Finder's Bane - Kate Novak [81]
After Joel's third failed attempt to master the fourth verse of the song, Jedidiah called a halt to the work. "Let's get some air," he suggested.
They strolled through the gardens side by side for several minutes without speaking. Finally Jedidiah asked, "Why don't you tell me what's on your mind?"
Joel took a deep breath. All in a rush, he spoke of all the worries that had dogged his sleep the night before. When he finished, he looked down at the flowers, unable to meet Jedidiah's unwavering gaze.
Jedidiah sighed. "Yes," he said. "I could forget the finder's stone. I know several acquaintances who would tell me that was the proper course. Of course, it would also be the fool's course," he said.
Joel flushed with anger, and he found the courage to look back up at his god.
"Joel, think of the consequences of that action. Do you think Walinda and the banelich will abandon their quest because I choose not to help them?"
A new blush rose to Joel's face, this one of embarrassment. "No," he admitted softly, feeling like a complete idiot.
"Naturally my help will make the quest easier for Walinda," Jedidiah said, "saving her a great deal of time and keeping her from a good deal of danger. If she were lost, the banelich would have to find another worshiper of Bane capable of succeeding her, which wouldn't be easy."
Joel looked startled. "You weren't thinking of-"
"Killing Walinda?" Jedidiah finished Joel's question, "Not really. I'm trying to avoid making the banelich angry. Remember, I don't want to risk him crushing the finder's stone under his armored foot just to get even with me. Besides it would only delay the inevitable. He's going to get someone to retrieve the Hand of Bane regardless. I want it to be us. It gives us time to learn more about him and Walinda, their weaknesses and strengths. It gives us leverage. It gives us options. I'm not sure which option I'll choose, but I want to have them."
Joel nodded in agreement. "I'm sorry," he said.
"For what?" Jedidiah asked. "Being a good person with the courage to question a god? That's one of the reasons I chose you for a priest. Of course," Jedidiah added, his eyes twinkling with mischief, "this is the point where my good friend Olive Ruskettle would point out that I always have some justification for my actions, whether I'm right or wrong."
Jas landed beside them in the garden. "You'll never guess," she said excitedly.
"What?" Joel asked.
"The figure following the spelljammer," the winged woman said. "The flyers said it's a human, all deformed by magic so that it's arms have become wings. Guess what it's wearing?"
Joel shook his head, completely clueless.
"An eye patch," Jas announced.
Joel gasped. "Bear?" he asked incredulously.
"That would be my guess," the winged woman replied.
"Now he's chasing the banelich's power," Jedidiah said with a grin.
"Go get 'em, Bear," Jas said. She flew off toward the village.
Joel looked at Jedidiah. "What do you think? Can Bear hurt them?"
"He can certainly annoy them," Jedidiah replied, then changed the subject. "Do you think you're ready to try that song again now?" he asked.
Joel nodded. "Does the song have a purpose?" he asked.
"It might," Jedidiah answered, "but I'd rather explain that later, after you've learned it."
It still took a lot of work, but by dinner Joel had mastered Jedidiah's song. The god put off explaining the purpose of the song for another day. Joel accepted the delay.
Dinner that night was a simple affair, a buffet in Grypht's stone tower with only the wizard and the humans attending.
When they'd all finished eating, they began discussing their plans for the next day. Grypht didn't cast any magic to enable him to speak with the guests. Instead, he listened quietly and attentively as they talked. On the table before Joel, Jedidiah spread out a map of the Desertsmouth Mountains and the Anauroch