Elminster in Myth Drannor - Ed Greenwood [105]
"I will hear you," the Coronal said mildly. "It is why I am here. Speak."
Lord Urddusk looked to the third lord; Malgath was known as a smooth-some might even have used the word "sly"-speaker. Now, knowing the eyes of all the court were upon him, he couldn't resist striking a pose.
"Most High," he purred, "we fear that the realm as we know it will be swept away if gnomes, halflings, our half-kin, and worse, are let loose to run about Cormanthor, putting trees to the axe and crowding us out. Oh, I've heard that you plan to set all of us lords in stewardship over the forest, decreeing which tree shall be touched, and which shall stand. But, Lord Eltargrim, think on this: when a tree is cut, and falls dead, the deed is done, and no amount of hand-wringing or apologies for choosing the wrong one will restore it. The proper magics will, yes, but too much of the wisdom and energy of our best mages, these past twelve winters, has been set to devising new spells to make trees grow from stumps, and trees to become more vital. Those replenishment magics would be unnecessary if we simply keep the humans out. You've said before that the laziness of humans will ensure that most of them will give no trouble. Perhaps that's true, but we see the other sort of humans-the restless, the adventurers, the ones who must explore for the sake of spying, and destroy for the sake of dominating-all too often. We also know that humans are greedy… almost as greedy as dwarves. And now you plan to let both into the very heart of Cormanthor. The humans will cut the trees down, and the dwarves will snarl for more to feed the fires of their forges!"
As Lord Malgath roared these last words some in the court almost shouted in agreement; the Coronal waited almost three breaths for the noise to die down. When things were relatively quiet again he asked, "Is this your only concern, lords? That the realm as we know it today will be swept away if we let other races settle in this our city, and the other areas we patrol and hold dear? For halflings in particular, many half-elven, and even some humans have dwelt for years on the fringes of the realm and yet we are here today, free to argue. I'll have the armathors check, if you'd like, but I'm sure no humans have overrun this hall today."
There was a ripple of laughter, but Lord Haladavar snarled, "This is not a matter I can find in myself room to laugh about, Revered Lord. Humans and dwarves, in particular, have a way of ignoring or twisting any authority put over them, and of defying our People wherever and whenever they can. If we let them in, they will outbreed us, outtrick us, and outnumber us from the start. Very soon we'll be pushed right out of Cormanthor!"
"Ah, Lord Haladavar," the Coronal said, leaning forward on the throne, "you bring up the very reason I have proposed this Opening: that if we don't allow humans some share of Cormanthor now, under our conditions and rule, they will march in, army after vast army, and overwhelm us before this century, or the next, is done. We'll all be too dead to be pushed out of Cormanthor."
"Purest fantasy!" Lord Urddusk protested. "How can you say humans can field any army capable of winning even a single skirmish against the pride of Cormanthor?"
"Aye," Lord Haladavar said sternly. "I, too, cannot believe in this peril you threaten us with."
Lord Malgath merely raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
The Coronal matched it, raising his hand for silence, and called, "Lady Herald, stand forth!"
Alais Dree stepped forward from the doors of the Chamber of the Court. Her bright robes of office took wing after three paces, and she floated past the three glowering