Amber and Ashes - Margaret Weis [111]
“Very well, Brother. I won’t pry into your business. And don’t worry about the dog. I’ll take good care of her.”
As the two continued on down the corridor, Gerard had another thought, an alarming one, to judge by his tone.
“What about that kender? You’re not going to ask me to keep him, too, are you, Brother?”
“No,” Rhys replied. “Nightshade will be coming with me.”
death knight,” said Nightshade.
“According to the goddess, yes,” Rhys answered.
“We’re supposed to go to Storm’s Keep and confront a death knight and rescue the goddess’s son’s spirit, which is trapped in a khas piece. From a death knight.”
Rhys nodded his head in silent confirmation.
“Have you been drinking?” Nightshade asked seriously.
“No,” said Rhys, smiling.
“Did you get hit on the head? Run over by a wagon? Stepped on by a mule? Fall down a flight of stairs—”
“I’m in my right mind,” Rhys assured him. “At least, I think I am. I know this sounds unbelievable—”
“Whoo-boy!” Nightshade exclaimed with a whistle.
“But here is the proof.”
He and the kender stood on the road several hundred yards from the shores of Crystalmir Lake. The name came from the lake’s deep blue crystalline water. The name was a misnomer now. The water was a sickening shade of yellow green and smelled of decaying eggs. Untold numbers of fish lay on the shore, dead or dying. Even from this distance, with the wind blowing away from them, the smell was appalling.
Nightshade held his nose. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. You know that I’ll never be able to eat fish again,” he added in aggrieved tones.
The two of them walked back toward Solace, passing the crowds of people who had turned out to see the fish-kill. Everyone had a theory, from outlaws poisoning the lake to wizards casting a curse on it. Fear tainted the air as badly as the smell of dead fish.
“I’ve been thinking, Rhys,” Nightshade said, as they headed back into town. “I’m not very trustworthy and I’m not at all good in a fight. If you don’t want to take me with you, my feelings won’t be hurt. I’ll be glad to stay with the sheriff to help care for Atta.”
He put his hand on Atta’s head, petting her. She permitted this, although her gaze was intent on Rhys.
He smiled at Nightshade’s generous offer. “I know this is dangerous. I would not ask you risk your life, my friend, but I truly do need you. I won’t be able to tell for certain which khas piece contains the knight’s soul—”
“The goddess told you it was the black knight,” Nightshade interrupted.
“My mother had a saying,” said Rhys wryly. “ ‘Consider the source.’ ”
Nightshade sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“In this case, our source is not very reliable. She might be lying to us. Krell might have lied to her. Krell might switch the spirit from one piece to another. For my plan to work, I must know which piece holds the knight’s soul. You are the only one who can tell me. Besides,” Rhys added with a smile, “I thought kender were adventurous, filled with curiosity, utterly without fear.”
“I’m a kender,” Nightshade said. “I’m not stupid. This is stupid.”
Rhys was inclined to agree. “We don’t have much choice, my friend. Zeboim has made it quite clear that if we don’t attempt this, she will kill us.”
“So instead the death knight kills us. I don’t see that we’ve gained a lot, except maybe a trip to Storm’s Keep, and we probably won’t live long enough to enjoy that. You know, Rhys, most people wouldn’t trust a kender with such an important mission. And I must say that I can’t blame them. Kender cannot be counted upon. I’d leave me behind if I were you.”
“I have always found you to be emminently trustworthy, Nightshade,” Rhys replied.
“You have?” Nightshade was taken aback. He sighed. “Then I guess I should try to live up to that.”
“I think you should.”
“ ‘Live’ being the optimal word.” Nightshade stressed this point.
“Look at it this way. At least we’ve accomplished something,” Rhys pointed out. “We’ve attracted the god’s attention.”
“Something people with any sense would avoid,