Elfsong - Elaine Cunningham [75]
"Tavern servants hear a great deal," the young man told his elven companion. "Many people speak freely in front of them, as if they were invisible or deaf, or at the very least of no consequence. You would be surprised, my dear Elaith, at how much information they usually possess."
"Spoken like a true Harper," Elaith replied, and the moon elf's tone made clear that this was not a compliment.
"What do you propose we do now, Danilo?" asked the gold elf.
Garnet caught her breath. It was indeed Danilo Thann, and he was counted among Those Who Harped! Somehow the young man she had thought to use as a tool had become an adversary. She leaned forward and listened intently.
The young Harper paused to consider. "We cannot return to Ganstar's Creek until after sunset and the others will not reach that site until well after dark, anyway. I propose that we spend the day and most of the night in Sundabar and return just before daybreak. That will give Vartain time to work on old Grimnosh's scroll, and us time to glean some information from the townspeople. Our sorcerer struck recently, and perhaps we can get some idea of his identity. Perhaps he is still in the city."
Not for long. Garnet added silently. She rose from the chair and tossed some coins onto the table. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest as she moved through the taproom.
Vartain,the young Harper had said. That could only be Vartain of Calimport, a riddlemaster of well-deserved fame. And he had in his possession her riddle scroll! Her situation could only be worse if one of Danilo Thann's elven companions was a spellsinger.
The sorceress hurried up to her room. She snatched up the Morninglark harp and took the back stairs out of the inn, then she ran across the courtyard to the stables. Her asperii looked up with a question in its sleepy eyes as Garnet cinched on the saddle with shaking hands.
"We're leaving at once. We fly to Ganstar's Creek with all haste, throughout the whole night if we must. It is imperative that we make it there before tomorrow's dawn!"
*****
The early show at the Three Pearls theater opened to a large crowd. Outside the large stone and mud-brick building, a queue of people stretched down Pearl Alley. Several troupe members strolled along the narrow street entertaining those who waited. Vendors hawked oranges and sweets, and there was a hum of curious anticipation.
"Lucia, I really haven't time for this," Caladorn told his lady, an uncustomary touch of impatience in his voice as they edged closer to the entrance. The Midsummer Festival is almost upon us, and the practice sessions have been plagued by mishaps and injuries. I should be at the arena."
"I would not keep you from your work, but for something important," Lady Thione said in soft tones. "You know that guilds or other groups sometimes hire the theater for private performances. A private party is paying for this show, yet the performance is open to all who care to come."
"So?"
"The person behind this performance is Lord Hhune, a merchant visiting from Tethyr. The city's bards are unhappy about attempts to censor their songs, and Hhune is paying them to air their discontent at a concert satirizing the Lords of Waterdeep, particularly the archmage."
Caladorn stared at Lucia. "How did you come to know of this?"
The noblewoman shrugged. "Some of my servants understand the language of Tethyr. I have done business with Hhune in the past, and I trust him not so I had him followed and watched. My servant overheard Hhune talking to one of his men. What Hhune hopes to gain from this, I cannot begin to imagine." She lifted enormous, haunted dark eyes to her lover's face and whispered, "You know what became of the royal family when men such as Hhune took power in Tethyr. There are many in the south who would see me dead, although my connection to the royal family is admittedly distant Now that Hhune seeks to influence affairs in Waterdeep, I cannot help but fear."
Caladorn's stern expression melted, and he drew the tiny noblewoman away from the crowds. "Lucia, you are safe