Elminster's Daughter - Ed Greenwood [140]
Narnra glowered at her father. "Just how am I to learn how to think? By being taught by you?"
"Some folk in the Realms would give their lives for the chance to learn at my feet," Elminster said mildly. "Several already have."
He turned away. "However, I think ye're not ready for that, yet. I'm too useful to ye as the villain who sired then spurned ye, Old Lord Walking Blame For All Things Dark. No, I think ye must find thy own teachers in thy own way, taking no hint from me. See how well ye've received the few words of advice I've offered here and now?"
Narnra took a deep breath and wrestled down her rage. "So what advice would you give me, Old Lord, about where to go now and what to do? Not how to govern my own wits and what views to hold-but what to do next?"
Elminster met her gaze again and said, "Come into my Tower and have a cup of tea. Let thy anger fade, and we'll talk. I'll give ye some baubles of magic and mutter a lot of stale old advice then whisk ye with my Art to wherever ye desire to be-and hand thy choice right back to ye. As I see it, ye can travel and adventure and broaden thyself right away… or reward Caladnei's trust by serving her as a loyal agent-then, when ye grow restless, steer her into giving ye tasks that let ye travel Faerun and see as much of it as possible. Ye'll always be welcome here, and one of the trifles I'll hand ye will enable ye to call on me from afar should ye need aid… or even, make the gods gasp, advice."
Narnra stared at him and snapped, "The tea, I'll accept." She looked down at the Red Wizard. "And him?"
"He lies in pain, awaiting thy judgment. Were ye very cruel, ye could just leave him, or tell me to carry him off across the field to yonder anthill, to itch and burn whilst we sip. Or I could restore him to full vigor and give him a wand to smite us all with. The choice is thine."
"And if I said healing and the wand?" Narnra asked, her whisper a challenge.
"I'll do it… but have ye given thought to the consequences?"
"Yes," she snapped fiercely, setting her jaw. "Yes, I have. Do that for him. Do it for me."
Elminster muttered something, made a shape in the air, then stared at a spot above the Thayan. A smooth, tapering stick of wood promptly appeared there and floated serenely above the twisted Red Wizard as the Old Mage cast a more elaborate spell.
Harnrim Starangh gasped once, writhed and arched briefly, shuddered all over-and sprang up, pale and sweating. He faced Elminster with wild eyes, but the Old Mage stood like a statue.
The Red Wizard cast a quick glance at Florin, whose sword was now drawn back for a deadly throw, then gave both Narnra and Elminster odd looks, snatched the floating wand out of the air-and vanished.
Elminster calmly muttered something, waved at the place Starangh had been, and turned away, offering Narnra his hand.
She did not take it, but followed him up the flagstone path to his squat, leaning rough-stone Tower.
"Not much of a grand fortress, is it?" she asked tartly.
He shrugged. "We heartless monsters must make do."
Not quite hiding a smile, Florin opened the door for them, waving them within with a grand gesture that was only slightly spoiled by being made with a handful of still-dripping fish.
"Enter within," he said. "Old Lord Walking Blame and guest. I'll stand guard here for returning Red Wizards, whilst you…"
"Try to learn to speak civil words to each other," Narnra replied a little wearily, stepping past him into the dusty gloom.
Behind her back, the two men exchanged glances. Elminster nodded to the ranger, said gently, "Do that," and went inside.
* * * * *
In a high window not far away across Shadowdale, Storm Sil-verhand lounged with harp in hand, singing softly to herself. Her farm chores were done, and it was time and past time to take some ease, even for daughters of Mystra…
In mid-song she became aware of a shimmering below as her wards sprang to life. She stilled her strings to call, "Yes?"
Standing in her courtyard, ringed with crawling blue fire, was a gaunt, trim-bearded man holding something