Pool of Radiance_ Ruins of Myth Drannor - Carrie Bebris [56]
“Are you sure about that?” Jarial regarded her seriously. “If you think you hear something, Kestrel, we should check it out.”
The vote of confidence surprised her. “All right, then. I think I hear something-or someone-crying inside.”
They approached the shrine. The land surrounding it seemed particularly swampy. In fact, a large puddle of stagnant water had formed to one side of it. The closer they got, however, the more the hairs on the back of Kestrel’s neck rose, until her collarbone tingled.
“Stop!” The party came to an abrupt halt as Kestrel peered at the puddle. Was it her imagination, or did the water have an amber glow to it? “Unless I’m mistaken, that’s no ordinary water.”
Jarial, the only one among them who hadn’t seen Phlan’s pool, edged closer for a better look. “We can’t have found Myth Drannor’s Pool of Radiance so easily?”
“I wouldn’t stand so close if I were you,” Kestrel warned. She recalled all too clearly the sight of the bandit’s life being sucked away by a stray splash.
Ghleanna studied the puddle from a safe distance. “It’s too small and too exposed to be the source of the cult’s growing power. I suspect this is an offshoot, like the pool in Mulmaster. A spawn pool, you could call it.”
From within the ruined shrine, Kestrel once again heard the soft cry. This time, the wind carried words to her: “Where are the followers of Mystra?” And this time, the others heard it as well.
“Is that the cry you heard before?” Corran asked. At her nod, he started toward the entrance to what remained of the shrine. “Who’s there?” he called. “Are you all right?”
“Simply marvelous, my good sir,” answered a new voice. Though feminine-sounding, it was a harsher voice than the one they had heard previously. “So kind of you to ask.”
Corran stopped short just outside the doorway. He seemed about to speak, when he was interrupted from within.
“Oh, come now. Is that any way to greet two lonely ladies?”
“Forgive me.” The paladin appeared to recover himself. He cast a deliberate glance toward the rest of the group, then returned his gaze to the hidden speaker. “I believe we may have a common acquaintance. Are you friends of Preybelish?”
At Corran’s mention of the dark naga, Kestrel stifled a groan. Not more of the creatures? They’d had a bad enough time handling the first one.
“A distant relation of ours,” responded a second sibilant voice. “Sadly, we have not seen our cousin in years. How is he?”
“Quite peaceful, when last I left him.”
Kestrel turned to the others. If these nagas had the same mind-reading ability as Preybelish, the party would have to rely on Corran to keep them distracted while the rest of them devised a plan. She only hoped the pair remained unaware that the paladin hadn’t arrived alone.
At least this time, they had an idea of what kind of attacks to expect. They needed to stay clear of the nagas’ tails, while also avoiding any spells they might hurl. Jarial and Ghleanna whispered hurriedly about what sort of sorcery to use. In spare moments of the journey, they’d been working to expand their arsenal, developing new spells based on magic that opponents had used against them, and they were eager to try out some of the new incantations in combination with their old standbys. Kestrel gave one ear to them while keeping the other tuned to Corran’s conversation.
“Have you seen any activity around the castle?” one of the hissing voices inquired. “We hear a dracolich has made his lair there.”
“Really? Where within the castle?”
Kestrel had to give Corran credit for improving his subtlety skills. The paladin injected a casualness into his tone that he could not have felt.
“Inside a cavern, far below. From what we understand.”
Ghleanna and Jarial settled on their spellcasting plan. Jarial murmured to Kestrel not to forget Borea’s Blood, which she carried in a beltpouch. “Ozama’s ice knife had the power to paralyze. The shard blade may have a similar effect-worth