City of Towers_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [100]
Lailin rubbed his blue beard. “Well … I don’t have to be an augur to see financial ruin in my future if I start giving my friends free advice.”
“Oh, please,” she said playfully. “At least tell me if I should follow up on this business with Alais. If I become a wealthy lady of Arcanix, I promise to find a place for you there.”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh, very well.” He reached into a leather pouch and produced a set of flat blue stones. He spread them across the surface of the table. Each stone was a slightly different color, and they formed a mesmerizing mosaic. “So what will happen if you accept Alais’s invitation?”
He stared at the stones, drumming his fingers on the table and hummicwn method for seeing into the mists of time.
After a minute he stopped, looked over at her, and shook his head. “I think you’re right. I can’t tell if the threat comes from Aundair or your own house, but misfortune would certainly follow.”
“I guess we won’t be teaching together at Arcanix, then.”
“That’s all right. I still have my hopes set on Morgrave University. I can see myself teaching at some point in the future, though from the image I see in the stones, I need to lose a little weight first.”
Lei took another bite of the excellent deepscale trout “In that case, attending these parties can’t be helping your cause.”
“Too true. In any case, as long as I have the stones spread out, I may as well make use of them. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Well, actually … I’m looking for a friend of mine, a halfling named Jode. Can you tell me where to find him?”
Pierce spoke up from behind them. “Not to intrude, my lady, but if you have confidence in master Lailin’s talents, should we not ask about Rasial Tann?”
“Right, good thinking. We’re also looking for a man named Rasial Tann. For a friend.”
“Well,” Lailin said. “This is certainly a more complicated question. But let me see what I can do with it. Where are Jode and Rasial, and how can you find them?” He fixed his gaze on the stones and began tapping his fingers again. This time the process took longer, and near the end he closed his eyes for almost a minute.
Finally he stopped humming and tapping and took a deep breath. “It’s difficult to see,” he said. “But I think that your Jode and Rasial are actually together right now. And you will be reunited tonight.”
“Well, good for Jode,” Lei murmured. “I guess he had a good lead after all.”
“It would seem so,” Pierce said. “If this augury is to be trusted.”
“Pardon my companion, Lailin. He’s never had much faith in such things.”
“All is forgiven.” Lailin gathered up the stones. “Shall we see what Lyrandar has to offer in the way of dessert?”
Even as Lei rose, she noticed a group of people walking toward them. The man in the lead was dressed in martial style, four silver lightning bolts adorned his black leather jerkin, and a blue cloak draped his shoulders. His pure white hair and slightly pointed ears hinted at his half-elven blood. As new to Sharn as she was, it was a simple matter for Lei to guess who this was.
She curtsied gracefully as he approached. Pierce moved up to stand by her side. “Lord Dantian, I thank you for your hospitality.” Her words were carefully chosen. She didn’t like his demeanor, so reminding him that she was a guest seemed a wise move.
“You are Lei, formerly of House Cannith?” Dantian’s tone was cold, his blue-green eyes unreadable. “I have that honor.”
“I am afraid that I must ask you to leave my ship.”
Lei spotted Dasei d’Cannith across the room, and the situation became clear. “My lord, I am sorry to hear this. The hospitality of House Lyrandar is legendary. After my long journey, I