Spellfire - Ed Greenwood [129]
"We would talk it over with you, if you will, and then decide alone together after. We alone must live with what we decide, and with each other." He sat down suddenly, feeling foolish.
"Good speech," Illistyl said. "Well then, what would you know?"
Shandril spoke. "What are the Harpers? Not who, but what? What do they work toward?"
Florin answered her. "My wife is a Harper, lady, yet even to me, they remain mysterious. They are secretive about their membership and their precise aims, but they do work for causes that we deem 'good.' The air of mystery they deliberately foster seems to be their defense against foes who are stronger at arms or art.
"When you see the device of a silver moon and a silver harp, you face a Harper. Storm Silverhand is one, you know, as is the High Lady of Silverymoon.
Storm can tell you others, where it is not my place to do so. Many bards, rangers, and half-Elven mages are Harpers. The Harpers oppose the Zhentarim, and those who cut trade routes into wilderness to mine and fell timber with no thought for those who live there-the merchants of Amn, for instance. We respect the Harpers, and aid them."
"Well enough, then," Narm said, sitting back.
"Where should we wander, Harpers or no?"
"Somewhere where you can get filthy rich," Torm said with a grin. "And hide among the masses of people, and find any work you fancy-Waterdeep, for instance." Mourngrym, whose family was of noble Waterdhavian stock, shook his head ruefully.
"Have you no honor?" Jhessail inquired wearily of Torm.
"Aye, indeed. I keep it at the bottom of my pack and take it out to shine it up and look at it on windy nights in the wilderness, by the fire. It looks grand, I tell you. But it is poor company, and doesn't keep one warm."
"Ignore him," Rathan said. "His rat-like city instincts lead his lips astray. Waterdeep is a good place to hide, aye, but it would probably prove more dangerous to thee than Shadowdale. It is full of prying eyes from half the lands in Faerun, and not a few who will take from thee what they can and leave the rest in a gutter."
"Aye" Lanseril agreed. "It is better to travel the wilds of the Sword Coast North, the high forests and the fair city of Silverymoon. The Unicorn Run is a place breathtaking in its beauty, with great trees that have stood there clad in moss since the world was young and man a fledgling southern race. It is worth the trip, I tell you."
"Aye, go where few tread, and where ye can see what few have seen and ye will always remember;'
Rathan agreed. "I shall envy thee thy journey, bring what perils it may-"
"Is every lord and lady among you going to philosophize pompously the whole tenday through?"
Elminster asked in exasperation.
"Why not? It is our turn, indeed, after years of listening to your fulminations," Torm returned wickedly. A hush fell as all waited to see if he would forthwith become a frog.
Elminster merely chuckled and said, "True enough.
My turn to listen and be entertained, then."
Florin and Lanseril were visibly disappointed that Torm was going to escape a transformation, at least this time, and rose and turned away to stroll about the chamber.
"Is this discussion not the way to do it, then?"
Shandril asked.
"Well," Lanseril's voice floated back to her. "Let us say that few have sense enough to do it beforehand.
Most rush into battle without thinking enough, and talk about it only to themselves."
"Do not think, though, that jaw-wagging is not good or necessary," Rathan said. "It is one of the most important things a priest does for lay worshippers who come to him."
"Aye, well said," Torm agreed. "Such talk is as necessary as the sword in an ordered life, and in the doings of kings and statesmen across the Realms. It was the sage Mroon who defined-almost a thousand winters ago, mind you-the famous 'circle of diplomacy': 'Why talk but to end the fighting?
Why fight but to end the talking?' It is as true today as then… Well, old mage? Did I remember, or did I not?"
"Ye did… perhaps the first thing I've