The Lost Library of Cormanthy - Mel Odom [121]
Baylee shifted, reaching out to touch the gem with the crescent moon. "Corellon Larethian, of course, because all the elves set him above the others."
"Wait!" Cordyan said. "What if you have to pick them in a certain order?"
Baylee hesitated, his finger above the inset gem. "I've already figured on that. That's why Larethian has to be the first." He slid his finger across the gem's surface, tensing as he heard grinding on the other side of the wall. A moment later, it stopped. "So far, so good." He surveyed the other choices.
Labelas Enoreth has to be the second choice. Xuxa hung on the well wall nearby, her wings wrapped around herself. He was considered to be the teacher of the elves. The philosopher, as well as the ideal of elven thought and superiority over other races.
Agreed. Baylee let out a tight breath and touched the gem beneath the pictograph of the setting sun.
The grinding repeated itself, lasting longer this time. Then it faded away, echoing to the top of the well.
"The second was Enoreth?" Calebaan asked.
"Yes." Baylee wished the wizard would be silent and let him think.
"Hanali Celanil would probably be the third," the watch wizard yelled down.
"She was the goddess of elven beauty. Remembering the vases and other things you say Glitterwing collected, it would be a logical choice."
"You can't be logical in this business," Baylee called back, remembering words Golsway had spoken, "not and survive. You're generally dealing with madmen and zealous protectors who wanted to die and take their treasures
with them."
What would make Celanil important to Glitterwing? Xuxa asked.
Nothing, Baylee answered. Glitterwing wouldn't have been interested in beauty. Everything the ranger had read of the man suggested an iron-edged pragmatism.
What about the one that doesn't fit? Xuxa asked. Erevan Ilesere is the elven god of change and of rogues. Maybe Glitterwing intended it as a protest against what was being done by letting the humans and dwarves into Myth Drannor.
In a way, it made sense. Rillifane Rallathil is god of the wild elves. Glitterwing was a wild elf.
An acceptable answer, Xuxa said. However, there remains only one way to find out.
Wishing the Lady's blessing on his efforts, Baylee touched the gem beneath the oak tree pictograph.
Steel shafts plunged out of the mortar at Baylee. He let go the harness and plummeted down into the well a couple feet before stopping himself. The trident-trap set into the wall missed ripping into his flesh by less than a finger's breadth.
He stopped his fall by squeezing on the harness ropes and held his
position as the trident retracted into the wall.
"Baylee!" Cordyan yelled from above.
"I'm fine," he called back. With shaking arms and legs, he climbed back up to the pictographs. When the trap had retracted, it had also reset the gems. Well, we know the first two are right.
That only leaves four more possibilities, Xuxa replied. Do you think you can dodge them all?
A memory flooded into Baylee's mind as he touched the first two gems. Remember when we were attacked by the skeleton warriors? One of them got down on his knees and prayed. He gazed at the fletched arrow pictograph. And it was to Solonor Thelandira, not Rillifane.
You're assuming those skeleton warriors once knew Glitterwing, and that they shared religious beliefs.
They were also elves, someone who Glitterwing could have forced into servitude as skeleton warriors. If he was desperate, maybe he would have used his own people.
A slim case, at best.
I can't build one for any of the others, Baylee responded. His finger caressed the gem. When the grinding started again, he was already dropping, hoping to avoid the trident trap yet again.
But this time, the door in the side of the well opened into a yawning blackness.
25
"It's open," Baylee called out. He scrambled up the rope in the well, drawn by the mysteries waiting within the door. Hanging even with it, and no trident in sight, he held up the lantern.
A straight shaft, carefully mortised in to make smooth surfaces along the sides, led