Elminster's Daughter - Ed Greenwood [119]
Vangerdahast planned to bind dragons to protect Cormyr? Well, well! It was certainly time to stir the cauldron and see who bubbled to the top first!
Besides, being a Harper was hungry and thirsty work, and the Lady Joysil Ambrur would be sure to pay handsomely for this information.
* * * * *
Caladnei smiled. "Well, I'm sure you're in need of food, drink, a long soak, and some sleep. We daren't give you those here lest someone see you and take note that our hunted prisoner is now more of an honored guest, but we can give you ample coins to get such necessities at an inn. Rhauligan?"
The Harper rolled his eyes, told the ceiling in a mutter, "Always me! Always! Have you noticed?" and from a pouch poured out an ample handful of coins into his palm. He put all of them carefully into Narnra's hand.
"Hear then," Caladnei continued, "your first task: Find the traitor I know is among my War Wizards- notby magic or by confrontation but rather by observing the doings of certain War Wizards in Suzail from the background, trying to stay unnoticed as much as possible."
Narnra raised an eyebrow. "You can't just mind-ream them?"
"Many have trap-magics bound into their shield-spells… moreover, they do much better work for me when they think their little sideline activies go unobserved."
" 'Little sideline activities'? Illict and corrupt this and that?"
"Some of them, yes. Others merely have undignified hobbies or socially awkward liaisons, and I don't want them unhappily peering over their shoulders expecting my cold eye on their backsides for the rest of their careers-or those careers will end up being worth very little to me."
"Caladnei, I'm the stranger here. How am I supposed to know when a surreptitious visit to a bedchamber or a murmured name traded for a few coins is a little sideline and when it's high treason to Cormyr?"
The Mage Royal sighed. "A good point. Look, Narnra, I don't care-Speera here doesn't care, Vangey in his day didn't care, and all the Wizards of War knew it-if this or that hairy male War Wizard likes to put on rouge and lady-gowns or roll in nutbutter honey behind closed doors. Or tries to seduce every last noble lady-or lord, for that matter-in the realm. I also don't care if they mutter future trade opportunities to every merchant in the kingdom."
She waved an emphatic finger. "I do care if they go behind closed doors to talk to rich Sembians, Red Wizards of Thay, Zhen-tarim, anyone from Westgate, or nobles who seem to be using false names or who never leave dockside inns in Suzail. I care if they go anywhere to meet alone with independent mages or disappear for days on end into the mansions, hunting lodges, or castles of our nobles."
She sighed and added in calmer tones, "If they do, don't try to confront, harm, or follow them. Just come and tell me who went where. I'll know, of course, if they're supposed to be doing something sly for me wherever you saw them."
"And if I'm arrested as an outlander spy?"
"Demand to be interrogated by a senior War Wizard-something so feared by most Cormyreans that they'll be impressed and won't think you're bluffing. When you end up facing any War Wizard, tell them to contact Laspeera or myself 'in the name of both Azouns.' They dare not ignore that phrase. We'll tell them we've cast a spell on your mind as an experiment and you may therefore do all sorts of odd things… and aren't to be prevented from doing so."
"Well, that's true enough."
Caladnei looked hurt for the moment it took her to see Narnra's crooked smile.
"I'm sorry," the Mage Royal said gently. "I know none of this has been easy for you. Think of it as a long, grand theft and us as your fellow gang members."
Narnra rolled her eyes and said briskly, "This is going to proceed much better if I know who these War Wizards are, what they look like, and where in Suzail I might have the slightest hope of finding them."
Caladnei nodded and reached out a finger to touch Narnra's forehead. "Hold still. This is the easiest way, believe it or not."
There was a moment of icy tingling then images burst