Elfsong - Elaine Cunningham [13]
"Only when it's available," Danilo replied in a droll tone.
Evindal Duirsar smiled and signaled for another goblet, which was immediately supplied by an elven servant. The priest's mood abruptly sobered, and he leaned forward and spoke in a quiet voice. "My son is Erlan Duirsar, lord of Evereska. He has told me of your service to the elven people."
"I see." Dan settled back in his chair, uncertain of how to proceed. Two years earlier, he had helped to secure Evermeet, the island homeland and last retreat of the elves, by moving a magical gate from the elven settlement known as Evereska to a more secure, secret location. He had no idea how widespread this knowledge was, but, judging from Yaereene's reception and the number of gracious nods the elven patrons had sent his way, it was a secret poorly kept "I suppose that would explain my welcome here," Danilo concluded.
"Not at all." Evindal shook his head adamantly. "Few know what transpired in Evereska. You are welcome here for other, more obvious reasons."
"Define 'obvious,'" Dan requested.
The elven priest chuckled and gestured toward the. middle of the taproom. There sat a flaxen-haired elfmaid, playing upon a gilded harp and singing. Danilo recognized the tune as The Gray-Mist Maiden, an air that he himself had written. The song likened the magical mist that surrounded and protected Evereska to an elusive lover, and although it was popular with Dan's friends among the Waterdhavian nobility, to Dan's ear the words were trite and overly sentimental. He had deliberately written it so. Why would such a thing be sung by the music-loving elves, even translated as it was into Elvish?
"That is a lovely song," Evindal said admiringly.
"It must have gained something in the translation," Dan murmured.
Evindal smiled. "Such modesty in a bard is refreshing." He rose from the table. "I'm afraid my duties call me back to the temple, but please stay as long as you will. Call on me any time, for the People owe you a great debt."
Danilo lifted his goblet "At the price of elverquisst we should be even before the night is over."
The priest chuckled as he walked out of the tavern. Danilo watched him go, a puzzled frown on his face.
"What are you doing here, besides marinating in elven spirits?"
Danilo jumped. He looked up into the stern face of Khelben Arunsun. As usual, the archmage was clad in simple, dark clothing, and wrapped in a fur-lined coat against the sea breezes that chilled Waterdeep's nights, even now, in the midst of summer. Khelben's silver-streaked black hair was uncharacteristically rumpled, and his bearded visage looked a shade grimmer than usual. Danilo was one of the few persons in Waterdeep not cowed by the powerful wizard, and he gestured cheerfully with his full goblet.
"Sit down, Uncle. I'd ask you to join me in a glass-"
"But you doubt that we'd both fit" The archmage completed the jest in a sour tone. "Save the nonsense, Dan. We've more important matters to discuss."
"Indeed." The Harper spoke softly and met Khelben's glare with a measured gaze of his own. "Let's start with the most important matter. Where is Arilyn?"
The archmage was silent for a moment then he nodded toward the decanter of elverquisst "A mage of your potential has no business drinking anything so powerful. Magic demands keen wits and a clear mind. Or have you forgotten what happened last time you imbibed too freely? I hear that the butler at the Stalwarts' Club still resembles something from the Abyss."
Danilo's eyes narrowed. "I am in full possession of my senses-such as they are-and I was that evening in Cormyr, also. I regret changing the butler's appearance so drastically, but might I remind you that the episode occurred during the Time of Troubles? Mine was not the only spell to go awry in those days!"
"Defending your art." Khelben leaned back in his seat and nodded approvingly. "That's a good sign. May I infer that you're taking your magical studies more seriously, or would that