The Temptation of Elminster - Ed Greenwood [122]
"You'll find, lord," the hulking guard added, "that…"
"Lhaerom," one of his fellow guards snapped, "fresh trouble." Without another word the guard turned away from the Lord of the House and ducked back out onto the balcony. The priest took two steps after him…only to find a guard barring his way. "no, lord," he said, face carefully expressionless." Twouldn't be wise. Some of them are throwing stones."
Outside, the bright sun fell on the closed bronze doors of the House of the Ladystar. Many fists fell thereon, too, and the guards and gatepriest had long since stopped answering knocks and cries for aid. They paced anxiously back and forth inside the gate, casting anxious glances at the bolts and bars, wondering if they'd hold. All of the spikes that could be found in the temple cellars had long since been driven between the stones to wedge the doors against being forced inward. The bright marks on those spikes told how often this morning the doors had already been sorely tested. The priest licked dry lips and asked, for perhaps the fortieth time, "And if this all gives way? What…"
The guard nearest him waved violently for him to fall silent. The priest frowned and opened his mouth to snap an angry response, then his eyes followed the guard's pointing hand to the doors and his jaw dropped almost to chest.
A man's hand was protruding through the bronze, magic crackling around his wrist where it passed through the thick metal. It was gesturing, forming the hand signs used between clergy of Mystra when enacting silent rituals.
The priest watched a few of them, then hissed, "Stay here!" and went pounding up the steps to a door that led into the barbican. He had to get onto that balcony…
The hands of the tall man in the black cloak were trembling as he drew them back from the doors. He knew he'd been seen and knew the mood of the crowd pressing in behind him. "It's no use," he said loudly. "I can't get in."
"You're one of 'em, though, aren't ye?" a voice snarled, close by his ear.
"Aye, I saw him…used a spell, he did!" put in another, high with fear and anger…or rather, the angry need to lash out.
The man in the black cloak made no reply, but looked up at the balcony in desperate hope.
It was rewarded. Two burly guards came into view with long pikes in their hands…pikes fully able to reach down, into, and through anyone standing near the gate…and asked gruffly, more or less in unison, "Yes? You have lawful business in this holy house?"
"I do," the man in the black cloak told them, ignoring the angry mutterings that rose in a wave after his words. "Why are the gates closed?"
"Great doings on high demanding contemplation on the part of all ordained servants of Mystra," the guard thundered.
"Oh? Is there an orgy going on in there, or just a pig-wallowing feast?" someone called from the thick of the crowd, and there were roars of agreement and derision. "Aye, let us in! We want some too!"
"Begone!" the guards bellowed, straightening to face the entire crowd.
"Does Mystra live?" someone cried.
"Aye!" Others took up the call. "Does the goddess of magic yet breathe?"
The guard looked scornful. "Of course she does," he snarled. "Now go away!"
"Prove it!" someone yelled. "Cast a spell!"
The guard hefted his pike. "I don't cast spells, Roldo," he said menacingly. "Do you?"
"Get one of the priests…get 'em all!" Roldo called.
"Aye," someone else agreed. "And see if one of them… just one of them…can cast a spell!"
The roar of agreement that followed his words shook the very temple walls, but through it the man in the black cloak heard one of the guards mutter, "Aye, and make it a good big fireball, right about there."
The other agreed, not smiling.
"Look," the man in the black cloak said to them, "I must speak to Kadeln. Kadeln Parosper. Tell him it's Tenthar."
The nearest guard leaned over. "No, you look," he said coldly. "I'm not opening these gates for anybody… short of holy Mystra herself. So if you can come back holding hands with her, and the two of you asking very