The Dream Spheres - Elaine Cunningham [97]
The answer to that, in Dan's opinion, was "not often enough." He and Arilyn had decided to go separate ways for much of the evening, assuming that Danilo's peers might be more forthcoming with gossip if the half-elf were not too close at hand. Her hearing was keener than any human's, so she could gather information in a different fashion.
Apart from talk of Haedrak's claim, most of the gossip Danilo had heard focused upon the party's hostess. He watched Galinda Raventree as she glided about the dance floor, deftly steering compatible guests toward each other and just as skillfully heading off possible confrontations. The woman was a marvel-he had often remarked to his fellow Lords that she would be a redoubtable diplomat.
His fellow Lords, was it? Danilo grimaced as he realized that he had yet to return the Lord's Helm to Piergeiron. So many other matters demanded his attention. He would be glad to get the city and its demands behind him and begin shaping his life in a pattern more to his liking.
This returned his thoughts firmly to Lilly and to the confrontation he intended to have with Lord Rhammas concerning duty to family-all members of that family, regardless of which side of the blanket they happened to be born on.
He handed his empty goblet to a passing servant and took off in search of his father. Not a difficult task-he merely followed the tang of pipe smoke to the room where Lord Rhammas and a dozen or so of his peers waged war with weapons of thick, painted parchment.
Danilo had never been one for cards, but courtesy demanded he wait and watch until Rhammas tired of the game. Finally the older man threw down a losing hand and announced his desire for air.
He did not acknowledge his son's tacit request for conversation, but he fell into step and they walked out to the garden together. Neither man spoke until Danilo was reasonably certain they would not be overheard.
"All has been done as you requested, sir."
The older man nodded. "Good. That's settled, then."
"After a fashion, yes. But I am curious: why has Lilly never come to light before? Did you not know of her?"
Rhammas sent him a quelling glance. "The matter has been handled. There are other, more important concerns to attend."
More important than a newfound daughter? Danilo did not speak the words, but he saw from the flash of anger in his father's eyes that he had not managed to keep the challenge from his face. Well, now that his opinion was known, he might as well be shorn for a sheep as for a lamb. "I cannot conceive of anything more important," Dan said softly.
"Then apparently you haven't heard of the raid upon the consortium's air caravan."
This was the first time his father had ever mentioned the family business in Danilo's hearing. The shock of this was quickly overtaken by the implication of his father's words. A feel of cold, creeping dread threaded its way through Danilo's irritation.
"The caravan was a joint effort among several of the noble families," Rhammas explained, oblivious to his son's stunned reaction to this news. "Fine cargo-gems, swords, small statues, and the like-were flown to Silverymoon, with the intention of bringing back more of the same."
Danilo's mind raced with dire possibility. Foremost among them was Bronwyn's safety. She had sent him word that she planned to join an air caravan organized by the Ilzimmer and Gundwynd families, in which both Elaith Craulnober and Mizzen Doar, the crystal merchant, had purchased passage.
"Flown," he repeated.
Rhammas took this single world as a question. "Griffons, pegasi, large birds. Ingenious notion, but we all warned Lord Gundwynd that he stood to lose a fortune should things go awry. Those beasts were at least as valuable as the cargo they carried."
"Were?"
This time Danilo did intend the question. The attack must have been devastating, if some of these fierce beasts had been lost in the fighting!
His father either missed the question or chose not to dwell upon such unpleasantness. "I must say, this economy