Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [110]
"We must get him back to the sea at once," the ranger said.
Liriel hissed with exasperation. "There's a line somewhere between nobility and foolishness, but i've yet to find it! No offense, but you're looking lower than whale droppings." When Xzorsh regarded her blankly, she pointed to the still-full bucket. "Breathe some of that, while i think of a way to get you out of here."
While Xzorsh at last tended his own needs, the drow quickly debated what she should do. The hideous image she'd seen troubled her, but there was no time to speak of it now. She doubted the sea elves would survive much longer, and she certainly didn't relish the idea of explaining to Hrolf that she'd let his friend wither up and die. "Can you breathe ale?" she asked abruptly.
Xzorsh and Sittl responded as one; they jumped, as startled as boys caught at some little prank. They exchanged a sidelong glance and a sheepish grin.
"i see you've tried it," the drow said dryly, then explained to them what she had in mind. Xzorsh grinned, utterly delighted with the plan, but his friend refused to have anything more to do with drow sorcery.
"Have it your way," Liriel said with a shrug. But she pulled a small object from her bag-a dried starfish she'd found on the shore, apparently stranded when the tides went out-and tossed it into the recalcitrant sea elPs lap. She raised one white brow in an eloquent arch.
"i will do as you say," Sittl agreed grudgingly.
The drow nodded and fell into the concentration needed for the casting of a powerful spell. She had leamed much from her stolen book of sea magic-and from the scrolls and spellbooks in the Green Room-and she'd made a point of studying water elementals. She planned to summon two such creatures. Unfortunately, the sea elves' wooden prison was on the innermost edge of the village, too far away from either the sea or the cold freshwater spring that served as village well. Water was needed to form the elementals' bodies, yet apart from Liriel's enspelled bucket, there was little water to be had in the immediate vicinity. Ale, however, was available in quantity. HrolPs warehouses stood next to the prison.
The sound of splintering wood announced that Liriel's summons had been answered. She winced as one expensive cask after another shattered to provide the fluid needed for the elemental to take corporeal shape. Still, she knew instinctively that Hrolf would shrug off the loss. "Remember what to do," Liriel admonished the elves; then she drew her piwafwi close around her and blinked out of sight. She slipped out the door-she had left it slightly ajar after picking the lock-to see what her magic had wrought.
Her eyes widened with delight at the sight of the two amber-colored creatures undulating toward the prison. The elementals were not large-no more than seven or eight feet in height-but they were perfect for the task ahead.
Liriel closed the door behind her and stood off to the side.
The drow watched as the elementals smashed down the prison door and sloshed inside. She sent out a command to the summoned creatures, holding firm against their indignant response. After a brief struggle, the elementals yielded to the power of her magic and burst out of the prison into the street. Encased within the amber form of each was a sea elf, sharing the liquid body with the essence of the elemental creature.
The elementals did not seem happy about this new partnership, and they set a determined pace toward the shore. Many of the Ruathen took up weapons against the strange invaders. But the elementals barely seemed to notice the blows, so intent were they on their joumey. When it was clear the creatures did not intend to attack-indeed, had no interest in doing battle at all-the villagers