Elminster's Daughter - Ed Greenwood [29]
"Wherefore?"
"Wherefore most mages use magic to prevent what isn't wanted or know when 'tis safe to not take such trouble."
"Were you both 'most mages'?"
"Maerjanthra was. Stronger bonds are laid on me."
"'Stronger bonds'? What 'stronger bonds'?"
"Mystra, the goddess I serve, decides when her Chosen shall-"
Narnra's head swam.
Chosen? Then this could only be the Elminster.
Worse than that: at the sound of Elminster saying the divine name Mystra a blue-white fury of fire seemed to burst silently in Narnra's head-a conflagration that flew apart into seven whirling stars before she could even gasp.
They spun themselves into a circle, she had the impression of a gigantic but unseen feminine smile, and in the heart of the circle of stars a dark and long-hidden door seemed to fall open in her mind. Through it she heard Goraun chuckling to Jonczer, "Ah, Maerj tricked the Old Bearded One this time! I'm going to love seeing the look on his face when he finds out! Lord High-And-Mighty Blackstaff looked sick enough for the both of them when he came to the door. Aye, that was him-for once the tavern-lasses told you true! Seems Maerj went to him for a spell to let her have the Old Meddler's child under his nose, so to speak, and Khelben threw her out of his tower… only to come to the door like a beggar half a day later, with a face as long as last winter and a scroll in his hand. He said Divine Mystra herself granted-and commanded-it!"
Seven stars flashed, and that warm, impish smile came again, a thrill that left Narnra shivering, somehow. She found herself still floating in the mists, staring grimly down at the bright blue eyes and wry, smug smile of the white-bearded wizard.
So this, after all these years of wondering, was her father.
This old. smiling worm.
Elminster the Meddler. As powerful as a winter storm and as corrupt and willful as a Lord of Waterdeep. A man she could so easily despise or hate. The man whose magic was holding her captive and testing her words even now.
The man-her gaze went reluctantly to the inverted body of the Thayan, arms dangling, eyes dark and empty-whose magic could slice into her mind like a barber's razor, whenever he desired. Whenever he suspected she was hiding something of value from him.
The Silken Shadow clenched her hands so tightly that her fingernails pierced her palms. Blood welled out-and she clenched them all the tighter.
She must say nothing of Goraun's words and hope that Khelben and the goddess Mystra went right on keeping the secret they'd so obviously kept from Elminster of Shadowdale for longer than she'd been alive.
If they did not, he might destroy her or try to keep her captive to train and command her… and whatever he tried to do, half Faerun would come riding hard to take either her life or her freedom.
Narnra Shalace's days as a target would no doubt be all too short.
She'd always feared magic. All thieves do. Hated, feared, and mistrusted magic-how could any folk who lacked it not feel that way? Oh, the young gasped at its wonders when Watchful Order magists blasted things or cast illusions at festivals, but… all that power. If it was ever turned against you…
And another thing: were she to be transformed with a wave of Mystra's hand into a mighty mistress of magic to overmatch Elminster himself, she'd still hate such a life. Being a thief was hard, chancy work-but it was hers, battles fought at her choosing, skills she'd won on her own, fresh challenges she set herself, excitement and independence and… and what she was used to.
"You old, lying bastard! " she spat, the words bursting out before she thought to stop them. "You toad! You smug, lecherous spell-tyrant!"
Elminster blinked up at her. "I've heard such words before, aye, and deserved many of them-though not from someone who knows me as little as ye do, lass. I'd thought we'd stopped all this hissing and snarling for the sheer dramatic effect of thy outrage. Why so hostile now, little one?"
"If you knew," Narnra hissed, voice trembling as she fought to master it. "If you only knew!"
Bright blue