Naoni shot Taeros and Korvaun both pointed looks. "Right, then, why were you watching Lark?"
Korvaun gave her a small bow of apology. "This requires more than a little explanation. Won't you sit? Perhaps take refreshment?"
"I'd be grateful for some ale," Faendra announced. "I'm as dry as Anauroch."
As the brown-clad man drew a tankard for Faen, Lark took her mistresses' half-cloaks and hung them on the empty pegs beside the glittering nobles' gemweave. Her gaze lingered on Lord Hawkwinter's cloak. Its amber gleam was as cold and bright as a certain pair of mocking elven eyes.
Staring at it, Lark suddenly knew how she'd fulfill her bargain with Elaith. If Taeros was wearing his silver charm, she'd have it off him before she left this room. Schooling her face to a servant's expressionless calm, Lark took a seat beside Naoni.
"Ere we continue," Korvaun was saying, "allow me to present my friends Lord Roldo Thongolir and Lord Starragar Jardeth. Gentlesirs, I give you Mistresses Naoni and Faendra Dyre, and Mistress-Lass Lark."
Roldo and Starragar stood, bowed to the three common-born women with no hint of mockery, and resumed their seats.
"As you know, we lost a friend when the Slow Cheese came down."
"Lord Malark Kothont," Faendra murmured, almost wistfully.
"Yes. Had he been slain by a blade or mage's spell, we'd have avenged him forthwith, but how does one take vengeance on a building? The only satisfaction left to us is to ferret out why the collapse befell."
Naoni leaned forward. "When you learn the cause, you'll avenge your friend?"
Lark wondered at the excitement in Naoni's voice. When had her elder mistress developed an interest in vengeance?
Perhaps she was thinking of Master Dyre's mutterings about the Lords digging new tunnels to spy on dissenters. If she could win these lordlings to her father's cause, that would certainly cast aside shields between Naoni Dyre and Lord Korvaun Helmfast.
"Yes, we will avenge our friend," the black-clad Lord Jardeth said suddenly, his voice as dark as his garb. There was a faint ripping sound as he shifted forward in his seat. Lark saw that the trailing hem of his black cloak was uneven, as if pieces of gemweave had simply fallen away.
Korvaun gave Starragar a swift, quelling glance. "For now, we seek only answers. A second building fell, a fine townhouse in North Ward. So far as we know, these buildings were unrelated except for their owner, an elf of considerable means and power: Elaith Craulnober."
"Again, what has this to do with Lark?" Naoni demanded.
"She was at Craulnober's recent revel," Taeros said quietly.
Lark met his eyes. "I'm surprised you recognized me, milord. Most men of wealth don't look closely at a servant until she unlaces her bodice."
Before Lord Hawkwinter could respond in kind, Naoni said, "Lark attended that function at our request!" Then she stopped, mouth still open but indecision clear on her face. Dared she…?
Korvaun gave her a nod of encouragement. Keeping her eyes on his, Naoni took a deep breath and then said slowly, "You've tasted my father's anger, lords. Sharp and bitter, yes? Well, he's taken it into his head to bring about a New Day: To demand the Lords of Waterdeep unmask and henceforth be accountable to all citizens."
"Reasonable enough," Taeros Hawkwinter agreed, astonishing everyone in the room but his friend Korvaun. Shrugging away incredulous stares, he waved at Naoni to continue.
"My sister and I fear for our father," Naoni Dyre said carefully, seeking the right words, "but know not where to turn. Lark knew how to get word to a wise and good man, seeking his counsel."
"And what did this wise and good man advise?"
"We've not yet received his reply."
"I see. How's the elf entangled in this?"
Lark frowned. How indeed? She remembered the plans strewn across Elaith's desk and suddenly realized what they were: maps of the sewers under the city. If he was one of Waterdeep's secret Lords, could things be as Master Dyre claimed? Were the Lords spying? If so, who better to do so than the Serpent, rumored to command half the ruffians in the city?
All of this fit all too well, except for one thing: the fallen buildings had belonged to Elaith; surely he'd not toss away his own valuable properties!
Faendra elbowed Lark sharply, letting her know everyone was awaiting her answer.
Well, what answer could she give?
"He has many resources," Lark said at last, "and is readily able to convey messages."
"And that's why you've been seen with the notorious Serpent? You trust him to carry messages betwixt you and your advisor? Reliably and sharing them with no one else?"
"For a price," Lark replied, truthfully enough. Her eyes slid to the glint of silver at the Hawkwinter throat.
Korvaun's frown was grave. "A dangerous risk. Tales of Elaith Craulnober's treachery abound."
"Lark's very resourceful," Naoni said firmly. "You need not fear for her and certainly need have no fear of her!"
Three of the nobles inclined their heads in acceptance, but Taeros Hawkwinter's face suggested he was reserving judgment on this matter.
Korvaun lifted his tankard. "May I ask what Master Dyre says of these building downfalls?"
"He thinks the Lords control the sewers and dig new tunnels as desired to keep a close watch on citizens-tunnels that caused the collapses."
Taeros nodded. "All too likely. If anyone bears watching, 'tis the elf."
Lark frowned. "You believe as Master Dyre does?"
The Hawkwinter shrugged. "I'm willing to entertain any reasonable explanation."
"I believe it," dark-cloaked Starragar said grimly, "and if unmasking the Lords is needful to force someone to account for Malark's death, I'll tear off every last one of those masks with these hands!"
"Hear, hear," murmured Lord Thongolir. "It seems we have common cause with these ladies. Perhaps we should work together?"
"We've given our word to Master Dyre that we'd not seek the company of his daughters," Korvaun reminded him. "We're honor-bound to obtain release from this promise."
Faendra gave her sister a sly glance ere she told Lord Helmfast, "If you can sway Father, you can do anything. Let's go to him at once!"
"Hear, hear," Roldo said heartily, looking to Korvaun.
Lark needed no lord's approval. She rose and retrieved her mistresses' wraps, then took up the glittering amber cloak and held it out to Taeros, her gaze challenging. When he reached to take it, she snatched it away.
"I'm a servant, Lord Hawkwinter. One of my duties is to help people on with their cloaks."
He made a futile grab for the gemweave. "You're not my servant, blast it!"
"Nevertheless," she said firmly.
With an impatient hiss, Taeros turned his back and let her drape his cloak over his shoulders. She smoothed its glittering folds with swift, practiced hands…
And when they came away, the silver chain and the magical device it bore were hidden in one palm.
With it, she could repay her debt to Craulnober. The sooner she could get shed of that one, the better.
But… was she making a mistake handing a magic of unknown power to the Serpent? There were spells that could reveal the true nature of magics, but a wizard's fee was well beyond her means, even if she spent her every last, laboriously hoarded nib.
A sudden thunder of boots on the stairs drew every eye. Beldar Roaringhorn paused in the doorway, ruby cloak a-swirl, gazing bemused at the three women standing in what was perhaps the last place in Waterdeep he might have expected to find them.
Lord Beldar looked considerably the worse for wear. He was richly dressed, a-gleam with jewels and fine weapons, his mustache freshly trimmed, but grayness lurked on his sun-browned face, and his right eye was covered with a black patch.