Rise of the Blade - Charles Moffat [42]
"I understand," Valeska's eyes narrowed. "Such as?"
"I need to know more about Waterdeep's Harpers, in particular names and faces."
"Do you seek any particular ones?"
"Nope. All of them."
The half-elf's eyes widened momentarily and she pursed red lips. "There is no way I can give you such a long list, but I can certainly give you the knowledge of those that I know of." She paused dramatically. "For a price."
Chev grinned and clapped his hands twice. "Well met! Name your price my dear scholar!"
"One platinum for a name, one for their face. That's a total of two per person," she responded eagerly. "And trust me, my list is extensive if not complete."
Chev nodded slowly. If she knew anymore than thirty Harpers he would be short on coins and have to revert to a diamond hidden in the sole of his boot. He hoped it was still there after a hundred and fifty years. "How many?"
Valeska pursed her lips again. "At least sixty, although I'll probably think of more as we talk." She leaned over the table to get a better look at his money pouch. "You sure you have enough in there?"
"No, but I have a diamond that will more than cover it."
"In that case I'll be as detailed as possible." Valeska leaned back in her seat and pondered what she could do with some new found wealth.
A darkly cloaked burly figure walked down the alley behind the Yawning Portal. He paused in the shadows every couple of seconds, listening for the slightest sounds. He tweaked grey mustaches as he studied a form lying against the wall of the tavern before rushing to the side of his fellow Harper.
Mirt the Merciless had many names but he was known more commonly as Mirt the Moneylender. He knelt beside the broken and battered form of a young Harper named Rolt. He found the silver pin of a harp lying on the boy's chest. Someone had deliberate left this behind as a message for Mirt. Had the drow caught up with the boy on thr surface somehow?
The Old Wolf pocketed the silver Harper pin and lifted his apprentice over his broad shoulder. Going around the corner, he stepped through the back door of the Yawning Portal to have a long talk with Durnan.
Chapter 7
The evening was growing long and the candle on the table between Pierce and Nicole was getting short when their meal was interrupted by a knock on Pierce's private chambers. The Doctor smiled as he got up from their table and crossed the small room to the bronze door. He knew immediately that it was Martinez and that in itself marked that something was wrong. He opened the door and feigned surprise. "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" he demanded.
Martinez waved at Nicole and entered. "Thanks for inviting me in," he replied sourly. "We're having a huge meeting at the Yawning Portal," he whispered.
"Right now? Why?"
"Since noon we've lost fourteen of our Underdark agents. They're dropping like flies."
Even on social occasions Pierce had never before seen such a gathering of Harpers all in one place. In a dusty old wine cellar to say the least. There was Mirt the Moneylender, Durnan, Khelben 'Blackstaff' Arunson and numerous others, but the key connection that the Doctor noted was that they all had something to do with drow in general. The evil elven race had apparently declared war on the Harpers.
This was, according to Pierce's memory the loudest of the occassions also.
"This is all Valeska Ko'Ragur's fault! If she hadn't shot their ambassador we wouldn't have this problem!" roared Asefen, a burly bear of a man, over the din. "We should have taken care of her years ago!"
"We're not assassins you moron!" Durnan shouted in response. "Besides, two hours ago someone found twelve drow dead right below the well and another three down at the docks! Maybe it is her fault, but kill for kill we're getting the upper hand!"
"Well then who in the