The Dream Spheres - Elaine Cunningham [137]
"I think so," Danilo admitted. "Hard to tell, though. Everything hurts, and it's difficult to sort one thing from another."
"There is one sure way of finding out." Elaith seized the man's wrist and gave it a sharp, vicious tug.
Danilo let out a startled oath, then rolled his shoulder experimentally. "That worked," he said, surprised. "There isn't a better way?"
"Of course there is, but I'm of no mind to use it," the elf returned. "That cut on your arm needs attention. I can stitch it if you wish."
"With what? A fishhook?" Dan retorted. "Thank you, but I will await the healer." He paused. "You followed me. Why?"
Elaith considered what to say. The dream spheres were on the streets, sold to those who were likely to have knowledge that would aid the elf's chosen vendetta. He had picked up the dreams of one of these men, a hired sword who harbored a twisted desire to inflict pain on one of the city's privileged, wealthy men. Elaith had seen the man's mental image of his victim. Despite all that he had done, all that he was currently doing, Elaith could not allow a man he'd named Elf-friend to suffer this fate.
No, this was hardly the sort of explanation he could afford to give.
"Why were you following me?" persisted Danilo.
"Morbid curiosity?" the elf suggested.
"Very amusing," Danilo said dryly. "How did you know where to find me?"
"Not a difficult thing. I assumed you would go to confront Regnet Amcathra, considering that you two are longtime friends."
The man sighed and slumped lower onto the cot. "Of that, I am not so certain. The attack outside his house, so soon after I challenged him about his involvement in Lilly's death? I do not want to think ill of Regnet, but I no longer know whom to trust."
Elaith was silent for a long moment. "I saw Myrna Cassalanter leave. She looked angry. She is not without resources."
"She did threaten Regnet and me," Danilo admitted. "I suppose it is possible that she sent those thugs, although to date Myrna has limited herself to assassinating character."
"It is possible she took aim at your character, but missed so small a target," Elaith suggested pleasantly.
Danilo sent him a wry look. "Is that any way to address an Elf-friend?"
Elaith thought of the Mhaorkiira Hadryad. He could almost feel the heat of it, even though the stone was hidden. He could feel the compelling, twisting magic of the thing, and he answered from the heart. "I am doing the best I can."
* * * * *
In Arilyn's opinion, she had spent far more time in the company
of Waterdeep's merchant nobility than any sane person should have to endure. Yet here she was, standing at the magic-blackened gate to the Eltorchul manor.
Isabeau was connected with the theft of the dream spheres. How, Arilyn was not certain. By her own admission, the woman had been involved with Oth. Errya Eltorchul had let slip that her brother had been doing business with Elaith Craulnober. Perhaps she would let slip something else that would enable Arilyn to start piecing together an answer.
However, Lady Errya was not receiving visitors. The servant made a point of sniffing at Arilyn's lack of a calling card, then slowly scanned the guest registry, glancing up from time to time as if to underscore the fact that the half-elf was not listed among those the family expected or wanted to receive.
After a few minutes of this, Arilyn lost patience. She shouldered past the servant and stalked through the halls in search of the noblewoman. The suddenly frantic servant followed close on her heels, imploring her to see reason.
"That will do, Orwell," said a cold, female voice. "I will handle this."
The servant bowed deeply and hurried off, clearly glad to have shed himself of this responsibility.
For a long moment the two women faced each other in silence. "What do you want?" Errya Eltorchul demanded.
"Information," the half-elf replied.
The noblewoman