Shadows of Doom - Ed Greenwood [12]
A little chill went down his spine as a feminine mouth and chin appeared in the air before him for a moment, over the table. The mouth smiled and was gone.
For a long moment, Belkram stared at where the apparition had been and said, "Yes. Well. Lady, will you tell us about yesterday?"
Storm nodded, not smiling now, and said, "Something happened. Something very important that wisdom forbids me to tell you about. Something, as you know, connected with Mystra. All I can say is beware magic for some time to come. It may go awry in strange ways. More than that; in the days ahead we must all be wary, ready for trouble. It's all too likely to come."
She sighed and broke off a large chunk of bread in her long, strong fingers. Itharr looked from them to the gauntlets and back again. Then his gaze drifted up her naked torso, to be caught and held by Storm's own eyes. She was not smiling, and her eyes held them both as if on two dark sword points. Her voice, when it came, was very soft.
"There is more. For the next little while, the most important being in the entire Realms is the archmage Elminster of Shadowdale. He must be aided and watched at all times by every Harper, so spread the word. He must be kept alive, and he might not be able to use his own magic. We must guard him as if he were a defenseless child. Nothing you do in your lives, gentlemen, is likely to be half so important as this, believe me."
Deep silence fell, and lasted five long breaths before Itharr shivered. They all stirred, and Storm smiled at them again.
"That reminds me," she said briskly, "that we'd best go see Elminster. So break bread, men, and let's be washed up and. done."
"Ah," Belkram said, eyeing her, "can we get dressed first? You seem used to going about near unclad and all, but…"
They all chuckled, and Storm rose and took down the leathers she'd worn the day before, from a drying-rack in the beams low overhead.
Itharr looked up at her and said softly, "Vethril? Vethril, are you near?"
The empty chair beside him turned by itself. Itharr nodded and said, "That's your truename, isn't it?" Silence gave him reply. He drew a deep breath and said, "Well, I think it is. And you are a friend-no, a sister"-he heard a sharp intake of breath from nearby-"to a fellow Harper. Know, then, that my truename is Olanshin, and I would be pleased to know thee."
Belkram nodded at the formal words and added, "And mine, unseen lady, is Kelgarh. Well met."
Itharr was startled, then, to feel the touch of soft, cold lips upon his cheek, then wetness. But he was a strong man and a Harper, and did not flinch or bring his hands up but only smiled.
He did not wipe the tears from his cheek. Storm looked at him with an expression of thanks and pride that Itharr would remember to the end of his days. She said huskily, "And mine, friends, is not mine to give. If I could, know you that I would."
Belkram nodded. "We understand," he said, rising from the table with the dishes in his hands. "Mystra forbids."
Storm looked at the empty air. "Truly, sister," she said with a smile, "we've two good ones this time."
The reply, when it came, startled them all: a hissing, ghostly whisper. "You'll need them," was all that Vethril said.
* * * * *
When they were out on the dale road, walking toward the junction that would take them to Elminster's tower, Itharr turned to Storm and said quietly, "That's your sister Sylune, isn't it?"
Storm smiled and nodded, and Itharr saw that her eyes were suddenly bright with tears. "What's left of her," she said, very softly.
"We'll come back to visit you both, when we can," Belkram added. "She's tied to your house, isn't she?"
Storm nodded. "Would that Elminster were, too," she replied. "It would often make my tasks much easier."
* * * * *
One never pays all that much heed to what one has and what one has grown used to, Elminster reflected wryly, looking down at his left hand. Yestermorn these fingers could have hurled lightnings or raised walls of shimmering force with but