Elminster_ The Making of a Mage - Ed Greenwood [111]
Then Magelord Eth's mount was rearing and plunging, and there was a heavy weight behind him. He had just begun to turn when one hand slapped across his nose and mouth, bringing tears-and then another hand came up to punch him hard in the throat.
Gurgling, fighting for air, Magelord Eth reeled in his saddle, and felt something torn from his belt before the dark ground came up hard to hit him in the side of the head, and the Realms spun away from him, forever…
Elmara leapt away from the horse even before the wizard toppled from the saddle; Gartos was very quick. He'd realized where El's magic had taken her, wheeled, and his blade was already cutting the air above the magelord's high-cantled saddle.
Elmara landed hard, jumped to one side to still the speed of her leap, and peered at the wand she'd snatched. Ah, there! Hooves were thudding toward her as Elmara looked up, pointed the wand, and carefully spoke the word that was scratched on its butt-end. Light pulsed and hissed away from the wand in a pair of bolts that swerved in the air to strike Prince Gartos full in the face. He threw back his head, snarled in pain, and slashed blindly with his blade as his horse galloped forward. Elmara leapt and rolled, and came up well to one side. She pointed the wand at the armored figure rushing past and spoke the word again.
Light flashed again and sped to its target. The gleaming armored arms jerked in pain. The warrior's sword spun away to the turf as his mount bucked under him and then galloped away, fleeing in earnest now. Elmara saw sleepy-eyed folk gaping at her out of their doorways as she dropped the wand to the road at her feet, pointed her hands at the horse, and spoke a few soft words.
The prince fell from his saddle, rolled over once with a mighty crash, and lay still. The horse sped on into the rising dawn.
El retrieved the wand, cast a quick look around for other foes, saw none, and stalked over to where the warrior lay. Gartos lay on his back, face dark with pain and fury.
"I have other questions, warrior," Elmara said. "What brings armsmen of Athalantar to Narthil?"
Gartos snarled angrily and wordlessly up at her. Elmara raised her eyebrow, and lifted her hands warningly to begin the gestures of a spell.
Gartos watched her fingers move, and rumbled, "S-Stay your spell. I was ordered to find the one who slew some magelings at the Unicorn's Horn, west of here… you?"
Elmara nodded. "I defeated them and sent them away; they may yet live. How is it that a prince of the realm gets ordered anywhere?"
The warrior's lips twisted wryly. "Even the king does the bidding of the elder magelords-and the king made me a prince."
"Why?"
The fallen man shrugged. "He trusted me… and needed to give me the right to command armsmen without having any young fool of a magelord strike down my orders or slay me out of spite."
Elmara nodded. "Who was the wizard with ye?"
"Magelord Eth-my watchdog, set by the magelords to make sure I don't do anything for Belaur that might work against them."
"Ye make Belaur seem a prisoner."
"He is," Gartos said simply, and Elmara saw his eyes dart aside, this way and that, looking for something.
"Tell me more of this Magelord Eth," Elmara said, taking a step forward and drawing the wand from her belt. It would be best to keep this warrior talking and give him no time to plot an attack.
Gartos shrugged again. "I know little; the magelords don't care to say much about themselves. He's called 'Stoneclaw;' he slew an umber hulk with his spells when he was young… but that's about all I… Thaerin!"
At the warrior's shout, magical radiance pulsed. Elmara turned hastily-in time to see the rune-carved