"That moment must have been quite wonderful for you," Da'nanin guessed. "It would be just the sort of thing we would love to have on a recording. But… you did say you were anxious to travel to Arborea as soon as possible. We'd be willing to send you through our portal now, and you can record for us when you return to Sigil."
The half-elf must have read Dits's book, Joel realized, and understood how he felt about Finder. Somehow that made the bard feel as if Da'nanin might be trusted. "Your offer is most gracious," Joel said. "I accept."
"Perhaps your companions would consider making a recording for us sometime as well," Montgomery suggested. She turned a winning smile on Jas and Emilo.
"Be glad to help out any way I can," the kender said with a low bow that sent his topknot sweeping the marble floor. "I've had lots of interesting experiences."
"And you, Jasmine? I'm sure you must have something to share with our audiences," Montgomery said.
"Not unless your audiences enjoy the feeling of being cursed by the gods and having their lives completely disrupted," Jas replied in a honey-sweet tone that mocked the factol's own, yet did nothing to cover her own bitterness.
Joel looked down at his feet, embarrassed by Jas's behavior, but Montgomery was completely unruffled by the winged woman's rudeness. "Some of them just might," she replied.
"Oh," Da'nanin said, "just one thing. In cases such as these, where someone owes us a recording, Annali usually insists we get a lock of hair or some such trifle as a token of good faith."
Joel nodded in agreement.
"Well, then," Annali said, "if you'll follow me, I'll take you to the portal."
"Thank you," Joel said, bowing low to the Sensates. Annali led the three visitors through a doorway in the back of the private reception hall.
When they had gone, Montgomery asked, "Cuatha, my love, what do we need with a lock of that young man's hair?"
"Give it to Ayryn," Da'nanin replied. "It will make it easier for her to scry for him."
"You clever, devious man," Montgomery said, tugging playfully on the half-elf s earlobe.
"Joel is a man of his word," Bors insisted. "He will honor the bargain. Why do you need to scry for him?"
"Bors, Bors," Montgomery laughed. "Think. Joel is going to Arborea. What is he going to do in Arborea?"
"Visit his god, perhaps. I believe Finder makes his home in that plane somewhere near Bright-" Bors paused, realizing what the factol had in mind. "You're hoping to scry and record their meeting," Bors said, realizing what the factol and her consort had in mind.
Montgomery nodded. "And who knows? Perhaps they'll visit Brightwater."
"Where Tymora makes her realm," Bors noted.
"Then we might get a glimpse of the elusive Realms goddess of good luck," Montgomery said.
ACT ONE SCENE 4
Jas slid her dagger blade across several strands of Joel's hair near the nape of his neck. "I can't believe you're doing this," she muttered to the bard. Joel gave her a weary smile as he retied his hair back up with a strip of leather.
They stood before a doorway in some dark, secret chamber. Annali had brought them here via two magic portals, but Joel felt sure they were still somewhere beneath the Civic Festhall. He could hear music playing somewhere above. He took the strands of his hair from Jas and handed them to Annali.
"It's a lovely color," the bariaur Sensate said as she wrapped the strands around her fingers.
"Thank you," Joel replied.
"You need to take these," Annali said, handing Joel three acorns. "They act as a key to the portal. Simply step through. Your friends should follow right behind you before the portal closes. When you arrive, you'll be facing the Gilded Hall of the Sensates. It's a place of great beauty… some would call it a paradise. I do not think you will be visiting there, though, will you?"
Joel shook his head. "I have another destination in mind. Thank you again," the bard said, bowing briefly before the bariaur. He turned and stepped through the magic portal. Jas and Emilo followed close on his heels.
They emerged on a wooded hillside beneath a moonlit night sky. A mild breeze cooled, but did not chill, the summer air surrounding them.
"I can't believe you gave them a lock of your hair," Jas said, stepping in front of Joel. "They could use that in all sorts of magic spells," the winged woman lectured. "You know that, don't you? What were you thinking?"
The bard was temporarily distracted by the sight of Jas's wings. Whenever she traveled to a different plane, her wings took on a new form. Her face was still covered in the black feathers that had come with the curse of Iyachtu Xvim, but since she'd stepped through the magic portal, her wings were no longer hard and metallic, but feathered, as they'd been in the Realms where she'd been born. In the Realms however, her feathers had been white, tinged with pink. Here in Arborea, they were deep blue, brilliant green, and sparkling gold, in the pattern of peacock feathers.
"Joel, stop looking at my stupid wings," Jas snapped with exasperation. "How could you let them have some of your hair?"
Joel sighed. "Jas, Holly said I could trust Bors. I trust Holly's judgment," he said.
"It's the loveliest thing I've ever seen," Emilo said softly.
"What?" Jas growled, prepared to berate the kender for admiring her wings.
The kender pointed outward.
Jas looked up, then breathed in sharply in astonishment.
"The Gilded Hall," Joel said. "Annali didn't exaggerate. It is a place of great beauty."
In the distance, across a valley, on the opposite bank of a shimmering river, stood a castle that seemed to glow in the moonlight. It was crowned with several domed towers of varying sizes, from graceful spires that soared into the sky to massive halls that hugged the hillside. The reflections of the moon and stars sparkled on the domes and on a tremendous fountain outside the castle, which splashed as high as some of its towers. Waterfalls spilled from the fountain into a cascading stream, which glittered all the way down to the river. Fertile fields and lush woodlands covered the outlying lands like plush velvet surrounding a rare and stunning piece of jewelry. Although they were some distance from the castle, Joel could have sworn he smelled roses and petunias from the gardens. He even imagined he heard laughter and music wafting across the river valley.
Emilo tilted his head back and looked straight up. "It's good to see the stars again," the kender said, "even if I don't recognize any of them."
"Yes," Jas agreed. Suddenly she laughed and launched herself into the air.
Joel looked up at the sparkling lights in the black sky. Their pattern was completely unfamiliar, but they were lovely to look at. As he watched, a few of them shot across the sky and vanished. The moon was only a sliver, but bright and silvery as an elven blade.
Jas soared out over the river and arched back. In the peaceful stillness, the bard and the kender watched the winged woman in companionable silence. Jas landed beside them.
"Sorry about that. I just suddenly had to fly. I don't know what came over me."
"Perhaps it was simply the beauty of the place," Emilo suggested.
Jas looked around and shrugged. "Maybe," she said. She changed the subject, as she often did, to avoid discussing her feelings. "So. Where's Finder?" she asked Joel.
"His realm is between here and the town of Brightwater."
"I thought you said the portal led to his realm," Jas said.
"Well, near his realm," Joel said. "It's a nice evening for walking. We should be there before the moon sets."
"We'd better be," Jas said. "We don't have Holly with us anymore to help us live off the land."