Stormlight - Ed Greenwood [42]
"I worked on Murndal's body most of the night," Storm said, "trying to learn something-anything- from it. His cloak bore magic before someone-our slayer, no doubt-tore it to ribbons, and he carried the usual components for spellcasting. His boots say he walked in dusty places, and he tried to defend himself with a dagger that's gone, now… and that's about all he can still tell us."
"Shall I order the scouring of the Haunted Tower?" Ergluth asked.
Storm shook her head. "From what I've seen, our murderer would not be found… and could roam the keep while your armsmen were searching the tower. It is a place with its own phantoms, and thus would give chances for them to mistakenly hurt each other. You were going to issue crossbows, were you not?" Ergluth nodded silently, and she shook her head. "A recipe for disaster, she told him, "though I admit I haven't thought of anything much better."
“So you have no counsel for us?” the boldshield asked.
Storm spread her hands. “I’d like to cast some silent watch spells on you and your senior officers, and on Broglan and all of his war wizards.”
Ergluth raised an eyebrow. “And just what do ‘silent watch’ spells do?”
“Allow me to see out of the eyes of anyone I cast it on, for about a twelve-count, when they call my name aloud," the bard told him. "Once only, and only if they call desiring to summon me, not if they merely say my name in normal converse."
Ergluth nodded. "This seems wise," he said. "Will it take you to the person calling on you?"
Storm shook her head. "I'm afraid not," she said. "If they look around, I may be able to see enough of their surroundings to teleport to them. Otherwise, it at least lets me see who's attacking them."
"You don't sound all that hopeful," the Purple Dragon commented.
Storm gestured to the bed. "What length talons did that? I think we're dealing with a shapeshifter."
"A Mal… Malinaug-er, Malaugrym?" Ergluth asked, stumbling over the unfamiliar word.
The hard shrugged. "I can't tell that yet, one way or the other." Her eyes went to the war wizard "Well, Broglan? What say you?"
"To your spell? No. Absolutely not," the mage replied. "No war wizard of Cormyr dares allow someone else to spy on him!"
"Ah," Storm said, "but it's quite all right for you to spy-to use your word-on others?"
"What d'you mean?" Broglan snarled, eyes afire again.
Storm waved a hand at the man-high oval mirror on the wall, its frame still bristling with daggers. "Which of your men was watching me last night? Did he like what he saw?"
Broglan flushed scarlet. "Madam," he began icily,"I assure you-"
"I doubt you can in truth assure me of anything," Storm said quietly. "Yet it is not my purpose to humiliate anyone or argue; I merely want us all to be better protected by working together. What can I promise, or do, to make your 'absolutely not' become a 'yes'?"
"I-nothing," Broglan said heavily. "I must protect my men and myself against possible treachery. If Lord Vangerdahast ever heard of my allowing a possibly hostile outlander to gain any magical influence-or even potential influence-over a war wizard…"
"He'd huff for a few minutes and then tell you never to do it again," Storm said smoothly, "without clearing it with him first. Am I right?"
Broglan shook his head. "A reprimand would be the very least I could expect," he muttered.
"Broglan," Storm said crisply, "worrying about your career prospects is a bit pointless if you wind up dead-forever dead-because you ran around afraid of offending rules. If you want to die blindly for your realm, go join the soldiery. I've seen plenty of Purple Dragons do just that."
Ergluth Rowanmantle's brow darkened. He shrugged. A tiny smile plucked at the corners of his mouth, and he turned away, murmuring very softly. "The worst lashing a man can suffer-under the tongue of an annoyed lady bard…"
Neither of the others paid him any heed. Broglan's voice was rising in anger. "Since you arrived, Lady Silverhand, you have persisted in ignoring the rightful authority