Thornhold - Elaine Cunningham [134]
Briefly, the knight told the story of Algorind’s arrest and the ruse played on him by assassins who lured him into ambush. He also mentioned, much to Algorind’s chagrin, the theft of the young paladin’s horse by a dwarf known as Bronwyn’s companion. He told of her visit to Thornhold at the time of the assault, and her suspicious escape-doubly suspicious in light of the fact that the Zhentarim commander who took the stronghold was Bronwyn’s brother. Sir Gareth ended his litany by repeating that Bronwyn stole a valuable artifact belonging to the order.
Piergeiron absorbed this in troubled silence. “I have had information gathered on her, but none so dire as this. The young woman has an excellent reputation in her chosen business, and she appears to live a quiet life.”
“Yet she has interesting associates. A brother among the Zhentarim, a dwarf horse thief a rogue gnome. Did you know that Alice Tinker, the shopkeeper employed by Bronwyn, was once known as Gilanda Quickblade? She was a thief and ‘adventurer,’ later recruited to the Harpers.”
“I did not know this,” Piergeiron admitted.
“There is more,” Gareth continued. “A frequent visitor to her shop is a young nobleman, one Danilo Thann. Is he not the Harper involved with the new harding college?”
The First Lord nodded grimly.
“I must wonder what he wants with this Bronwyn. She is no bard. Either she is a lightskirt or a Harper.” Sir Gareth’s tone suggested that there was little difference between these two evils.
“I have met young Lord Thann on several occasions. He is exceedingly fond of gems and other fine things. Perhaps he merely purchases items from Bronwyn’s shop.”
Sir Gareth lifted his eyebrows. “Do you believe that?”
“No,” the First Lord sighed. “I will look into this matter and send word to you as soon as I can. Will that content you?”
“It does indeed. The word of Athar’s son is a bond that no steel can break,” Sir Gareth said heartily. He rose to leave, but hesitated. “There is one thing more. I have no wish to forestall any efforts your officials of law and order might wish to take, but may we also search for this woman ourselves and bring her to Tyr’s Hall of Justice to answer for herself? Will you trust me in this matter?”
It seemed to Algorind that Lord Piergeiron looked relieved to hear a question that could be answered simply. He rose and extended his hand in a pact. ‘Who could deny a brother paladin? And who could better dispense justice than Tyr?” he said heartily.
The two men, paladin and knight, clasped wrists in an adventurer’s salute. “Who indeed,” echoed Sir Gareth.
* * * * *
Bronwyn packed up Cara’s few belongings and prepared to deliver her to Blackstaff Tower. Cara appeared to take it in stride. It made Bronwyn proud to note how adaptable and resilient the child was.
What made this more remarkable was that the child had no true anchor other than her own inner strength. Cara would be fine, Bronwyn assured herself as she packed for the trip ahead, and that indeed seemed to be the case until they got to the base of the smooth, black wall that surrounded the archmage’s tower.
Bronwyn dismounted and went over to Ebenezer’s pony to lift Cara down. To her surprise, the child threw herself on the pack horse. She scrambled up onto the bundles and glared down at Bronwyn with a defiant, tear-streaked face. “I want to come with you!”
Bronwyn sighed. ‘We’ve been over this, Cara. You can’t. It will be very dangerous.”
“Take me with you,” Cara insisted.
“I’ll take you into the tower,” Bronwyn bargained. “And I’ll stay for some of Lady Laeral’s tea and biscuits. How’s that?”
The girl folded her arms and sniffed. “Not good enough.” Ebenezer elbowed Bronwyn. “Make a decent merchant, she would,” he said in a low, amused voice.
“You’re no help,” she muttered. She cast a look of appeal toward the smooth black stone on the tower, wondering if someone within could see her plight.
Her silent plea was quickly answered. Laeral emerged, walking through apparently solid stone and looking like a living waterfall. She was a tall woman, taller than most men,