The Lost Library of Cormanthy - Mel Odom [71]
Xuxa, he called. Bring me the circlet.
Are you sure?
Baylee came to a stop forty paces from the tree. He hoped it would be enough. Yes. He glanced at one of the nearby rangers, a young boy who trembled as he tried to stand still under a shuddering pitchblende torch. "Could I borrow your torch?"
The boy gave it without answering, then wrapped his arms around himself.
Xuxa hurled herself from the tree, dragging the heavy circlet after her. The skeleton warrior tracked the band instantly, abandoning the tree. It fell through the branches, plummeting toward the ground. When it hit, it sank into the
ground nearly to its knees from the weight and the height of the fall. A normal man's legs would have shattered.
Instead, the skeleton warrior put a hand against the ground and levered itself from the impromptu grave. An arrow glanced from its head, leaving a trail of silvery sparks behind to show that the arrowhead had possessed magic properties. Thin cracks blossomed in the undead creature's skull.
That creature will kill you to get this, Xuxa warned.
Baylee reached up as the azmyth bat let the circlet tumble from her claws. Gold flashed as it tumbled through the air, fired by the torches and lanterns the rangers brought with them. He caught the circlet, the metal cold under his fingers.
"It's coming," Karg stated.
14
Studying the circlet even with the skeleton warrior bearing down on him, Baylee felt drawn to it. The piece of jewelry was old, hundreds of years old. Sometimes when he touched something, he just knew. Most instances, when challenged to discover which was an actual artifact and which was a cleverly constructed replica, Baylee had picked the artifact every time. It wasn't just knowledge with him, and the aspect had fascinated even Fannt Golsway enough to attempt to find out how his young apprentice could be so accurate. No answers had presented themselves. It was a knack, Golsway had been forced to concur, just a small gift from Mystra, Lady of Mysteries, in fact as Golsway was wont to declare, maybe a small homage to her own title.
He turned the circlet in his free hand, noting the rune work inscribed in the metal. Only some of the characters looked at all familiar.
Baylee!
The ranger knew Xuxa referred to the growing proximity of the skeleton warrior, but he found himself loathe to let go his prize. The band felt heavy, solid, and so, so old. He had to wonder what stories the runes might tell if he could have time to decipher it.
But there was no time. The skeleton warrior ran at him, its great sword drawn back to strike.
"Tell me, Baylee, are we going to fight?" Karg asked.
You can't ask them for any more blood tonight, Xuxa counseled calmly. Not when there is an easy way out.
It's not so easy for me, Xuxa. Everything in my being cries out to hold onto this piece.
I know. But you can't. Not unless you're prepared to ask someone to die for it.
Baylee held the circlet tight in his fist. Karg had already taken a step in front of him, pulling the huge, double-bitted axe into readiness. There is an inscription here. What stories it could tell.
Xuxa flapped over and landed on Baylee's shoulder. The ranger knew she didn't like to stay upright. Even her slight weight was too much for her hind legs to maintain her balance. She laid over his shoulders like a cripple. A trail remains, Xuxa said. The female drow. Fannt Golsway's death. Someone here is covering something up. Something that may be awaiting you in Waterdeep. You've not even gone there yet.
And if there's not something waiting there and the trail ends here?
I have not often been wrong, Xuxa reminded gently. This trail will not end so quickly.
Baylee peered at the circlet, drawn deep into the hypnotic glint of it. But to lose this…
There have been other lost treasures. Else how would we find these adventures to go on?
Baylee looked up, seeing the skeleton warrior bearing down on him. The rangers nearby started