The Lost Library of Cormanthy - Mel Odom [59]
11
"What would the Waterdhavian Watch want with you, Baylee?"
The ranger shook his head at Serellia's question as he lounged in the shadows by a tree overlooking the table where Cordyan Tsald sat with one of her companions. The female watch lieutenant's name was already being passed rapidly throughout the forgathering after the axe throwing event.
"The only tie I have there is Golsway," Baylee answered. He watched a brief fluttering of leathery wings take to the air from a branch near Cordyan's head. Xuxa, what have you learned?
A lot of silly intrigues that are currently in vogue in Waterdeep, the azmyth bat answered. But nothing regarding you.
Baylee watched the woman, eating as unconcernedly as if she had a right to be there. He smiled. In a way, he found her behavior curious. And she had chosen the right way to set all the tongues wagging at the forgathering. As well liked as he was by most rangers who knew him, Baylee also knew he had people who disliked him, if they didn't count him as a definite enemy.
Aymric held up an arm. Xuxa landed neatly on it, hanging upside down. "A reward, dear Xuxa, for your daring efforts." He offered her a small piece of apple nut crunch.
Gossip collecting, you mean. Still Xuxa took the offered treat.
"They are deliberately not talking about you," Serellia stated.
"Well," Karg rumbled, standing beside them, "after the display I'm told she put on at the axe throwing contest, everyone else is talking about you."
"They came at you straight-away, my friend," Aymric pointed out. "If they had a fell purpose in mind, they would have waited for you outside the forgathering."
"Even then, that would not have been a wise move," Karg said. "Our sentries spotted them a full two hours before they arrived and had word sent back to Myndhl. He's in charge of security this year, you know."
Baylee did know. Myndhl was a forest runner like Vaggit, and several areas in the Dalelands named Myndhl as an outlaw. His largesse didn't necessarily stem from the coffers of Zhentil Keep as Vaggit's did. Many times over the years, Myndhl's victims had included the wealthier houses around the Dalelands whose only crime was success. As such a wanted person, Myndhl's security systems were elaborate.
"Then I suppose there's nothing to be done for it," Baylee said.
"What do you mean?" Aymric asked, peering through the branches.
"I'll go down there and kill the man sitting with the lieutenant," Baylee replied. "Then she'll talk."
"You're kidding," Karg rumbled.
"Yes." Baylee started out from the tree, aiming straight for the table where Cordyan and her companion sat. Heads turned as he passed by, and he knew that most of the rangers at the forgathering knew what was going on.
"Then what are you going to do?" Serellia demanded, rushing up to walk with him.
"I'm going to introduce myself and ask her what she wants."
"And what if she grabs you and teleports you out of here?" Aymric demanded, coming up on the other side of Baylee.
"That's why I'm here," a voice spoke out of thin air.
"Carceus?" Aymric asked. "Is that you, you old god-seller?"
"And whom else would it be?"
Looking in the direction of the voice, Baylee thought he saw a shadow ripple through the darkness at his side. Carceus Ravnei was a traveling cleric in the service of Gond Wonderbringer. He enjoyed friendships with a number of rangers due to his wandering travels trying to increase the number of followers of Gond in the Dalelands. His invisibility was due to some enchanted item that no one had quite nailed down over the years. The cleric had his secrets.
"Thank you for coming," Baylee said.
"After Xuxa's impassioned plea but a moment or two ago, how could I not come?"
Baylee watched as Cordyan's head came up. Her eyes held the color of newly worked copper still drawing some of the red of a fire into them. He stopped at the head of the table.
Cordyan stood up, her left hand drifting down to her sword hilt.
Baylee spread his hands, showing he was unarmed. "You were looking for me."
Xuxa fluttered through the night overhead,