Under Fallen Stars - Mel Odom [18]
"Centuries," Ildacer answered. "And I remember all the hard work that went into the construction of it, all the mistakes that we made till we had it exactly right."
"It's beautiful."
"Yes."
"Yet," Reefglamor said, "the Ravager could come among us and destroy it in heartbeats. Nothing would stand to show the strength of our worship of Deep Sashelas. I find that intolerable."
"As do I."
"The Ravager's free again." Reefglamor looked back at the younger man. "You and I have both known it since we heard of the attack on Laakos' Reef in the Shining Sea nine years ago." The attack had taken place fourteen years ago, but the story of it hadn't reached Selu'Maraar and Sylkiir till five years later.
"That could have been a tale made up by the mermen," Ildacer objected. "An undersea quake, or perhaps they hadn't built their reef as well as they thought they had."
"The mermen went from there to Waterdeep," Reefglamor said.
"You never told me that."
Reefglamor knew the other mage was little surprised by that. He told his juniors only what he felt they needed to know when they needed to know it. "I only found out these past few days from a merman called Thraxos, who has his own mission here in Seros. A merman shaman named Narros sent him here to bring the message to me, but this Thraxos's journey was a dangerous one and he had to depend on a human girl to get the word to me. Remember, even our legends of the Ravager, handed down by Deep Sashelas, say that the mermen will be the first to discover the Taleweaver, the human singer who will unite the histories of the world above and world below. The one who will find the way into that which was lost to us."
"The City of Destinies," Ildacer whispered reverently.
"Yes. All that once was to us and one day will be again."
"That doesn't mean the mermen of Laakos' Reef were the ones meant to discover the Taleweaver. There are many others."
Reefglamor fixed his colleague with his stare. "Doubt if you wish, but you’ll only be a hermit crab hiding in its shell."
"You don't have any doubts? It has been fourteen years since their city was destroyed."
"Of course I have doubts," the Senior High Mage responded. "Unlike yours, though, mine haven't gone away. They've only grown larger. That's why I want to pursue this course in spite of all the risks inherent in it."
"You've said from the beginning that attempting to work a divination on the Ravager would be risking certain death," Ildacer said, "and it has."
"The Ravager has many protections left to him despite the punishment he's been given in the past," Reefglamor agreed. "Seeking him out in this manner isn't something to be lightly undertaken. He may be able to strike back along the spell I use. However, we need to know something at this point."
"Chancing your own fate isn't a good idea."
Reefglamor regarded the junior mage coolly. "I should risk someone else then?" They both knew from past experience that he would-if he thought it worth the risk.
"That's not what I said," Ildacer said quickly.
"No, but given the parameters of your statement, that's what you meant. And I would. If I felt any were better equipped to attempt this than I." Reefglamor turned his gaze back out through the window. "We've already risked much by using the seluldira on Jhanra Merlistar, Keryth Adofaer, and Talor Vurtalis. The memory gems have wrought great magic to bring them up to the level of High Mages these past thirteen years." Even then, that decision had not come easily, but the High Mages had wanted to be at full strength when the Ravager appeared.
"I know."
"You've done a good job with them," Reefglamor stated. Ildacer had been responsible for their training.
Surprise momentarily stole Ildacer's words. "Thank you, Senior."
Reefglamor faced him. "You know it is my way to seldom give praise."
"I know it well."
"Yet you overlook the obvious praise you're given this night. I trusted no one else with watching over me while I attempted this."
Ildacer nodded. "I understood that, Senior. I thank you for your