Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [45]
Ondeth watched them pass out of sight, staring after them in wonder. He started when the mage touched his shoulder.
"I think Lord Iliphar approves," Baerauble said gently.
"Approves?" asked Ondeth, not understanding. Then he turned to face the wizard and said slowly, "You brought me here not to show your elves to me… but to show me to your elves."
A half-smile touched the wizard's lips. "First meetings are important. If Iliphar's Hunting Court first saw you as a human intruder disputing some forest kill with an elven hunter, your dealings with elves would probably follow the trail of most humans-a long, descending spiral of testings that would end in the destruction of your homestead. This time, they'll remember a brave human who helped in the taking down of one of the last giant owlbears in the eastern reaches."
"That woman…" Ondeth said slowly. "She didn't need my help, did she?"
"My lady Dahast is a show-off," said Baerauble with a smile, stressing the word 'my' ever so slightly but clearly. "No, she did not. I can tell you she appreciated it, however."
Ondeth nodded. "It was so-" he searched for the right word-"beautiful."
The mage arched his eyebrows in surprise.
"Beautiful," repeated the farmer. "The lights in the trees, the horns, the elves themselves." He spread his hands out in the direction the elves had gone. "Beautiful."
Ondeth turned to Baerauble. "This is a wondrous land a land of startling beauty. It is better even than Impiltur, and a palace compared to swampy Marsember or the other rough holds of men on these shores. If the elves seek to keep this as their hunting place, I will respect that and see to it that any who settle with me respect it as well… if they'll allow us to remain."
The wizard replied, "I think they will after your actions today. But you surprise me, Ondeth Obarskyr. I did not think you had such resolution and poetry in your heart."
Ondeth smiled. "I've many surprises yet. I come from a family of many poets, heroes… and scoundrels as well. Come, we've been gone too long, and Suzara will be worried about me. You must come for dinner."
The mage nodded and then paused. "I really should return you, then return to the Hunt."
"Dinner!" said Ondeth, placing a hand on the mage's shoulder. The wizard jumped slightly at the touch, but only slightly. "You've shown your hospitality, and I must show mine. Besides, you have a great task ahead of you this evening."
Baerauble blinked. "Oh?"
"You have convinced me to live with your elves," said Ondeth. "Now you must convince my dear Suzara to stay here with me. This shall be our home-forevermore."
Chapter 7: Alusair
Year of the Gauntlet
(1369 DR)
Ash-blonde hair swirled as its dark-eyed owner looked up sharply. "Something's wrong," she murmured. "Take over, Beldred."
The bearded nobleman in plate armor turned his head. "Of course, Lady Highness… are you unwell?"
His commander shook her head without replying and spurred her mount away to the left, across rising ground. Beidred watched her go with worried eyes, then said, "Brace… Threldryn? Follow her and see that she comes to no harm."
"Aye," they replied in unison, drawing blades and turning their mounts. Just before they sprang away in pursuit, Brace murmured, "But will you see that we come to no harm from her?"
"Aye," Threldryn said, grasping for words. "What if she just wants to, uh, perform some, ah, private business?"
Beldred gave them both a tight, wordless smile in return and urged his mount onward.
They were deep in the Stonelands, on one of the high meadows north of Startop Crag, a score and four knights under the command of a lady. No common Purple Dragon knights were these, but the youngest sons of the proudest noble houses in the land, all with titles and wealth of their own. And they rode under no common commander, for the lady riding hard to the west under the watch of Brace Skatterhawk and Threldryn Imbranneth was Alusair Nacacia Obarskyr, Mithril Princess of Cormyr.
Beldred Truesilver could spare