Elminster in Myth Drannor - Ed Greenwood [2]
Now the storm would come, the snarled words of sarcastic fire or cold, biting venom for which she was famous throughout Cormanthor. The twisted words of harmful spells would lurk among them, to be sure, and he'd hav-
In smooth silence, the matriarch of the Starym knelt before him. Her eyes never left his.
Eltargrim swallowed again, looking down at her knees, white tinged with the slightest shade of blue, where they were sunk into the circle of moss at his feet. "Ildilyntra," he said softly. "Lady, I-"
Flecks of gold had always surfaced in her dark eyes when she was moved to strong emotion. Gold glinted in them now.
"I am not one used to begging," that melodious voice came again, bringing back a flood of memories in the Coronal, of other, more tender moonlit nights in this bower, "and yet I've come here to beg you, exalted lord. Reconsider this Opening you speak of. Let no being who is not a trueblood of the People walk in Cormanthor save by our leave. Let that leave be near-never given, that our People endure!"
"Ildilyntra, rise. Please," Eltargrim said firmly, stepping back. "And give me some reasons why I should embrace your plea." His mouth curved into the ghost of a smile. "You can't be unaware that I've heard such words before."
The High Lady of the Starym remained on her knees, cloaked in her hair, and looked into his eyes.
The Coronal smiled openly this time. "Yes, Lyntra, that still works on me. But give me reasons to weigh and work with… or speak of lighter things."
Anger snapped in those dark eyes for the first time. "Lighter things? Empty-headed revelry, like those fools indulging themselves over at Erladden Towers?" She rose then, as swift as a coiling serpent, and pulled open her gown. The blue-white sleekness of her bared body was as much a challenge as her level gaze. Ildilyntra added coldly, "Or did you think I'd come for dalliance, lord? Unable to keep myself one night longer from the charms of the ruler of us all, risen to such aged wisdom from the strong and ardent youth I knew?"
Eltargrim let her words fall into silence, as hurled daggers that miss their target spin into empty air. He ended it calmly. "This spitting fury is the High Lady of the Starym I have grown familiar with these past centuries. I admire your taste in undergarments, but I had hoped that you'd set aside some of what your junior kin call your 'cutting bluster' here; there are only the two of us on this isle. Let us speak candidly, as bents two elder Cormyth. It saves so much… empty courtesy."
Ildilyntra's mouth tightened. "Very well," she said, planting her hands on her hips in a manner he well remembered. "Hear me then, Lord Eltargrim: I, my senior kin, and many other families and folk of Cormanthor besides-I can name the principals if you wish, Lord, but be assured they are neither few nor easily discredited as youths or touch-headed-think that this notion of Opening the realm will doom us all, if it is ever made reality."
She paused, eyes blazing into his, but the Coronal silently beckoned at her to give him more words. She continued, "If you follow your mad dreams of amending the law of Cormanthor to all non-elves into the realm, our long friendship must end."
"With the taking of my life?" he asked quietly.
Again silence fell, as Ildilyntra drew breath, opened her mouth, and then closed it. She strode angrily away across the moon-drenched moss and flagstones before whirling around to face him once more.
"All of House Starym," she said firmly, "must needs take up arms against a ruler so twisted in his head and heart-so tainted in his elven bloodlines-as to preside over, nay, eagerly embrace the destruction of the fair realm of Cormanthor."
Their gazes met in silence, but the Coronal seemed carved of patiently smiling marble. Ildilyntra Starym drew in a deep breath and went on, her voice now as imperious as that of any ruling queen. "For