Realms of Magic - Brian Thomsen King [46]
"I'm young yet," she returned lightly, "and still working on my scroll of blandishments and flirtations. All Water-deep knows of your dedication to justice and your fidelity to the Lady Laeral, my lord, but I was wondering if you'd mind if a lass who prefers wits and maturity to the empty swaggering of young men practiced a line or two on you… and perhaps grew so bold…"
She leaned near, giving the Lord Mage of Waterdeep a spectacular view of the fine leaping-dragons lace that edged her bodice, and continued slowly and huskily, "… as to share a kiss with me? Something I'd remember fondly and privately, mind, not shout from the rooftops…"
The Lord Mage regarded her. Something that was almost a smile seemed to play about his lips. "What precisely did you have in mind, O enthusiastic young lady?"
Ambreene let the fullness of her sleeve hold the Eye, and stretched forth that hand for Khelben to see. His gaze flicked from one of her empty, ringless hands to the other as she knelt, so that their eyes were level.
"I'm no disguised monster, only a lonely maid," she purred, staring invitingly and challengingly into his eyes, "and I'd very much like a kiss." She licked her lips and whispered, "I'll submit to whatever magic you want to use, to be sure I'm… safe."
The mage they called the Blackstaff raised an eyebrow. "And why go to all this trouble-possible humiliation and danger-just for one kiss from an old man?"
"I've heard what they say about wizards," she whispered, eyes bright.
Khelben looked swiftly around, as if to be sure that no one was watching, and then extended his arms. "Come, then, lass, and try whatever you're trying to do…"
Ambreene's eyes narrowed at his choice of words, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. Opening her mouth hungrily, she glided into his embrace-and then twisted in his arms, whipping the pendant out and around his neck like a striking snake. The Eye of the Dragon flashed as she snarled, "Take his memories! Take them all! And give them to me!"
The chain tightened cruelly around the mage's throat, but he only pulled her closer and growled, "You wanted a kiss, remember?"
His lips were warm, but Ambreene shook her head violently and tried to bite him. When her mouth was free, she spat in his face and hissed, "Plead! Plead for your magic, archmage!"
She jerked the chain tight across Khelben's windpipe. He did not turn the purple hue she expected, but only smiled faintly.
"Don't you know what this is?" she snarled, tugging on the chain again.
The wizard nodded. "The Eye of the Dragon," he said calmly. "It's been years, lass, since I've seen it. Well, well…"
"Years?" Ambreene could barely get the word out through lips that were suddenly twisting and slipping… Her face and body were sliding back into their true shape!
The craggy, bearded face so close to hers was melting and shifting too. When Ambreene saw what it became, the color fled from her face and her teeth began to chatter in terror.
She'd seen the Old Mage of Shadowdale only once, but the wizard they called Elminster was unmistakable. He grinned at her. "If ye'd live a little longer, lass," he said gently, "never try to bosom thy way up to the real Khel-ben. He's not that trusting, know ye… after all, he's had several centuries of comely wenches trying that sort of thing on him, and most of them were his apprentices."
"But… how…?"
"Khelben had to hurry back to Blackstaff Tower on some Harper business begun here tonight," the Old Mage explained. "Both he and Laeral felt your probing spells- really, lass, take a little more care with such things, eh?-so he called me in to do a little impersonation in case other Harpers came to report… or ye decided to do something spectacularly stupid."
"And was what I did so stupid?" Ambreene asked with menacing softness, her hands twisting the chain until it cut deep into his throat.
Elminster smiled unconcernedly, and chucked her under the chin as if she was a small girl.