The Temptation of Elminster - Ed Greenwood [161]
Elminster knelt on the cold stone as the slithering, tentacled bulk drew nearer… and nearer. With almost indolent ease a long, mottled blue-brown tentacle reached out for him, leathery strength curling around his throat. Icy flames of fear surged up his back, and El trembled as the tentacle tightened almost lovingly.
"Mystra," he whispered into the darkness, "I…"
A memory of holding a goddess in his arms as they flew through the air came to him unbidden, then, and he drew on the pride it awakened within him, forcing down his fear. "If I am to die under these tentacles, so be it. I've had a good life, and far more of it than most."
As his fear melted, so did the slithering monster, melting into nothingness. It hung like clinging smoke around him for a moment before sudden light washed over him. He turned his head to its source…and stared.
What his eyes had told him was probably a bare stone wall, though the cloak of gloom made it hard to see properly, was now a huge open archway. Beyond was a vast chamber awash in glowing golden coins, precious statuary, and gems…literally barrels full of glistening jewels.
Elminster looked at all its dazzle and just shrugged. His shoulders had barely fallen before the treasure chamber went dark, all of its riches melting away… whereupon a trumpet sang out loudly behind him.
El whirled around to see another vast, grand, and warmly lit chamber. This one held no treasure, but instead a crowd of people… royalty, by their glittering garb, crowns, and proud faces. Human kings and scaled, lizardlike emperors jostled with merfolk who were gasping in the air, all crowding forward to lay their crowns and scepters at his feet, murmuring endless variations on, "I submit me and all my lands, Great Elminster."
Princesses were removing their gem-studded gowns, now, and offering both gowns and themselves to him, prostrating themselves to clutch at his ankles. He felt their featherlike fingers upon him, stared into many worshiping, awed, and longing eyes, then shut his own firmly for a moment to gather the will he needed.
When he opened them, an eternity later, it was to say loudly and firmly: "My apologies, and I mean no offense by my refusal, but…no. I cannot accept ye, or any of this."
When he opened his eyes, everything was melting away amid growing dimness, and off to his right another light was growing, this one the dappled dance of true sunlight. Immeira of Buckralam's Starn was gliding forward across a bright room toward him, her arms outstretched and that eager smile on her face, offering herself to him. As she drew near, shaping his name soundlessly on her lips, she pulled open the bodice of her dark blue gown…and Elminster swallowed hard as the memories rose up in a sudden, warm surge.
The sun fell through the windows of Fox Tower and laid dappled fingers across the parchments Immeira was frowning over. Gods, how did anyone make sense of such as this? She sighed and slumped back in her chair…then, in a sort of dream, found herself rising to glide across the room, toward its darkest corner. Halfway there her fingers began to pluck at her catches and lacing, to tear open the front of her gown, as if offering herself to…empty air.
Immeira frowned. "Why…?" she murmured, then abruptly shivered, whirled around, and did up her gown again with shaking fingers.
Her busy fingers clenched into fists when she was done, and she peered in all directions around the deserted room, her face growing pale. "Wanlorn," she whispered. "Elminster? Do you need me?"
Silence was her answer. She was talking to an empty room, driven by her own fancies. Irritated, she strode back to her chair… and came to a halt in mid-stride, as a sudden feeling of being watched washed over her. It was followed by a surge of great peace and warmth.
Immeira found herself smiling at nothing, as contented as she'd ever felt. She beamed at the empty room around her and sat back down with a sigh. Dappled sun danced across her parchments, and she smiled at a memory of