Elfshadow - Elaine Cunningham [100]
Arilyn stared down at the ruined glove. "Do you mind telling me what this is about?"
"Isn't is obvious? You are magically protected from fire. The tragedy of the Hammerfell Seven, not to mention your little stroll through the campfire, proves that. Really, my dear, it's not like you to be so dense."
Her laughter held little amusement. "Oh, that's rich, coming from you."
"Let me put this another way: would you care to repeat the exercise, this time without the moonblade?" He crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow.
After a moment of silence, Arilyn raised her hand in the gesture of a fencer acknowledging a hit. Danilo pressed his point. "Your aversion to magic fire gives you a blind spot. The sword obviously has one ability you didn't consider. Isn't it possible that there are others?"
"I suppose."
"Well, let's find out what they are, shall we?"
Arilyn replaced the spitted birds over the fire with the air of one determined to attend to practicalities. "I have more pressing duties."
"Such as finding the assassin."
"Yes."
Danilo pointedly swept a gaze around their wilderness campsite. "Why are we out here?"
Arilyn's shoulders slumped. "No matter what I do, the assassin keeps following me. Not to kill me-he probably could have done that a dozen times-but as the pawn in some grisly game. I don't understand his motive, but until I figure it out I don't want to be responsible for any more Harper deaths." She hurled another stick at the fire. "There are no Harpers out here to kill."
"Is it possible," Danilo suggested tentatively, "that the assassin wants you for the powers of your sword?"
Bitterness flooded the half-elf's face. "Of course it's possible. The sword and I are inseparable."
"All the more reason for investigating your sword's magic. Once you know what the moonblade can do, you'll be able to figure out the assassin's ultimate motive. Once you know the motive, you have a chance of discerning the villain's identity."
Arilyn stared at the dandy in amazement. There was truth in his words, and more than a little wisdom. "How did you figure all this out?'
"Quite easily. After all," he said grandly, "magic is my specialty." Danilo drew back with a melodramatic flourish. "Really, my dear. If you were to advise me as an assassin, I would take your word as that of an expert. I expect you to extend me the same courtesy."
He rose to his feet and flounced off, settling down on a log on the other side of the fire, the very picture of offended dignity. Arilyn grinned despite herself. Generally she didn't find foolishness endearing, but Danilo made it an art form and raised it to a level that commanded a certain respect.
Danilo caught sight of her smile. "What's so funny?" he demanded in a sullen voice. The half-elf blinked. His insight had momentarily led her to assume that his foolishness was an act. Looking at him now, she wasn't so sure.
Arilyn wiped her face clear. "I can't imagine. All right, Danilo, you win. I'll find out everything I can about the sword." She rose to her feet. "Let's go."
"Now?" Danilo protested, with a longing glance at the sizzling partridges.
"I like to keep busy."
They were very busy indeed for the next hour. After they kicked the fire into ash, Danilo placed simple magical wards around the campsite to protect the horses from night-stalking predators. He and Arilyn carefully climbed down the rocky incline that led to the sea, then they headed northward along the coastline of the Waterbreak peninsula. Even with the light of the bright autumn moon to guide them, they had to pick their way carefully along the jagged rocks of the shoreline.
At the very tip of Waterbreak stood a natural formation of black rocks, the lower part of which was submerged in the sea. Small crustaceans clung to the base of the rock, and several jagged points thrust skyward like small turrets. On the whole, Danilo