Thornhold - Elaine Cunningham [52]
Bronwyn sat, settling down on a suspiciously familiar basket. She swallowed the lump that rose in her throat. “I have a few questions for you, too.”
“They’ll have to wait. Please listen well. This is not easy to say, and I’d hate to have to repeat any of it.”
“Go on,” Bronwyn said cautiously. She gripped the edges of the basket so tightly that the wicker edges bit into her still-sore palms. This response was the last thing she’d expected from Alice. The gnome was always calm, competent. Never show them what you’re thinking, Alice had often cautioned Bronwyn; this was a rule that governed all their business dealings and, it would seem, their dealings with each other. But for the moment at least, Alice had cast aside her own rules. The gnome’s slightly prominent eyes glistened with tears, her face was drawn and pained, and her form shook with emotion too strong to repress. In short, Alice was a precise mirror for what Bronwyn herself was feeling.
“Child, you’re not the only Harper in this shop. I was assigned to watch and protect you, without telling you why. I didn’t know why, until recently, other than a general knowledge of who and what I was to look out for. But the pot is heating up…“ In a few terse words, the gnome told her what Khelben had said about the Zhentarim, the paladins, and the family artifacts.
As Bronwyn listened some of the pain of betrayal seeped away, but her determination was stronger than ever. “I need to go to Thornhold,” she said. “I have to see my father.”
“Of course you do, child.” The gnome looked at her shrewdly. “But that’s what they expect you to do. There might be problems. Unless, of course, we can distract them.”
Bronwyn nodded as a plan started to fall into place. But one question remained. She met and held Alice’s gaze. ‘We?” she asked pointedly.
“We,” the gnome said firmly. “You do what you must, and I’ll help you however I can.” Alice hesitated, then held out her hand, offering both an apology and a pact.
A clasp of the wrist, Harper to Harper. Bronwyn understood the gesture and found it inadequate to what Alice offered and what they shared. She struck the tiny hand aside. Before the shock in Alice’s eyes could turn to hurt, she gathered the little gnome into her arms. The two women clung together in a brief, fierce embrace.
After a moment Alice cleared her throat and drew back. “Well, I’d better go see what Shopscat is squawking about,” she said hurriedly, dashing the back of her hand against her eyes.
“Good idea,” Bronwyn replied, though she had not heard the raven’s raucous voice since they’d left the shop. A fond smile curved her lips as she watched the gnome scurry out to the shop. Then she wiped her eyes and climbed the back stair to her room, to collect her thoughts and to prepare for the trip ahead.
* * * * *
The small sea cave, located to the south of the Stone-shaft tunnels by a half day’s brisk walk, measured six paces from side to side. Ebenezer marked off the width again, then again, pacing distractedly as he considered his predicament.
It wasn’t much of a cave. Exceedingly small, it was littered with dried seaweed, crab claws, and broken shells. Various mussel-like critters clung to the stone walls and ceiling, and the floor was a combination of cliff rock and ocean sand. Not exactly homey by the dwarf’s standards, but it served him now as a combination haven and prison. The large boulder he’d shoved into the opening nearly covered the mouth of the cave, keeping it secure-for now. Ebenezer wasn’t sure what he’d do when the tide came in. Drown, most likely. He could hear the sea and even smell its salty tang, though that was hard to do over the much closer and far more foul aroma outside.
“Off the chopping board and into the stew pot,” Ebenezer muttered. It was a dwarven clichй, but since it fit the situation so perfectly he thought he could maybe get by with using it, just this once.
Glumly he reviewed the steps that had led him to this predicament. He’d survived the drop from the ledge onto solid stone below just fine and had kicked his way out of the splintered