"There's no need to blame anyone," said a third guard. Riding opposite Galaeron on Ruha's far side, she had only one arm and a voice similar to Storm's. "No one should be condemned for sharing with the hungry."
As she spoke, Galaeron began to see through the illusion guarding her identity and realized that this had to be Khelben’s consort, Laeral Silverhand. There was a tiny arm growing from the stump of the one she had lost in the Shaeradim, but even this did not detract from her beauty. She was, if anything, even more lovely than her sister, with a warmth and charm alien to Storm's brusque manner-or perhaps it merely seemed so to Galaeron because Storm never bothered to hide the dislike she bore him.
Khelben was silent a moment, then said, "You're right, of course." He sighed heavily. "Again."
This drew a laugh from the last two guards, and Galaeron recognize the same silver in their voices as in Laeral and Storm's. He hazarded a glance in their direction, and as he began to see through the illusions, he recognized in their sparkling eyes and silver hair two more of Storm's sisters. The slimmest of the two, and the most feminine in her carriage and manner, could only be the celebrated Lady of Silverymoon, Alustriel Silverhand. The other, a more imposing figure as powerfully built as a man, had to be the mighty Dove Falconhand-Harper, Knight of Myth Drannor, and friend to the elves.
The Chosen had not only answered Galaeron's call for help, they had answered it in strength. If Khelben seemed tense, it only made sense. With Elminster still missing with the Simbul, and ghostly Sylune more or less confined to her farm in Shadowdale, the only available Chosen they had not brought was the Dark Sister, Qilue. Given his limited experience with drow during his days in the Tomb Guard, Galaeron was just as glad.
They left the bridge and rushed to catch the head of the caravan, which was stopped in the marshaling field while the captain of the guards grouped the draft animals by swiftness and burden and assigned personnel to watch over them. He placed Galaeron and Ruha with a group of lightly burdened riders, and at Storm's magically enhanced suggestion, assigned the five Chosen to watch over them.
Once the captain had moved on, the Chosen gathered their horses in a tight circle around Galaeron, Ruha, and the still invisible Aris.
"Here's my plan, Galaeron," Khelben said. "We're going to make a few-"
"Darling?" Laeral interrupted. "Aren't you forgetting who thought of this in the first place?"
Khelben scowled but said, "All right" He turned back to Galaeron. "Your plan's a sound one, but we're going to-"
"Pardon me," Alustriel said. "But I'd prefer that someone who's actually been inside the city does the planning."
Khelben rolled his eyes. "Very well." He turned back to Galaeron and said, "We all like your ideas."
"Very impressive," Dove said.
Khelben nodded almost reluctantly then continued, "But there are some things we should bring to your attention."
He stopped to check for the others' approval.
Storm whirled her hand to urge him on. She glanced back toward the rear of the caravan, which was already coming across the little bridge.
Khelben looked irritated but he said, "First, you won't be able to eat until we're inside the city."
Galaeron raised his brow and said, "I hadn't thought of that"
"We didn't think you had," Alustriel said, "but I'm sure you understand. The journey will be unpleasant enough as it is."
"I don't think I could ride for more than a few days without eating anyway," Galaeron agreed. "We'll put that part off as long as we can."
"My thoughts exactly," Khelben agreed. "Second, you may have noticed there are five of us."
"I can do it instead," Aris said. "I'm larger."
"Actually, we were thinking of splitting the group into two teams," Laeral said. "As insurance."
Though Galaeron was reluctant to ask Aris to assume any more risk than he already was, he knew better than to argue. The giant had made his feelings on the subject clear when he smashed the table in their courtyard.
"Splitting is a good idea, if Aris is willing," Galaeron said.
Khelben smiled. "Good," he said, "then we're all agreed."
"Not quite." Galaeron raised his hand, and avoiding Ruha's gaze, said, "Ruha can't come with us."
"That is not your decision," Ruha replied. Her tone was angry, though not surprised. They had spent most of the night arguing the point, finally letting the matter drop only because the time had come to join the caravan. This has nothing to do with Evereska."
Galaeron ignored her and fixed his gaze on Storm.
"The Shadovar need me," he said, "and they value Aris, but Ruha is nothing to them but a problem. If she comes with us, there's every chance the Shadovar will put her to death."
"That is my risk, not yours," the witch said, running her gaze from one Chosen to the next. "He is trying to protect Malik. Malik saved his life, and now the foolish elf believes they are friends."
"That is true," Aris said, "but it is also true that Hadrhune believes you broke his command and tried to kill Malik. If you return, it will be just as Galaeron says."
The five Chosen gazed at Ruha expectantly.
When the witch merely looked away, Dove Falconhand said, "I think you should stay behind, Ruha. Your presence might endanger the mission."
"Or save it," Ruha argued. "You cannot know that yet- and what will become of Malik? I have hunted the dog too long to let him live like a Sheikh in their palaces."
"If we are successful, there may no longer be a Malik to concern yourself with," Storm said. "If we fail, he will come out sooner or later. Cyric is too cruel to leave him there in comfort for long."
Ruha said nothing more, but the angry look she flashed Galaeron left little doubt about whose life she thought he had just saved. A dark voice inside whispered that she was an ungrateful hag who deserved the death she would find in Shade, but Galaeron closed his mind to those shadowy thoughts and reminded himself that she had good reason to hate the little man. He was a remorseless killer who had single-handedly saved the Church of Cyric and restored the mad god to power, and he was undoubtedly working to spread his god's influence throughout the city of Shade. That he had saved the lives of both Galaeron and Aris many times while they traveled together mattered not at all. That had been an alliance of convenience, and Galaeron knew as surely as Ruha did that Malik would not hesitate to betray them in the name of his god.
Galaeron considered again whether to tell the Chosen about the message he had received from Malik but was deterred by the fury in Ruha's eyes. Given the number of Chosen who had come and the courtesy they had shown him in the strategy session, he felt sure that they intended to follow through on the plan no matter what. But Ruha would seize on any suggestion of betrayal by Malik as an excuse to accompany them into the city. Galaeron had no doubt at all about what would become of her if she fell into Hadrhune's hands. For the witch's own good, it would be better for him to keep the secret
Or so Galaeron told himself.
CHAPTER SEVEN
16 Flamerule, the Year of Wild Magic
Once the captain had the caravan arranged to his liking, he gave the order to depart. Like some thousand-legged millipede, the line came alive and began to snake its way westward along the High Road. Galaeron and Ruha rode in silence on opposite sides of their invisible friend, Galaeron struggling to ignore the dark thoughts continually welling up in his mind, the witch glaring at him over her veil.
Aris, suffering from the fatal honesty that was the curse of his race, tried several times to reason with her, to make her see they were trying to protect her as much as they were Malik. Ruha heard only the part about protecting Malik and chastised the giant for serving an evil god. That was the end of any conversation for the rest of the day. They ate their lunch in cold silence, Khelben urging Galaeron and Aris to gorge themselves and build up what stores of fat they could. They did as the archmage suggested, and though the giant’s s presence was a very open secret in the caravan, Storm renewed the invisibility spell on him. They spent the rest of the day feeling lethargic and uncomfortable, until the caravan master finally called a halt It was already late in the afternoon, with the sun sinking low over the Storm Horns and the road ahead vanishing into its golden glow.