Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [47]
"But your prayer was answered with magic," he persisted. Liriel shrugged. "if a goddess is willing to grant me power, i'd be a fool not to take it!"
"But at what price?" Fyodor asked earnestly. "Liriel, i have heard many terrible stories of the drow and their goddess. You have given me to know that these stories are but a dim shadow of the life you knew. If this is so, what good can possibly come from such as Lloth?"
The drow thought carefully before speaking, for such questions were new to her and the answers were still forming in her mind.
"Do you remember what Qilue Veladorn asked me, when we asked her and the other drow of Eilistraee's temple to help us get the Windwalker back? She asked why i wanted to retain my drow powers-and what i intended to do with them. I am learning that there are many things that can be done. Stopping Nisstyre and his nest ofVhaeraun worshipers was one. Through the power of Lloth, i learned that the spirits of these elves did not move beyond the mortal realm. They were trapped through sorcery: if Lloth grants me the chance and the power to free these elves, i will take it!"
"But Lloth is evil, is that not so?"
"Of course," Liriel said without pause. "But Lloth is also powerful, and so my people worship her. I used to scorn the drow's constant scrambling for more and more power, like so many silly dragons collecting ever bigger heaps of gold. But i'm starting to see that power is also a tool," she concluded thoughtfully. "if i have it, and use it to worthwhile ends, does the source of it truly matter?"
Fyodor shook his head, not certain how to answer. He was deeply gratified to see how far Liriel had come; these were hardly the sentiments of the spoiled drow princess he had met in the tunnels of the Underdark. From the beginning he had sensed Liriel's potential, and through his Sight had caught fey glimpses of a destiny that might well rival the mightiest of Rashemen's Witches. He was proud of her growth, and he could not find words to refute her reasoning. But still he was uneasy.
"Come," he said at last. "Let us tell Hrolfthat ibn sleeps in the hold. That will buy a little time, but we must figure out what to do next."
Liriel smiled her thanks and slipped her arms around his waist. "Devious, you are!" she said teasingly. "Given time, you might make a creditable drow!"
He returned her friendly embrace and quickly disengaged himself: Not so much, this time, from the temptation her nearness presented, but because of the admiration in Liriel's voice. He was not proud of the deception he'd suggested, but to Liriel such acts were worthy of praise. She took great pride in her heritage and considered comparing him to a drow the highest possible compliment.
Fyodor's feelings of confusion deepened when he listened to Liriel explain the matter to Hrolf, for she spun out the web of deception with obvious relish. He could not help but wonder how far Liriel had truly traveled from the tunnels of the Underdark, and the ways of Lloth.
Xzorsh did not reach the Elfmaid until the following dawn, for he saw no need to hurry. Although he already knew the reason for his summons, the sea elf listened carefully to Hrolf's recitation of the facts. He briefly considered telling the pirate where the surviVing seal hunters had taken refuge, but he knew there were no answers to be found there. The best Xzorsh could do for his slain kindred was to take them home to be buried with honor in the coral catacombs hidden deep in the sea. So he said nothing when Hrolf sent two men-his first mate, who was strangely groggy and the object of much teasing by his fellows, and the young warrior who'd killed the giant squid-0ut on a small boat to look for the adrift sailors. It was effort wasted, and it made Xzorsh's tasks as guardian more difficult, but the sea elf let it pass. He did not trust