Elfsong - Elaine Cunningham [30]
"Whether those are two separate things or parts of one talent is a matter for a later discussion. It will suffice to say that like you, I have many skills. We share a single purpose, however to work against the Lords of Waterdeep." Garnet gently removed the harp from her shoulder and leaned toward the noblewoman. "May I speak frankly?"
"Please."
"Working from the inside, you can do much against Waterdeep's secret Lords. But can you strike against Khelben Arunsun?"
"Many have tried and failed. He is too powerful," Lucia hedged.
"That is my point precisely," Garnet said, stabbing the air with a slender finger. "Khelben is far too powerful. Many consider him the backbone of the Lords' power and influence. This offends me. I do not believe he should be in a position of political power, and I will see him removed."
Lucia doubted this, but she was in no position to argue. "What would you have me do?"
"Harass the other Lords. Keep them busy, off guard. Send them running about the city stamping out small fires."
"You hardly need my help for that Waterdeep has many problems these days."
Garnet smiled and inclined her head in a slight bow. "Thank you."
The noblewoman absorbed this, studying the withered flower in her hand. If the blight on the local fields and crops was Garnet's doing, this woman was powerful indeed. "How will you remove Khelben from his position?"
"The archmage may be too formidable to attack, but no one is too powerful to discredit."
"But the Knights of the Shield have sought for many years for information we could use against him!"
"A thing need not be true to be damaging," Garnet pointed out "An accusation need not be proven; ofttimes it is enough that words are said. Words have great power." She reached out and stroked the dark wood of her harp. "As does music."
After a few moments' reflection, the sorceress continued. "I control many bards. They will spread tales about Khelben, and about his lady. As it happens, most of these will be true. I know many things about Khelben, things only a few of his closest friends suspect. My bards will apply pressure, as you saw the other evening."
"And I?"
"You know who the Lords are. If enough of them are kept out of the way, we increase the pressure on Khelben. Eventually, even he will make a mistake, and you may be assured that all the city will know of it."
"But doesn't that put you in a dangerous situation? When these little-known tales are told, they may well be traced to you."
"Very perceptive," Garnet said approvingly. "The Knights were not wrong in their estimation of your talents. But I have anticipated that, and I have prepared a distraction. Khelben's nephew, Danilo Thann, has bardic pretensions. I have improved many of the young man's songs, and I have woven them into the memories of the bards I control. You can be sure that these songs are widely and often sung. As you know, Waterdeep is a city of passing fashions, each pursued almost fanatically before being abandoned for the next. Danilo Thann's songs are currently all the rage, and the Waterdhavians listen with close attention and great interest. Thus shall I use Danilo Thann to discredit his uncle, the archmage, while deflecting attention that might have otherwise come my way. He will accept the credit and the blame."
Lucia shook her head adamantly. "I know Danilo. He is a bit of a fool, but there is no malice in him. He will not stand by to see his uncle discredited. Neither can I picture him as a master bard, and I'm sure many others suffer from a similar lack of imagination."
Garnet tucked a loose strand of graying brown hair behind one slightly pointed ear. "Fair concerns, both of them but I assure you that neither will be a problem. The young 'bard's' fame has become well established, and it will continue to grow-posthumously. Now, have we an agreement?"
It was clear to Lucia that she had little choice in the matter, but she saw that