Elfshadow - Elaine Cunningham [86]
Arilyn looked steadily at the fence, letting him read her intentions. He looked intrigued, then his round face clouded and his eyes fell to the desk. After a moment he said in a flat tone, "I'm afraid I can't help you. Now, if you'll excuse me?"
Murmuring her thanks, Arilyn rose to leave. Danilo laid down the book he'd been perusing, stretched lazily, and followed her out of the shop.
"We certainly didn't get much from him," the half-elf grumbled as they walked down Book Street.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that."
Something in the dandy's smug tone stopped Arilyn in mid-stride. "What did we get?"
"This." Danilo held up a book bound in plain brown leather.
"What's that?"
"Jannaxil's account book."
Thirteen
Arilyn took off her cap and raked one hand through her hair. "Let me understand this. You stole the man's account book?"
"Why not?" Danilo said mildly, stuffing the book back into his sack. "To whom is he going to complain? Let's take a look at it over lunch, shall we? There's a tavern nearby that has the most wonderful fried fish."
"That was a stupid risk to take."
The dandy smirked. "You're just mad because you didn't think of it first."
"You may be right," Arilyn admitted. "How did you get it? I didn't see you take it out of the shop," she said, allowing him to guide her down the street.
"Thank you," he said as if he'd just been complimented. "Ah, here's the tavern. The Friendly Flounder, and aptly named it is."
Danilo ushered her into the small taproom, which was already filled with people and the pungent odors of ale and fried fish. Danilo ordered for them both. He ate quickly, then he carefully wiped his fingers free of grease and took out the book. On it were neat columns filled with some ornate eastern script.
"You can read that?" Arilyn asked.
"Not yet."
Danilo cast a cantrip, a simple spell to discern language. Before his eyes, the flowing lines on the page shifted and wiggled, rearranging themselves into Common. "What do you know!" Danilo said admiringly. "It worked!"
"Resourceful, aren't you?" Arilyn commented, observing him keenly.
"Occasionally, though often accidentally," Danilo said. He turned the pages of the book, taking no more than a glance at each one. After several moments, he looked up. "I don't think you're going to like this."
"Well?"
Danilo slid the book closer to Arilyn and turned to a page near the middle. "Look at this item. Elaith Craulnobur, purchased twenty uncut sapphires." He flipped several pages and pointed. "Here's his name again, as seller of a spellbook. Here he acquired a Cledwyll statue, and on this date he was really in the mood to shop. On the final page, there's a notation concerning an inquiry by Elaith Craulnobur." Danilo looked up and held Arilyn's eyes. "It seems that the good elf is a regular customer."
"That doesn't necessarily mean he's the elf we seek," Arilyn pointed out.
"Don't be too sure." Danilo flipped back a few pages. "On this day the fence received a shipment of rare coins from Elaith Craulnobur. The coins were delivered by a man named Hamit, to whom the fence gave a receipt. Do I say 'I told you so' now, or shall I wait until you're unarmed?"
"All right, you've made your point," Arilyn conceded, "but how did you do that? You knew exactly where to turn each time."
"The benefit of having an empty head, my dear, is that you can fill it with all manner of inconsequential things. I've an excellent memory, in addition to all my other gifts."
"But-"
"Ah! Listen to this! This settles the matter, I should say."
Danilo's tone was so triumphant that Arilyn allowed herself to be distracted. She listened with growing dismay as Danilo read a list of goods received from Hamit, a list that included an enchanted snuffbox. She rose from the table and tossed down a few coins to pay for her uneaten fish.
"Where are we going now?" the dandy asked in a voice heavy with weary resignation.
"To see Elaith Craulnobur."
Suddenly energized, Danilo leaped up from the table and followed the half-elf out of the tavern. "Arilyn, this is not a good idea. He isn't