Realms of Magic - Brian Thomsen King [0]
Robert King
Anthologies 03 - Realms of
Magic
Edited by
Prologue – Brian Thomsen
Guenhwyvar – R. A. Salvatore
Smoke Powder and Mirrors – Jeff Grubb
The Magic Thief – Mark Anthony
The Quiet Place – Christie Golden
The Eye of the Dragon – Ed Greenwood
Every Dog His Day – Dave Gross
The Common Spell – Kate Novak & Jeff Grubb
The First Moonwell – Douglas Niles
The Luck of Llewellyn the Loquacious – Allen C. Kupfer
Too Familiar – David Cook
Red Ambition – Jean Rabe
Thieves' Reward – Mary H. Herbert
Six of Swords – William C. Connors
The Wild Bunch – Tom Dupree
A Worm Too Soft – J. Robert King
Gunne Runner – Roger E. Moore
The Direct Approach – Elaine Cunningham
Epilogue – Brian Thomsen
PROLOGUE
Brian Thomsen
Tym Waterdeep Limited had been the publisher of Volothamp Geddarm ever since the day that the wandering rogue and the savvy entrepreneur had first struck a deal, each side convinced he had taken advantage of the other. Many volumes later, Volo was justifiably known as the most famous traveler in all the Realms, and Justin Tym as Faerun's most successful publisher.
In the intervening years, Volo had been handed off to numerous editors, each a bit more willing to take partial credit for the gazetteer's success, and it had been more than a few seasons since the great publisher and the noble rogue had had a "face-to-face." The recent dismissal of his last editor, coinciding with the master traveler's scheduled stopover in the City of Splendors, afforded an ample reason for a meeting between the two gentlemen.
As Volo remembered it, Justin had always been a late sleeper-no doubt a habit borne out of many nights of routinely wining and dining authors, agents, and booksellers (a practice the gazetteer wholeheartedly endorsed). So, needless to say, Volo was more than a little surprised to find a message at his accommodations moving their meeting up from the civilized hour of "noonish" (with the tacit promise of a gratis lunch) to the ungodly hour of market opening, thus necessitating an early morning call that proved most inconvenient for both himself and his hostess, Trixie. Still, Justin's advances did indeed finance his extravagant accommodations, and so, slightly bleary-eyed, and not entirely rested, Volo set off for his publisher's office.
The streets were brimming with eager merchants en route to trade, peddlers hawking their wares from makeshift mobile markets, and laborers trotting off to their common jobs. Volo did not envy any of his fellow commuters, and quietly resented Justin's subjecting him to Waterdeep's legendary early-morning rush hour. Still, bills had to be paid. By this time tomorrow, with any luck, he would once again be flush with gelt and ready to enjoy the freedoms of the open road, where appointments were scheduled as "when you get there," and deadlines were set as "when the manuscript is done."
All told. Justin's advances were more than worth this temporary inconvenience.
The crowded storefronts along the thoroughfare soon save way to extravagant office space for consulting wizards, high-priced solicitors, and even more high-priced tavern clubs. Volo was entering the district where Tym Waterdeep Limited had been situated since its origin as a print shop of "exotic pamphlets and titillating tomes'* years ago. As business had prospered, so had the neighborhood, and the shadowy warehouse district had become the new "in" place for professionals to set up shop.
Despite many buy-out offers from Kara-Turian interests and Cormyrian holding companies, Justin had steadfastly maintained his independence, and prosperity had followed him.
In Tym's words, "he hadn't traded up; everyone else had traded down," and that was the way he liked it.
A new floor had been added to the storefront offices, overhanging yet another section of the already narrow street. The road here was shadowy, not unlike some underworld back alley rather than a main Waterdeep thoroughfare.
Business must be good, Volo thought. I wonder when Justin will buy out his across-the-lane neighbor?