“Thank you, but no, Exalted Lady.”
She stared at him over her goblet. “Are you afraid it’s poisoned?”
“The thought has crossed my mind.” Through the bond Waldo felt sudden shock from Alice and amusement from Belle.
Valeria took another sip. “Many would take those words as an insult.”
“I agree that many humans would,” Waldo said. “But a drow wouldn’t. I am sure you see it as a compliment.”
Valeria nodded. “True, visiting for the first time it is considered customary to decline all food and drink. You have learned quite a bit about my people, though not everything.” She pointed to Belle. “For instance, entering another’s home with an illusion is considered rude.”
Waldo paused. “I was told that it was customary in this city not to tamper with such spells.”
“It is, but you are a guest in my home now. Disguises are not permitted. Please remove the illusion.”
Waldo licked his lips. Revealing Belle’s true form was dangerous, but insulting a drow noble woman was much more so. “Nunc.” The image of Belle wavered and vanished, replaced by an eight-foot-tall ogre.
The guard gave a gasp, then sent the ogre a curious look.
Valeria’s eyes widened slightly, and she took another deliberate sip of tea. “A Great Monster? You asked to meet with me, know my language, and have an ogre in your service. You are nothing like any other White Mage I have ever heard of.”
“You are not the first to say so.”
“Do you know one of your sort came here a few days ago? She stood in the street just across from my front door and spent the entire day shouting about how corrupt and wicked we are. She spent the full day, from sunrise until sunset, yelling that we were abominations and should be dragged into the street and killed.”
“Her name is Melissa Cornwall, and that does sound like something she would do. She is a fanatic.”
“Until today, I believed all White Mages were.”
“I don’t blame you, we are a crazy bunch. Did you know we are out to take over the world?”
Valeria chuckled. “Does your friend know you are here? Or that you keep a pet ogre?”
“As a matter of fact, Melissa does know about Gronk. I didn’t tell her I was coming here. We are not friends, at most I suppose we could be called associates. We have very different outlooks and goals.”
“Is that so?” Valeria took a plump strawberry and held it between thumb and forefinger. “The surface world is so rich. Not in gold or iron or mythril, but in everything else. You have food everywhere, slaves beyond counting, whole lakes filled with clean water, forests teeming with wood, cloth, parchment, and so many other luxuries. In the Closed World, everything but stone and minerals are scarce, getting enough to survive is always a struggle.” She popped the strawberry into her mouth and took her time devouring it. “Such a shame there aren’t enough of us to conquer the Open World. If you humans only outnumbered us ten to one, we would take it all and enslave your entire race. If you outnumbered us a hundred to one, we would carve out vast kingdoms. Sadly, it is closer to ten thousand to one. It is a pity.”
“From your point of view, I am sure it is, Exalted Lady.”
Valeria nodded and selected another strawberry. “So, why does a White Mage visit the embassy of Ixendil’Yarrto?”
“It’s said the drow have spy networks and connections throughout not only the Shattered Lands but Ostragaard as well.”
“Is that what they say?” She popped in the strawberry and chewed.
“I need information.”
Valeria swallowed. “About what?”
“Dragons.”
“Dragons?” She paused and slowly shook her head. “You are full of surprises, aren’t you? I assumed you wanted to know about some lord or king. Why would a White Mage care about dragons?”
“I have my reasons.”
The grin flattened out and her eyes narrowed. “That’s not a very friendly answer. How are we supposed to trust each other if you won’t tell me why you want to find out about dragons?”
“We aren’t going to trust each other. Trust is a dagger pointed at your own heart.”
The hand reaching for another strawberry suddenly stopped and her eyes widened. “What?”
Waldo frowned. Had he said something offensive by mistake? “I simply mean trust is a very dangerous thing, surely you wouldn’t ask it of someone you have only just met.”
Valeria folded her hands in front of her. “No, of course not. But how can we help each other if there is no trust?”
“Your presence in this city means you conduct business here. The merchants you deal with, do you trust them?”
“I trust them to do what is in their own best interest.”
Waldo nodded. “Exactly, we can trust each other that far. We can make a trade. I want information on a dragon’s lair and am willing to pay for it.”
“And how would you pay me for such valuable knowledge? Dragons are notoriously difficult creatures to track. If I knew where one could be found that information would be incredibly precious. What could you possibly give me that would be a fair exchange?”
“I have quite a bit of gold.”
A half-muffled groan came from Alice. Waldo didn’t care, they could always steal more later. This might be his one and only opportunity to learn where he could find a dragon.
Valeria snorted a laugh and tapped her goblet with a single finger. “Does it look like I need gold?”
Waldo sighed. “I suppose not. Would you be interested in the recipe for permanent love potion?”
She quirked an eyebrow. “That does sound interesting, but it wouldn’t be close to enough.”
Waldo thought about the different spells in his spellbook. None of them were earth elemental magic. The most advanced spells were in air magic and in healing. Even if she had Talents in those Schools he didn’t think all the contents of his spellbook would be sufficient.
“Is there something I can do for you in return?” Waldo asked. “I am a White Mage after all.”
She leaned slowly back into her chair. “Perhaps, tell me, Master Waldo, did you know the queen will be celebrating her birthday in a week’s time?”
“I’ve heard it mentioned once or twice.”
“In the evening, there will be a feast, and before that a tournament held in her honor. Gladiatorial combat, with all matches being to the death of course.”
“Of course,” Waldo agreed. “What would be the point otherwise?”
“Most White Mages feel it’s criminal for men to kill each other for entertainment.”
“I think we’ve already established most other White Mages are idiots.”
She chuckled. “Non-humans aren’t permitted to fight in the Arena. The tournament is supposed to be proof of human courage and fighting skill. Though monsters are banned, the guild doesn’t bother to screen for them. You could enter your ogre with the appearance of a human servant. Competitors are even permitted to use their own weapons and gear, so he could fight with his magical sword. If your ogre wins the tournament I will reveal the location of a dragon’s lair to you.”
“That’s all?” Waldo asked excitedly. “If Gronk wins this little tournament you’ll give me the information?”
Valeria nodded. “Yes, that’s right.”
Waldo jumped to his feet and held one hand out, palm up. “Done!”
“Wait a minute!” Alice shouted. Waldo and Valeria both looked at her. “All these fights are to the death, right?”
“Yes,” Waldo said. “What other sort of gladiatorial fights are there?”
“So, the only person who lives is the final winner?” Alice asked. “Every other person who fights has to die?”
“That’s right,” Waldo said. “Is there a point?”
“You know,” Valeria said. “I was under the impression that in human society it was the males who are dominant.”
“That’s a common misconception,” Waldo told he
r.
“I see.”
“My point is,” Alice continued. “Are you really going to put Gronk’s life in danger just to find out where a dragon is? How can you be sure she really knows where to find one?”
“You doubt me?” Valeria asked in a soft voice.
“No, she doesn’t!” Waldo jumped in. “She is absolutely does not! Isn’t that right, Alice?”
Something about the way Valeria was looking at her made Alice pale. “Ah, no, I don’t. I was just making a point.”
“I see.” Valeria snapped her fingers. The two human servants jumped to her side. She whispered something to one and the girl ran out the chamber. “Perhaps I can do something to set your mind at ease.”
Alice swallowed and turned back to her husband. “Darling, are you really going to put Gronk in danger like this?”
“I appreciate the thought, sweetie. But it’s fine, in fact, it sounds like fun.” The ogre said.
“Alice, what danger will he be in? He’s an ogre and he’ll be fighting one on one against human warriors, they don’t stand a chance.”
“What if he has to fight a knight with a magical sword?”
“Well, there’s a chance he might have to fight someone dangerous,” Waldo admitted. “But it’s a chance I’m willing to take.”
“So Gronk’s life is less important than a mark on a map?!”
“Alice, I have to find a dragon’s egg! You know why! This isn’t something I can just ask around about. A dragon’s lair is almost impossible to find. I have to do whatever I need to, to find one!”
Gronk stepped forward. “Look, sweetie, it really is okay. I don’t mind. I’m more than happy to do whatever master wants.”
“Aren’t you nice and obedient?” The drow guard murmured beneath her breath.
One of the many doors opened and the servant returned with something in her hands. Valeria nodded to her and the girl carefully placed it on the table where everyone would get a clear view.
Waldo leaned forward to stare. It was two feet long, stained yellow, and ended in a sharp point. “Is this a tooth?”
Valeria nodded. “It is,” she tapped the root which was perfectly flat. “I file off a bit from time to time to mix in with my potions. It always makes them extremely potent.”
Waldo reached out and caressed the yellowed tooth. It was smooth like polished ivory. “I have seen scales before, but never an actual fang.”
“Dragons are violent creatures. It is natural that from time to time they lose pieces; teeth, claws, scales, and other bits. They grow back and aren’t missed. If you know where to look you can harvest them.”
Waldo sucked in a breath. “You know the location of a lair.”
“I do, and I will share it with you if your ogre can win the queen’s birthday tournament.”
Waldo again held his hand out to her. “It’s a bargain.”
Valeria rose smoothly to her feet and placed her palm atop his. “Agreed.”
XXX
After their guests were escorted out, Valeria went over to her apple tree and plucked a big juicy red apple. Even after so many years living on the surface fruits were still a wonder to her. Cherries, grapes, apples, melons, pears and so many others, how could food taste so sweet? This had to be what sacrifices tasted like to their gods.
In the Closed World, sweet foods did not exist. Even the exalted of her people still dined on roots, mushrooms, mosses, and the meat of animals, slaves, and other drow. The only real difference between a noble’s menu and a squat’s was that at least theirs was better prepared, and there was enough of it. If you were a squat in Ixendil’Yarrto it meant you were always just one step away from starvation. Food and water were hard to come by in the Closed World, not like here.
Of course, many of the human squats who lived here were also hungry and facing a famine. That people could die of hunger with so much food and water just everywhere proved how incompetent the humans were. If they couldn’t even feed themselves surrounded by all this bounty, then they really needed someone to take charge of them. She took a big bite of her apple and chewed slowly, savoring the taste and letting a trickle of juice run down the side of her face.
Valeria swallowed and wiped her mouth. “This land is so rich. It’s wasted on the humans. We could do so much more with it!”
Her blademaster nodded. “Too bad there are so many of them. Exalted Lady, I don’t understand why we must play nice with these weak, pathetic, soft humans. Let me bring in just three hundred soldiers and a few spell casters. I can conquer this city for you in a day.”
Valeria nodded. “I know. But how long could you hold it? Do you really believe if we took this place by force all the neighboring nations would accept it? We would be under siege in a matter of weeks. Our foraging parties would be ambushed. We would have an army thousands strong with dozens of mages at our gates. How long could three hundred of us hold this place?”
Her blademaster frowned. “Not long,” she admitted.
“Which is why, for now, we rely on diplomacy. There’s more than one way to kill a wyrm.”
The blademaster said nothing.
Valeria smiled at the short woman. “You disagree?”
“The Exalted Lady is wise.”
Valeria chuckled and took another bite. That was always a safe answer. Well, she already knew what the other woman thought. She was only a soldier and pledged to her service, it didn’t matter if she disagreed so long as she obeyed.
“Do you think the ogre can actually do it? Kill Varca?” The blademaster asked as soon as Valeria finished chewing.
“Possibly. He is an ogre after all, and he certainly looked healthy.”
“He sure did,” the other woman said with a slight purr in her voice.
“He is also carrying an enchanted blade. I am sure he is quite deadly with it. He may have a real chance. And if he fails, it costs us nothing of any real value.”
“If he does it, will you keep your agreement with the white?”
Between drow, formal agreements were almost always honored. Breaking one was considered a legitimate reason for killing. Agreements made between drow and the lesser races were optional. Since coming to this city Valeria had kept most of the promises she’d made. It was necessary to conduct business with the local merchants. Now and then though, she had broken contracts when it suited her.
“Let’s wait and see.” She took another bite.
Chapter 11
A Contestant
Leaving the embassy Waldo was practically skipping. People on the street and even the guards stared.
“Coming here was worth it,” Waldo almost sang. “It would have been useful if I could have gotten some new spells, but locating a dragon is a much bigger priority. As soon as Belle wins the tournament and I find out where we have to go, we’ll leave. Depending on which direction it is, we can book passage on a river galley or join another caravan.”
Before exiting the embassy, Waldo had recast an illusion on his ogre, turning Gronk back into Belle. Belle was strolling along in Waldo’s wake, while Alice was dragging her feet.
“Darling, aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” Alice asked. “The tournament hasn’t even started and you’re already acting like Belle has won.”
“What? Don’t you believe in me, sweetie?” Belle asked.
“It’s not that! It’s that this tournament might be really dangerous.”
Waldo waved that away. “How dangerous can it be? Ordinary weapons won’t even cut an ogre’s skin.”
“But some of the other fighters might have magical weapons,” Alice argued. “Working at the inn I heard lots of stories about brave knights slaying monsters with enchanted swords!”
“I’ll be fine, sweetie,” Belle patted the top of her head. “I got in my share of fights before I met master. I can handle myself.”
“Even if you think that there’s something else that worries me.” Alice turned to Waldo. “As badly as you want to find a dragon,
Valeria could have asked you for anything, right?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“Then why ask to have Belle win some tournament? What’s in it for her? I mean, she believes you’re a White Mage. Why not ask for something only a White Mage could give her? Why not ask you to kill a lord or steal a sacred treasure? Why is winning this tournament worth trading you what you want so badly?”
The Rabbit Great And Terrible Page 9