Elminster's Daughter - Ed Greenwood [121]
The wizard best known as Darkspells looked up and down the alley to make sure he was unobserved-he'd chosen this narrow, bending way carefully, noting this stretch between two large heaps of rotting, discarded crates some days ago; there was no one coming now to see-and carefully cast yet another spell.
Rauthur's mind was screaming at him.
"Why why why why why?"
"Never leave witnesses and co-conspirators," he replied softly, "and they can never drag you down with them. Trust, my weak friend Rauthur, is a weakness. A fatal weakness."
He bore down on the dying mind, forcing his way in through the shock and pain and tattered memories, seeking first any contingency magics that might be set to awaken against him. He didn't think Rauthur had the power or skill to craft any such magics, nor access to those Vangerdahast undoubtedly commanded.
As he probed deeper, it seemed he'd been right about contingencies… but it also appeared Rauthur had really known nothing of much interest, beyond the nicknames of a few fellow War Wizards that might prove briefly useful as lures.
Oh, and one other thing, glowing here in the most recent 'must remember' elements: One Narnra Shalace, currently a guest of the Mage Royal of Cormyr, is the daughter of… Elminster of Shadowdale.
Starangh's eyes lit up with excitement. "Well, well," he murmured. "Larger fish frying right in my lap."
* * * * *
The doorguard sneered.
"The Lady Joysil will have nothing to do with street beggars," he said curtly. "Be off with you, or I'll summon the Watch!"
The man in dusty, filthy leathers who stood facing him, an obviously false moustache askew on his upper lip, gave him a rather cold glare and said, "Joysil and I have done business together before and parted quite amicably, I might add. Quite amicably. I'd not be here now if I didn't have something urgent and of the gravest importance to impart to her, and I'm not leaving until she's heard it-in private and from my lips alone!"
The doorguard used the bracer on his wrist to rap a small, unseen gong inside the doorframe, and stood his ground.
"And I am not allowing some stranger at this gate who could be any sort of murderer, kidnapper, blackmailer, or common thief to reach the Lady Ambrur alone! I'm paid to see to the safety of her person and property, not allow any swift-tongued rogue in from the streets to wreak whatever havoc whim moves him to!"
"So call the Watch," the man in dusty leathers said softly, "and we'll all go in to see her together. I'll lay you a large wager that she'll be most displeased, when she hears my news, that she has any sort of audience to see her reaction."
The doorguard raised his eyebrows. "That makes me even more determined not to let you pass. News of that sort should not be-"
"Yes, Melarvyn? What's the trouble here?"
The steward of Haelithtorntowers was a brusque and efficient man. He was not disposed to look kindly on any wastage of his time, trivial matters, or unnecessary distractions. The doorguard knew this well and stepped back with a tight smile as he indicated the dusty man standing on the threshold.
"This-ruffian-is demanding an audience with the Lady Ambrur. He won't go away, even when threatened with the Watch, and insists that his business is urgent and that he has a personal relationship of some sort with the Lady. I believe him not, but in fairness-"
"Fairness? Melarvyn, since when did fairness play any part in life, beyond nursery tales? Since when have I allowed any hint of 'fairness' into the daily governance of Haelithtorntowers?"
Without waiting for a reply, the steward looked coldly down his nose at the aforementioned ruffian on the threshold and began, "As for you, sir-"
The dusty man peeled off his mustache and said quietly, "Enough foolery, Elward. Take me to Joysil now or I'll inform the Watch of the fate of Iliskar Northwind. And