Pool of Radiance_ Ruins of Myth Drannor - Carrie Bebris [80]
“Were it not for your healing spells during combat, none of us would have survived that battle,” Corran said.
Faeril’s ministrations, though limited, boosted Kestrel’s strength enough that the rogue finally managed to open her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to focus her blurred vision. After a moment, her sight cleared.
Corran and Faeril knelt beside her, with Durwyn hovering close behind. The three of them had removed their helms, and all looked as if they’d journeyed to the Abyss and back. Blood spattered their armor and caked their hair. An ugly bruise had formed on Corran’s right cheekbone, just above the stubble line of his four-day beard. Cuts covered Faeril’s arms, including one long gash that ran from elbow to shoulder. Durwyn seemed to favor his left leg.
The burly warrior smiled as she met his worried gaze. “We thought we’d lost you,” he said.
“Sorry to disappoint everyone,” Kestrel said weakly. When she tried to sit up, Faeril had to support her. “Where are Ghleanna and Jarial?”
Corran glanced off to one side. “Resting. Both suffered terrible burns from cult spells. We were surprised to find Jarial still breathing after two fireballs hit him at once. I just stabilized him, but it will be some time before he-or any of us, really-is moving quickly.”
Kestrel pushed the last of her mental fogginess aside, forcing herself to think clearly. “We’ve got to get out of here. Another gate could open any moment with more reinforcements.”
The paladin nodded gravely. “I think that door over there leads to the baelnorn’s cell. We haven’t even had a chance to see whether it’s locked. Feel up to examining it?”
With Faeril’s aid, Kestrel got to her feet. Dizziness seized her, but she fought it off and stumbled to the door, praying to any deity who would listen that this would prove a simple lock. She couldn’t analyze much more at the moment-not with the pounding headache forming behind her eyes.
They found the door unlocked. Within, an ancient elf sat in the center of the tiny boxlike room. Wrinkles surrounded his glowing white eyes, which assessed Kestrel and the others as they entered. Not a strand of hair remained on his pate, making his regal forehead look all the higher. His pointed ears and fingers seemed preternaturally long, even for an elf. Simple garments of brown homespun covered his shriveled, pale skin. Long arms hugged his knees to his chest in a defensive posture.
Yet for all the alterations wrought upon his physical form by age and undeath, the man once known as Miroden Silverblade still possessed such a puissant, vital presence that a full minute elapsed before anyone realized the baelnorn could not move.
Jarial leaned heavily on the Staff of Sunlight as he regarded the Protector. The mage’s too-pink skin shone tight against the bones of his face. His eyelashes and eyebrows had been singed off altogether. “I believe he’s magically bound,” he said in a voice so scratchy that it pained Kestrel to hear it.
“Aye,” said Ghleanna, who did not look much better.
“With an enchantment similar to one I used on you, Kestrel.” Her blistered lips twisted into what Kestrel could only suppose was meant to be a wry smile. “The day we first met-remember?”
She remembered the incident, although that afternoon in Phlan seemed years ago. “Does that mean you can free him?”
“I believe I have enough strength remaining to try one spell.” Ghleanna mumbled her incantation as she hobbled in a circle around the baelnorn. When she returned to her starting point, she extended one hand toward the guardian and uttered a final word.
The baelnorn unfurled like a morning glory in the sun, rising to a towering height. He was a tall man-well over six feet-made taller still, Kestrel soon realized, by the fact that he levitated about a foot off the floor. A noble calmness seemed to surround him, putting her at ease despite the fact that the party was in the presence of yet another undead denizen of the city.
“You have my deepest gratitude,” the Protector said in a rich voice that belied his gaunt appearance.