Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [29]
"We will do as you say," he said in a strangled tone, but there was a desperate cunning in his eyes that Liriel noted and mistrusted.
"it might save some unpleasantness if you know up front that your wizard is useless against us. No human spell can disperse our invisibility charms-magic slides off the drow like water from a seabird's feathers," she informed him coolly; "But any magical attack, however feeble, will be parried and answered. Believe me when i tell you that you do not wish to see drow magic tested in battle."
Liriel saw the light of last hope fade from the man's eyes and knew she had hit the target squarely. She gave him his instructions, making it clear that she would be at his side until all was done. If he gave the alarm, she promised, if he even hinted at the presence of the dark elves aboard ship, he would lose half his crew in addition to half his cargo… and perhaps his life as well.
The captain did as he was told, but the crew was slow to accept his claim that Drustan had somehow been magically spirited off the ship and that the cost of his freedom would be paid from their cargo. But they followed orders, lowering a large, flat-bottomed skiff and loading it with small oak casks.
"Make room for my people," Liriel hissed into the captain's ear..orwo will attend the skiff; the rest will stay to ensure there is no foolish attempt to cheat us of our toll. We will send your man back with the skiff, and then we will leave as we came."
While the captain bellowed down orders to rearrange the casks, Liriel, still invisible, floated silently down into the boat. As soon as the men were clear of the skiff: she cast a spell of levitation. The heavily laden craft broke free of the waves and rose slowly into the air. As the dumbfounded sailors watched, it glided silently offinto the mist. It was not an easy spell, but Liriel knew the value of an imposing exit. It would give credence to the captain's explanation, and the sense of wonder and fear that it inspired would occupy the humans' minds and keep at bay any thoughts they might otherwise have had about following the ghostly skiff.
When the boat touched down on the Elfmaid's deck, Liriel slumped over one of the casks, drained by the powerful casting. The crew swarmed to meet her and to examine their haul. They were delighted to learn that the casks were filled with fine raspberry mead, a sweet and fiery honey wine scented with summer fruit.
"See our guest on his way, and then we~ tap a cask for the celebration. The rest we~ use for trade," Hrolf said with a wink.
The men set promptly to work, following the plan Liriel had laid out. The captured sailor had emerged from the teleportation spell into the darkness of the hold. Two Ruathen had awaited him there, armed with tiny darts from Liriel's crossbow. One quick jab had sent the sailor into a poison-induced slumber. He was still senseless when they brought him on deck and loaded him onto the skiff.
Liriel handed the precious spellbook into Fyodor's keeping and then joined the sleeping sailor in the skiff, for one step remained to complete the deception. It would not do to let the Ffolk know their ship had been held hostage by shadows, and that Ruathen pirates lay within easy pursuit. She watched as the Elfmaid rowed away, pulling farther back into the mist.
When the Ruathen ship was beyond sight, Liriel unstoppered a tiny vial that held an antidote to the drow sleeping potion. She poured a single drop into the sailor's slack mouth. He stirred,