The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [24]
"According to Ruskettle, Alias is up in Shadowdale now," Sudacar said.
"Really? Maybe I ought to bop off a letter to His Majesty about that," Giogi said.
"Let me handle it. According to Ruskettle, Alias was working for Elminster. Vangy ought to know that before he tries making any more trouble for the lady."
Giogi grinned. He wondered if a wizard as powerful as Elminster could make Vangerdahast as nervous as Vangerdahast made him.
"So how'd you like Westgate? I noticed you got yourself a pair of dodders. Won't get a better pair of boots anywhere in the Realms, not even in Waterdeep."
"Got one of these, too," Giogi said, pulling out the yellow crystal from the top of his boot.
Sudacar sat up more attentively. "Boy, where did you get that?" he asked.
"Found it lying in the mud just outside Westgate."
"Found it lying-" Sudacar's words halted. He looked flabbergasted. "Boy, that's a finder's stone. I know, because Elminster himself loaned me one once."
"What's a finder's stone?"
"It's a magic crystal. It helps the lost find their way."
"But I'm not lost," Giogi said.
Sudacar gave the nobleman a queer look. "Maybe you better hang onto it, just in case."
"Oh, I intend to. I like it. It makes me-this is going to sound silly-"
"It makes you feel happy," Sudacar said.
"Yes. How'd you-oh, right, you said you had one once." Giogi tucked the crystal back into his boot.
"Tell me more about Westgate. Things are shaking down there, I hear."
Giogi nodded. "A dead dragon fell on their city just before I arrived, followed by an earthquake the day after. Then there was a power struggle going on for the property and business of some sorceress and her allies. A woman named Cassana, the Followers of Moander, and the Fire Knives all were missing after the earthquake."
"The Fire Knives. Now that is good news. I remember the year His Majesty broke their charter for the murder of that scullery maid. Ever since Azoun sent the thugs packing they've been a threat to him. May they stay missing," he toasted and took another swig of ale.
Giogi did likewise. The warmth of the ale augmented the warm, comfortable feeling he had in Sudacar's company.
Giogi and Sudacar drank and compared stories about Westgate until Lem stood over them and coughed politely. Giogi looked up and realized that the other tables and booths were empty, and Lem's waiters were stacking the chairs and benches.
The two noblemen were the last customers in the tavern, and Giogi suspected Lem had staved open well after hours just to oblige Sudacar. Sudacar left a small pile of gold lions on the table, stood, and led the way to the door. Giogi stumbled after him.
Many of the streetlamps had burned all their day's oil and expired or been blown out by the wind, but the waxing moon gave the two men plenty of light to see their way. They crossed the market green together and halted beneath the statue of "Azoun's Triumph."
"You know," Giogi said, "you let me babble on so long, you never had a chance to tell me about my father."
Sudacar grinned. "It's part of my fiendish plot. Now you have to visit me another night," he said.
"I'd like that," Giogi said.
"We'll keep an eye out for your purse, too. You really ought to get yourself an enchanted one, you know. The kind that makes some noise if it's touched by someone else."
"It was enchanted. Trouble was, I kept leaving it places, so whenever the servants found it anywhere and touched it, there was a big fuss. Uncle Drone fixed it so it would do something only if someone besides myself actually opened it."
"What was it supposed to do?"
"I think Uncle Drone said it would make a fool or something out of the thief."
"Well, I'll tell my men to keep an eye out for any fools."
Giogi giggled. "I'd hate to end up arrested for the theft of my own purse."
Sudacar gave a disapproving frown and pointed a finger at Giogi. "You shouldn't put yourself down like that, boy. His Majesty wouldn't have entrusted