Rise of the Blade - Charles Moffat [50]
"Something wrong with the woodstove?"
Hiram shook his head and turned to face Pierce who leaned against the kitchen door. "I think it's the autumn air. It just doesn't want to fry quickly sometimes."
"Give it a minute," shrugged Pierce. "It will be fried by then."
Hiram didn't argue and wiped his greasy hands on his apron. "So are you going to hunt down Chev or what? Did Draque find anything?"
Pierce sighed. "Not a trace. He says that Chev has somekind of magical item that blurs his location. The most we know is that he's still in Waterdeep and-" The headmaster stopped to purse his lips.
"And?" Hiram prompted.
"Draque isn't going to approve of this but I'm thinking of getting some help from some gold elves."
Hiram swallowed. Anybody who knew the drow knew that he had an outright hatred of the golden haired High elves and only tolerated Moon elves at a distance. This was why Draque's illusionary appearance was that of a Moon elf and not the more respected High elves. Or at least respected by every surface dweller but Draque. It was in the drow's breeding perhaps but he'd rather spit on a surface elf than look at one.
Pierce too had a similar hatred of gold elves but his was based on their general haughty attitude. Yet the Doctor was still prepared to set aside his prejudices and shake an elf's hand.
Provided of course the elf didn't have a sword pointed at Pierce's throat. The Harper merely smiled and let his hand fall back to his side. "I'm here to speak with Petre Gizehalle. I have an appointment."
Looking down without fear, the Doctor wondered if the elves had deliberately built the Twisting Tower in a spiral to make people dizzy.
The gold elf scowled and signalled to a lieutenant to check Pierce's story with a list. The young elf nodded and the captain lowered his sword. "You may pass, Pierce O'Hiram," the captain said in a light lyrical voice despite the intended gruffness.
The Doctor ignored the lack of his proper title and stepped past the guard into the tower. Petre was one of the few elven Harpers in the city, but he also was one of the few who vied with Blackstaff for the title of Archmage of Waterdeep. His intelligence bested Khelben vaunted knowledge yet lacked the Archmage's skill and that was the elf's chief flaw.
The elf was also a telepath and like Pierce and Khelben's mutual agreement, Petre and Pierce had agreed to let sleeping dogs lie. For elves however, Petre's gift was not hidden but displayed openly as a threat to those who bore evil thoughts. His abilities at delving into another's mind surpassed the Doctor's but also had the added advantage of being able to track a mind like a bloodhound tracking a wounded deer.
Stepping past more guards, Pierce entered the barroom that housed some of the wealthiest elves in the world. As if that wasn't enough, the newly built Twisting Tower, so typical of elves, was built on a trio of spiralling stilts. Looking to the centre of the room, the Doctor spied the balcony overlooking a fountain in the centre of the stilts. This building was one of Waterdeep's greatest splendors but the view from the balcony with the fountain only yards away was inspiring.
Looking about, Pierce wondered how hard it was to hide a short, fat elf in a room filled with tall skinny ones. The elf he sought was a rarity amongst rarities and his physical attributes was just the beginning.
Spotting Petre, the Harper stepped around several tables and stood in front of the elf's balcony-side table. "You know why I'm here?" The elf was one of those few people who was immune to Pierce's mind and yet Pierce couldn't defend against the elf even if he tried.
"I sensed your mind the moment you started to ascend the stairs," the elf replied and offer Pierce a seat. "Please sit my friend and enjoy some elverquisst." He pushed his own crystal glass across the table in an ancient symbol of trust and friendship.
The headmaster sat down gratefully. "Can you track Chev by using his mental residues found in my