Song of the Saurials - Kate Novak [27]
"Don't worry, Alias," the mage said softly. "We'll find him."
"Kyre, this is Alias of Westgate," Mourngrym explained to the half-elf. "Alias, this is the bard Kyre, one of the members of the Harpers' tribunal."
After taking a few deep breaths. Alias had recovered from her shock enough to nod politely to the Harper bard. Kyre nodded back at the swordswoman, but it was Akabar who held the half-elfs gaze.
"This is Alias's friend, Akabar bel Akash," Mourngrym added, noting how Kyre stared at the mage. "Akabar used his magic to destroy the wall of ice for us."
"A pity that your effort, though great, came too late," Kyre said to Akabar.
"I don't understand how anything from a lower plane could have gotten into the tower," Alias said impatiently. "Elminster had it warded against entry by that sort of creature."
"Elminster also had a no-exit spell cast on Nameless's room," Mourngrym said.
"How could Grypht teleport past that?"
"Such wards and spells sometimes deteriorate, your lordship, or they can be broken by powerful magic," Kyre replied. Though she addressed Mourngrym, the half-elfs attention was still fixed on Akabar. "As you saw, I just left the room without any trouble."
Mourngrym frowned. "I've never heard of any spell of Elminster's deteriorating or breaking. He's the most powerful mage in the Realms."
"Excuse me, your lordship," Akabar replied, "but the lady is quite correct. Such things do happen on occasion. In fact, there is considerable evidence of many spells having failed this past summer when the gods walked the Realms."
"Elminster took extra care to reset all the wards on the tower after that,"
Mourngrym interposed.
"Yet we cannot deny the evidence of our eyes," Akabar said.
"Speaking of Elminster, where is he?" Alias asked suddenly.
"He disappeared before our very eyes. Grypht appeared in his place," Kyre explained. "Perhaps his absence weakened his spells."
That didn't sound likely to Mourngrym, but he had no training in magic. He turned to Thurbal and the two guards. "Better have the tower searched, in case something else has managed to sneak in."
Thurbal nodded and ushered the two guards off with him.
Still unconvinced. Alias asked Kyre, "What type of monster was it? What did it look like?"
"Grypht is not a type of monster but one unique unto itself," Kyre replied calmly. "Grypht is a duke of Caina, in the Nine Hells, The Zhentarim often use Grypht for their evil schemes. It stands ten feet tall. Its hide is covered with green scales. It has horns, claws, and a tail."
Alias walked into Nameless's former cell. Sigils and symbols were scrawled on the walls and the windowsill and even the doorsill, evidencing the wards protecting the room from entry by creatures from the lower planes. They looked all right to her. "Akabar, what do you think?" Alias asked, motioning the mage into the room.
Akabar stepped into the cell and began to study Elminster's wards. As she watched Kyre's eyes follow the mage, Alias wondered if the half-elf recognized the Turmishman from somewhere, but when the half-elf reached up to adjust the orchid behind her ear, Alias realized that Kyre was physically attracted to the merchant-mage. Akabar was, after all, a handsome man. Even Cassana, a connoisseur of men, had lusted after him.
Alias turned around to survey the rest of the room. Elminster had sworn to her that he had made Nameless as comfortable as possible. The old sage hadn't lied.
Everything about the room was lovely-the furniture, the curtains, the carpeting.
A well-crafted songhorn lay on the table beside a silver fruit bowl. "Oh!" Alias cried out suddenly in disgust, revolted by the sight of the rotting, moldy plums, pears, and apples within the silver bowl.
"What is it?" Akabar asked, hurrying to her side. Mourngrym was close behind him.
Alias pointed at the bowl of fruit. "Is this some sick joke to taunt Nameless?" she asked.
Mourngrym scowled angrily when he saw what