Azure bonds - Kate Novak [40]
"Get off your knees, you idiot."
"Yes, Aunt Dorath."
The bride and groom and their attendants rolled out from the tent, giggling hysterically. Lady Leona emerged near Dragonbait, looking less than amused. Upon seeing whose scaly hand had helped her rise, the woman jerked her arm back while blasting the Turmishman with a withering glare. She looked about impatiently for Sir Dimswart.
When the sage finally appeared, empty mug in hand, Leona drew him aside. In quiet but threatening tones she declared, "I will not have Gaylyn's wedding day ruined. I am taking our guests into the garden to continue with the celebration. You must deal with this… situation."
Spying Olive Ruskettle, who was smoothing out her bulging pockets as best she could, Leona made her way to the bard and escorted her to the garden.
Dimswart turned to Akabar. "Your adventuress has caused a great deal of trouble." His voice was even, but his upraised eyebrows made his point.
"If you could have spared fifteen minutes from testing ale this morning," Akabar said in equally polite tones, "and not kept her waiting, this would not have happened."
"You forget she is my hireling," Dimswart said. "I am not hers."
"In the south we say the gods bless all duties faithfully performed. Alias has accomplished her task, while you have yet to complete your end of the bargain."
Dimswart grimaced but accepted the chastisement with good grace. Like many sages, he liked to consider himself a man of the people. It wasn't in him to behave haughtily. "That's still no reason to start a brawl at my daughter's wedding," he replied with a sniff.
"It was not her, I believe, but the sigils."
"Really?" Dimswart's scholarly curiosity was peaked.
Akabar described how Alias's glove had burned just prior to the attack.
"Fascinating," the sage muttered. "Where did she go?"
A handful of servants rolled back the tent, revealing a few more guests, but no Alias. The refreshment tables stood on the bare lawn like the skeletal remains of some huge beast. The ale keg was immediately carried off to the garden, followed by the punch bowl and tables to hold them. The food was a little crushed, but already reserves were being carried from the kitchen.
Akabar spotted Dragonbait circling the beaten grass where the tent had stood, emitting interrogative whines.
"He sounds confused," Dimswart commented.
Akabar went to the lizard. "We'll find her, don't worry."
Dragonbait gave him a distressed look and issued a sort of chirp.
"You look in her room," he ordered the lizard. "I'll search the stable."
Their search of the house and grounds came up empty. Akabar found Dragonbait on the lawn, staring off at the horizon.
"We'll have to try the roads," the mage said. "I need to study my spells. You pack and ready the horses."
An hour later, Akabar, dressed for traveling, cornered Dimswart, demanding Alias's information.
With a shrug the sage ushered him into his study and reviewed what he had discovered about the sigils on the swordswoman's arm.
"Where will you search?" Dimswart asked Akabar when they'd finished.
"I'm not certain," the mage answered. "There's a good chance she's gone back to Suzail, since that's where we first met. But if she's gone in another direction…" His voice trailed off, and he shrugged his shoulders.
"Why are you bothering, Akash? She's nothing to do with you. You just met the woman."
"She needs help. Isn't that reason enough?"
"A lot of people in the Realms need help. That doesn't usually get them the attention of wealthy Turmish merchants. House Akash probably wouldn't think too highly of you galloping off after some northern warrioress."
That was true enough, Akabar knew. House Akash, his first wife's firm and its partner, Kasim, his second wife's business, would probably never understand. He shrugged again. "The dragon destroyed my inventory. I have no other duties in this region."
"Any other merchant would cut his losses and head home while he still could," Dimswart pointed out. "But not you. You've got it bad, haven't you, my friend?"
Akabar stiffened angrily.