Realms of Magic - Brian Thomsen King [45]
"Grand night, to be sure," someone who was not there said loudly in her ear, "but my gut's rolling like a ship being beached through breakers!"
"It's that wine," another, thinner voice replied. "If you must try to drink the Hawkwinter cellars dry all by yourself…"
Her spell was working, but where was Khelben's voice? Ambreene frowned and bent her will in the wizard's direction.
A third, cheerful voice said, "Fair even, Lor-" and then stopped as if cut off by a knife.
Ambreene juggled the fading wisps of her first spell into life once more, and saw the man who must have spoken… a man in a half-cloak, purple hose, and a doublet of slashed golden silk… standing conversing with Khel-ben. Gods-be-damned… the wizard must have a spell-shield up to prevent eavesdroppers from hearing what was said!
Her eyes narrowed. What words, at a party, could be so important that they must be hidden from all?
Then she had a sudden thought, and sent her clairaudi-ence spell whirling back across Hawkwinter House to the private chamber where Eremoes and Laeral sat.
"Your service to the Harp is timely and enjoyable, as always," the Lady Mage was saying, "and I want you to know that it is not unappreciated or taken for granted, Lord."
Ambreene blinked. Her father a Harper? Gods above!
"I know that's not the case," her father replied, "but I must confess I had my own selfish reason for this gathering…"
"And would this reason be your youngest daughter's growing mastery of magic?" Laeral asked smoothly.
"It would," Eremoes Hawkwinter said. "I know Black-staff Tower always has more would-be apprentices than either you or Khelben have time for, but if you'd be willing to explore her powers… and, I confess, her thoughts and feelings; she's been more affected by my mother's death than her siblings or most folk her age would be… I'd be most grateful. I cannot hire the right tutor until I know her strengths and interests, and to query her directly would upset her, diminish me in her eyes, and yet fail to yield the truth."
"I can do that in the morning, if you'd like," Laeral said in kindly tones-and Ambreene shrieked in fear! Her prying spell collapsed.
She must act now! Once Laeral poked into her mind, she'd have no secrets left, and Khelben'd turn her into a frog or bookend or his slave while she was still whimpering under the Lady Mage's mindprobe…
Trembling in haste, Ambreene shifted her form again. A young woman who was alluring indeed raced down the closest stair to the gardens, startling couples out of their embraces as she rushed past, and found the moonlight as quickly as she could.
The succession of Harper agents seemed to have finished their business with the Lord Mage of Waterdeep, and for one chilling moment Ambreene thought Khelben was gone from Hawkwinter House, and she'd missed her chance.
Then she caught sight of him in a far corner of the gardens, sitting alone on a bench in the bright moonlight. Pulling the Eye's chain off over her head, Ambreene held the pendant ready inside her sleeve, panted until she regained control of her breath, and then set off slowly toward her quarry.
This would be her only chance. To keep her oath, she must not fail now. Ambreene moved as quietly as she could without seeming to creep; if Khelben turned his head and saw her, she wanted to look alluring, not like a thief darting guiltily about.
He was stroking his chin as she drew near, and studying the bright belt of stars overhead as if they were telling him something.
"Well met, Lord Wizard," she said enticingly, when she was only a few paces away. She kept her voice low and rich and laced with laughter, like a seductive courtesan she'd once overheard at the palace entertaining a Cal-ishite merchant. "Moonlight becomes thee."
"I believe that last line should be