Son of Thunder - Murray J. D. Leeder [77]
"What are you doing here?" it spoke in a chirping voice, its head darting from side to side.
"We are merely passing through the Star Mounts," Ardeth said.
"My people were slaughtered and dispersed by the green dragon Elaar," the creature said. "Your kind call him Elaacrimalicros. Are you here to slay him, or to aid him?"
Ardeth recognized the birdman as an aarakocra. She had seen drawings of them in Geildarr's study. She shook her head. "We have no interest in your struggle…"
"If we are to survive-" the aarakocra lowered its javelin and pointed it in Ardeth's direction "-then we need magic and weapons. We demand…"
Ardeth fired her crossbow, launching a bolt directly toward the aarakocra's feathered belly. But the missile never reached its target. It was deflected in midair by magic and bounced into the stream. Suddenly smiling, Ardeth took another shot at the aarakocra's head. It sailed through as if it were fog and struck the rock face behind it.
The aarakocra vanished. In its place stood a creature half the height of the illusionary bird. Ardeth cast a disgusted look at a red-clad gnome. The aarakocra's spear shrank and became the blackwood cane that Moritz carried. Impressive, Ardeth thought.
"Well met, Ardeth Chale," he said. "You've confirmed what I always suspected: it is in your nature to go for the kill."
"Moritz of Hardbuckler." She never changed the aim of her crossbow. "Fancy encountering you here."
"Charmed, sweet lady," he said, tipping his red tricorn. "So good to speak with you at last."
"I take it this isn't the first time we've met."
"Met, maybe," Moritz said with a chuckle.
"Now comes the part where you make a portentous threat before vanishing on the spot?" asked Ardeth. "Geildarr forewarned me. The feathers were a nice touch."
"Rather, I wanted to commend you on securing the death of Mythkar Leng for Sememmon and myself," Moritz told her, taking a step closer to the quick-running stream.
"He was a most inconvenient enemy."
"I wasn't aware he was your enemy," Ardeth answered. "And I'm quite sure I didn't do it for Sememmon's sake."
"All Zhentarim are Sememmon's enemy," said Moritz. "At least all those faithful to the Keepers."
"Does that include Geildarr?" Ardeth asked. "Why doesn't Sememmon kill him?"
"Is that your answer to everything? Why shouldn't I kill you, then?" Moritz shrugged. "You find it easier to kill a man than to let him live. Isn't that so?" He reached into his robes and produced a bone dagger, the same one she had used to kill Arthus Tyrrell. He tossed it into the stream and it gave a small splash. "He wasn't lying about his wife and children-but I don't expect that moves you any. Did you kill him to silence him? Surely not. Who would have known about your visit? The Thunderbeasts? Or was it only because you knew you could? I bet you'd slaughter the surviving Antiquarians and that great beast who carries the axe, if only you didn't need them."
Ardeth glowered at the gnome. "Where does a weakling get the nerve to lecture me on the evils of violence?"
"You intrigue me. You intrigue Geildarr, too. But unlike him, I'm not blind to what you truly are." Moritz stood straighter. "Perhaps I should bring him up to date."
Ardeth's eyes darted about uncertainly.
"What do you want from me?" she asked, staring down at the primitive bone dagger lying in the stream.
"If you find what you're looking for at this Sanctuary," he said, "whatever powerful remnant of fallen Netheril it may be, it cannot be allowed to enter the desert." He spoke blandly, for he did not need to put his threat into words. When she looked up, he was gone.
Ardeth thought about the ancient dagger. Made of bone, it probably had a long history, but what did that mean? From Elrem's cave, to Llorkh, to Newfort, this insignificant token of the past had been on quite a journey. Perhaps it deserved to lie here, undiscovered, for the rest of time.
She reached down into the cold water to claim it, but when she touched it, it vanished.
* * * * *
"Under other circumstances, this would be