Elminster in Myth Drannor - Ed Greenwood [80]
Elminster almost struck her then, knowing that with a simple spell he'd have power enough to break her neck like a twig, hair or no hair. Instead he rode the bright flare of his rage into an iron hold on her mind, clamping down until she screamed soundlessly in shock and horror. He cut off her sight into his own memories with brutal haste, leaving her blinded and dazed, and held her that way as he reached out with the power of the scepter her tresses had so deftly plucked away from him, and duplicated the body switch spell the Srinshee had worked on him earlier.
Then he charged back into her mind, overwhelming all semblance of reserve and control she had left, and forcing her mind to stay open and vulnerable, her schemes, memories, and thoughts bared to anyone who touched her. El brought her back to the peak of lust, aching with need. Then he worked the spell, taking himself to where Elandorr Waelvor stood languidly, glass in hand, in the midst of revelry. He whisked the elf back to the hidden bower, thrusting him into Symrustar's arms, his lips to hers, and her mind, with all its treacheries and plans for him, bared to him.
El had a last glimpse of her wild eyes staring at Elandorr as she realized who he was and what he was seeing in her mind as she kissed him, nude and two swift paces from her bed. As both elves stiffened and moaned in horror, their mouths and minds mated and open to each other, Elminster broke contact.
He was standing in a softly lit space where Elandorr had been, in the midst of a handful of very startled elves. Others, who wore only bells on their limbs, were dancing in the air overhead, laughing softly. Glasses of wine were soaring up to them like eager wasps, from trays floating in the midst of a group of jaded, bored elves in finery who'd been chatting about the decay of the realm in general-until his sudden appearance.
"You recall Mythanthar's crazy schemes of 'mythals' to shield us all? Why, ther-"
"When was a youth, we didn't indulge in such outrageous displ-"
"Well, what does she expect? Not every young armathor of the realm ca-"
Silence fell as if every throat there had been cut by the same slash of a sword, and all eyes turned to look at one tall figure in their midst.
El faced them, a human male with his clothes in disarray and a scepter in his hand. He was breathing heavily, and there was a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth where Symrustar had bitten it.
Elves were staring into his eyes in shock and angry recognition. "What did you do to Elandorr?"
"He's slain Elandorr!"
"Blew him to nothingness-just as he did Arandron and Inchel and the others by the pool!"
" 'Ware, all! The human murderer is among us!"
"Kill him! Kill him now, before he gets more of us!"
"For the honor of House Waelvor!"
"Slay the human dog!"
Swords were flashing out on all sides, or being magically summoned from distant scabbards and chambers to settle into their owner's hands amid spell glows; El spun around and cried out in a loud, deep voice, "Elandorr lives-I've sent him to confront the murderess who slew everyone by the pool!"
"Hear the human!" sneered one elf, blade glittering in his hand. "He must think us elven folk simple indeed, to believe such a claim!"
"I am innocent," Elminster roared, and triggered the scepter. Bright fire burst forth in a ring around him, striking aside blades and hurling their owners back.
"He has a court scepter! Thief!"
"He must've murdered one of the mages to get it! Kill the human!"
El shrugged and used the only spell he could, vanishing an instant before half a dozen hurled blades flashed through the spot where he'd stood.
Into the sudden silence, before the groans of disappointment started, one old elf said clearly, "In my time, younglings, we held trials before