Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [40]
"That would explain why the Ruathen captain set us adrift," the man said thoughtfully. "Perhaps you can answer other questions."
Briefly Caladorn sketched the details of his grim discovery aboard the ghost ship, of Captain Farlow's hatred of the pirates and his inflammatory speech about supposed Ruathym atrocities against the sea elves. He described the battle, the incredible fury of the young berserker theyd faced, and Hrolf's grief at the discovery of the dead sea elves. "We had nothing to do with the death of these elves," Caladorn concluded earnestly, "yet the Ruathen captain gave us no opportunity to speak."
"Hrolfis impulsive," Xzorsh admitted, "and protective of the People."
"And now that you know our story, what will you do?" The ranger pondered the matter. "My first duty is to the sea folk. I must learn who killed my people and why. When i can, i will send word to the merfolk of Waterdeep; perhaps they will see to your rescue."
"Then you also condemn us to death," Caladorn protested. The merfolk were capricious-they both knew thatand Waterdeep lay several days' travel to the southeast.
"These men are wounded, some badly. We have no food and very little water. The merfolk-if they come at all-will be too late."
Xzorsh nodded his agreement of this assessment. "There is a group of small islands not too far from here. No humans make their home there, but you can survive there well enough until rescue comes."
The sea elf put both hands to his mouth and let out a high, piercing cry. There was a moment's silence, and then two gray fins cut through the water toward them. Caladorn instinctively reached for his empty scabbard.
"Not sharks," Xzorsh assured him. "These are dolphinsfriends of the sea elves. They will pull you to safety faster than you could sail or row."
As Caladorn watched, intrigued, Xzorsh spoke with the creatures in a language of clicks and squeals. The sea elf took two ropes of braided reeds from his belt, tied one end of each to the boat and knotted the other into a loop. These he tossed to the dolphins. The creatures deftly caught the loops with their pointed snouts.
"i will travel with you throughout the night," the elf promised. He took a long knife from his belt and handed it to the human. "There are many dangers in these waters, some that i myself do not yet understand. You may have need of this."
Before Caladorn could speak, the ranger slapped the water sharply. It was a signal, apparently, for the dolphins set off toward the west, easily pulling the small craft. When the first rays of the sun touched the surface of the water, Xzorsh turned back toward the pirate ship. There was no real urgency, now that he knew the nature of Hrolf's summons. Nor would the pirates be expecting him any sooner. He did not wish to explain why he'd been following the ship, or give words to his suspicions concerning the drow.
Never before had Xzorsh seen a drow take to the sea, and he doubted that this female had done so for a noble purpose. His people had suffered enough at the hands of the evil drow; Xzorsh was determined to do whatever he could to ensure that they would come to no further harm. Even if the drow in question was under his pledge of protection.
Life's answers usually came easily to the young ranger, and the lines between what was good and what was evil usually ran straight and clear. But for once Xzorsh found himself wondering if things were truly as simple as he had always believed.
*****
The morning hours passed slowly aboard the Elfmaid. There was little for the crew to do but await the arrival of the sea-elven ranger. The presence of the dead sea elveseven now that they were tucked discreetly in the hold-was a damper on the usually high spirits of the Ruathen sailors.
Fyodor did his best to distract them with tales of his homeland-0fthe place spirits that