Crown of Fire - Ed Greenwood [99]
"How did you escape?" Sarhthor asked coldly. "You doesn't have the power to use a teleport spell."
Tespril looked at the floor. "I-I used one of the Brotherhood's teleport rings."
"Only Gathlarue among you was given such a device,"
Fzoul said softly.
Tespril nodded. "I… stole it from her, before the fight. I was sure we'd lose." Her gaze fell to the floor.
Fzoul turned away. "The Brotherhood thanks you for your foresight and your report. Sarhthor, you know what to do."
Sarhthor nodded, face expressionless, and turned, waggling only one finger. Tespril made a short strangling sound in her throat before her body hit the floor.
"This meeting is ended," Fzoul said smoothly. "I thank you for your attendance and your efforts thus far. Diligence in the service of the Brotherhood is always"-he paused to give everyone time to look down at Tespril's sprawled body – "justly rewarded."
"It worked!" Shandril said through delighted tears, embracing Storm. Narm's chest rose and fell again steadily. "Gods thank you! Was this your idea?"
"No," the bard replied very softly. "It was Sylune's." Shandril's eyes widened. "That long ago you spoke of me?"
"No," Storm said. "Svlune does not live as she did before, but her spirit is sometimes with me." She smiled slowly. "Harpers have secrets upon secrets-do you think it was an accident you were married on the site of her home?"
Tessaril bent and kissed Shandril. Her eyes were very sad. "It would be best, child, if you got pregnant again as soon as possible."
"Again?" Then the blood drained from Shandril's face, and she whispered, "What's happened to my baby?" "The skull's draining," Storm said gently, "was too much for the life inside you. Iliph Thraun killed your unborn child."
Shandril stared at her in horror. "Gods aid me." Her words were so faint that they could scarcely be heard. Wordlessly, the women embraced her. Thev stood pressed together for a long time, but Shandril did not cry. For now, at least, she had no tears left.
At last, Shandril sank back and looked down at Narm, who lay breathing quietly, his face no longer gray. She sighed, and her lip trembled. She bit it, and then stood up, lifting her chin.
"Well," Shandril said, "at least I have my Narm again." She looked around at the cracked, blackened walls, and added, "And another score to settle with those of Zhentil Keep."
The air in front of her flickered, and suddenly a man in dark robes stood there, rings gleaming on his hands. He bowed and smiled at them. "A nice cue, that. Thank you. Beliarge of the Zhentarim, at your service," he said.
Storm's eyes blazed. She shoved Shandril away, and dived for her sword. Beliarge watched her with a mirthless smile, as his fingers moved in the intricate gestures of a spell.
Tessaril stepped forward suddenly and caught hold of Shandril. Turning the startled maid around, she hissed a word. A floating, shimmering, upright oval of light appeared in the air in front of Shandril-and she felt Tessaril's hands at her back, shoving her through it.
Abruptly the stone-lined chamber disappeared, and she was somewhere else. Somewhere dark, where she'd never been before.
In Tessaril's Tower, Storm whirled up from the floor, long sword in hand.
The Lord of Eveningstar had raised her hands to cast a spell at the smiling intruder. Her face sharpened in anger.
The Zhentarim smiled politely at them both and crooked a finger. The spell he'd cast took effect-and both women froze, unable to move.
"Delighted to make your acquaintance, ladies," he said, bowing. "I hope you enjoy my litile achievement; a more powerful holding spell than I think you'll find anywhere else. If I didn't have more pressing concerns, I'd tarry and get to know you both better-but my business is with Shandril Shessair, and since your gate helped her leave so abruptly before my spell was done… "
He stepped forward and twisted the sword from Storm's grasp. Choosing a place where her leathers were burned away,