Death of the Dragon - Ed Greenwood [108]
Forgive them, Vangerdahast said.
"What?"
Call them by their proper names and forgive them, the wizard repeated. They've all betrayed Cormyr, and it's that festering core of guilt that binds their power together. Absolve them of their crime, and the core crumbles.
"It's that simple?" Tanalasta gasped.
You will have to survive long enough to say the words, Vangerdahast reminded her. And I suspect it must be you or the king himself who'll have to do it. Only the absolution of a direct heir to the crown would have meaning to them.
Tanalasta furrowed her brow. "How do you know all this?"
There isn't time to explain. Vangerdahast's eyes shifted away. Now, what of the dragon? She is their master and your real trouble.
"Father and Alusair are in the north fighting… her, is it?-and her orcs and goblins as well." A shout from upstairs announced the appearance of a ghazneth on the horizon. Tanalasta fought down a sudden panic and forced herself to concentrate on Vangerdahast. "We have only a few moments more, I fear."
The wizard nodded his understanding. There should be no more goblins to trouble you.
"Nor the dragon for much longer, with a little luck," Tanalasta replied. "The king seems to have her on the run."
The wizard's eyes grew wide. Stop him! That dragon is Lorelei Alavara.
"Lorelei Alavara?"
Vangerdahast's voice grew dark. Your father will know who she is. He looked away for a moment, then lifted the top of a golden scepter into view. It was fashioned in the figure of a sapling oak, with an amethyst pommel carved into the shape of giant acorn. He needs this to kill her. The Scepter of Lords. Tell him.
Tanalasta nodded. She knew of the Scepter of Lords and was dying to learn how Vangerdahast had come into possession of it, but she had only a moment longer. The sentries were calling down a running account of the ghazneth's approach, and the thing had already grown from a mere sky speck to a winged figure with two arms and two legs.
"How will you get it to him?" Tanalasta asked.
Vangerdahast closed his eyes and said, I can't. He tried to slip a finger under his iron crown and succeeded only in scratching a new furrow into his skin. You found me…
The sentries yelled the final alarm, then a huge hand covered Vangerdahast's face and Tanalasta suddenly found herself sitting in the Crownsilver dining room across from Owden Foley.
The harvestmaster slipped Rowen's holy symbol around her neck and said, "It's Melineth Turcasson." He uttered a quick prayer, then touched his hand to the silver sunflower now hanging on her chest. "This will protect you and the child from disease."
Tanalasta nodded, then allowed Owden to guide her into her iron hiding place.
They were still pulling the door closed when the oak window shutters exploded into splinters and Melineth Turcasson streaked into the room. He landed atop the great banquet table, his scabrous black wings smashing into the delicate chandeliers as they brought his flight to a halt. At once, the room filled with the clatter of firing crossbows, and the astonished ghazneth sprouted a coat of iron quarrels. He roared in anger, spewing his rancid black breath across the room, and tried to spin away from the barrage.
Another tempest of clacking filled the air, and Melineth began to resemble a porcupine with wings. He dropped to his knees and began to pluck the quarrels from his body, his wounds closing as fast as he emptied them. A dozen dragoneers leaped onto the table and started to flail at the ghazneth with iron swords. Roaring, he gave up on the quarrels and whirled to defend himself.
Two men died before they could scream, their heads merely swatted from their shoulders. Another pair perished when his powerful wings sent them flying across the room and their helmets split against the stone wall. One soldier fell when Melineth snapped his neck and hurled his limp body into three of his fellows, knocking them all from the table. The last four all managed to land blows before the ghazneth killed