Heirs of Prophecy - Lisa Smedman [117]
Rylith silenced her with a gesture, then she pulled something out of a pouch that hung at her hip. She began to chant the words of a spell. The object was a fast-sized chunk of amber of a clear, yellow color. Within it was a single speck-an insect, Larajin assumed at first, but then the speck began to move. Larajin and Doriantha leaned closer, and Larajin's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the moving shape for what it was: a tiny black crow.
"Leifander!" she exclaimed. "But where is he?"
She peered deeper into the chunk of amber. Its base was stippled and seemed to be moving-a pattern she recognized easily, after long days of flying over it: the treetops of the great forest.
"You see these lights?" Rylith asked, pointing out a faint sparkle at one edge of the amber. "That's Essembra. He is coming back this way."
Larajin sighed in relief and was surprised to hear Doriantha sigh, too. She'd thought the elf woman a battle-hardened veteran, not one to be overly sentimental about the welfare of individual members of her command. It looked as though Larajin had been wrong about her.
"Rylith," Larajin said, "I have a problem. Someone else rriay also be headed this way. Earlier this evening, Drakkar-the wizard who was the cause of my fleeing Selgaunt-cast a spell on me. The spell embedded a magic thorn in my paw. I think it was some sort of tracking spell."
Rylith's eyebrows rose at the word paw. "Show me."
Larajin pulled off her boot and extended her foot to the druid. Rylith peered at it, her tattooed cheeks puckering as she pursed her hps. Placing her amber in her lap, she held Larajin's foot in one hand and prodded at the sole with a forefinger, as if feeling for something under the skin. She placed the flat of her hand against the bottom of Larajin's foot and chanted the words to a spell.
A foul, burning smell filled the air, and the spot on Larajin's foot where the thorn had embedded itself became an intense point of heat and pain. Involuntarily, she jerked her foot back.
"What's happening?" she gasped.
Beside her, Goldheart sniffed at the foot, then growled.
Rylith shook her head grimly. "The wizard's magic is too strong. I can't dispel it."
Disappointment swept over Larajin as she cradled her aching foot. She'd been certain Rylith could help her.
"Drakkar will come for me, then," she whispered. "He'll find me."
Outside the tent, a stick cracked, and Larajin jumped.
Rylith placed a hand on Larajin's shoulder. "If he does, may the goddesses protect you. May they grant that you won't have to face Drakkar alone."
As if on cue, the tent flap whipped open. Leifander rushed inside, an urgent look on his face.
"Doriantha! Maalthiir is planning to-"
Noticing Larajin and Ryhth, he halted in mid-sentence.
"Ryhth," he breathed, placing both hands over his heart and giving a quick bow. "It's good to see you." He glanced at Larajin. "And you, Larajin," he added, though his words were strained. "I'm… going to need your help."
"You were spying on Maalthiir?" Rylith asked.
Leifander nodded, his eyes sparkling.
"Sit," Rylith commanded. "Tell us what you've seen and heard."
Leifander did as he was told and began telling the others something about Maalthiir planning to carve a road through the forest to the upper reaches of the Sea of Fallen Stars.
"It must be the reason behind the alliance," Leifander added. "Maalthiir knew the High Council would never agree to another road being built-especially not now. He probably hoped to gain the council's favor by sending his soldiers to fight with us. Do you think they'll grant him permission?"
Larajin, listening while she pulled her boot back on, now knew the name of the "master" Drakkar had spoken of earlier.
"Maalthiir isn't planning to ask the council's permission for anything," she said grimly. "He won't have to. Not once the drow control the forest."
Leifander and Doriantha both gave her startled looks. Rylith's eyes merely widened.
"The drow?" Leifander blurted. "What do they have to do with any of this?"
Quickly, Larajin