Tymora's Luck - Kate Novak [20]
"Visit his god, perhaps. I believe Finder makes his home in that plane somewhere near Bright-" Bors paused, realizing what the factol had in mind. "You're hoping to scry and record their meeting," Bors said, realizing what the factol and her consort had in mind.
Montgomery nodded. "And who knows? Perhaps they'll visit Brightwater."
"Where Tymora makes her realm," Bors noted.
"Then we might get a glimpse of the elusive Realms goddess of good luck," Montgomery said.
Act One Scene 4
Jas slid her dagger blade across several strands of Joel's hair near the nape of his neck. "I can't believe you're doing this," she muttered to the bard. Joel gave her a weary smile as he retied his hair back up with a strip of leather.
They stood before a doorway in some dark, secret chamber. Annali had brought them here via two magic portals, but Joel felt sure they were still somewhere beneath the Civic Festhall. He could hear music playing somewhere above. He took the strands of his hair from Jas and handed them to Annali.
"It's a lovely color," the bariaur Sensate said as she wrapped the strands around her fingers.
"Thank you," Joel replied.
"You need to take these," Annali said, handing Joel three acorns. "They act as a key to the portal. Simply step through. Your friends should follow right behind you before the portal closes. When you arrive, you'll be facing the Gilded Hall of the Sensates. It's a place of great beauty… some would call it a paradise. I do not think you will be visiting there, though, will you?"
Joel shook his head. "I have another destination in mind. Thank you again," the bard said, bowing briefly before the bariaur. He turned and stepped through the magic portal. Jas and Emilo followed close on his heels.
They emerged on a wooded hillside beneath a moonlit night sky. A mild breeze cooled, but did not chill, the summer air surrounding them.
"I can't believe you gave them a lock of your hair," Jas said, stepping in front of Joel. "They could use that in all sorts of magic spells," the winged woman lectured. "You know that, don't you? What were you thinking?"
The bard was temporarily distracted by the sight of Jas's wings. Whenever she traveled to a different plane, her wings took on a new form. Her face was still covered in the black feathers that had come with the curse of Iyachtu Xvim, but since she'd stepped through the magic portal, her wings were no longer hard and metallic, but feathered, as they'd been in the Realms where she'd been born. In the Realms however, her feathers had been white, tinged with pink. Here in Arborea, they were deep blue, brilliant green, and sparkling gold, in the pattern of peacock feathers.
"Joel, stop looking at my stupid wings," Jas snapped with exasperation. "How could you let them have some of your hair?"
Joel sighed. "Jas, Holly said I could trust Bors. I trust Holly's judgment," he said.
"It's the loveliest thing I've ever seen," Emilo said softly.
"What?" Jas growled, prepared to berate the kender for admiring her wings.
The kender pointed outward.
Jas looked up, then breathed in sharply in astonishment.
"The Gilded Hall," Joel said. "Annali didn't exaggerate. It is a place of great beauty."
In the distance, across a valley, on the opposite bank of a shimmering river, stood a castle that seemed to glow in the moonlight. It was crowned with several domed towers of varying sizes, from graceful spires that soared into the sky to massive halls that hugged the hillside. The reflections of the moon and stars sparkled on the domes and on a tremendous fountain outside the castle, which splashed as high as some of its towers. Waterfalls spilled from the fountain into a cascading stream, which glittered all the way down to the river. Fertile fields and lush woodlands covered the outlying lands like plush velvet surrounding a rare and stunning piece of jewelry. Although they were some distance from the castle, Joel could have sworn he smelled roses and petunias from the gardens. He even imagined he heard laughter and music wafting across