Son of Thunder - Murray J. D. Leeder [14]
Leng spoke coldly. "If that were Fzoul's plan, he wouldn't need to go to such lengths as the conspiracy you envision. And if he wanted us dead, we wouldn't be here talking about it."
"Perhaps you're right," said Geildarr. "But in any event, I feel the order of the day is appeasement. Start thinking-anything short of bringing the City of Shade crashing to Anauroch."
"As you command, Lord Geildarr," said Leng. But Geildarr knew he would do nothing. Geildarr noted a twitch of Leng's pale lips as he bowed in farewell.
As Geildarr walked back to his keep, he analyzed his information. He didn't trust Moritz, and he knew it was possible the gnome was mixing truths and lies as part of Sememmon's game, or some unknown agenda. For that matter, he had no way of being sure that Moritz was still on Sememmon's side. If Leng were disloyal, Geildarr would need to find out for himself. And if Leng needed to die, the act would need to take place without casting suspicion on Geildarr.
When Geildarr reached the Lord's Keep, he found his promising protegee Ardeth Chale waiting for him in his study, a mysterious smile on her face. She had taken some apprenticeship from him as a wizard, and though her power was progressing steadily, she seemed far more interested in honing her skills of cloak and dagger. So far, she had proved extremely valuable in helping protect Geildarr's rule.
"Something has just arrived," she said, endearing mischief dancing in her eyes, "that should be of great interest to you."
"What is it?" asked Geildarr.
"A hobgoblin arrived in town today. One of the Skalganar tribe and a survivor from the Fallen Lands."
"I wasn't aware there were any survivors."
"He thinks he might be the only one," said Ardeth. "But Gan-that's his name-wants to work for you. On his way back, he found something he decided to bring to you. An axe."
Geildarr sniffed. "Nobody accuses hobgoblins of being much for brains, but an axe? Didn't anyone tell him I'm a wizard?"
"Somebody must have." Ardeth stepped aside, revealing the axe lying on the zalantarwood table behind her. Geildarr walked up to it and leaned over to inspect the axe's design.
"No noticeable markings," he said. "But it looks dwarven to me. And nothing modern."
"I'd wager on Delzounian," said Ardeth. Geildarr perked up at this. Delzoun was once the mightiest dwarf kingdom of the North, on par with the modern Great Rift. A neighbor of Netheril, it fell almost fifteen hundred years earlier.
"How did this hobgoblin get such a thing?" asked Geildarr.
"He said he found it in the Fallen Lands, lying in a field of dirt. An unlikely story, but the weapon is definitely magical. It had some hold over him, that was plain to see, but at the same time he seemed eager to give it to you-to a great leader, he said. I got the sense he felt he was unworthy of it."
Geildarr stroked his chin. "A great leader, eh? A fine judge of character, this hobgoblin."
Ardeth smiled. "I subjected the axe to magical examination-as well as I could manage. I don't sense that it is intelligent in the conventional sense. But I think it might have shaped Gan's attitude, nevertheless."
"What else did you learn?"
"Only a name-Berun's Axe. It would clearly benefit from further examination."
"Both magical and scholarly, yes," said Geildarr, running a finger over the weapon's blade. "And what of our hobgoblin friend?"
"You could still hang him for failure."
"No," said Geildarr. "I don't think I will. If he wants a place in my army, he has it. Find him a spot in the barracks, far enough away that nobody important has to smell him." Picking up the axe, he said, "I'll need some time alone to cast a few spells. Divining the history of an object can be demanding and time consuming.