The Sea Devil's Eye - Mel Odom [94]
XX
3 Marpenoth, the Year of the Gauntlet
"The sahuagin destroyed the Ola, Aya, and Yea clan hatcheries at Es'rath over a month ago."
Pacys felt the horror and helplessness of the tale the locathah female told him. She called herself Tyhlly. Music tugged at the old bard's fingers, sending them quietly questing along the saceddar's gems. Though he didn't touch the inset gems, the notes filled his mind along with the images.
He sat on the ocean floor on a rise that overlooked the valley the sea elf caravan had come through only moments before. Taranath Reefglamor had ordered a brief respite until the scouts returned. The three older High Mages – including Yrlimn Tidark who had remained to himself studying ancient texts written on specially treated sharkskins-and the three new High Mages, sat with the bard and Khlinat. They talked with the locathah who'd come looking for Pacys.
During their long trip around the Pirate Isles, the locathah had maintained contact with the sea elf caravan. Most particularly, they'd maintain contact with Pacys. bringing him stories from all around Seros.
Despite the sea elves initial resentment of the locathah habitually seeking them out. the High Mages had recognized their value and even commented on their valor and loyalty. During some of the skirmishes they'd had with groups of koalinth. the locathah had even pitched in and fought.
Though they maintained contact with mages back in Sylkiir who routinely monitored Seros through crystal balls, there was much the sea elves missed. The locathah. however, were everywhere.
"Didn't the shalarin fight back?" High Mage Ildacer asked.
The locathah turned her attention to the sea elf and said. '"Yes, Lord High Mage." Tyhlly's deference to Ildacer was obvious, reflecting the locathah attitude toward the Alu'Tel'Quessir. "They fought, and they died. Over a thousand of the unhatched shalarin died as well."
"A thousand innocent deaths," Reefglamor whispered in a hoarse voice.
Pacys studied the Senior High Mage. During the long months of travel, the journey had marked Reefglamor with fatigue.
"If the merfolk had let us travel across the Hmur Plateau instead of having to go around it, mayhap we could have prevented those deaths."
"Better that you had not." Tyhlly stated.
"How can you say that?" the Senior High Mage demanded.
The locathah blinked her huge eyes and hesitated.
"I'm sure," Pacys interjected gently, "that she meant no harm by the statement."
"No harm. Lord Senior," Tyhlly said. "No harm intended at all. I give my life to Eadro and to improving our world in ways that will benefit all. I would not wish such a terrible thing on anyone." She paused. "I only meant that since the deaths at the hatcheries and the attacks on Es'rath, the shalarin now openly take up arms against the sahuagin. You have more potential allies in your quest."
"Aye," Khlinat growled. "She's got the right of it there."
"Why would the Taker attack the shalarin?" Ildacer asked. "He's already engaged a host of enemies above and below the sea."
No one seemed to have an answer. Pacys let his fingers wander across the saceddar, listening to the notes in his mind. Excitement filled him-he knew the fabled city of Myth Nantar was only a short distance away-but doubt lingered with him, too. So far there had been no word of Jherek, the boy he felt certain was the hero Xarros had told him about. He prayed to Oghma for guidance regularly, but there had been no definite course set other than the one he now followed.
Tyhlly broke the silence after a time. "There is a simple reason why he attacks the shalarin," she said.
"What?" Jhanra Merlistar asked.
"To take away further avenues