Elfshadow - Elaine Cunningham [125]
"I should have," the Harper replied. "It's too much like something I would have done at her age."
Before the archmage could respond, a sharp rap that seemed to come from the center of the room drew his attention. "Piergeiron's timing is about as good as usual," the wizard grumbled, stalking to the door that led to the basement and the secret tunnel to the palace of Waterdeep's lord. "Wait here," Khelben instructed his visitors.
Danilo paced back and forth before the door, muttering imprecations against the Lords of Waterdeep and their preoccupation with protocol. Danilo had little patience for the processes of law and order. He worked independently and under cover so he could keep free of the sacred cords of propriety that bound all aspects of Waterdeep life. Never mind that Kymil Nimesin ran free, that the elven kingdom's safety had been compromised, that Arilyn was walking willingly into what was surely a trap. The Lords of Waterdeep were probably consulting Khelben about a new monument or some such foolishness.
To the impatient young noble, Khelben's whispered consultation with the messenger seemed to take an eternity. Finally the Blackstaff returned with an official-looking parchment in his hand. His face was deeply troubled.
Khelben was not given to preambles. "This is from the Lords of Waterdeep. Arilyn Moonblade has been identified as the Harper Assassin, a rogue adventurer in the employ of the Zhentarim."
"What?" exploded Bran. "By whom? I was the one assigned to make that judgment."
Khelben held up a hand for silence and continued. "Piergeiron says that the evidence is overwhelming. An anonymous source sent papers to Waterdeep Castle, precisely balancing each assassination with documentation on Arilyn's whereabouts. There was also a letter billing the Zhentarim for an assassin's services. The dates coincide with each Harper Assassination."
Danilo's eyes turned cold. "Elaith Craulnobur sold her out. He'll die for that."
Khelben looked worried. "She was working with the rogue elf, wasn't she? By Mystra, that won't look good when she comes to trial."
"A trial." Danilo slumped into a chair. "It will come to that? Can't you do anything?"
"I can speak in her behalf."
"There's no truth in this accusation," Danilo protested. He winced and amended, "At least, not much truth."
"One thing I learned long ago," Bran responded, "is that truth often has little power to sway opinion. It seems that the Harpers have never completely trusted Arilyn. Any hint of involvement with the Zhentarim will color opinion further. You must admit that with her background as an assassin, she is a credible suspect."
Even Danilo had to concede the logic in that. "Surely, when the full story is known…"
"The full story can never be told," Khelben stated in an uncompromising tone. "Evermeet would be endangered if news of the elfgate became widespread. The secret must be protected."
Filled with fury, Danilo flew to his feet and faced down the archmage. "Even at the cost of Arilyn's life?"
"Even so."
Their eyes locked like horns, Danilo's blazing with condemnation, Khelben's fixed on his commitment to duty. The younger man broke away first.
"I'm going after Arilyn," he said abruptly.
"Be reasonable, Dan," growled Khelben. "How will you find her? Did she tell you where the elfgate is?"
"In Evereska, that's all I know." Danilo's eyes narrowed. "Wait a minute. Don't you know?"
"Evereska's a big city," Khelben snapped. "And I wasn't the one who moved the gate."
Danilo shook his head in disgust. "All right, who does know? Or can you relinquish your vows of secrecy long enough to part with that information?"
"Watch your tongue. Laeral devised the spell that moved the elfgate. The only others who know its exact location are Queen Amlaruil and the elven lord of the Greycloak Hills, Erlan Duirsar. Perhaps the elven council of Evereska knows by now, too. By Mystra, this mess will set back ties with the elves a century or two," the Blackstaff concluded in a mutter.
"You deal with the politics,