Elfsong - Elaine Cunningham [88]
One of the wounded harpies flung itself at Mange. The canny mercenary grabbed the creature's flailing wrists, knowing that a scratch from its talons would render him immobile. At the same moment he kicked its hideous face with a heavy-booted foot. The creature reeled backward, pawing at its shattered nose.
The furious Elaith dove at the wounded harpy, burying the magical sword up to the hilt in its throat. The expression on the elf's face suggested that he strove to quench the sword's song with blood. Undaunted, the sword sang on:
"The next day at the tournament,
He won the jousting meets,
For all who faced his fearsome lance
Fell laughing from their seats."
Morgalla's axe flashed as she batted a club-wielding harpy. She feigned a stumble, going down onto one knee. The harpy raised its bone club and flung itself forward for a killing blow. At the last moment, the nimble dwarf dove to the side. She leaped up, coming behind the off-balance harpy and burying her axe deep into the back of the creature's neck. Dark blood spurted through the thick mat of tangled hair, and the creature dropped onto its face. At that moment, Elaith gutted the final monster. With the death of the last harpy, the deadly song charm faded into silence. The singing sword, however, continued merrily:
"Hey, there! Ho, there!
A lesson's here for you:
Be careful what you ask for,
For your wishes might come tru-"
Elaith hurled the sword to the ground; its song broke off with a choked "Erp!" that suggested the magical singer had been throttled by unseen hands. The moon elf stalked over to Danilo. Shaking with barely contained rage, he thrust a finger into the Harper's chest.
"You fool!" he thundered. "No one, no onebut you would wield such a ridiculous weapon!"
Danilo crossed his arms and leaned back against a tree. "Oh, I don't know. I thought you did rather well."
A silver dagger flashed in the elf's hand. With a quicksilver motion, Elaith lunged forward and held the point against the Harper's throat. Danilo merely cocked an eyebrow.
"Now really, my dear Elaith. I should hate to see you change your methods at this late hour. Wouldn't you rather I turned my back first?"
"Might I remind you both that we have business in Waterdeep?" Vartain's emotionless voice broke in. "Our foe is bound there and will strike on Shieldmeet. That is three days from now."
The elf glared at Danilo with undisguised hatred, but with a visible effort he eased the dagger away. "We made an adventurer's pact. I will honor it Once the harp is recovered, though, I make no guarantees."
"I'll bear that in mind." Danilo picked up his singing sword and tucked it back into its scabbard. "I'm off for Waterdeep. I can take two people with me now and return after sunset for two more. Vartain, you should come now. Perhaps if you and Khelben Arunsun were to put your resources together, you might be able to come up with the identity of our bardic foe."
The riddlemaster bowed. "It would be my honor."
"I'm coming, too," Elaith stated. "I have information sources in Waterdeep that the archmage himself would envy."
"Modestly put," Danilo said dryly. He studied those who would remain behind. There were Wyn and Morgalla, the elven hermit Balindar, Mange, and Cory, a dark-skinned youth who was the youngest of Elaith's sell-swords. "First off, try to find the other horses, then head toward the Goldenfield temple farms. Once you find the stream, follow it to a calm, deep pool and set up camp. I'll meet you there shortly after sunset."
Danilo motioned Vartain and Elaith to his side and set in motion the spell of teleportation. Swirling white light filled their vision,