Silver Shadows - Elaine Cunningham [29]
Arilyn had expected this. To refuse might earn her the same sort of fate that had befallen Assante's servants, so she had prepared a credible half-truth. She manufactured a smile that was both cold and seductive-a useful expression she'd copied from Ferret-and turned the full force of it upon Hhune.
"Assante has new women brought in from time to time. It was a small matter to include myself among them."
Hhune's black eyes gave her an appreciative sweep. "Yes, I can see how that would be so," he said gallantly. "But tell me of the treasure room!"
This, Arilyn had not been expecting. But she marked the greed in Hhune's eyes and decided to exploit it. With a little encouragement, perhaps he might offer to fund' her next expedition!
"What other items did you take?" Hhune continued before she could speak. "I would be most grateful for the opportunity to view them."
Arilyn spread her hands in a gesture of regret. "There is nothing more. The clothes of the harem provide few hiding places for plunder! But I destroyed some of the things I could not take!" she said, suspecting that Hhune would appreciate any blow dealt a rival.
The guildmaster chortled with delight. "Splendid, splendid! But not too many, I trust!"
"I could not begin to describe the wonders that remain," she said truthfully.
"Then, perhaps another expedition?"
"Not soon," Arilyn said softly. "When next I enter Assante's palace, it will be to tend to a personal matter."
Hhune held her gaze for a long moment, then nodded. "Such things require much planning," he said casually, no doubt assuming-as Arilyn had intended him to assume-that she planned to challenge and oust the master assassin. "You will have expenses. Please send all bills to me-discreetly, of course. In exchange, I ask only that you give me first refusal on any treasures you might acquire."
All but one, Arilyn agreed silently. All but one.
Five
The day was nearly spent. Foxfire knew this, even though in the deep forest no sun-cast shadows proclaimed the hour. Here the shade was cool and deep, the only sky a thousand layers of leafy boughs and velvety pines that filtered the sunlight until the very air lie breathed seemed green and alive.
The elf was many miles from Talltrees, his tribe's hidden settlement, but he and his two companions walked easily through the thick foliage, as silent and invisible as a trio of deer. This forest-all of it-was the elves' home. Its rhythms coursed through their blood and sang in their souls.
Foxfire led the way steadily westward, to a grove perhaps a half-day's walk toward the east from the trading settlement known as Mosstone. In times past-in happier, safer times-the elves of the Elmanesse tribe had traded with the humans who lived in this forest-side town. Then came the brutal reign of the Tethyrs, the family of human royals who seemed determined to drive the elves from the land. The Elmanesse had withdrawn into the forest shadows and proclaimed their own government via the Elven Council. For many years, all who ventured into the forests had lived and died by the judgments handed down by this council. But in these troubled times, even the wise, collective voice of the council had faltered and fallen silent. The elven alliance had splintered, and each clan had gone its own way. In particular the Suldusk tribe, always chary of alliance with their Elmanesse brothers and sisters, had all but disappeared into the deep shadows of the southeastern forest. No one knew for certain how many elves remained in the ancient wood.
Even so, a settlement of elves remained in the Council Glade, and the elders who lived there were still the best source of news and information in the forest. Foxfire hoped to find answers that would make sense of what was happening to his people.
Elves had lived in the Forest of Tethir from time beyond memory-and elven memories were long, indeed. But for the first time hi his nine decades of life, Foxfire feared that the days of his people in this land might be numbered. Too many