All Shadows Fled - Ed Greenwood [69]
"Strange you should mention that," Florin said with a smile, "as seniority brings us now to you."
"Aye, indeed," Storm said with a smile. "I concur with my sister Dove, but be aware that aside from Shar, Sylune, and my two Harpers here"-Belkram and Itharr smiled around the table and swept mock bows-"this assembly is just going to have to abandon chasing Malaugrym for the time being."
"Malaugrym?"
"The shapeshifters who attacked us in the tent, the night before the battle in Mistledale," Sharantyr explained.
"Those weren't doppelgangers?"
"No, something far worse."
"Oh… one of Mourngrym's speeches?"
"Stow it," Florin ordered with a grin and a sigh.
"Because some among us can't resist the urges to be clever, these little get-togethers are always so much fun."
"Hold hard," Shaerl said, leaning over the table with a frown. "Do I hear you rightly? Chasing Malaugrym? Are there a band of them?"
"A family, actually," Storm explained softly. "An ancient clan who kill those who know about them-so guard your lips. For centuries Elminster has slain any of them who dared to enter the Realms."
"So with him gone…"
"Chasing may no longer be necessary. They'll probably find us soon enough," Sharantyr observed.
"Is there any way-short of magic that may go wild, and blow this tower apart, or cover us all in cow dung- of knowing they're not here in this room, right now, taking the shape of one of us?" Torm asked sharply.
"No," Storm and Dove said in quiet unison.
"Well," Rathan joked, "You did come in late, Torm…"
"Oh, no, you don't," Torm said warningly. "No one's opening me up to see if I'm really a scaly monster!" There was suddenly a dagger in his fingertips, and he waved it meaningfully.
"You're safe, Torm," Jhessail said with a smile. "No one could impersonate that debonair manner, that outrageous tongue, that-"
"Utter stupidity," fllistyl told the ceiling.
"As to the internal defense of the dale, and helping our folk set things to rights," Storm added, "journeyman Harpers will shortly gather in Shadowdale from all directions. To prevent the Zhents and… others from sneaking agents in among them, they all will report to Dove, who will cast a spell that marks them with a visible badge, a spell that contains nasty surprises for anyone trying to duplicate it. To get such a badge, of course, the Harpers will submit to mind-reading magic, allowing us to weed out ambitious Malaugrym."
"So this band of confirmed Harpers helps rebuild the dale," Torm said, "freeing us to do-what?"
"Ride patrol through the Elven Court woods, southeastern Daggerdale, and the other lands around Shadow-dale, scouring it of brigands and monsters, giving us warning of attack from Zhentil Keep, Daggerdale, or Hillsfar. I've heard rumors of fell beasts leaving the ruins of Myth Drannor to roam the woods, and even talk of some wealthy merchants in Sembia hiring small armies in hopes of seizing a dale or two as private estates."
"What?" Torm laughed. "Armies, yes… but ambitious Sembian merchants? Show me the fool who'd dare challenge the famous Knights of Myth Drannor!"
"Look in yon mirror," Jhessail advised him in dry tones, pointing across the morning room. "You challenge us all too often."
"Vile slander!" Torm said severely, waving a finger at her. "May the gods look down and-"
"Gift thee with an egg, valiant Torm," Shaerl said. She swept a peppered plover egg up from Mourngrym's plate and thrust it whole into Torm's mouth.
"NnnmumpA," he protested.
"I agree completely," Rathan replied earnestly, patting the thief's hand (the one without the dagger). "Thy every word is as a pearl of wisdom, glistening among the dull pebbles of other oratory!"
"Oh, please" Illistyl said. "You're as bad as he is!"
Rathan gave her a hard look. "I prefer to say "as good as,' young miss-'tis more charitable, far."
"If the free entertainment could subside for a moment," Merith said patiently, "perhaps we can hear the rest of Storm's plans."
Storm grinned at him. "We'll send two patrols