The Coral Kingdom - Douglas Niles [59]
"At least we have an afternoon tide," Brandon noted, from down the table. He leaned forward and grinned at Keane. He obviously enjoyed the mage's exchange with Alicia.
"I'll be ready," Keane promised, his tone more grim than he intended. He saw Alicia looking at him curiously. Was that concern on her face or annoyance?
Servingmaids brought more pitchers of ale and a few bottles of Calishite rum. They drank toasts with the latter and washed down the rum with the former.
As they talked and ate, Keane found his eyes drawn to Brigit. The elfwoman was mostly silent, speaking only in answer to questions, and then in a soft tone that precluded further discussion in the crowded hall.
She really is beautiful, he realized. For once, the sister knight did not wear her silvered plate mail. Her petite form, clad in a gauzy dress, seemed almost frail by comparison to the robust, though hardly large, Alicia. Both of them had light-colored hair, but Alicia's was tinged with red and long, carelessly bound with a scarf that left many rogue strands free to tickle her cheeks and sweep across her shoulders. Brigit's, on the other hand, curled softly in a much shorter cut. When she wore her helm, none of the thin strands, as yellow as spun gold, were visible. Though the elfwoman didn't bind it in any visible way, her hair lay soft and lightly curling against her scalp, hiding the tips of her pointed ears and accentuating the delicate shape of her features.
Brigit joined Alicia for each toast, and as the evening wore on, the two females grew louder and more boisterous. Gradually the sister knight's elven reserve dropped away, and when she and Alicia joined Tavish for a ribald chorus of "The Murderous Maid," the whole hall resounded with cheers.
"Humans!" cried Brigit, slowly stifling her laughter as she settled back into her chair. "I wouldn't have believed it, but your festive spirit is catching!"
"Obviously," murmured Deirdre, too quietly for anyone but Keane to hear. The mage cast a quick look at the princess, who had been silent during the course of the dinner.
"You should try it," Keane couldn't resist pointing out.
Deirdre looked at him frankly, her lip curling into a faint sneer. "Some of us have more important things to do."
Keane looked at his former student with concern. The chaos of the banquet was not the place to talk with her. Tomorrow, he told himself-before we sail-I will speak with her. She hasn't listened before, but perhaps…
"…when the firbolgs saw the Sisters of Synnoria ride over the hill, their faces dropped into every expression of astonishment you could imagine." Keane looked up, realizing that Queen Robyn was relating the story of the battle of Freeman's Down, the first time she and Tristan had fought with the aid of Brigit and the sister knights.
"It was a costly day," continued the queen, her voice dropping sadly. "Many brave Ffolk perished at the ditch, and one of the knights, fell, too. But we held them."
"Just as we'll hold them now," concluded Alicia softly. "May the goddess protect our efforts!"
* * * * *
Through the mirror of scrying, Talos watched the development of the humans' plans. Many options existed for thwarting those plans. Naturally the one he selected called for the use of his favorite avatar. Coss-Axell-Sinioth, now dwelling as master of the Coral Kingdom, would again serve his god in Corwell.
The command of Talos penetrated the depths of the sea, tickling the evil brain of his avatar as Sinioth lolled among the coral pillars of his submarine grotto. The giant squid oozed upward from the bottom, into the pale green of the shallows, as if here it could better absorb the message of its evil god.
"Arise, Coss-Axell-Sinioth, and hear the words of your master!"
"Speak, O Awesome One, and I obey!"
"You will again don the guise of a man," ordered Talos. "And quickly. You must go ashore in Corwell. There is a task you must do for me there…"
When Sinioth heard the wishes of Talos, he could only gurgle in appreciative glee.
9
Corwell Town