Pool of Radiance_ Ruins of Myth Drannor - Carrie Bebris [7]
She assessed her surroundings. The cache lay on the other side of the strangers, but their focus seemed to be on the pool itself. If she moved very quietly and kept to the shadows as she circled around, she might manage to reach it without arousing the group’s notice. The exposed stairway was unavoidable, but if she didn’t take a chance she could grow old waiting for the trio to leave.
“Lord of Shadows preserve me,” she muttered. She crept to the stairway and slowly descended, hugging the wall to make as much use of the thin shadows as possible. When she reached the bottom, she started her cautious circle toward the rock pile. As she padded, she eavesdropped on the party’s conversation.
“So Elminster thinks this has something to do with goings-on in Myth Drannor?” the guard asked. “What does the ruined elven capital have to do with us?”
“From what he explained to me, he has suspected for weeks that someone has created a new Pool of Radiance there,” the woman said in a hushed tone. “Now with Phlan’s pool reawakened, he’s all but certain. Even as we guard this site, he’s trying to contact a party of adventurers he sent there to investigate. If they do find a new pool, they will destroy it-and whoever created it.”
“You sound sure about that,” the paladin said. “Those ruins have a reputation for eating adventurers alive.”
“These are not ordinary adventurers,” the woman replied. “Elminster hand-picked them, and they bear the Gauntlets of Moander-artifacts created specifically to destroy such pools. They will succeed where lesser parties would fail.”
Yeah, right, Kestrel thought. She’d heard her share of tales about thieves lured to the ancient elven city hoping to find untold riches in its ruins. She’d heard very few tales of thieves who’d actually returned. Elminster better have sent a score or more adventurers into that den of doom.
She made it about halfway to her goal before her foot slipped on some rubble. Damn! To Kestrel’s ears, the telltale scuffling sounded loud as a thunderclap.
“Who’s there?” the guard called out. All three of the figures now peered in her direction. “Show yourself!”
Kestrel paused, torn between trying to elude them and attempting to brazen it out. Before she could make up her mind, the hooded woman raised her hand, palm facing Kestrel’s direction, and murmured some words the thief couldn’t understand. A spellcaster! Kestrel turned to escape whatever sorcery was about to be hurled at her…
… And a moment later found herself unable to budge.
She tried to fight the magic, but her body refused to respond. Her feet, arms, even her mouth could not move. She was stuck in a half-twist, half-crouch, helpless to defend herself. Heart hammering, she watched the trio make its way toward her.
The paladin reached her first assessing her from head to heel. “A thief, by the look of her,” he said with obvious distaste. “Identify yourself!”
The sorceress approached. “She can’t speak until I release her from the spell.”
Gods, but Kestrel hated wizards! She’d not only lost control of the situation but of her own body. How long was the witch going to keep her like this? What did she plan in the meantime? Her vulnerability made Kestrel want to scream.
The paladin nodded toward the guard’s short bow. “Train that on her.” When the guard complied, the knight of Tyr unsheathed his long sword, pressed the tip of it beneath Kestrel’s chin, and met her gaze. His eyes were as gray as his steel and just as cold. “Don’t try anything foolish.” He lowered the blade but kept it drawn.
She wouldn’t. If the paladin didn’t cut her down first, Phlan’s guards were known to be quick to release a bowstring. Accurate with their aim, too-though at this range, the fighter could be blind and still hit her. Kestrel’s agility and weapons couldn’t help her now; she would have to rely on her wits.
The wizard spoke a command word, and Kestrel’s body sagged. The rogue caught herself from falling and stood upright to face her captors.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” the paladin demanded.
She considered lying but decided