Elminster Must Die_ The Sage of Shadowdale - Ed Greenwood [75]
The possibly false Vainrence cast a calm look at his companion, who shook his head ever so slightly before sighing and announcing, “Yon mage is mistaken, but in the interest of sparing the lives of diligent Purple Dragons, we’ll not resist. Obey your orders, Swordcaptain.”
“I … I shall,” that officer said grimly. “Seek to work no magic as we conduct the pair of you into the presence of some wizards of war who will then interrogate you. ‘Bring us anyone suspicious,’ they told me … and you certainly are.”
“No doubt. I also have no doubt whatsoever that when he hears of this, the king,” the possibly false Ganrahast informed the Purple Dragon darkly, “will not be pleased.”
“You tell the wizards that,” the swordcaptain replied evenly. “They may even believe you.”
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
WIZARDS GO TO WAR
Mreldrake gave the Purple Dragons a nod and an unpleasant smile and disappeared rather hastily back through the door he’d come from.
The swordcaptain looked at the two lords who might not be lords and pointed imperiously at another door, one that stood open. “Walk that way, saers. We’ll be escorting you—and won’t hesitate to make holes in you with our spears, so try nothing foolish.”
“I rarely do,” the possible Ganrahast impostor informed the man with dignity as they set off, the Dragons shifting position to keep their prisoners menaced before and behind by leveled spears.
After a few strides he added, “I require your name, Swordcaptain.”
“Yet will receive only disappointing silence,” came the prompt reply. “I don’t take orders from prisoners.”
The perhaps-false Royal Magician stopped and spun around to face the officer directly, ignoring the spears that thrust at him warningly. “In the name of the king,” he barked, “yield unto me your name!”
The officer hesitated.
“As you seem to be a stickler for orders,” Vainrence put in softly, “suppose you obey one of the standing ones.”
“We’re required to give our names to Dragons of superior rank, certain courtiers, and … uh,” the swordcaptain replied, wincing. “Ah, Lord Ganrahast, I am Paereth Vandurn. Swordcaptain Paereth Vandurn.” He regained his gruff confidence almost visibly, thrusting his chin forward. “So, who are the two of you—really?”
The prisoner who might or might not be Lord Vainrence thrust a spear aside with one hand to wag a disapproving finger at the swordcaptain. “You’re less than polite, Slamburn, and I’ll tell this war wizard so! Lead us to him!”
“I am not—,” the swordcaptain began heatedly, but he stopped as he saw smirks appear and as hastily vanish from the faces of more than a few of his men.
Drawing a deep breath, he managed a brittle smile and said, “But of course, Lord Warder. If you’ll kindly proceed through yon door, obeying the directions of the nice men in uniform holding the spears pointed at you, you shall have your opportunity to speak to a war wizard soon enough. For the greater glory of Cormyr, of course.”
“For some years,” Elminster informed Vandurn haughtily, “those very words have been mine to speak: ‘for the greater glory of Cormyr.’ ”
“Ahhh, good,” the officer replied heavily, his smile becoming decidedly desperate. “Very good. The door, now, is just this way …”
On the far side of the ring of spears from the swordcaptain, someone among the stone-faced Dragons snickered.
“Who did that?” Vandurn snapped. “Who? I’ll be requiring some nam—”
He broke off and fell silent just a moment too late.
The Royal Magician began the laughter, and the Lord Warder swelled it with hearty guffaws, but at least two Dragons joined in—and then they all did, mirth ringing around the passage.
With one exception. In the heart of it all, a certain crimson-to-the-ears swordcaptain clenched his jaws and silently steamed.
Talane. That name echoed like a curse in her mind, the chant of some dark seer desiring her doom … Talane.
One night, and she was undone. One night—no, less than half an hour—and her life had been shattered, her freedom gone.
She was caught in the ruthless talons of someone she didn’t even know.
Amarune felt exhausted. Bone