The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [24]
Kail nodded to the half-elf. Cesira climbed the boulder and sat cross-legged atop it.
You're both late, she said.
"Our fault completely," said Laerin. "We lost Kail's trail thanks to your superior forest skills… and Morgan dropped the emeralds."
"Found 'em again, didn't I!" Morgan huffed. He reached inside a pouch and pulled something out in his fist. He hurled the object-a small, dirt-encrusted bundle of linen-at Kali.
Kail recognized it at once. It was the same bundle he'd unearthed with his father's sword from the cemetery in Esmeltatan. One end was torn open. Kail could see twin points of green glittering against the white linen: two more emeralds- flawless stones matching the gem in his father's sword.
"You stole them?" he asked incredulously.
Don't let their doltish appearances fool you, said Cesira. These huts are well known-and wanted-burglars in the finer districts ofWaterdeep, Arabel, and gods know where else.
"Those baubles would have kept us comfortable for several winters," Morgan complained.
"He's right," Kail said, fingering the stones. He fought down his instinctive anger at Morgan's theft and instead looked at Laerin. "Why didn't you keep them?"
"Because you're going to need them," Laerin said. He nodded at Cesira. "They speak, much like your lady's stones."
Kail felt his neck grow warm, but he refused to be distracted by the half-elf s teasing. "Show me."
Laerin took one of the emeralds back, fisting it in the palm of his hand. "Morel," he said aloud. He waited a beat, then raised the stone to his mouth and spoke a handful of words in
Elvish. Kali did not understand any of them. A breath later, Kali looked down at his sword in surprise. The emerald in the hilt glowed, luminous against the platinum veins.
"Touch the stone in your sword and speak your family name," Laerin instructed him.
Curious, Kali did as he said and felt the emerald grow warm. He heard Laerin s Elvish speech coming from the stone, a perfect echo of what the half-elf had said. An instant later, the words repeated, this time in Common.
Friends in the dark.
Kali lowered his weapon. "I had no idea the stones were linked."
"No matter the language, the gems will translate. They have another power," Laerin said. He dropped the second emerald in Kail's open hand. "Anyone who possesses one of the emeralds can locate the other two at any time, no matter the distance."
"Been tracking you since you left the hut," said Morgan.
"What does the message mean?" Kali asked, still watching the half-elf. "Friends in the dark?"
"Means diggers," Laerin said. He winked at Kali.
"Nothing wrong with digging," Morgan agreed.
Kail looked up at the boulder, but Cesira had gone.
"She's rejoined the druids," Laerin explained. "But she'll be back." He pushed off the rock. "We should go. Garavin will be waiting."
Kail held the sparkling emeralds in his hand. The forest was eerily quiet, tense and uncertain in the wake of the goblin battle. In the distance, fires still burned.
It would take a long time, Kail thought, but eventually the fotest would look as it had before. Maybe it would be stronger for all the damage it had suffered. Kail wondered if he would see the mist stags again.
Turning, he followed Morgan and Laerin back to Garavin's hut.
CHAPTER 8
Esmeltaran, Amn 2 EUint, the Year of
the Banner (1368 DR)
Three years later, the house looked exactly as he remembered it.
Kali expected to meet the bulk of the resistance at the door, but there was only one guard, a skinny, tired-looking man who stood by the window, with a fist stuck in his mouth to stifle a yawn.
Kail slid around the side of the house, beneath the windows facing the front hedgerows. He came up behind the guard and clipped him on the back of the head with the pommel of his sword. The guard crumpled; Kail caught him under the armpits and dragged him into the shadows behind the bushes.
Returning to the door, he took out the set of lockpicks Laerin had given him and set to work. He hadn't nearly the half-elf s skill, but what he lacked in grace he made up for