Song of the Saurials - Kate Novak [154]
Elminster shook his head. "This vale was once the home of elves. They left long ago. It has been hidden magically for so long that few know of its existence.
Should ye have any problems, the Harpers and the Lord of Shadowdale are eager to become thy allies and help defend thy tribe until ye are able to defend thyselves again."
Grypht nodded. "That is enough. If the people agree, we will stay. Now I will sleep," he said. Then he rose to his feet and went off to rest, his apprentices following him.
When they were alone, Alias asked Elminster, "Where have you been? Why didn't you return right away from Grypht's world after his transference spell took you there? Mourngrym said you can always get back home no matter where you go."
"I assure thee, Alias, I didst try," the old sage replied, "but unbeknownst to Grypht, Moander had cast a powerful lock spell that prevented anyone from escaping Grypht's world by teleportation or worldwalking. Grypht managed to escape only because he used a transference spell that Moander had not foreseen to include in the lock spell. I might have cast a transference spell myself, but I could not use it on Grypht's apprentices and I didst not wish to abandon them.
The four of us began trekking overland, trying to reach a gate to Tarterus."
"But when Morala scried for you, you were alone," Alias said.
"Nay. Grypht's apprentices traveled with me, but I made them invisible to keep them safe," Elminster explained. Olive and Dragonbait came up to them at that moment and sat on either side of Alias. Dragonbait stroked Alias's sword arm once, and she smiled up at him, grateful to have her brother with her. Olive began playing with the fruit and bread laid out on the ground, but she didn't feel tempted to eat any of it.
"And when you reached the gate to Tarterus, what happened?" Alias asked Elminster.
"We did not reach the gate. It was another two days' journey. Fortunately I was finally able to cast a worldwalk spell to take myself and Grypht's apprentices to Shadowdale when Moander's lock spell failed." The sage stressed the last four words so strongly that Alias realized immediately there was something unusual about Moander's failed spell.
"So why did it fail?" she asked.
"Because not only has Moander's body in the Realms been destroyed this past night, but someone killed Moander's true body in the Abyss. The god has been destroyed forever."
"Akabar?" Alias asked with astonishment. "He said the gods told him to do just that."
"Partly," Elminster replied. "Remember last year when I told thee of the old prophecy that ye would free the Darkbringer?"
Alias nodded wordlessly.
"There was another prophecy that went with it: 'When the good man teaches wisdom to the fool, the Darkbringer will die.'"
"Akabar and Finder," Alias whispered.
Elminster nodded.
"But how did they get to the Abyss?" the swordswoman asked.
"There is a gate to Tarterus in this vale. The saurials built Moander's new body around it. Akabar and Finder must have passed through the gate and arrived somehow in the Abyss."
"So they've saved everyone from Moander, not just the Realms?" Olive asked.
"Yes," Elminster replied.
"You don't look too happy about that," Olive said.
"I am not unhappy, only anxious," the sage answered. "When a god's existence ends, something or someone else is always ready to snatch up its powers. There is no knowing whether the power will go to a good or evil being."
Morala, Breck, and Mourngrym walked up to the old oak tree where Elminster and the two adventurers sat.
"We wanted you to know that Lord Mourngrym has taken Kyre's place as the third Harper in our tribunal, and we have come to a decision," Morala said, "regarding the Nameless Bard."
"Finder Wyvernspur," Alias reminded the priestess.
"Exactly," Breck said. "We've voted to rescind our decree banishing his name and songs and pardon him for his crimes."
"Sort of a case of closing the