Elminster in Myth Drannor - Ed Greenwood [38]
"I am always aware of the perils awaiting us all, Melarue," her mother said coldly, not turning her head to take her eyes off Elminster for a second, "and have spent centuries honing my judgment. Never forget that I am head of this house."
"Yes, mother," Melarue replied, in a respectful tone that twisted just enough in weary exasperation that El almost smiled. It seemed humans and elves were not so very different at heart after all.
"Please believe," El said to the elf maid in his arms, "that I mean no harm to you, or to House Alastrarra. I am here because of a promise I made, upon my honor."
"What promise?" Lady Namyriitha asked sharply.
"Revered Lady," El replied, turning his head to her, "I shall reveal all when what I must do is done-it is too precious a thing to endanger with dispute. I assure you that I mean no harm to anyone in this house."
"Surrender unto me your name!" the matriarch cried, using magic on the last word to compel him. El shook like a leaf In the thrall of her power, but the gem steadied him, and Mystra's grace kept him standing. He blinked at her, and shook his head. There was a murmur of respect from the ring of warriors, and Namyriitha's face tightened in fresh anger as she heard it.
"I am come," a deep yet musical voice said from the doorway. An old elf stood there, clad in the cape and robes usually affected by human archwizards. The falcon device of the house was worked into the sash he wore, repeated many times, yet El knew this was no servant. Rings gleamed on his ancient fingers, and he bore a short wooden scepter in his hands, its sides carved with spiral grooves.
"Naeryndam," the matriarch said curtly, nodding her head in Elminster's direction, "deal with this."
The old elf met El's gaze, and his eyes were keen and searching. "Unknown one," the elven mage said slowly, "I can tell ye are not Iymbryl, of this House. Yet ye wear the gem that was his. Think ye that possession of it gives ye rightful command over the kin of Alastrarra?"
"Revered elder," El replied, bowing his head, "I have no desire to command anyone in this fair city, or do any harm to ye or thy kin. I am here because of a promise I made to one who was dying."
In his arms, Filaurel started to shake. El knew she was weeping silently, and automatically stroked her hair and shoulders in futile soothings. The Lady Namyriitha's mouth tightened again, but Melarue and some of the warriors looked more kindly upon the intruder in their midst.
The old elf nodded. "Thy words ring true. Know, then, that I am going to cast a spell that is not an attack, and conduct thyself accordingly."
He lifted his hand, made a circling motion, spread and crooked two fingers, and blew some dust or powder over his wrist. There was a singing in the air, and the warriors on all sides hastily fell back. The singing air-some sort of spell-barrier, El guessed-ringed him around closely.
He merely nodded to the old elf mage, and stood waiting. Filaurel was crying openly now, and he swung her fully against his chest and murmured, "Lady, let me tell ye how thy brother died."
There was suddenly utter stillness in the room. "By chance I came upon a patrol Iymbryl was part of, in the deep wood-"
"A patrol he led," Lady Namyriitha almost spat.
El inclined his head gravely. "Lady, indeed; I meant no slight. I saw the last few of his fellows fall, until only he was left, beset on all sides by ruukha, in numbers enough to overwhelm his spells, and mine own."
"Your spells?" she sneered, her tone making it clear she doubted his words. Filaurel's face, however, wet with tears, was raised and intent on his every word.
"As I fought my way to him, he was pierced through by a ruukha longfork, and fell into a stream there. My spells took us both away from our foes, but he was dying. Had he lived longer, he could have been my guide to bring him hence. But he had time only to show me that I should put the kiira to my brow before he failed… and was gone to dust."
"Did he say anything?" Filaurel sobbed. "His last words: do you remember them?" Her voice rose in