Elfshadow - Elaine Cunningham [106]
Arilyn suddenly recalled that the mage Coril's spells had interpreted two runes on the moonblade: elf gate and elfshadow. At the time, it had seemed strange that Kymil Nimesin had failed to do this. Now Arilyn also wondered why Kymil had not attempted to cast a legend lore spell.
She turned to Khelben. "The spell you just cast," she said abruptly, "is it very difficult?"
He spread his hands. "These things are relative, but I suppose you could say it is difficult. The spell components are expensive, and the spell is not widely known. Few can manage it."
"It's beyond me," Danilo said, offering his support as if the archmage's word required bolstering.
"I see," Arilyn murmured absently. "Is it possible that the sword is warded against elven magic?"
"I doubt it. Why?"
"Just a thought," she said. Squaring her shoulders and firming her resolve, she looked up at Danilo. "If we must go to Candlekeep, we might as well start now."
"You'll need a letter of introduction," Khelben said. He rose and walked to a small writing table. Seating himself, he scratched some runes on a piece of parchment, rolled it into a tight scroll, and sealed it with his sigil. He scrawled a note on another scrap of parchment, then handed both messages to his nephew.
Danilo glanced at the note. He slipped it into his breast pocket and dropped the scroll into his magic sack. "Uncle Khel, might I have a few words with you in private? A family matter, I'm afraid, and of a personal nature."
"This is hardly the time. Is it important?"
"I think so. You might not, of course."
The archmage glowered, then relented. "All right. Come up to my study. If you'll excuse us?" he asked Arilyn. She nodded absently, and the two men disappeared up the spiral stairs.
As soon as Khelben had shut the door to the study, Danilo stated bluntly, "A group of Harpers are having Arilyn followed. They seem to think that she's the assassin. Did you know that?"
The archmage was clearly surprised. "No, I didn't. How did you learn of it?"
"She's been followed since we met in Evereska. Of that I'm fairly certain. At first I assumed that it was the Harper Assassin, then a rogue elf by the name of Elaith Craulnobur claimed a Harper ranger was on Arilyn's trail. How he learned that, I don't know, but the elf seemed to know a great deal about Arilyn."
"Elaith Craulnobur, eh? You said she suspected an elf was involved, didn't you? He'd certainly be a likely candidate."
"No," Danilo said firmly. Khelben looked curious, but the young man shook his head and refused to elaborate. "Can you find out anything from the Harpers?"
Khelben nodded and laid a hand on the scrying crystal. The globe began to glow, and the archmage's face grew distant as his thoughts turned inward and traveled to places far away.
The nobleman waited impatiently. When Khelben turned to him, the archmage was more disturbed than Danilo had ever seen him. "A complication has arisen."
"Oh, good," Danilo said, crossing his arms. "This assignment has been altogether too easy thus far."
Khelben ignored his nephew's sarcasm. "Your elven informant was right. A small group of Harpers in Cormyr believes that Arilyn is the Harper Assassin. They intend to prove her guilt and bring her in for trial."
Danilo's face paled. "Go on."
"They've sent Bran Skorlsun to follow her." Khelben's tone implied that this was a grave matter indeed.
"Who's he?"
Khelben started to pace about the study, clearly agitated. "Bran Skorlsun is a Master Harper, one of the best rangers and trackers the Harpers have," he admitted grudgingly. "The secret nature of the organization makes it possible for rogues to use the Harper name to further some scheme or another. For almost forty years now, Bran has been tracking false and renegade Harpers, mostly on the Moonshae Isles, but occasionally in other remote areas. He is devoted to keeping the Harpers' ranks pure."
"Forty years, eh? The man must be getting rather old by now," Danilo observed. His casual tone masked his growing concern, for