Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [170]
The clatter of weapons echoed here and there as other Holgersteaders changed and joined the pack. Rethnor backed away slowly as the Wolves of the Waves, the legendary defenders of Ruathym, began to close in with deadly intent.
Dagmar saw the horror in her opponent's face and whirled to face the new threat. A wild joy filled her eyes as she beheld the ever-tightening circle of shapeshifters.
"She is dead at last," Dagmar said in a wondering tone. "Ygraine must have fallen in battle, and the prophecy is mine to fulfill!"
"Not so, Sister."
A second feminine voice rang out over the ship as Dagmar's twin clambered over the rail.
"The battle for Ruathym village is won," y graine said. She walked across the deck, her hands outstretched to her twin. "Our homeland is safe, the ancient glory restored to our warriors. Between you and me, nothing lies beyond the power of forgiveness. Come home with me, my sister!"
The truth of the situation struck Dagmar with the force of one of the drow's fireballs. It was Ygraine who had rekindled the shapeshifting magic! it was ever, always Ygraine! it was she who had received the power of the prophecy, the deepest love of their parents, the troth of the future First Axe. In all things, Y graine had been chosen above Dagmar-even the pirates ofLuskan had chosen Ygraine when they needed one sister to hold captive!
"How i hate you," Dagmar said in a low, burning voice. Ygraine flinched, but she continued to walk slowly toward the furious girl. "i'Come with me, Sister. Perhaps the healers can ease your mind and your heart, and restore you to your kindred. I will speak for you before the Thing and ask that this be done."
"i'How many of your cast-offs must i accept? i will die before i take refuge in your secondhand honor!" Dagmar shrieked as she raised her weapon for a killing lunge. "That you will," the other woman said softly, "i'and soon, unless you put down the knife. The Wolves of the Waves cannot long be held back."
Dagmar looked down, and for the first time she noticed that the shape-changed warriors were closing not on Rethnor, but on her. Indeed, there was no sign of the Luskar captain. He had disappeared, along with her last chance of becoming something more than Ygraine's pale shadow.
The low growls of the advancing wolves sent a tremor through the half-mad girl; a moment more, and they would be upon her. Dagmar lifted her eyes, seized her sister's beseeching gaze, and held it fast. Then she lifted her knife and thrust it deep into her own heart. A cry of anguish burst from Ygraine, and she leaped forward to catch her sister as she fell.
And with her last bit of strength, Dagmar spit in her sister's despairing face.
in the water below, Rethnor swam for his ship with strong, steady strokes. The battle was lost, and with it his ambitions of conquest, his lust for vengeance. The failed attack on Ruathym would carry a heavy price. There would be Nine Hells to pay at home, as well as increased pressure from Waterdeep and the Lords' Alliance. But Retlnor had weathered worse. He was fairly confident of his ability to hold on to his power as High Captain of Luskan, perhaps even his position as an agent of the Kraken Society.
in the future, however, he would know enough to steer clear of dark elves and illithids. His failures and humiliation at the hands of these strange females grated upon Rethnor's pride. But at least his forces had dealt a devastating blow to the island. He was confident the conquest of Ruathym would come in time, even though this night's battle had been lost.
The giant raven circled low over the ruins of inthar, coming down to a sheltered nook and gently dropping the exhausted drow. Liriel struggled to her feet, wishing to throw her arms around the creature's glossy neck. To her horror, the avian apparition began to fade away. There was a deep contentment in the