Elminster's Daughter - Ed Greenwood [132]
She sighed again. "If all that truly protected Azoun was his visible bodyguard, that attack could hardly have failed."
The Mage Royal turned to look at Laspeera, and-gasped and reeled in pain.
Laspeera was similarly stricken, an involuntary moan of anguish bursting from her lips as she stumbled forward. From across the room, among the handful of War Wizards and Highknights guarding the inside of the doors, came more outbursts of pain. One mage toppled to the tiles in a dead faint.
Rhauligan and the two royals reached out to steady the two, Alusair the swiftest to speak. "What's happened? " she snapped.
"The sanctum," Caladnei gasped, clutching at her temples. "A violent-very large-release of magic! We're attuned to its defenses. They must have…"
"Gone down," Laspeera said, from her knees. She struggled to her feet, pale and sweating, and added, "We must-"
The door-gong rang. Alusair and Filfaeril spun around and assumed regal poses and expressions in an instant, and Rhauligan moved quickly to take Caladnei's arm and turn her. The gong signified that the guards outside had intercepted someone having a rightful need to enter.
Raised shield-spells flickered as the Highknights and War Wizards guarding the inside of the doors opened one of them a trifle. The most senior mage of that guard then murmured a message that his magic took straight to Caladnei, for everyone standing with her to hear: A herald. Alone. We've stripped and spell-read him. He wears only a tabard of our proffering.
Alusair put a hand on the hilt of her sword. "Bid him enter," she ordered curtly.
The herald came barefoot, obviously naked under his tabard. He was tight-lipped and pale, though whether his pallor was born of fear or anger those in the room could not tell.
Only Caladnei did not recognize him. The man was a professional Sembian herald-for-hire of long career and exacting correctness.
Stopping a careful six paces away, he bowed deeply to the Dowager Queen and then to the Steel Regent before raising his hand in the "cupping empty air" gesture that requests peaceful parley.
"Speak," Alusair said.
"I am asked," the grand voice rolled out in response, "to request the presence of Queen Filfaeril Obarskyr of Cormyr and Regent Princess Alusair Nacacia Obarskyr at Thundaerlyn Hall in Marsember on the morrow, at First Candlelight, to discuss the bright future of this kingdom with certain noble-born Cormyre-ans loyal to the realm who are concerned about Cormyr-and represent those who are now the careful hosts of both the infant King Azoun and the retired Royal Magician."
Filfaeril and Alusair both cast swift glances at Caladnei, who shook her head to tell them that the claim-about Vangey, at least-must be a lie.
She mindspoke the two royals: I believe we can protect you if you accept.
"It shall be our pleasure to attend in Thundaerlyn Hall, at the time proposed," the Dowager Queen replied serenely, adding a nod of dismissal.
The herald seemed about to say something else, just for a moment, but instead nodded, made his bows again, and departed. The Obarskyr women stood watching him like grave statues until the doors closed behind him.
Caladnei turned her head. "Speera?"
Laspeera was still pale, but her mind-probe had been as deft as ever. "He knows nothing but the words he memorized and cares for their implications accordingly. He was given that message in writing in Saerloon by someone unfamiliar to him-a hired Sembian intermediary, by his looks in the herald's memory-and paid very well to hasten here to deliver it."
"It's a trap," Alusair snapped.
"Of course," Filfaeril agreed quietly.
"So we send some spell-disguised War Wizards in your places?" Rhauligan