Under Fallen Stars - Mel Odom [81]
"I was shown this mirror in my vision earlier," Pacys explained, "yet now it appears I was mistaken."
"Don't let yer faith be shaken," the dwarf said. "If ye were given a vision of this thing, then there's a reason. Think about why it would be shown to ye. I think ye have the key. Ye just have to find it."
As he concentrated, Pacys also heard the rhythms around him. People's voices, the sounds of feet moving on stone, the clink and clank of items being picked up and put down, all blended. Unconsciously, he found the rhythm of the noises, and another piece of the song he pursued so diligently came into his mind. He pulled his yarting forward and strummed his fingers across the strings as he gave vent to his voice.
"There they stood, Taleweaver and dwarven warrior,
"Who'd pledged his life against the Taker.
"They faced mirror-bright mystery,
"Flashing,
"Clouded,
"And empty of answers.
"Yet the mirror shone its truth,
"Crowned under stars
"Forged
"From the bottom of the Inner Sea.
"Gond Wonderbringer's desire and power
"Guided the hand of the High Initiate,
"Imbuing his work with
"Additional magic
"That worthy didn't know about.
"The Taleweaver captured
"The cadence
"From the crowds that fitted the House of Wonders.
"And when he did,
"When his voice reached the perfect pitch,
"A way was made."
Holding the final note, Pacys stretched out his hand to the mirror. For an instant, he touched the glass again, but the surface quickly gave way to a wet fog that dissolved and became a forest.
The priest of Gond stepped back and made a sign of his god, a prayer already on his lips.
The music and the certainty of what he was doing filled Pacys. Slinging the yarting once more from its straps about his shoulders, he told Khlinat, "Follow me," and strode into the mirror.
He felt a brief resistance, then the mirror accepted him. Coldness swirled around him but quickly went away. He felt the dwarf moving behind him, heard the prayer he breathed. The music stayed alive in Pacys's head. A moment more and he stepped from the stone floor in the Hall of Wonders in Baldur's Gate into the forest. Turning, the old bard saw the nine-foot square of shimmering space that represented the mirror. It opened, like a window, back into the Hall of Wonders.
The priest was shouting, and other priests and potential buyers ran to join him, staring in awe.
Khlinat stepped from the window, shivering. "Ooch, but that was cold on these old bones." He gazed in wonder at the forest around them. "Do ye know where it is we might be, me friend?"
The opening vanished like morning mist before a harsh sun, taking away the vision of the Hall of Wonders and leaving only the forest.
"Where we're supposed to be, praise Oghma." Pacys took a deep breath and scented the brine hanging in the air. "Do you know that smell?"
Khlinat snuffed the air, then a broad grin split his craggy face. "The sea, by Marthammor Duin's wandering eye! And it's not far here. We've come a long way."
"Yes," Pacys agreed, "but there's more."
Khlinat snuffed again. "Are ye sure? All I smell is the sweet breath of the sea, but not that of the Sea of Swords or the Trackless Sea where I've spent all me sailing days."
Pacys moved through the tall trees and dense vegetation, coming upon a well-worn trail winding down through the hilly country. "Your nose is sharper than mine when it comes to that, but I learned a long time ago to pick up the scent of a cookfire. Let's go find whoever owns it."
* * * * *
"You can put me down now."
Dazed by the events happening so quickly and by the young woman fitting so comfortably in his arms, Jherek blushed furiously. A few of the sailors around them snickered. If their situation hadn't been so dire, Jherek knew he would have been made the fool of mercilessly.
"Shut up," Tynnel ordered.
While the crew quieted, Jherek carefully placed the ship's mage on her feet. "Lady," he apologized, "I didn't mean to be so familiar. I'd thought to release you while you were still a rat." His face was crimson, he knew, and the heat he felt wasn't