"You be still, little miss!" Vangerdahast roared, eyes catching fire. "I've had about enough-"
"So have I," Elminster announced pleasantly. "Ye used to be far more deft and sly in picking fights and making folk lose their tempers and forget their intentions, Vangey. Ye're losing it, ye are. Wherefore I'm going to be just as unpleasant to ye as ye've been to thy fellow folk of Cormyr for-oh, some six decades now, hey?"
He took a step forward, not appearing to cast any spell or awaken any ring, rod, wand, or gewgaw-but Vangerdahast floated up off the floor and hung rigid, limbs unmoving. "Now, speak. Unfold what ye're really up to here. Mystra wanted me to be a trifle more subtle about this, I'm sure, but I find myself not in the mood to be nearly so gentle with ye. Ye tried to enrage these two ladies so as to put their minds aside from prying some answers out of ye. Why?"
"I-I don't want to talk about what I'm at work on to … either of these two ladies," Vangerdahast replied gruffly, "whom I'm both sorry to have offended. I-no, I cannot. Caladnei and Myrmeen, forgive me, but your presence here ruins and reveals everything. I can't be honest with you. I daren't."
"Nay Vangerdahast," Elminster said calmly, "Ye dare not fail to tell all and truly to these two: the Mage Royal of the realm, remember, and an officer of the Crown to bear witness."
"You are no longer my teacher, El," Vangerdahast said coldly. "I need no more of your lessons on obedience or moral authority. I would judge, as many in Faerun do, that your own actions disqualify you from criticizing anyone else in this world on such matters."
"Vangey," Elminster replied gently. "I'm not asking ye. I'm telling ye."
He took another step forward and added, "We both fell into the 'might makes right, and I know this is right anyway, so just hold still whilst I do it to ye' trap long, long ago . . . and I daresay we've both found it easiest to remain there. I'm still there now. Ye will answer me."
"I will not," Vangerdahast snarled. "I-I . . ."
"Am disgusted with how cruel and tyrannical I can be?" Elminster asked, his voice almost a whisper. "So am I, old friend. So am I. Yet I long ago cast my lot with Mystra, and do what she needs me to do. Yet I've not yet reached the point of being so disgusted that I refuse to do it and defy her."
The Old Mage was aware of the two women backing instinctively away from him, awe warring with apprehension on their faces. "And like ye," he went on, his eyes never leaving those of his onetime pupil, "I feel the talons of time clawing at me at last. Like ye, I know not how much time I have left-but I know enough to feel 'tis not much any longer. So like ye, this drives me to do all I want to do, as swiftly as I can-and be damned to all these younger fools who stand in my way. I know just how ye feel, Vangey. Believe me."
He lifted one open hand, as if offering something invisible to the empty air. "So now, I'm going to ruthlessly compel ye-quite rudely, but 'tis necessary and this way 'twill at least be swift."
Vangerdahast glared at him, shuddering and going red-faced as he fought the invisible bonds of Elminster's magic. At last he barked out brief, wordless frustration and gave up, to slump and hang limply in midair. "Ask your questions," he said bitterly.
"I'm sorry, Vangerdahast," the Old Mage told him. "First then, precisely what creatures are you planning to bind, with these secret spells you're crafting?"
"What secret spel-"
"Truth, Vangey. The truth, if ye can still remember what that is after so many years at Court," Elminster ordered, his voice calm but implacable.
Vangerdahast glared at him then snapped, "Dragons. Neutral or benevolent dragonkind."
Both Caladnei and Myrmeen drew in breath so sharply that they almost gasped-but said nothing, their eyes burning at Vangerdahast. So it was true!
Elminster spared them not a glance. "Willingly or unwillingly bound?"
The former Royal Magician seemed to shrink, dwindling in the air. "Willingly, if possible," he murmured.
"To awaken at what triggers?"
"When called."
Elminster acquired a sour look. "Vangey," he murmured, "are we going to have to do this by dragging every last word out of ye like so many hooked sea-beasts being hauled ashore? No one in this room thinks ye're anything less than Cormyr's savior and staunch defender, the backbone of the realm. We admire thy intended legacy-so why not discuss it freely? None of us three wants to see Cormyr overrun by Red Wizards and Zhentarim-among many others-hunting for ye or for thy spells, so we're hardly likely to pass on what we hear to anyone else. I'll even mindshield these two ladies, if they desire it, so anyone who tries to read their thoughts or memories will get blasted by magic that should leave that anyone drooling-witless for a day or so. So why not just speak freely? Hey?"
Vangerdahast closed his eyes, sighed, and said, "Very well. I intend that the guardian wyrms will be awakened by any being who utters the right words of summoning. For the words to work, the speaker will have to find and stand in the active area of the right portal-there should be at least two 'right portals' per dragon- while holding an item of the correct substance."
"And that substance is?"
"I know not, yet. Most probably a particular sort of gemstone. I haven't yet decided on that part of it. I'm leaning toward establishing two allowable substances in all cases, either one of which will 'work.' Of course, 'tis best if such substances will last down the years."
"Of course. Under what orders will these bound guardians operate when awakened?"
The former Royal Magician cast a quick glance at Caladnei-and just as quickly averted his eyes from her furious stare. "To defend and preserve the realm," he replied, almost sighing the words, "its government, and those of its folk who stand loyal. To strike at foes of the realm the guardian identifies or that are pointed out to it by its summoner and other beings it comes to trust."
"It comes to trust?"
"In the end, all things come down to trust," Vangey muttered quietly, looking at the floor. "They always do."
One of the two women drew in her breath sharply again, swallowing a tremulous sob that sounded the width of a sharp sword blade away from bursting forth as furious words.
Elminster smiled a mirthless smile, glanced at the two ladies- Myrmeen standing watchfully, sword out, ready to menace either of the two wizards, and Caladnei seething, her face white and her hands clenched around a chairback so tightly that it almost seemed her grip would crush the wood-and asked, "Whom would the guardians obey? Whom would they ally or cooperate with?"
"Their summoner would be their commander," Vangerdahast replied, "but they'd be freed of obedience to that being, instantly and forever, if ordered to harm any member of the Obarskyr ruling family, any castle or fortification of Cormyr, and . . . other conditions not yet specified."
"Left free for you to amend at any time?" Caladnei snapped.
The floating wizard kept silent for a moment, but before Elminster could order him to answer, he said heavily, "No. I … I'd not yet decided how long and precise a list of commands, and qualifications to those orders, to place upon the guardians."
"And if an Obarskyr threatens the realm?" the Mage Royal asked sharply. "What then?"
Vangerdahast turned his head to look at Caladnei. "I've been wrestling with that very concern for some months now, on and off, but still see no clear, correct conclusion."
Caladnei seemed about to say more-if her trembling was any indication, something intemperate-but instead waved a furiously dismissive hand and turned her face away.
"While in stasis," Elminster continued, as quietly and calmly as if Caladnei had never spoken, "these bound guardians will be kept where?"
"In an extra-dimensional space anchored to at least seven portals around Cormyr, only two of which will be made known to anyone but me," Vangerdahast replied promptly.