Elminster in Myth Drannor - Ed Greenwood [42]
"What say ye, Ornthalas?" the old mage asked, looking past them. "What say-our ancestors?"
The haughty young elf looked sadder and more serious than any in the room remembered him ever seeming. His brow was still pinched with pain, and strange shadows yet swirled in his eyes, as memories that were not his own plunged past them in the endless, bewildering flood. Slowly, reluctantly, he said, "Prudence bids us conduct the human to the Coronal, that no stain be upon us." He looked from one Alastrarran to another. "Yet if we harm so much as a hair upon his head, our honor is bereft. This man has done us more service than any elf living, save you, noble Naeryndam."
"Ah," the old mage said, satisfied. "Ah, now. See, Namyriitha, what a treasure the kiira is? Ornthalas wears it for but moments and gains good sense."
His sister stiffened in fresh annoyance, but Ornthalas smiled ruefully, and said, "I fear you speak bald truth, Uncle. Let us quit this field before battle comes to it, and return to our singing. Let the songs be of our remembrances of Iymbryl my brother, until dawn or slumber. Sisters, will you join me?"
He held out his arms, and after a moment of hesitation Melarue and Filaurel took them, and the three siblings swept out of the chamber together.
As they went out, Filaurel looked back at the human, just as the strange man found his feet, and shook her head. Fresh tears glistened in her eyes as she called, "Have my thanks, human sir."
"Elminster am I," the hawk-nosed man replied, lifting his head, his elvish now strangely accented. "Prince of Athalantar."
He turned his head to look at Naeryndam. "I stand in thy debt, revered lord. I am ready, if ye'd take me to the Coronal."
"Yes, brother," the Lady Namyriitha snarled, face pinched in disgust, "remove that from our halls-and stop staring at him, Nanthee; you demean us before an unwashed beast!"
The young lass thus addressed was staring in open awe at the human, with his stubbled face, and stubby ears, and-otherness. El winked at her.
That brought gasps of outrage from both Lady Namyriitha and Sheedra, the mother of Nanthleene, who snatched at her daughter's hand, and practically dragged her from the chamber.
"Come, Prince Elminster," the old mage said dryly. "The impressionable young ladies of this House are not for thee. Though 'tis to thy credit that thou're not disgusted when faced with folk of other races than thine own. Many of my kin are not so large of mind and heart, and so there is danger for thee here." He held out his winking sword, hilt first. "Carry my blade, will thou?"
Wondering, Elminster took hold of the enspelled sword, feeling the tingling of strong magics as he hefted the light, supple blade. It was magnificent. He raised it, staring in admiration at its feel and at the way its steel-if it was steel-shone bright and blue in the light of the bedchamber. More than one of the warriors gasped in alarm at the sight of the mage arming this human intruder, but Naeryndam paid them no heed.
"There is also a danger to us, if a human should see the glories and defenses of our realm, which is why we suffer few of thy blood to catch even a glimpse of our city, and live. Wherefore my blade will cloud thy sight, even as it binds thee to accompany me."
"It is not needful, Lord Mage. I have no mind to cross thee, or escape thee," El told him truthfully, as mists rose to enclose them both in a world of swirling blueness. "And even less of a mind to storm this fair city, alone, in time to come."
"I know those things, but others of my kind do not," Naeryndam replied calmly, "and some of them are very swift with their bows and blades." He took a step forward, and the blue mists rolled away behind them, dwindling to nothingness.
El looked around in wonder; they were now standing not in a crowded bedchamber, but under the night sky in the green heart of a garden. Stars glittered overhead. Beneath their feet two paths of soft, lush moss met beside the statue of a large, winged panther that glowed a vivid blue in the night. Will o'wisps danced and