Windwalker - Elaine Cunningham [32]
"Not to mention those folks who consider battling evil, which by most lights would include all dark elves, to be their righteous duty," Dan put in.
The woman grimaced. "I was hoping no one would mention them."
"Waterdeep's well-intentioned are the least of our problems." Khelben took a small mesh bag of gems from a hidden pocket in his sleeve. "This is part of a deepdragon's treasure hoard, used by Liriel to purchase the freedom of Elfmaid, a Ruathymaar pirate ship owned by Hrolf the Unruly. Since these gems were in the drow's possession for several days, they can be enspelled to seek her out. More than that: They can show us who also seeks her by means both magical and mundane."
Danilo watched intently as Khelben sped through the gestures of a spell. In moments there floated before the archmage a wondrous map, a miniature landscape showing the islands and coastal lands of the northern sea. Khelben produced a vial from his bag and took from it a pinch of sparkling powder. This he tossed over the map. Tiny, falling lights twinkled down over the illusion, releasing a complex aroma into the tower chamber.
The young man studied the illusion, watching as threads of silver raced across land and sea. He pointed to a particularly bright web connecting Luskan and Ruathym.
"The recent sea invasion, I would imagine. What is the connection between these two old enemies and our new friend?"
"The captain in charge of the assault was Rethnor," Khelben said, "one of the Five Lords of Luskan."
"Captain Rethnor," Danilo said thoughtfully. "He is said to be subtle and devious, the sort of man unlikely to accept blame for his failures. And what better scapegoat than a drow?"
"Waterdeep," Khelben said, as if Danilo's question had sought an answer. "Even now, he spreads rumors that Ruathym has made powerful and dangerous alliances-alliances that justified this attempt on their sovereignty. Rethnor claims that Ruathym is allied with dark elves and that Waterdeep gives tacit approval, perhaps even support, to their dark schemes. Liriel set sail from Waterdeep. If she is accepted back into the city and allowed to go her way, we give credence to his words."
"That's absurd!" Danilo protested. "Who would believe such reasoning?"
Khelben let out a derisive sniff. "Since when did logic govern the path of rumor? If a thing is said often enough, there are fools aplenty who will believe it to be true."
"So what do you propose to do? Turn Liriel over to Captain Rethnor?"
"There are many who would gladly sell her, and not just to Rethnor." Khelben intoned another arcane phrase. Silvery threads filled the sea like fishermen's nets and sank deep into soil and stone.
"The Kraken society," Danilo reasoned, nodding toward the sea, "and the underground network, I suppose, would be the drow. It would seem that Liriel has been busy."
"Would that she had stopped there." Khelben tossed another pinch of powder, and the map took on yet another aspect.
Several translucent spheres overlapped, the images overlaying each other like multi-layered rainbows. Threads streamed from all these planes of existence and converged in a shadowy tangle in the sea just to the east of Waterdeep. The overall shape resembled a spider's web.
"This can't be good," the young man muttered.
"It could hardly be worse! This divination suggests that our young wizard has drawn the special interest of a certain drow goddess."
The ire faded from Laerel's silver-green eyes as she met Khel-ben's somber gaze. "You're saying that wherever Liriel goes, Lolth is likely to follow."
"That is my fear," Khelben agreed. "It has been long years since the drow goddess turned her attention to the surface world. Liriel must be followed and if necessary stopped."
"Very well." Danilo took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. "Allow me a hour or so to pack, and