Daughter of the Drow - Elaine Cunningham [87]
Liriel blinked. "Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of a spellbook, a treasure of some sort."
"Nevertheless, you have offered, and I have answered."
Again that decisive, passionate tone, so unexpected of Zz'Pzora's left-headed persona. Even the dragon's right head looked at her counterpart with amazement.
After a moment's shared silence, the drow shrugged. "All right, Zip, I'll do what I can."
Promises of both drow and deep dragon were easily made and seldom kept, but Zz'Pzora seemed satisfied with this response. Liriel gathered up the rest of her.magical items and took her place in the shaft. For once the dragon hoisted the drow up without any of the sudden jerks or teasing pauses that usually denned the trip. When the drow reached the top, she heard the faint, distant sound of the dragon's two voices raised in a haunting song of farewell.
For the first time, a touch of sadness tainted Liriel's excitement, and she began to ponder all she would leave behind. She was not entirely sorry the trip lay several years in the future. There was still so much to do, so much to learn and experience, in her native Menzoberranzan. And the more powers she gained, the more she could take with her into the Lands of Light. Yet, whenever her time came, Liriel knew she would be traveling alone in a strange land.
Perhaps, the drow mused as she stepped through the gate that would bring her back to Spelltower Xorlarrin, she might try to keep her promise to the dragon after all.
Suddenly Shakti stopped her restless pacing. Perhaps, she mused, a few hours might be enough.
She straightened the folds of her robes and impatiently smoothed her hair back into place-she had a habit of tugging at it during her rages. Her suppers crunched the shards of broken pottery as she stalked from the room in search of Matron Zeld.
Chapter 14
SHAKTI
Three days!" raged Shakti Hunzrin, hurling her water pitcher at the door of her room. The fine earthenware shattered with a satisfying crash and a cascade of dust and splinters. This did little to improve the draw's mood; there was scant pleasure to be had in the destruction of inanimate objects. She continued to pace the room restlessly, feeling as thoroughly out of sorts as a dwarf in water.
The priestess had wasted much time and several good spells watching the comings and goings of her Baenre rival. All that effort was for naught. The matron mistress had, against all logic, simply given her precious niece a leave of absence. And for what? By all reports, Liriel had barricaded herself in her home. No doubt the little princess needed time to recover from the rigors of a full five days at Arach-Tinilith, Shakti concluded sourly.
But three days? She herself had been granted only a few hours' leave here and there, and that only to attend the pressing concerns of her family business.
"Why do you need the time away, and why do you come tome?"
They were reasonable questions both, and Shakti was prepared for them. "It is breeding season for the rothe," the Hunzrin priestess explained. "No one knows more about the matter than I. Not even the rothe themselves," she added proudly.
Mistress Zeld's brow furrowed at that strange pronouncement, but she quickly decided not to pursue the matter. "But you are a twelfth-year student, nearing high priestess status. I have no authority over you."
Shakti leaned forward. "But you can give me permission to leave. It is to both our advantages that I go. I can bring back information."
"I must admit, I have little interest in the social life of cattle," the mistress said in an acid tone.
The young priestess fell silent, struggling against her rising anger. She had not expected the mistress to be so difficult. By all appearances, Mistress Zeld held little affection for Liriel and would not be displeased to see her young student brought down. If doing so could bring trouble to House Baenre, so much the better.
"May I speak frankly?"
Zeld's lips curved in ironic amusement. "That would be refreshing."