Elfsong - Elaine Cunningham [54]
Morgalla shrugged. "I heared yer tale of the elfwoman's moonblade, remember? It told how the sword is linked to the elf that wears it." She pointed with her jester's staff to a spot behind Danilo. "If that be true, yon elf's got hisself a problem- he can't use the sword, can't get rid of it."
Danilo spun, finding himself almost face-to-face with Elaith. The elf cast a glance at the open spellbook in the Harper's hands. "More parlor tricks?" he said disparagingly.
"Preparing for tomorrow," Danilo said quietly. "It might be well to have a plan in case our large green friend chooses not to honor his side of the bargain."
"Just so," Elaith agreed, crossing his arms and rocking back on his heels as if reconsidering the human before him "You realize, of course, that if your dragon wishes to be found, it will find you.Green dragons blend with the forest in more ways than mere appearance. They are difficult to find and nearly impossible to ambush. We can't split up and search for it for if the dragon were to first encounter a group unable to play this riddle game, the beast might be less kindly disposed to hearing a riddle challenge from another."
Danilo nodded slowly. "What do you suggest?"
"Make the dragon come to you. We'll break camp early and travel north toward the hills. The dragon's lair is there, hidden somewhere in the Endless Caverns. I know a small clearing nearby. Send out a challenge to the thing -sing that damned ballad, perhaps. If the dragon doesn't hear you, the forest is full of creatures that will carry your message fast enough. Ask the dragon for the scroll, as well as something to make the exercise worthwhile to the men. A cask of emeralds would do nicely."
"I should say," murmured Danilo.
"It would be better to meet Grimnoshtadrano with a small group. The dragon might not take kindly to being approached by our entire party."
"I had thought to go alone, but for Vartain."
"You now have a partner to consider," Elaith reminded him. "If you wish to kill yourself, kindly do so on your own time. Yes, Vartain will go to answer the riddle, but you should at least take the minstrel. Spellsong is a powerful weapon."
"Not Wyn," Danilo said firmly. "No elves, absolutely. Green dragons consider you folk a delicacy, and for all we know Grimnoshtadrano might be in the mood for a snack."
"Point taken," the moon elf said grudgingly. "We will hold the spellsinger back, out of sight." His eyes fell on Morgalla, who listened with the mien of one well accustomed to councils of war. "You might take the dwarf with you, though, in case the dragon requires feeding."
"I doubt I could keep her back," Danilo said, noting the battle-gleam in the dwarven warrior's eyes, "and I don't envy anything that might try to eat her."
"You got that right." Morgalla agreed. "But what if the beast don't hold up his side of the bargain?"
"If our large green friend defaults," Danilo responded, "I'll challenge it to a second riddle. The riddle is actually a spell, and it will hold the dragon long enough for us to make an escape."
Elaith looked dubious. "You'd be better off taking the spellsinger."
"Maybe. I'm curious, Wyn," Danilo said casually. "Those marsh pipers were on the small side. Have you ever tried to charm something larger than a tavern wench?"
"A dragon, no," Wyn admitted, a slight twinkle in the green depths of his eyes, "but I did live among the Northmen for a time, and I found their women quite susceptible. Will that do?"
"Close enough," Danilo admitted with a surprised grin. He'd learned from his time with Arilyn that elven humor tended to be dry and subtle; Wyn's remark seemed uncharacteristically bawdy, but the elf's assessment of North-women-whose ample charms were much prized by the ambitious and the athletic-was remarkably apt.
"If the spell doesn't work-and frankly, Lord Thann,