The Lost Library of Cormanthy - Mel Odom [132]
"Exactly," the baelnorn replied. "I'm glad you understand the situation. You'll also understand that we do not have much time. Krystarn Fellhammer and her hobgoblin army will be through the dimensional door she's been using to get into the library in the next few minutes. If you wait for very much longer, your chances of success are virtually non-existent."
"Maybe they'll be more non-existent if we go with you," Cordyan said.
"That's for you to decide. In truth, you are all humans, and I could care less if you all die in this endeavor. Myth Drannor and its environs should never have had to suffer the presence of humans, dwarves, or any of the other barbarian species that came into the City of Songs and drew her down." The baelnorn turned to the dimensional door at the end of the tunnel. "But I'm going. The only chance I see that you have is in finding the phylactery while Shallowsoul is engaged in keeping the library from being plundered by Krystarn's hobgoblin horde." Without another word, Scoontiphp ran into the dimensional door and promptly disappeared.
Baylee held up the lantern, making sure the baelnorn was gone. He took a fresh grip on the long sword and started forward.
"Wait," Cordyan said. "You aren't just going to walk through that after him, are you?"
Baylee looked at her, not believing she didn't feel the same excitement he did at venturing into the library. "Walking is safer than running, and I feel like running." He turned and kept going.
"Right behind you, lad," Cthulad said.
Calebaan came as well.
Baylee stepped into the dimensional door, watching how his leg abruptly truncated as it moved on into the next plane ahead of him. Still, he could feel it. And the air in the next room felt colder than even the breezes cycling through the caverns. He heard Cordyan naming men to guard the tunnel while they were gone.
Then he passed through the dimensional door, and for a time, he knew nothing. *****
In front of Krystarn Fellhammer, the dimensional door continued to flutter and spark, not quite opening and staying open. She grew aware of a presence at her side. Her attention strayed from the crystal ball she focused through, angry at the interruption.
"You'll never get through that on your own," Nevft Scoontiphp said as he stepped through the nearby wall.
"Did you come to gloat, ghost?" Krystarn asked sarcastically. "If so, perhaps we should see how much pain you can endure before you turn and run." She held up the morning star.
"I came to help you."
Krystarn studied the baelnorn's milk-white features, as fine-boned as her own face but with wrinkled skin instead of the smooth flesh she carried. "In what way?"
"To help you open that dimensional door."
"And what do you get out of it?"
Another earthquake shivered through the hallway like a snake dying of a broken back. Scoontiphp stood in the hallway, totally unmoved by the action though Krystarn was thrown from her feet along with the hobgoblin warriors standing in lines behind her.
"If Shallowsoul is not stopped," Scoontiphp replied, "he's going to bring all of the caverns down on us when he takes the library to the astral plane." He pinned her with his gaze. "Now, do you want help or not?"
"You can get us through this door?" Krystarn asked, regaining her feet.
"By helping you through the crystal ball? Yes. It won't be easy, but it can be done. I would ask one thing, though."
"And what is that?"
"Only your promise that-should you survive your encounter with Shallowsoul-you won't bother the crypts that are under my protection."
Krystarn wanted to laugh at the presumption of the baelnorn. "Foolish creature, what could you have that would be worth anything near as much as what I will find in the library?"
"Nothing," the baelnorn agreed readily. "But in your greed, you might not remember that at some future point. Though we can be allies through this, you will find I can be one of the worst enemies you've ever made, if need be."
"Agreed," the drow said. "I'll not touch your precious