved the gate."
Danilo shook his head in disgust. "All right, who does know? Or can you relinquish your vows of secrecy long enough to part with that information?"
"Watch your tongue. Laeral devised the spell that moved the elfgate. The only others who know its exact location are Queen Amlaruil and the elven lord of the Greycloak Hills, Erlan Duirsar. Perhaps the elven council of Evereska knows by now, too. By Mystra, this mess will set back ties with the elves a century or two," the Blackstaff concluded in a mutter.
"You deal with the politics, Uncle. If you can't help me, I'm going to Evereska alone."
"I'm going with you." Bran Skorlsun's quiet voice was as inflexible as tempered steel.
"You're as bad as your daughter," Khelben said. "What makes you think the elves will let you near Evereska, Bran? Elves have long memories, and they're not overly fond of humans who ruin their princesses."
Bran met the archmage's glare. "Who else could track Arilyn to the site of the elfgate?"
"It's out of the question!"
Danilo laughed without mirth. "Oh, come now, Uncle. Aren't you just a little curious to know where this elfgate is? Now that the cat's in the creamery, so to speak, I imagine you'll have to move the thing sooner or later." Khelben's eyes widened.
"Another thing," added Bran. "If we wish to help Arilyn, we must bring in Kymil Nimesin. In her current frame of mind, I fear that she will kill the elf."
"Let her," Danilo retorted. "Forgive me, but I cannot shed many tears over the fate of Kymil Nimesin."
"As much as it pains me to do so," Khelben put in, "I must agree with Bran. Arilyn is a former assassin. Kymil Nimesin is a highly respected armsmaster. Kymil must be brought in and magically questioned. Without such evidence at the trial, without Kymil's actual presence, Arilyn looks very much like the Harper Assassin. She would stand a much slimmer chance of acquittal if she kills Kymil."
"So you agree that we should go, Uncle Khelben?"
"Given our options, yes." The wizard turned to Bran. "If you will excuse us, I need to have a few words with my nephew before you leave. Come up, Dan."
Khelben and Danilo climbed the tower's staircase to the magical supplies room. Once the wizard had shut and warded the door, he got right down to business. "You were right. The elfgate must be moved again," Khelben said bluntly.
"Oh, marvelous. With Laeral off cavorting with the elves of Evermeet, who's going to accomplish this miracle?"
Khelben fixed a steady gaze on his nephew. Danilo shook his head and whispered, "Surely you're not serious."
"I am very serious."
The wizard stalked to his scroll library, a large shelf that covered the length of one wall and kept the vast collection in order. Its tiny, round compartments held hundreds of magic scrolls, making the shelf looked like an oversized honeycomb or at the very least an impressive wine rack.
&nb
sp; Pressed for time, Khelben muttered a spell. Instantly one of the compartments glowed with green light. Khelben drew the scroll from the glowing niche, blew the dust from it, and removed the magic wards that sealed it.
"Here is the spell, Dan." Khelben spread the scroll out on a table and fixed the young man with a steady stare. "I've pledged not to cast the spell, so you'll have to." Danilo paled. "You can do it. I've been working with you since your twelfth winter, after that last tutor quit in despair. You have the ability. Do you think I would endanger your life by insisting you cast a spell you could not control?"
"You're willing enough to sacrifice Arilyn's," Danilo said.
"Tread carefully, young man," the archmage warned. "Few things in life are as simple as you would make them. When you have carried the burdens and responsibilities I have known, then you can sit in judgment upon me. Will you cast the spell or not?"
Danilo nodded and bent over the scroll. One glance at the arcane symbols that formed the powerful spell, and Danilo knew that the task lay on the untried edges of his magical ability. Few mages would attempt such a spell. That Khelben would expect this of him was a measure of the wizard's trust. Or perhaps his desperation.
As the young mage struggled to read the spell, pain shot through his head like shafts of lightning, making the arcane symbols cavort on the parchment. With fierce concentration, Danilo forced himself to focus on the spell, and after a time the symbols slowed their dance. As they arranged themselves into patterns, their meanings started to become clear. Danilo began to memorize the complex gestures and the strange words that formed the incantation.
After a moment he closed his eyes. He saw the runes emblazoned in gold upon a field of black. Once he had truly learned a magic spell, he could see the symbols in his mind.
Danilo opened his eyes and nodded. "I've got it."
"Already? You're sure?"
The nobleman grinned at his uncle. "The spell, I'm afraid, is going to be the easy part."
"Don't be cocky, boy."
"It's true! Compared to keeping Arilyn from chopping Kymil Nimesin into carrion?"
Khelben smiled reluctantly. "Perhaps you have a point. Even without the moonblade, Arilyn is a formidable force."
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