Tymora's Luck - Kate Novak [19]
"I'm pleased to meet you. Welcome to the Civic Festhall," Montgomery said to the bard. She did not seem to be taken aback by Joel's appearance, but smiled warmly at him.
Joel bowed. "Allow me to present my companions, Jasmine, and Emilo Haversack. Please excuse our interruption, but Holly led me to understand that you might allow me access to your portal to Arborea. We were hoping to travel there as soon as possible."
"Ordinarily we charge a fee for that, don't we?" Montgomery asked Annali. The bariaur adviser remained by the door, too curious to leave.
"An exchange of a sensation recording," Annali said. "An important one."
Joel hesitated. He was not shy about sharing his experiences with others; indeed, that was a large part of his training as a bard. He had already related his most important experience to Bits the bookseller, who had recorded it in a more traditional medium with paper and ink. Bits had then made a tidy profit selling the story as an adventure serial in three parts, and a small fortune selling the collected serials. Joel had been glad to see the tale get an audience, since it helped spread the word about Finder. Making a Sensate recording would guarantee an even larger audience, but there were things about the Sensates' recordings that disturbed the bard. They could be made by anyone, since there was no particular skill required of the person making a sensation recording. They were also said to be so real that those who played them back sometimes came to prefer them to the reality of their own lives.
"Is it true you were a companion of your god Finder for quite some time before he revealed to you that he was a god?" Da’nanin asked. "Yes," Joel admitted with a sheepish grin.
"That moment must have been quite wonderful for you," Da'nanin guessed. "It would be just the sort of thing we would love to have on a recording. But… you did say you were anxious to travel to Arborea as soon as possible. We'd be willing to send you through our portal now, and you can record for us when you return to Sigil."
The half-elf must have read Dits's book, Joel realized, and understood how he felt about Finder. Somehow that made the bard feel as if Da’nanin might be trusted. "Your offer is most gracious," Joel said. "I accept."
"Perhaps your companions would consider making a recording for us sometime as well," Montgomery suggested. She turned a winning smile on Jas and Emilo.
"Be glad to help out any way I can," the kender said with a low bow that sent his topknot sweeping the marble floor. "I've had lots of interesting experiences."
"And you, Jasmine? I'm sure you must have something to share with our audiences," Montgomery said.
"Not unless your audiences enjoy the feeling of being cursed by the gods and having their lives completely disrupted," Jas replied in a honey-sweet tone that mocked the factol's own, yet did nothing to cover her own bitterness.
Joel looked down at his feet, embarrassed by Jas's behavior, but Montgomery was completely unruffled by the winged woman's rudeness. "Some of them just might," she replied.
"Oh," Da'nanin said, "just one thing. In cases such as these, where someone owes us a recording, Annali usually insists we get a lock of hair or some such trifle as a token of good faith."
Joel nodded in agreement.
"Well, then," Annali said, "if you'll follow me, I'll take you to the portal."
"Thank you," Joel said, bowing low to the Sensates. Annali led the three visitors through a doorway in the back of the private reception hall.
When they had gone, Montgomery asked, "Cuatha, my love, what do we need with a lock of that young man's hair?"
"Give it to Ayryn," Da'nanin replied. "It will make it easier for her to scry for him."
"You clever, devious man," Montgomery said, tugging playfully on the half-elf s earlobe.
"Joel is a man of his word," Bors insisted. "He will honor the bargain. Why do you need to scry for him?"
"Bors, Bors," Montgomery laughed. "Think. Joel is going to Arborea. What is