Realms of Valor - James Lowder [39]
littered docks of Port Kir “If you haven't actually seen or heard anything suspicious, how can you be so sure?” With a frustrated sigh, Arilyn tucked a handful of her dark curls behind one pointed ear How could she explain to Danilo Thann something that, to her, was both art and instinct? She just knew. There was a silent rhythm to stalking, a rhythm known only to the best hunters and rangers- and assassins. “A wizard can sniff out magic,” she said slowly, absently waving away an overeager merchant attempting to spray her with jasmine perfume “And I believe a paladin can often sense when evil is near.” “Ah.” Danilo's gray eyes warmed with understanding as he studied the distracted half-elf at his side. “I take it that patience, for lack of a better word, has an aura of its own.” Arilyn smiled without humor. “Something like that.” “Has this been going on long?” She shrugged. “Since Imnescar.” “Since-” The nobleman broke off abruptly, then let out a long hiss of exasperation. “Arilyn, my dear, someone's been stalking us through two kingdoms, and you don't see fit to mention it? Never came up in conversation, is that it?” “This is the first time we've been alone,” Arilyn said, a trifle defensively. Danilo glanced pointedly around the teeming marketplace. Beyond the docks the Sea of Swords gleamed silver in the waning light, the horizon touched with the last faint pink of sunset. Most of the merchants were busily folding their bright silk tents and rolling up the mats that had displayed pottery, crafts, and exotic produce. The crowds had not diminished, but evening shoppers generally had goods of a different nature in mind. “We're alone, you say? How odd,” Danilo mused. “I've often been alone with beautiful women, and things were never quite so hectic and noisy. Not initially, at any rate.” “You know what I mean,” the half-elf said curtly. For many days, she'd had little opportunity to speak to Danilo in private. They'd arranged to travel with a merchant caravan en route from the northern trade city of Waterdeep to Calimport, its counterpart in the South. Merchants were the only northerners welcome in parts of Tethyr, and, swept along on the tide of commerce, Arilyn and Danilo had moved unquestioned through the southern lands. Today they were to begin their true mission. Arilyn and Danilo had been sent by the Harpers-the self-appointed guardians of freedom and justice in Faerun- to bring a warning to Tethyr's ruling pasha. This was not an easy task, for Pasha Balik wanted nothing to do with “meddling northern barbarians.” Repeatedly he'd refused Harper messengers or missives, and attempts to gain the ear of someone in his inner circle had also proved futile. Danilo had been charged with finding or creating a back door into the pasha's court; Arilyn's task was to keep the young nobleman alive during the process. Knowing Danilo as she did, Arilyn felt that her mission was sufficiently challenging without the added aggravation of an extra shadow. Despite the new problems he or she presented, the half-elf had developed a
certain grudging respect for her pursuer. Granted, tracking a merchant caravan along the major north-south trade road was no test of skill. Avoiding detection for so long was another matter. No other member of the company had realized they were being stalked, not even the powerful Harper mage at her side. Arilyn cast a sidelong glance at Danilo, who was idly whistling the melody of an off-color ballad. Few who knew the young man might guess that he was either Harper or wizard. Danilo Thann was known as a dandy, an amateur mage whose spells comically misfired, a foppish dilettante with amusing pretensions toward bardhood. His self-satisfied smirk and extravagant attire bespoke wealth, ease,