Song of the Saurials - Kate Novak [143]
"You kept me from rescuing Akabar!" Alias cried. "You let Moander swallow him!"
Grypht felt his heart sinking when he learned the mage's fate. He had admired Akabar's courage and been moved by his concern for the saurials, who weren't even his own people.
"Alias, there was no way you were going to reach Akabar," Finder said. He took a step toward her with his arms extended.
Alias again pointed Dragonbait's sword at the bard's chest. "Don't move!" she ordered him again.
"Moander is heading up the mountain even as we speak," Grypht said, "led here by the bard-"
"I was trying to lead Moander away from your people," Finder protested.
"Olive, check to see how close it is to us," Alias told the half-ling. Olive hurried to obey.
"We could use your help, but we can't trust you unless you let Dragonbait cure the disease within you," Grypht said to Finder.
"I cannot cure him, High One," Dragonbait said. "I wasted my power trying to cure Coral. I have used my shen sight on the bard, however. I still sense no evil in him"
Although Grypht realized that Finder was the sort of man who wouldn't bow to any master, the saurial wizard had never seen anyone resist Moander's possession once the Darkbringer's disease had begun to manifest itself physically. "How is this possible?" he asked the bard.
"Xaran shot a burr of possession at me in the orc lair," Finder explained. "It exploded its spores in my face, but nothing happened. I presumed its magic had failed. I'd forgotten that two hours before it happened I had swallowed magical potions that slow and neutralize poison. I believe the potions' magic must have affected the spores so that they grew more slowly and altered the vines so Moander can't use them to take hold of my body or mind."
"Moander's just reached the mountain slope," Olive reported from the cave's mouth. "The incline's slowing it down some, but it's still coming."
"If you aren't possessed, what were you doing in Coral's hut?" Alias asked, unconvinced by Finder's story. "Olive saw you there."
"Trying to find the seed in order to destroy it. I was hoping that Coral and Moander would believe I was possessed. I got them to tell me where the seed was.
I knew Olive was outside, looking into the hut. I made sure she heard that Akabar's blood was the seed they were looking for, and I said it in Realms common so Olive was certain to understand me."
"Olive heard you," Alias admitted. Finally convinced that Finder had tried to help, she lowered Dragonbait's sword from the bard's chest and spoke the command word to extinguish the blade's flame. "She told Akabar and me," the swordswoman whispered.
"Then why didn't you get Akabar away from here?" Finder demanded.
"He refused to leave," Alias sobbed. "He insisted on fighting Moander, whatever the risk."
"The fool!" Finder muttered.
Grypht shook his head. "Akabar did what he felt he must. If you aren't possessed," the wizard asked Finder, "why were you so anxious that Dragonbait not cure you? The vines of possession will eat away at your insides."
"But the vines won't kill me," Finder said. "Their magic will make me immortal."
Grypht shook his head, appalled at the bard's acceptance of so bizarre a life.
"We need Finder's help to teleport my tribe out of the vale. For the time being, I'm prepared to trust him."
"Moander has reached the uncut forest!" Olive said, hurrying back into the cave.
"I think it's time we got out of here."
"I'll teleport us all back to my keep," Finder said. "We'll be safe there for the time being."
Anxious to leave before Moander got any closer, Olive forgot her earlier fear of Finder and was prepared to accept his offer immediately. She reached up to take his hand.
"What about the saurials?" Alias asked the bard angrily.
"I can make several trips back for them," Finder replied. "The stone's power is endless."
"And