Elfshadow - Elaine Cunningham [127]
Danilo opened his eyes and nodded. "I've got it."
"Already? You're sure?"
The nobleman grinned at his uncle. "The spell, I'm afraid, is going to be the easy part."
"Don't be cocky, boy."
"It's true! Compared to keeping Arilyn from chopping Kymil Nimesin into carrion?"
Khelben smiled reluctantly. "Perhaps you have a point. Even without the moonblade, Arilyn is a formidable force."
To Danilo's ears, the wizard's words lacked conviction. "You don't think she can win, do you?"
"I'm sorry, Dan. Without the moonblade, she'll be lucky to live until sunset tomorrow."
"Then Bran and I had better be on our way."
Khelben removed a silver band from one of his fingers and handed it to Danilo. "A ring of transportation. On an enspelled griffon she could get to Evereska by late afternoon tomorrow."
"Thank you," Danilo said, accepting the ring. He removed a large, square-cut emerald from one finger to make room for it. Khelben rolled up the spell scroll and handed it to his nephew, who slipped it into his magic bag. As Danilo did so, a daring plan suggested itself. He stared at the magic sack for a moment, considering. "I suppose I'm ready," he said at length.
"I don't see that you have any other choice."
Khelben and Danilo descended the stairs to the parlor where Bran waited impatiently. "Ready to go?" he asked the young nobleman.
Danilo blinked. "I just had a bad thought. Since Arilyn is flying to Evereska on a griffon, she must land somewhere outside the city and arrange other means of transport." He turned to the archmage. "Would it be possible for you to contact the Griffon Eyrie? Perhaps she told the keepers there what destination she had in mind."
"Good thinking, Dan. I'll be back in a moment." Khelben Arunsun retraced his steps to the spellcasting chamber to make inquiries through his crystal.
Danilo removed a pair of gloves from his magic sack and listened intently for the sound of a door closing. He moved to the corner of the parlor. Arilyn's moonblade still lay where she had hurled it. The young man hesitated for just a moment, then he willed himself to accept the pain and picked up the sheathed blade. As he expected, a current of magical energy shot up his arm, and the acrid smell of burned flesh filled the chamber. Danilo quickly dropped the moonblade into his magic sack and slipped the glove over his blackened hand. He sped through the gestures and chant of a spell that would create an illusion. When he was finished, the moonblade, to all appearances, still lay where Arilyn had abandoned it.
He turned to Bran Skorlsun and said quietly, "Arilyn needs the moonblade, and I plan to take it to her. If you speak of this, you are a dead man."
A faint smile curved the Harper's lips, and he laid a hand on Danilo's shoulder. "Young man, I like the way you think."
Khelben Arunsun wrinkled his nose in disgust when he entered the room again. "Merciful Mystra! It smells terrible in here."
"Your cook is busily burning lentils, no doubt," Danilo said. "Did you find out where Arilyn is headed?"
"Yes. The Halfway Inn, just outside of Evereska."
That was precisely what Danilo had expected to hear. "Good. We're on our way, then." The nobleman and the Harper exited Blackstaff Tower with rather indelicate speed. Grinning like two schoolboys savoring a prank, the two men left the courtyard for the darkness of the street.
"Hello, Bran," said a musical, faintly amused voice.
The Harper pulled up short. Standing in the shadow of a milliner's shop was Elaith Craulnobur. The elf stepped into the light of the street lamp. "I was beginning to wonder whether the Blackstaff had invited you to take up residence in the tower. I see that his nephew is with you, so I assume Arilyn is nearby?"
Danilo's eyes narrowed. He reached for his sword, but remembered that he'd given it to Arilyn. The moon elf laughed. "Your scabbard is as empty as your wit. Don't worry, dear boy. You've nothing to fear from me."