“And you agree.”
“Did I say that?” he retorted. “The archmage and I exchanged many words on this matter. Suffice it to say that we used up most of the truly vile ones, but my anger was a pale thing compared to Laeral’s wrath. I fear that the lady mage’s visit to her sister’s farm will last much longer than previous jaunts.
“But Khelben must handle his own problems,” Danilo concluded. “Let us discuss yours. What did you find?”
She sent him a long, considering look. “Why should I trust you?”
“Whatever you think, I have never betrayed your trust. Nor will I.” He stopped and pushed his fine green tabard off his left shoulder, revealing a tiny, weathered silver harp nestled in a crescent moon. He took off the pin, the symbol of his Harper allegiance, and handed it to her.
“This was given me by a man I deeply admire, whose regard I hope always to retain. Hold it for me until this matter is done. If you find me in any way false, return the pin to Bran Skorisun and declare me foresworn before that noble ranger and his half-elf daughter. I will not gainsay you.”
The man could make no other oath that Bronwyn would trust more completely. The odd pairing between this lighthearted nobleman and his quiet, serious half-elf companion was one that Bronwyn never fully understood, but she knew that nothing meant more to her friend than the regard of the woman to whom he’d given his heart. She took the pin and dropped it into her bag. “It will be in my safe. When this matter is over, Alice will return it to you if I cannot.”
“You will,” he said, in a tone closer to his usual light manner. “Now, tell me what you found.”
Bronwyn told him the story of the lich’s tower, and the power of the Fenrisbane artifact. “I sent it ahead to my safe,” she said, “and it will stay there until I decide what to do with it.”
“The paladins would dearly love such a device.”
“Wouldn’t they, though?” she said bitterly. “And now that they’ve had a look at it, there will be no denying them.”
“They saw it? How?”
She sighed wearily. “After we retrieved it from the orc lair, Ebenezer wanted to take a look at it. I had but two of the rings, and only one descendant of Samular, but I took a shot. The tower was not what it could be, but it was enough.”
The Harper swore fervently. “Are you sure they saw this?”
“It would be hard to miss something that big rising out of a rye field.”
“Then we must hurry,” he said. “We must find a way to get Cara away from the paladins before they catch up with you and demand the artifact.”
They slipped through the city, taking a route that led through the back doors of shops, through several private homes and adjoining tunnels, and even, on one occasion, a short dash across a rooftop. There were many such routes in the city, known only to the Harpers and open only to them. Despite her fury with Khelben, Bronwyn found some comfort in the web of support her Harper alliance offered—not the least of which was the determined friend at her side.
Alice met them at the back door and pushed them back into the alley. “Go right back the way you came. There’s a paladin here looking for you.”
A sense of ill news oft-repeated swept over Bronwyn, and she sighed tiredly. “Tali man? Blond hair?”
“Might have been. There’s no telling, as it’s long since gone white. He gives his name as Sir Gareth Cormaeril.”
Bronwyn glanced at Danilo. “I should see him. He was a friend of my father’s. Perhaps he will tell me what’s going on.”
The Harper shoved one hand through his hair and shook his head uncertainly. “I would be wary.”
“I will be. Listen in, if you want,” she said, knowing very well that he would do so anyway..
She hurried through the back room into the shop. The knight rose to greet her, his handsome and well-worn face tight with worry. “Thank Tyr, child! I hoped that I might have word with you before the watch found you.”
That stopped Bronwyn in her tracks. “The watch?”
“Yes. Lord Piergeiron had decreed that you should be arrested on sight. You are not safe in this city.”
She sat down, hard, on a small bench. “Why?”
The old knight gazed intently at her for a long moment. “It is as I suspected. You are innocent of the charges against you.”
“Tell me.”
He sighed. “The three young paladins sent to escort the child from Blackstaff Tower to the Halls of Justice were found dead. The girl is gone. Most of my brothers suspect that you and your brother, a priest of Cyric allied with the Zhentarim, are behind this abduction.” He hesitated. “There is more.”
“Of course there is,” she muttered. Feeling utterly dazed, she dropped her head into her hands.
“Your brother, Dag Zoreth, commands the forces at Thornhold. I have learned on good authority that he killed Hronulf with his own hands. I would not tell a woman, especially one of your delicate years, the nature of the injuries dealt the young paladins who guarded Dag Zoreth’s child, but they bear that villain’s stamp. Unless I am far wrong, the child is with him. . . in Thornhold.”
“Oh, Cara,” Bronwyn breathed.
“The child is in grave danger, and not only from the corrupting influence of her father’s faith. The paladins are gathering to mount an assault on Thoruhold. It appears that this attack will take place sooner than my brother paladins anticipated. There are not enough men to mount a conventional siege, but the brothers have faith that they can prevail regardless. Not more than an hour ago, a young man of our order, a promising youth known as Algorind, rode in from Summit Hall with four of his brothers. Do you know this man?”
“We’ve met,” she said shortly, not bothering to look up. “He and his friends followed me back to the city.”
“They are seeking you even now—you, and the artifact you carry with you.”
This time she did glance at the knight. “The rings,” she hedged.
“And the siege tower,” he added. “Few among the Knights of Samular know that story, but I heard it from Hronulf, and recognized the Fenrisbane from Algorind’s story. Unfortunately, so did Laharin Goldbeard. You see, once, long ago, the great Samular himself captured Thornhold with the help of this artifact. My brother paladin desires to use it again, for the same purpose, and for the greater glory of
Bronwyn rose and started to pace. “Why are you telling me this?”
The knight came to her and took her shoulders. “You are the daughter of my dearest friend. I see in you Hronulf’s spirit. A terrible injustice has been done to you. As a servant of Tyr, it is my duty to try to see it put to rights.”
She stared up into his face. “What do you mean?”
“Your destiny was stolen from you when you were too young to understand it. Now that you are a woman grown, men seek to do this again. This is not well done, even though it is done in all good conscience, and for a great cause.”
“So what are you saying?”
“The power is yours, Child of Samular. You must decide for yourself how you will use it.” He glanced over his shoulder toward the door. “Now go, and quickly! They will find you if you linger.”
“He’s right.” Danilo emerged from the back, holding out his hand for her. “Though I must say, sir, your words surprise me. Bronwyn, I’ll get you out of the city. Once you’re safe, you can decide what to do.”
Alice came up and pressed a leather bag into her hands. “I heard everything. Here are the things from the safe. You might well be needing them.”
Bronwyn nodded her thanks and turned to the Harper. She clasped his offered hand. “I’m ready.”
As Danilo began the words of a spell, Bronwyn felt a whirling force gather about her. She felt as if she was about to be sucked into a tunnel, torn away from her own body. Never had she traveled magic’s silver paths—never had she had occasion to do so, she told herself. But in truth, the notion terrified her more than the prospect of sea travel.