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.until we can spend a session or two in there, hearing him sit in judgment."They fell hastily silent as Guthtar moved closer to open the door for the departing Belmer.Though they'd slain two of the newly hired Westgate men and taken their shapes, the two Malaugrym hadn't had a chance to hear either of their victims speaking—in a sober state, at least—and didn't want anyone to overhear them now and think the speech of Aunsible and Haratch had suddenly and curiously changed.Belmer went out of the tower, and a magnificently robed, bearded man of middling years came in, with the Lady Shaerl on his arm.The holy hammer of Tyr, worked in silver, rode on a heavy chain around his neck."I find Shadowdale dispirited for the first time since the Knights of Myth Drannor rode into it for their first time," he was saying in a rich, sonorous voice, "and that is ill.Have you had much trouble in this time of strife?""We are only days away from turning back the armies of Zhentil Keep, good justicar," Shaerl said gently, "a victory that cost us greatly.The Witch-Queen of Aglarond—"The two guards clearly heard the priest's hiss of indrawn breath as he was turning to walk between them at that moment.He looked awed."—tells us that the Zhent troops were led by the god Bane himself.In the fight against him, the temple of Lathander, which formerly stood across the way, was destroyed, along with the archmage Elminster and, some have testified under oath, the goddess Mystra, herself."The priest came to an abrupt halt."You credit this to be true?" he asked, his voice incredulous."I do, holy lord, and can produce witnesses whose testimony will, I know, impress you," Shaerl said firmly.The priest waved a dismissive hand."Well enough, so let us grant that the tales are true.Bane, Mystra, and Elminster all destroyed along with that temple over there." He drew a deep breath, shook his head, and bid gruffly, "Say on.""Over half of our soldiers fell in defending the dale," Shaerl told him, "and are now pyre ashes; scarce a farm in this dale did not lose someone.Moreover, magic has gone wild here, and Storm Silverhand, the Bard of Shadowdale, has been missing for five days."The priest suddenly looked very old, and felt behind him for the bench he knew was there.Shaerl smoothly guided him to it, keeping hold of his hand as the justicar of Tyr sank down onto the bench and whispered hoarsely, "Storm.I.we were very close, once.I'd hoped to see her this night, after my audience with the youn—with your Mourngrym."Shaerl patted his arm."She told us she was looking forward to your visit, because you had been so noble to her," she said softly."She spoke of your valor and kindness."For just a moment, the proud priest looked like a young boy—a young boy on the verge of tears."She did?" he asked, his voice rising in wonder."Yes," Shaerl said, "and I've never known her judgment to be wrong yet.I feel as if you are an old friend."Argast leaned a trifle closer to Amdramnar and muttered, "She's smooth, this one."Amdramnar agreed with the slightest of nods, but just then the doors between the audience chamber and the forecourt scraped open and three farm folk came out."The gods bless him!" the stout old woman in the forefront was saying."If he keeps his promise," her hired hand said doubtfully as they went out, not even seeing the two people on the bench.The old woman turned and poked out a bony finger."Now ye list and learn, Thurton! If there's one thing this young lord of ours does, it's keep his word! When my man, Undlejack, was still alive, he won a hand of card's off Mourngrym, playin' the night away at the Old Skull, and the lord asked him his price.A new roof, my man says, as bold as anything—'cuz that's what we needed, in truth—an' the next day, gods be blowed if the lord doesn't show up with half a dozen guards, n' do the roof right then! The lord himself, up on our cottage, sweatin' along with the rest of 'em! And when he's done, he asks if we want the fence set straight, seein' as they're here.an' up comes a cart, after, when we're talkin'—and out of it he serves us a feast, an' the neighbors what come to watch, too! Tells us it's no more'n we deserve!"She turned and marched out of the forecourt, then pivoted back to face the astonished Thurton."Ye find me another lord anywhere as does that for me—an' others what ain't high and mighty, an' can't do him anything great in return! Ye'll be lookin' from the Sword Coast to the weird lands past Thay, an' not be findin' one, neither!"Another two dalefolk strode out, one of them weeping, and the other walking awkwardly beside her."Now, Nan—he can't raise to life someone he can't find! He did say he'd walk you around those laid out in the temple for burial, to see if we can find him.No one could do more."The next person to come to the door was Mourngrym, his face pinched with sorrow.Shaerl leapt up and threw her arms around him."My love," she said in a low, tender voice as their arms tightened around each other.He kissed her gently, as if they were alone in the room, before lifting his head and saying, "Shaerl, ask Thurbal to pass the word.No one's seen Aglyn's grandsire since the battle, and Nan's beside herself not knowing.If anyone."Mourngrym's gaze fell upon the priest of Tyr, waiting patiently to be introduced, and his face lit up."Most Holy Arbeth! Be welcome, please, in Shadowdale! I'm sorry I didn't see you at once! Have you eaten?""If we could talk for just a few breaths, Lord Mourngrym, I'd be delighted to dine with you and your beautiful lady.I'd hoped also to meet the Lady Storm, but I hear she's.not to be found.""That is so, I fear," Mourngrym said, "but come in, and we'll talk, the three of us—oh, yes: my lady and I rule as one." The priest's eyebrows were still raised as the doors of the audience chamber swung shut behind the three of them."He's a good ruler," Amdramnar said grudgingly."All the better for us, then," Argast said."Let him manage our cattle until we're ready to rule here.""Our foes the three bold rangers seem to have just departed on patrol.do we chase after them?""No, let them go.They'll return to us—and then we'll feed.""Eat them?""Yes—I mean to eat them alive, limb by limb, slowly, while they plead.Well use our everfire wand to seal the joints and keep them living.They may last several days.""And then?"Then we'll reveal ourselves, and start on the rest of these cattle."They had just time to fall silent and look as if they'd been that way for some time when a tall, silver-haired figure strode through the front doors, exchanged a salute, a wink, and a blown kiss that left old Guthtar blushing, turned into the forecourt, and strode to the audience chamber doors.Argast turned."Ah, my La—""Hist!" Amdramnar and Guthtar said together, reaching to silence him [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]