The Lost Library of Cormanthy - Mel Odom [81]
"Of course."
"Thanks." Baylee tossed the coin purse over to her, then turned his attention back to the model he was reassembling. "Feel free to have them get you anything you'd like as well. But I recommend this plate."
Cordyan sent for a watch officer and bade him go to the Emerald Lantern. Hardly had he gone when Baylee called for her.
"I think I have it," the ranger said.
"Have what?" Cordyan crossed the room, stepping over loose debris and
blackened boards.
"Where Golsway's interests lay," Baylee said, "if not exactly what he was searching for."
Cordyan studied the mound of grass-green papier mache piled on the floor in front of Baylee. "And what do you think it is?"
"Where it is," Baylee reiterated. "You've heard of the Greycloak Hills?"
"Of course." Cordyan was intrigued. The Greycloak Hills were a known destination for adventuring bands.
"In years past," Baylee said, making a final adjustment to some of the papier mache pieces he'd fit together, "the Greycloak Hills were called the Tomb Hills. Tombs from the Fallen Kingdom were spread throughout those hills. Many valuable artifacts were found there. Golsway and I went on three major expeditions to the area. Never did we return empty-handed."
Cordyan surveyed the model he'd assembled. "How do you know this wasn't an old representation of one of those excavation sites?"
"Because we never found anything in the Greycloak Hills that Golsway would have put on exhibition," Baylee answered.
"And this is new?" she asked.
"I've never seen it here."
"You believe that Golsway was interested in a new dig site in the Greycloak
Hills?" Calebaan asked.
"No." The ranger pointed out identifying landmarks. "This is a very old one, one of the very first. More than a hundred years back, the exact year is open to some conjecture, an adventuring party under the leadership of Bulwgar Helmm journeyed there and discovered enough in treasure to help open the floodgates of tomb raiders that slipped into the area."
"You believe that Golsway discovered something that had been missed in the earlier excavation?" Cordyan asked.
"That fits this scenario." Baylee shifted, trying to find a place that fit him more comfortably.
Cordyan understood his motivation. She was tired of staying inside the house, wearied from standing so much in one spot. And she'd not been hunkered over the little pieces of models for hours.
"Those early excavations were purely cursory," Baylee said. "Groups charged into the area and took what they could find. A number of hidden
areas were missed."
"You didn't find Golsway's journal, did you?"
Baylee shook his head. "You've been with me the whole time. Did you see me find it?"
"No." Cordyan stared at the model, willing it to make sense. Only it sat there. "I need to be better convinced of the authenticity of your claim."
"All right. In the north ward, you'll find a mapmaker," Baylee said. "His name is Yassit Daggle. For a price, you can persuade him to come here with his topographical maps and confirm what I'm showing you. This section of the Greycloak Hills is quite distinctive to someone who's been there."
Cordyan glanced at Calebaan, silently seeking his advice.
"I know of Daggle," the watch wizard said.
"If his fee is a consideration," Baylee put in, "I'll gladly pay it myself."
"No," Cordyan replied. "The coffers of Waterdeep and the Watch are not so shallow that they cannot cover a mapmaker's expense."
"Good. I'll need him here, and whatever latest maps of the area he might have to make a better guess about what Golsway was after."
"The elves from Evereska have taken over the lands of the Greycloak Hills of late," Calebaan said. "There is much speculation that they have discovered sources of magic, and perhaps even treasures, that have not yet been found."
"Everyone connected with this has displayed a vast resource of magic," Baylee said quietly.
Cordyan held