lovely. Rage was never beautiful. “And for your worthlessness, this is your reward.” She tossed a handful of dark powder onto the brazier. Brilliant sparks, red as rubies, crackled about the pale apparitions as they shrieked in agony. The magical flames flared to the ceiling, then died down in a puff of acrid smoke. The spirits were gone, the last echo of their wails ringing off the chill stone walls. Kelshara smiled in cruel satisfaction for a moment, but the expression soon faded. She still had no solution to the mystery. From a golden box on a table she drew out two small objects. They were jewels, teardrop shaped and as clear as winter ice. King's Tears such stones were called. Legend held that they were the tears of ancient kings magically turned to stone. Legend also told that if you looked into the heart of a King's Tear, you would see an image of what the ancient lord had loved most in life. And the legends were true. Even now she could see the visions flickering within the jewels: parchments scribed with strange glyphs and books bound with gem-encrusted covers. It was the library of King Everard Farseer she was glimpsing. Once he had ruled over a realm that stretched for leagues along the banks of the great River Chionthar. But his kingdom had crumbled to dust long centuries before folk from Cormyr crossed the Sunset Mountains and raised the shining Caravan Cities, strung like gems along the necklace of the river. But though Kelshara had gazed into the Tears for hours on end, she never saw what she sought, the book Everard had prized above all others: the Tome of Midnight. Within its covers lay the key to life eternal. “Toz!” the necromancer shouted. “Toz!” Kelshara heard the scrabbling of claws against stone behind her. ”Mistress?“ a voice croaked tremulously. She spun to see a small, malformed creature hobble into the chamber on two gnarled and twisted legs. It blinked its red, bulbous eyes, snuffling its warty, canine snout. ”Come, Toz,“ Kelshara said in her icy voice. ”Speak the future for me. And do not dare lie, or I promise you'll lose more than just your tail this time.“ ”Yes, mistress.“ The kobold fawningly approached the table. Its features were caught up in a mask of mock-contrition, its bulging eyes cast down to the floor. A foul odor followed in its wake, and the ratty brown piece of sackcloth it wore like a tunic looked as if it was ready to rot off its scaly back. Once the creature had been a man, a diviner of such skill that he had told the fortunes of emperors and queens. But Kelshara had wanted him for her own. She had arranged his murder. Then, with her dark powers, she wrought his reincarnation into this new, loathsome form, bound by magic to do her every bidding. Clumsily, the kobold opened a small ivory box, drew out a deck of ornate cards wrapped in black silk, and shuffled them. ”You must draw three,“ it instructed the necromancer in its croaking voice, and Kelshara quickly did so. With a misshapen hand Toz turned over the first card. The Three of Gems. ”This signifies the heart of your quest. It symbolizes great riches, but some of them are lost."
“Of course,” Kelshara crooned, her violet, gold-flecked eyes glittering with understanding. “I have been a fool, Toz. The image of the Tome is not within the two Tears I possess, and there can only be one answer. The Three of Gems. There must be a third Tear. Go on.” The kobold turned the next card. The Priest, reversed. “This signifies the forces of your allies.” Toz moved to the last card. “And this signifies the forces that will oppose you on your quest.” He turned the card. The Warrior, also reversed. “What do they mean?” Kelshara demanded. Toz's pointed ears wriggled in confusion. “I am not certain, master. Somehow, a priest who is not a priest will help you gain the jewel. But a warrior who is not a warrior will stand against you.” '“A warrior who is not a warrior?'” Kelshara said mockingly. “That doesn't sound like one I need fear.” “But, mistress,” the kobold protested, its snout wriggling in agitation, “these cards speak of powerful forces