Elfsong - Elaine Cunningham [57]
Danilo did not for a moment forget that the dragon was just one of the hazards of this mission. Although he had slept but little the night before-memorizing the difficult spell had taken him almost until dawn-the Harper kept alert for danger from any quarter.
His moon elf partner was not to be trusted under any circumstances, and the revelation that Elaith carried a moonblade added to Danilo's uncertainty. He could not fathom why Elaith carried a reminder of his failure. Actually, very little about the elf's motives made sense. Danilo could not understand why Elaith would request only a cask of gems from the dragon. The elf had a legendary fondness for magical items, and surely a dragon's hoard would contain something a bit more compelling than jewelry. Danilo added to this conjecture the very real possibility that Elaith would prove treacherous once he had secured whatever it was he sought.
The riders reached a small clearing before highsun and set to work at Elaith's direction. Two of the mercenaries built a campfire, while Orcsarmor, their best archer, shot several of the squirrels who chattered and scampered among the ancient oaks. A pot of over-seasoned stew was soon simmering, and the firewood doused with water and strewn with herbs so that the scented smoke might confuse the dragon's keen nose. This precaution, Elaith explained, was to ensure that no sign of his or Wyn's presence lingered in the clearing. Since elves were a favorite meal of green dragons, the wyrms were particularly adept at scenting and tracking them and the urge to do just that might distract the dragon from the riddle challenge. The elf then sent the mercenaries down a narrow path lined with young birch, through a section of forest that Elaith claimed was too densely grown to allow passage to a full-growndragon. To Danilo's surprise, Elaith gave the lead reigns of his black stallion to Mange, and ordered Orcsarmor to take Wyn and Balindar's horses, as well.
"We three will remain nearby," Elaith announced, "Balindar and me to protect my interests, and the minstrel to provide spellsong magic if the need arises."
Danilo faced down the elf, his gray eyes cold. "That's not what we agreed. You'll not put Wyn at risk."
"By standing here quibbling instead of announcing your intentions to the dragon, you risk us all," Elaith countered, pointing to the campfire. "How long do you think it will take the dragon to realize that there are travelers in the forest?'"
"It's best to do as he says," Wyn told Danilo. "He's quite right about the dragon. We will do whatever we must to retrieve that scroll."
The Harper conceded with a terse nod, and Balindar and the two elves took cover downwind in a nearby copse of young birch and giant ferns. Morgalla loosely tied the three remaining horses near the escape trail, and Vartain cut a branch of pine and quickly swept the sandy clearing free of footprints.
Then they joined Danilo at the cookfire. To all appearances, they were the only three who had come in the clearing. When all was in readiness, Danilo took his place on a moss-covered rock and began to adjust his lute's tuning pegs.
"Get on with it!" Elaith hissed from the nearby copse.
"This dragon of yers is gonna be a nice change o' pace," Morgalla