Elminster in hell - Ed Greenwood [17]
Alustriel put her arms around him and kissed his forehead. "Peace, Taern. The Lady's power has touched me; until it fades, I can see thy mind. Ye have done well, and it is thy wisdom, more than power of Art, that will be needed in the days ahead."
From where she had kissed him, Taern felt power flooding through him, awakening and soothing at the same time. He stared at his queen in awe and wonder and wished again he were not so old.
Alustriel's eyes held his in a steady, loving gaze.
He colored suddenly and brought hands up to his burning cheeks. If she could read his thoughts… Taern loved her very much then, for she caught one of his hands and brought it to her lips and did not laugh at him.
More lovemaking. Do you humans do anything else?
Aye. We scheme and fight and work treason almost as energetically as archdevils.
Mock me not, elminster aumar. You are in my power, i have but to close my hand over you for you to be no more. Gone forever.
Promises, promises.
Do not presume to bandy words with me as an equal, human. My patience grows short indeed. Show me more of godly magic-now!
Pain! Pain in Avernus, of a tentacle become a talon and thrust through the breast of a crawling man, leaving him to stiffen and gasp in agony as fresh blood flowed… then to sink back, gasping in ecstasy, as the withdrawing talon healed its own wound, leaving the naked old man to fall on his face, shaking with weakness and pain…
Weakness, and gods, and magic…
Yield unto me, little man!
Ah. Weakness in magic among the gods. Aye, let it be remembered…
"I am ashamed to say it," Noumea whispered, so faintly that mortal ears would have missed what she said, "but I am glad the Lady did not choose me. I would have failed her-and us all."
She stood in a dark cavern, lit only by a tall, slim conical column of silvery gray light. It replied in an echoing mind-voice.
Wherefore ye were not chosen. The Lady is-was- wise. Yet he not ashamed, Daughter. Differing natures decree different fates for us all.
"What now, Lord?"
The silvery cone flickered once. We go on as before. None must know what has befallen. This seems wisest.
"Seems wisest?"
I am not all wise or all knowing, Lady Magister. I can be sure only after I touch the mind of Elminster. It may become necessary, if the power he has taken twists him, that ye destroy him. Come with me now, as we speak mind to mind with the Old Mage. Merge with me.
The Magister looked at the cone in puzzlement. "Merge, Lord Azuth?"
Step into the space I now occupy, and stay entirely within this conical form. It is all that is left to me since the Fall. I must be ready to shield thee if Elminster has been… changed.
Noumea shivered. She had not known that anything could bring fear into the voice of a god-especially her all wise, imperturbable teacher, the Lord of Wizardry himself.
Hurriedly she stepped forward and plunged-with a momentary, shocking chill-into the silvery cone, all that remained of the High One. Already his mind reached out like an uncoiling snake, lashing across great distances toward the slightly leaning stone tower in Shadowdale.
Full of tricks, aren't you? A flagon brimming over with deceit. Nearly as devilish as one of us. You know full well i seek what you recall of mystra, don't you? Don't you? [searing fire]
[pain] Aye. [shuddering pain]
Show me, then, something she left in your mind-or i'll tear and rend your wits in earnest, wise old elminster!
As ye command, Lord Nergal.
Do you dare to mock me? [furious lashing fires]
[pain] Not I, Lord. Gods, not I!
Tears running down the sky from the dark, watchful eyes of the Lady of Mysteries, on a night before her powers failed, and she could only behold what befell as magic failed, all across Faerun…
The day was warm and bright-but all was decidedly not well in the Realms.
In Chessenta, the Sceptanar screamed in rage as three of his high wizards battled