Elfshadow - Elaine Cunningham [89]
"My dear etriel, in more ways than one Lord Kymil is of a dying breed. He still mourns the demise of Myth Drannor. Like many of his race, he is unable to come to terms with the changes that have swept Faerun and transformed the destinies of the elven peoples. If Kymil knows the part moonblades bore in this, I doubt he could bring himself to speak of it."
"I'm no scholar, and Kymil knows that. My only interest was the practical use of the sword. Kymil's time was too valuable to waste on history lessons that I wouldn't bother to remember."
"More's the pity," Elaith said, then sighed. "But to continue. The Council of Myth Drannor foresaw that steps had to be taken to ensure the continuation of the elven peoples on Faerun. We moon elves are in many ways most like mankind, and of all the elven races we are the most adaptable and tolerant, and are therefore best able to act as liaison between the more reclusive elven races and the increasingly dominant humans. It was decided that a moon elf family would be ennobled and set up as rulers of the island of Evermeet. Moonblades were used to choose this family, in a process that lasted many centuries."
Elaith picked up the dormant moonblade. "It was a simple process of elimination. As you know, a moonblade can confirm or decline each new wielder. The family who held the most moonblades for the longest period of time showed true nobility as well as a proven line of succession. They became the royal family."
"What happens when a sword declines the chosen heir?" Danilo asked.
"Remember what happened to your finger when you tried to touch the moonblade?" Arilyn asked.
"Ouch." Danilo winced. "A risky inheritance."
"Precisely," the quessir agreed. "The risk increases as time progresses, for as a moonblade becomes more powerful, it becomes harder to handle. Few prove worthy of the task. Not every unworthy heir dies upon drawing the sword, however. If he or she is the last member of a line, the sword's task-testing the bloodline's nobility-is completed and it becomes dormant." The elf's hand absently touched the white stone set in his moonblade.
"Such as your sword," said Danilo.
"Such as my sword," Elaith echoed softly. He looked up at Arilyn and admitted, "I am the last in the Craulnobur line, the only child of an only son. The sword came into my possession shortly after that portrait was made." A faint, self-deprecating smile curved his lips but did not reach his eyes. "It would seem that the sword knew more about me than I, at that time, understood about myself."
"I'm sorry," Arilyn said softly.
"So was I. On the basis of the moonblade's choice, my betrothal was nullified. Rather than remain in Evermeet and live with the stigma, I chose to come to Waterdeep and carve out a niche for myself. The rest is a matter of record and-" the elf broke off and made an ironic bow to Danilo "-rumor."
"This is all very touching," Danilo drawled. "It explains your interest in Arilyn but, unfortunately, little else."
"What else would you like to know?"
Danilo picked up Perendra's snuffbox from the table. "Let's get back to this. How did you get it?"
"I bought the snuffbox from a fence."
"Jannaxil."
Elaith's silver eyebrows arched. "Very good, young man. And I suppose you know where he got it, as well?"
"From Hamit. Waterdeep seems to be a small city."
"At the moment, I'm inclined to agree," the elf said, eyeing Danilo with distaste. "Yes, at my request Barth and his partner Hamit broke into the mage's home to retrieve one particular item, a spellbook. She surprised them, and they killed her. They made the mistake of plundering the place and selling the stolen items. I learned of this when I saw Perendra's snuffbox in Jannaxil's shop. I purchased the box and took it to my home, then I went to deal with Hamit."
"You killed him," Danilo specified.
"Of course. I would have seen to Barth as well, but while I was taking care of Hamit, he apparently retrieved the box and left for Evereska. Fortunately the spell seems to have done the trick." He paused. "By then several Harpers had fallen