The Dream Spheres - Elaine Cunningham [36]
"It is my desire that the service at The Silken Sylph be without peer. If you have reason for complaint, speak, and the matter will be set right."
Oth snorted and held out his goblet for a refill. "So easy, is it? What was taken from me cannot be replaced."
Elaith began to see the shape of things. He poured a second goblet and waited until the mage had drained it.
"Perhaps it could be recovered."
"Hmph," scoffed Oth, but without much conviction. His face went slack with despair, as long and morose as a pack mule's.
"If you were robbed during your stay, then the reputation-and the profitability-of this fine establishment is at risk. Confide in me," Elaith said earnestly, "and I will ensure by any means available to me that your loss is made right, and avenged, if you are so minded."
Oth peered at him with drunken cunning. "No small foe," he cautioned. "The treasure was stolen while I slept, despite wards I myself placed."
The elf carefully hid his surprise and anger. He had anticipated a tale that pointed to a misplaced belonging. Guests were more inclined to ascribe their losses to theft than to their own carelessness, but the inn should have been protected against a theft. If Eltorchul's tale were true, Elaith's servants would answer for it.
"Do not concern yourself over the finding or the foe. Only tell me what is missing, and I will carry on from there."
"Some coins, perhaps a hundred platinum," Oth said in a sly tone. Elaith suspected the amount was probably a third of that. "A few pieces of jewelry: a gold ring, an embossed wrist bracer, also of gold. A ruby necklace set in silver filigree, with ear drops and rings to match."
Elaith pricked up his ears. "A lady was with you? Where is she now?"
"Gone," Oth said shortly. "She was most unhappy about her loss."
"I can imagine," the elf murmured, making a note to find out the identity of this lady. "Was that the extent of your loss?"
The mage hesitated. Indecision waged battle on his face, then gave way before the potent persuasion of greed and elven wine. "There was more. Dream spheres, at least a score of them."
"Dream spheres," Elaith repeated.
"Small crystal orbs," Oth explained. "They hold magic. A single illusion, which is experienced as a vivid dream in which the dreamer places himself."
Elaith had heard rumors of the things for quite some time now. They were becoming quite popular among the city's servants and mercenaries. The tale Arilyn told had raised enormous possibilities in Elaith's mind and convinced him to track these new magical toys to their source.
"An ingenious notion. I imagine many in this city would pay a small fortune for such a thing."
"Would and do," Oth boasted. He leaned toward the elf. "You offered to help. Find them. Return them. I'll make it worth your while."
Elaith tamped down a surge of elation. This was more of a concession than he had expected from the mage. Perhaps he could do better still. He tilted his head to one side as if considering. "I could do that, of course."
Apparently Oth was not entirely overcome by elven wine. His sharp-featured face became wary. "But?"
The elf smiled apologetically. "I am in business. When confronted with the potential for great profit, should I be content with a simple reward? No matter how generous that might be," he added in a conciliatory tone.
Oth considered the matter, and a sly smile stole across his face. "I have heard of your business affairs. You are not overly hampered by respect for law."
"Laws are admirable things and are often quite convenient. Just as often, they are not."
"Quite." Oth suddenly made up his mind. "You find the dream spheres. I will supply you with others. You will find channels through which these might be sold-channels so convoluted that the sales could not be traced back to me. This can be done?"
"You would be surprised how much business is transacted in this city in just such a fashion," Elaith said, speaking for the first time with complete