Azure bonds - Kate Novak [48]
"Wait here," she ordered. The mage and the halfling remained mounted as she entered the temple to Tymora. Dragonbait scratched Lightning's muzzle thoughtfully.
Alias kept her hood up even in the dim light of the church. There were three priests and about twenty people seated in the congregation hall, some whispering, others praying silently. She knew it was unlikely Winefiddle had returned so soon from Dimswart's, but she really didn't want to run into him in case he had.
So she stood near the doorway, studying the carving of Lady Luck in front of the altar. The image of Tymora had short hair, tousled like Alias's. The goddess's figure was more boyish, but no more muscled than the swordswoman's. The sideways shift of her eyes and the half-grin gave her a crafty look Alias had noted a few times on Olive's face. Halflings, she remembered, worshipped an image of Tymora that resembled a halfling female. Alias tried to remember the last time she'd grinned that way.
All I've had lately, she thought, is bad luck. I don't even believe in luck. What am I doing here? At her elbow was the poor box where she was supposed to have left the green gem the night Winefiddle had tried to remove the runes on her arm, the night she'd try to kill him.
Personally, she addressed the goddess in her thoughts. If someone tried to kill one of my priests and then cheated me out of what they owed me and then came back and tried to make it up to me by paying me even more, I don't think I'd feel any better disposed toward them.
From her purse she drew out the opal Olive had liberated from Mist's lair. The huge gem felt warm and smooth in her palm. She dropped it into the poor box. Just in case you aren't like me, she thought. She turned about and left the temple.
Alias just didn't have the energy to lay a false trail out of the city. She led her party through the east gate which led directly to the road north. She rode along without a sound
Wracking his brain for something to say that might make her feel even a tiny bit better, Akabar came up with, "I had noticed, as regards liquid refreshment, that the emphasis north of the Inner Sea is on strength as opposed to flavor. It is no doubt a common thing for a person to be caught unawares by the power of the beverages served here-"
The mage soon regretted having said anything. Alias made no reply, but, even worse, the bard launched into a defense of the drinks of the northern Realms. Her comparison of a Delayed Blast with a Flaming Gullet did nothing to disprove Akabar's original point, and only served to turn the swordswoman a more distressing shade of green.
Akabar remained as quiet as Alias after that, but Olive continued chattering to Dragonbait for some time. When she got tired of talking to the mute creature, she sang. She was on the thirteenth verse of her fifth ballad when Alias finally spoke,
"Olive, please, try to show some consideration for the dying," the warrior whispered.
"Oh. I'm sorry, Alias. Are you still feeling poorly?"
"I meant you."
"But, I feel fine," the halfling replied in confusion.
"If you don't shut up, I'm going to have to kill you. Then you won't feel fine at all."
The bard gulped and remained silent for about half a mile. Finally, though, she dropped back some ways from the party so she could continue humming softly without incurring the swordswoman's wrath. Dragonbait slowed down to join her, perhaps out of pity, though Akabar suspected the lizard really was a music lover.
"Cheerful people are so depressing," Alias muttered.
The mage smiled, and they rode on in silence.
After a good night's rest at an inn in Hilp, Alias seemed fully recovered. As they progressed northward, Alias kept a watchful eye on Dragonbait, who loped along beside the horses. She'd admonished him to let her know if they went too fast. The lizard had responded