Elfshadow - Elaine Cunningham [41]
"What happened?" Danilo encouraged her.
A small smile tightened Arilyn's lips. "My sword arm went numb, and the moonblade dropped from my hand. Tintagel took the opportunity to beat me senseless."
"That's terrible!"
She shrugged. "It happens."
"That's hardly an innocent man's behavior," Danilo said heatedly. "I had not realized there was such prejudice against elves."
Arilyn looked at him strangely. "Tintagel Ni'Tessine is an elf."
"Wait a minute." Danilo held up one hand, and he appeared to be thoroughly puzzled. "Did I miss something?"
"He's a gold elf. I'm a moon elf, and a half-elf at that," she admitted grudgingly. "You didn't know that there are several races of elves?"
"Well, yes. I've just never realized that there might be significant differences."
That remark, so typical from humans, jolted Arilyn. "Why am I not surprised?" she said so harshly that Danilo blinked in surprise.
Her hostage could not know that her manner covered her own chagrin. When was the last time she had chattered like such a magpie? Had she ever told anyone about that incident with Tintagel? Or admitted even to herself that she sometimes felt belittled by the power of her own sword? Damn it, something about the young man seemed to break down the defenses of her natural reserve, and she resented him for it.
Danilo, however, did not seem to be put out by her abrupt change of mood. "You share my passion for fine gems, I see."
"How did you come to that conclusion?"
With a smug little smile, he pointed to her sword. "That stone in the hilt. It's a topaz, isn't it?"
"I suppose so. Why?"
"Oh, I'm just curious. The sword itself looks quite old, but the stone is cut in a modern fashion."
Arilyn gaped at him for a moment. "That's a remarkable observation."
"Not at all," he disclaimed modestly. "As I mentioned, I have a passion for precious stones, and I know a few things about them. See the way the tiny facets curl around the base of the gem, leading up like a honeycomb to a large flat surface? That style started becoming popular only about, say, fifty years ago."
"I'll have to take your word on that," she said. "But you're right: the stone is fairly new."
"The original was lost, I take it? What kind of stone was it? "
"A moonstone."
"Semi-precious white stone, often flecked with blue. Natural conduits for magic," Danilo recited in a learned tone. "Why was it replaced with a topaz?"
Arilyn shrugged. "When I started training, my teacher had the new stone made to balance the hilt."
"Not many teachers give that much attention to detail… or to their students for that matter." He grinned. "Mine generally tried to avoid me as much as they could. You must have been fortunate in your choice of teacher."
"I was," Arilyn said warmly. "To study with Kymil Nimesin was a great opportunity, and-" She broke off suddenly.
"And?"
Arilyn just shrugged. Damn it all, she thought angrily, I'm doing it again. This man would have her life history from her before she could be rid of him.
Most distressing to her was the inexplicable tug of camaraderie, the tiny seedling of friendship that was growing between her and this stranger-this shallow, foolish, overdressed human. Like a talisman, she deliberately brought to mind an image of Rafe Silverspur. The reminder of what could happen to those close to her strengthened her resolve to keep herself firmly apart.
Again Danilo Thann's cheerful voice broke into her thoughts. "You know, I just realized that you never told me your name. What was it that the comical barbarian in the inn called you? Arilyn, wasn't it? Arilyn Moonsinger. No, that's not quite right. Moonblade. Yes, that's it!"
Arilyn rose and kicked the bright embers of Danilo's fire into ash. "Get some sleep," she said curtly, keeping her back to the man. "We leave before daybreak."
Seven
Arilyn shook