Death of the Dragon - Ed Greenwood [56]
Tanalasta accepted the parchment but glanced back to her mother. "Then I'm not being recalled to the palace?"
"As much as I would like to, the decision is not mine to make," said Filfaeril. "It will be for your father to decide when he arrives. Until then, all I ask-no, command-is that you be careful."
"Command accepted."
Tanalasta smiled and unfurled the parchment. It was a catalog of the six ghazneths they had identified so far, along with notes on their demonstrated powers and speculations on their motivations for betraying Cormyr. It also included suggestions as to what might satisfy the desires that had caused them to become traitors in the first place.
"This is good work, Alaphondar, they're all here," Tanalasta said, scanning the list. When she came to King Boldovar's name, she could not help glancing at her mother, whom the ghazneth had kidnapped in the early days of the crisis.
"'King Boldovar, Scourge of Madness, master of darkness, deception, and illusion,'" the queen quoted, guessing which entry had caused Tanalasta to stop reading. "'He loves the pain of others, and their fear. To win power over him, one must surrender.'"
"Boldovar was the only one I could not figure out," said Alaphondar. "Your mother's experience was most useful on that account."
Tanalasta let the parchment furl itself into a roll. "Mother, I had no idea."
Filfaeril merely looked away. "When you faced the other ghazneths, I am sure your own distress was just as great."
Though Tanalasta suspected it had not been, she knew better than to argue the point. Her mother had avoided speaking of the experience before and showed little inclination to do so now.
It was Alaphondar who filled the uncomfortable silence. "The list names the weaknesses of all the ghazneths, but it remains lacking."
"You have not discovered why Xanthon's powers return?" asked Owden.
"I fear not." Alaphondar shook his head drearily. "Until we understand that, I fear we must assume that any advantage we gain over the others will also be temporary."
"Well, this is a good start," said Tanalasta, tucking the scroll into her cloak. "At least it will help the advance company detain them until the rest of the army arrives."
"What will?" asked a young voice at the fringe of the tree boughs. "Have we discovered something good?"
Tanalasta looked up to see Orvendel Rallyhorn, Korvarr's guileless younger brother, approaching with a tray of drinks. A squinting youth of about seventeen, he was as pale and awkward as Tanalasta had been at that age, which no doubt accounted for the sisterly affection she bore him. When the queen's bodyguards crossed their iron glaives in front of the boy, he cast a crestfallen look in Tanalasta's direction.
"I thought the Royal Sage Most Learned might like a refreshment."
Korvarr gasped at his brother's slighting of the queen, and Filfaeril herself looked rather surprised, but Tanalasta could not help chuckling. It was just like the bookish youth to be taken with Alaphondar and oblivious to the royals. She nodded to the guards and motioned the youth forward.
"Alaphondar Emmarask, may I present Orvendel Rallyhorn." She waited for Orvendel to set the tray on the table and bow to the royal sage, then said, "If aptitude and ardor count for anything, he will be Master of the Royal Libraries one day."
Orvendel's eyes grew wide. "When?"
"One day, Orvendel," growled Korvarr. Clearly embarrassed by the youth's naivete, he stepped to his brother's side and motioned to Filfaeril. "Perhaps you would like to bow to the queen, Orvendel?"
If Orvendel realized his mistake, his face did not show it. He bowed quickly to the queen and turned back to Alaphondar. "What do you think of Luthax? Because I was thinking-"
Noticing the horror-stricken look on her mother's face, Tanalasta caught Orvendel by the sleeve. "Don't you have some supplies