Elminster in Myth Drannor - Ed Greenwood [81]
"Fall silent, father," another voice snapped. "We've heard quite enough of how things should be done, or were done in the old dawn days. Cannot you see that the human is guilty?"
"Ivran Selorn," another old voice said in outraged tones, "to think that the day would come when I'd hear you speak to your sire like that! Are you not ashamed?"
"No," Ivran said almost savagely, holding up his sword. Its blade glimmered in the spell light, displaying the scrap of cloth transfixed on it. "We have the human," he said in triumph, holding it high for all present to see. "With this, my magic can trace him. We'll hunt him down before sunrise."
Eleven
To Hunt A Human
There is no beast more dangerous to hunt than a man forewarned-save one: a human mage forewarned.
Antarn the Sage
from The High History of Faerunian Archmages Mighty
published circa The Year of the Staff
He found himself standing in utter darkness, but it was darkness that smelted right. It was dank, and there was open space all around. He did something with his mind, and the scepter in his hand blossomed into a soft green radiance.
The chamber at the heart of Castle Dlardrageth was empty. Only an area of cracked and melted rubble- he'd have to ask the Lady Oluevaera about that when the chance befell-remained to show that he and the Srinshee had been here. She'd taken the Coronal elsewhere.
Something flashed in the gloom above him and moaned softly past, swooping toward the far end of the room. El smiled. Hello, ghosts.
He changed the light of the scepter to the purple-white glow that outlined magic. There! She had left it!
Invisible inside three nested spheres of magical concealment, floating in the air just low enough for him to reach, a little way along one wall, hung his spellbook. El smiled, said "Oluevaera" aloud as he touched the outermost sphere, and watched it melt silently away. The second descended to his hand, and he spoke the Srinshee's real name again-and a third time. When the last sphere melted away, the book fell into his hands.
El made the scepter glow green again, thrust it between two stones of the wall as high as he could reach, and sat down under its radiance to study his spells. If he was going to be hunted by every bloodthirsty young blood of Cormanthor, 'twas best to have a full roster of ready magic to call upon.
* * * * *
"Tidings grow worse, Revered Lord." Uldreiyn Starym's voice was grave.
Lord Eltargrim looked up. "And how might they do that?" he asked quietly. "Sixty-three blades were broken before me today." His lips tightened in what might have been the wry beginnings of a smile. "That I know of, thus far."
The burly senior archmage of the Starym family ran a weary hand through his thinning white hair and replied, "Word comes from the Hallows that the human armathor has worked deadly magic there, causing a blast that destroyed the Narnpool and at least a dozen young lords and warriors who were gathered there. Moreover, the Lady Symrustar and the Lord Elandorr have both vanished, and the heir of House Waelvor was snatched by spells out of the midst of folk he was speaking with, to be replaced upon the instant by the human-who protested his innocence but was wielding a court scepter. When menaced by the swords of some of the revelers he teleported away. None know where he is now, but some of the warriors are hunting him with magic."
In the shadows around the table a light-haired head snapped up, eyes catching fire. "My cousin was with the Lord Elminster. They were strolling together when they left us!"
"Gently," the High Court Mage Earynspieir said from beside Amaranthae, putting a soothing hand on her arm. "They could well have parted before these troubles began."
"I know Symma," she said, turning to him, "and she planned to-to…" She blushed and looked away, biting her lip.
"To take the human lord to bed, in the private part of the Auglamyr gardens?" the Srinshee asked quietly. Amaranthae stiffened,