Tymora's Luck - Kate Novak [115]
Da'nanin looked unhappily about the sensorium, which had become the center of the investigation. The air had become stale with the odor of unwashed bodies. Dirty dishes and empty cartons of food were strewn about the floor. Since Ayryn was no longer broadcasting her sensations, several of the Sensates got up to leave, but just as many remained. Some sat down beside Quellig and listened as he described the activities of the Rebel Bard. A few curled up in a dark corner of the room to nap until someone woke them to tell them the next important development. Others hurried off to search for sources of information that might solve the mystery. The mystery had become a shared obsession.
The factol was standing off to one side of the sensorium, speaking in hushed whispers with Annali and Bors. The half-elf returned to Erin's side. A servant entered the room and handed a note to Annali.
Annali perused the missive and shared the information with the others. "One of my sources claims this god, Sirrion of the Flame, has his realm in the plane of Limbo. He is a power of complete neutrality."
"Well, if he's in Limbo, that could explain why Quellig failed in his attempt to scry for him," Da'nanin said. "It's nearly impossible to discern anything in the chaos of Limbo."
The rest of the information concerns the kender," Annali reported. "My source insists they do not have the power to become invisible naturally. Emilo must have some sort of magic artifact, probably a ring."
"I have watched very closely. The only ring he has is the one that protects him from fire," Cuatha insisted.
That is, assuming Emilo really is a kender," Bors said.
"Finder would know if he weren't, wouldn't he?" Annali asked somewhat uncertainly.
"Whatever he is, I'm prepared to wager that he is hiding something," Bors replied.
"Any explanation why the manifestation of Sirrion misguided the party by sending them into the fetch's lair?" Erin asked.
"No,"Annali admitted, "but Sirrion may have allied himself with Xvim in some effort to restore a balance between good and evil."
"We have no proof the flame manifestation was really Sirrion. The flame did not even actually claim to be Sirrion. It got the kender to guess, as if the flame could not lie,' Bors pointed out.
"Or was afraid the kender would recognize an outright lie," Cuatha Da'nanin suggested.
Kenda Fretterstag, having just left the sensorium a few minutes ago, reentered the room, with a smug look on her face. The statuesque blonde sauntered toward the group surrounding Montgomery. Bors had a strong suspicion he would not like whatever news the sorceress brought.
Erin Montgomery was more welcoming. "Kenda, I know that look. What have you brought for me?" the factol asked excitedly.
"There is a dark region in Lathander's realm," Kenda answered, "which defies all attempts to scry into it. Lathander goes in and out of it frequently."
"Perhaps that's where they are keeping Tymora," Bors suggested.
"Yes," Kenda agreed, "but why? What is it they don't want anyone to see?"
"That she is weakened?" Da'nanin suggested.
"Everyone already knows that. Her church in the Realms has more or less admitted there is a problem," Kenda countered. "Yet Lathander shields her from all eyes."
"What are you implying?" Bors asked suspiciously.
"Why, simply that Lathander has something to hide," Kenda insisted.
"Are you suggesting Lathander has something to do with this?" Bors demanded angrily. "Holly Harrowslough serves Lathander. He is a god of goodness and light."
"Yes, I know, Bors darling," Kenda replied. "I saw him hanging about Chauntea when we scried upon her. As I recall, she told him to get lost. That sort of suggestion always seems to annoy members of your sex. In my experience, men scorned in such a way either mope or try to get even."
"Not surprising, considering the kind of men in your experience," Bors retorted.
"Men