The Temptation of Elminster - Ed Greenwood [144]
Elminster opened his mouth to say something, his eyes alight with eager fire, but Saeraede held up a hand to stay his speech, and added, "You asked of a hazard? There is one, and 'tis thus: long years must have passed since I was bound here, for my powers have faded indeed. I can awaken one rune, and no more. To open another will destroy me…and all of the magic stored here will drain away and be lost, it cannot persist without me."
"So there is no way to see the spells Karsus stored here…or at least, more than one foursome of them?"
"There is a way," Saeraede said softly, her eyes on his. "If you use that last spell I spoke of, not to give me gills or a tail, but to pass magical strength into me… the magic of another spell that heals, or imparts vitality, or places the vital, flowing power of Art in items, to recharge them. All of these should work."
Elminster frowned in thought. "And we must bide here a month, to see the rune that holds that spell?"
Saeraede spread her hands. "You freed me and woke the first rune. I am yet able to awaken a rune, now… and I owe you my very life. Would you like to see the rune I spoke of, which holds the spell that will let me live to unlock the others for you?"
"I would," El said eagerly, striding forward.
Saeraede rose from the throne and held up her hands in warning.
"Remember," she said gravely, "you'll see Karsus instructing himself how to cast those spells, and the rune will then be dead forever, its spells…spells neither you nor any living mage may now be able to cast…lost with it."
She took two slow steps away from Elminster, then turned back to face him, pointing down at the rune. "If you want to preserve its power and be able to view it again hereafter, there is a way… but it will call greatly on your trust."
Elminster's brows rose again, but he said merely, "Say on."
Saeraede spread empty hands in the age-old gesture traders use to show they are unarmed, and said gently, "You can channel energy into the rune through me. Touch me as I stand upon the rune, and will your spell to seek the rune as its target. The bindings set within me by Karsus will keep me from harm and deliver the fury of your magic into the rune. One powerful spell ought to do it… or two lesser ones."
The eyes of the last prince of Athalantar narrowed. "Mystra forfend," he murmured, raising a reluctant hand.
"Elminster," Saeraede said beseechingly, "I owe you my life. I mean you no harm. Take whatever precautions you see fit…a blindfold, bindings, a gag." She extended her arms to him, wrists crossed over each other in a gesture of submission. "You have nothing to fear from me."
Slowly, Elminster stepped forward and took her cold hand in his.
Nineteen: More Blood Than Thunder
The thunder of a king's tongue can always spill more blood than his own weight in gold before dawn the next morning.
Mintiper Moonsilver, Bard
from the ballad Great Changes Aborning
first performed circa The Year of the Sword and Stars
Saeraede's touch was cold…colder than icy rivers he'd plunged into, colder even than the bite of blue glacial ice that had once seared his naked skin.
Gods! Elminster struggled to catch his breath, too shocked even to moan. The face so close to his held no hint of triumph, only anxious concern. El stared into those beautiful eyes and roared out his pain in a wordless shout that echoed around the cavern.
It was answered a moment later by a greater roar, a rumbling that shook the cavern and split its gloom with a flash of light…a flash that made all of the runes briefly catch fire, and sent a slim, stealthy figure shrinking back hastily into its crevice, unregarded.
One of her best spells, shattered like a glass goblet hurled to stones…and it could not be any doing of this helpless, shuddering mage in her hands. Oh, dark luck rule: were there spells on a Chosen that called for aid by themselves?
Saeraede