Curse of the Shadowmage - Mark Anthony [39]
The tower was invisible as well, at least from the outside. Once within, Mari found herself surrounded by comfortable, solid stone walls. The three passed through an arch and into a circular chamber with a domed ceiling. Instantly, Mari was dazzled by a shimmering spectrum of ruby, emerald, sapphire, and diamond-white light.
"Welcome, Cormik," a husky voice said. "This is a surprise. And I see you've brought friends. Well, don't just stand there. Come in."
After several moments, Mari's eyes adjusted to the dazzling illumination. The chamber's walls were encrusted with precious stones, and the gems refracted the light of countless candles. The effect was breathtaking. In the middle of the chamber, on a chaise of crimson velvet, reclined the figure of an incredibly beautiful woman. Her short hair was like a wave of polished onyx, her skin as lustrous as burnished amber, her eyes as bright as violet sapphires.
"Hello, Jewel," Cormik said, his bow surprisingly graceful for a man of his girth.
"Greetings, my dear, doddering coot," she replied sharply.
"Ah, my sweet, hideous hag-I see you're still grating on the nerves."
Mari frowned at this curious exchange. Cormik had called the woman "Jewel." The name seemed vaguely familiar, but Mari couldn't remember where she had heard it. Certainly she had never seen the exotic woman before. At first she had thought Jewel to be about her own age, but now she wasn't so certain. There was something strangely old about Jewel's sharp violet eyes and smoky voice.
"Now, let me see," Jewel mused, turning her attention to Cormik's companions. "This must be the Harper Mari Al'maren and the mage Morhion Gen'dahar. Cormik has told me much about you. But don't worry yourselves, loves, for I seldom believe anything Cormik tells me." She smiled warmly, and Mari returned the expression despite herself. She found she liked this mysterious woman.
Jewel bade her guests sit on crushed velvet lounges. Servants clad in black leather jerkins and black silk masks appeared with glasses of ruby-colored wine. Each of them wore a long knife at the hip. Mari drained her glass quickly in an effort to settle her nerves.
"I'm so glad you brought your friends, Cormik," Jewel said in her throaty voice. "It is good to finally meet some of those who journeyed with my grandson."
Mari blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry," she sputtered. "I didn't realize I knew any of your kin."
Cormik set down his glass with a frown. "Haven't you been paying attention, Mari? Of course you knew her grandson. This is Jewel Talondim, Ferret's grandmother."
This was too much for Mari to absorb. "Ferret's grandmother?" she said incredulously. "But she's so… young. Ferret was a good ten years older than me, and Jewel can't be a day over-"
"Ninety-three," Jewel interrupted with a laugh. "Oh, I know what you're thinking, but I can assure you there's no magic involved. Just good blood. The women of the Talondim clan have always aged gracefully."
"I believe that qualifies as an understatement," Morhion commented matter-of-factly. Jewel gave him a solemn nod.
Mari had learned a little about Jewel from her grandson, Ferret. The Talondim clan were independent thieves, not allied with any guild. Normally, such free-lancers were eradicated by the fiercely territorial thieves' guilds, but the Talondim family was unusually powerful-due in no small part to the strong hand and keen mind of the clan's matriarch. As a result, instead of attacking the Talondim family, the thieving guilds of Iriaebor more often sought to forge alliances with Jewel. Thus the Talondim family prospered.
Mari was suddenly filled with sadness at the memories of Ferret. "Your grandson was a good thief, Jewel," she said quietly. "I can't tell you how much he helped us when we were fighting Ravendas. But more than that, he was a good man, I miss him."
Jewel reached out and gave Mari's hand a squeeze. "I know, love. We all do." She sighed wistfully. "For the longest time I was furious with the Harpers and the Fellowship of the Dreaming Dragon,