Underdark came back to him, with one thing added.
He could no longer hear the footsteps of the drow he sought.
Chapter Five
FAERIE FIRE
Kharza-kzad Xorlarrin’s expression when Liriel breezed into his suite of rooms was all she could have desired. The wizard’s thin face tightened with shock, sending ripples through the web of worry lines that creased his forehead and collected around his eyes. He also looked guilty, and his red, slightly protruding eyes scanned the tower chamber furtively as if he feared what might follow her into the room.
“I’m here for my lesson,” she announced smugly. The wizard stepped closer to examine the delicate web of spinning, glowing lights that framed the magic door. “I haven’t taught you how to access a gate!” he protested in his querulous voice. “How did you do it? No one knows a gate into my rooms except” He broke off abruptly, and in a quick nervous movement he ran both hands through what remained of his hair.
Liriel smiled and draped her arms around the wizard’s neck. She would have her magic lesson, but she also had a certain, velvet revenge to exact.
“I know you haven’t taught me that particular trick,” she purred, “and just think of all the opportunities lost. Imagine, if I could just pop into your private study any time I pleased
“
The Xorlarrin wizard cleared his throat several times and backed away. “Yes. Well. Perhaps another time, I’m sure, but at the moment I am otherwise engaged.”
“No, you’re not,” she said, and her voice was suddenly steely. “It’s time for my tutorial.”
Kharza sighed and raised his hands. “Very well. But first you must tell me how you learned to conjure a gate and who gave you the spell. For your own safety I must know this. Wizards are a treacherous lot, and most gates have hidden requirements, secret limitations. You can’t run in and out of them on a whim, you know.”
The girl produced her new spellbook and assured her tutor that “her father the archmage” felt she was ready to study and cast such magic. Liriel had discovered early in life that Gromph Baenre’s name was a real conversation stopper, and she dropped it whenever it seemed likely to speed things along. As she’d anticipated, Kharza-kzad’s protests evaporated at once, and they were able to get down to business with a minimum of his usual fussiness.
Together they went over Liriel’s new spellbook, rehearsing arcane words and gestures, exploring the limits and the secrets of the various magical gates. Liriel threw herself into the lesson with her customary intensity, and her focus did not falter until they neared the center of the book,
“This gate goes to the surface,” she murmured. The eyes she lifted to her teacher’s face were wide with astonishment and wonder. This gate goes to the surface! I had no idea such things existed!”
“Of course, my dear,” the wizard said mildly. “There are many such spells. Some raiding parties use them, as do merchants. Have you never wondered how fish from the Sea of Fallen Stars, which is many hundreds of miles from here, appear fresh on your plate?”
“I have no idea how it gets from the market to my plate,” she said absently. “But just imagine, Kharza! To see the Lands of Light with your own eyes!”
The Xorlarrin wizard frowned, troubled by his pupil’s rapturous expression. “If you must talk of such things, Liriel, take care who might be listening. These spells are hoarded like rare gems, and the teaching of them is carefully regulated by the masters of the Sorcere. If it were known you were learning to access such gates, your studies with me would be quickly ended.”
The light faded from Liriel’s eyes. “They are ending,” she mourned. “This will be my last lesson. Tomorrow morning I have to report to Arach-Tinilith.”
“You, a priestess!” The wizard was clearly aghast at the thought.
“Don’t get me started,” she grumbled. She untied the strings
He could no longer hear the footsteps of the drow he sought.
Chapter Five
FAERIE FIRE
Kharza-kzad Xorlarrin’s expression when Liriel breezed into his suite of rooms was all she could have desired. The wizard’s thin face tightened with shock, sending ripples through the web of worry lines that creased his forehead and collected around his eyes. He also looked guilty, and his red, slightly protruding eyes scanned the tower chamber furtively as if he feared what might follow her into the room.
“I’m here for my lesson,” she announced smugly. The wizard stepped closer to examine the delicate web of spinning, glowing lights that framed the magic door. “I haven’t taught you how to access a gate!” he protested in his querulous voice. “How did you do it? No one knows a gate into my rooms except” He broke off abruptly, and in a quick nervous movement he ran both hands through what remained of his hair.
Liriel smiled and draped her arms around the wizard’s neck. She would have her magic lesson, but she also had a certain, velvet revenge to exact.
“I know you haven’t taught me that particular trick,” she purred, “and just think of all the opportunities lost. Imagine, if I could just pop into your private study any time I pleased
“
The Xorlarrin wizard cleared his throat several times and backed away. “Yes. Well. Perhaps another time, I’m sure, but at the moment I am otherwise engaged.”
“No, you’re not,” she said, and her voice was suddenly steely. “It’s time for my tutorial.”
Kharza sighed and raised his hands. “Very well. But first you must tell me how you learned to conjure a gate and who gave you the spell. For your own safety I must know this. Wizards are a treacherous lot, and most gates have hidden requirements, secret limitations. You can’t run in and out of them on a whim, you know.”
The girl produced her new spellbook and assured her tutor that “her father the archmage” felt she was ready to study and cast such magic. Liriel had discovered early in life that Gromph Baenre’s name was a real conversation stopper, and she dropped it whenever it seemed likely to speed things along. As she’d anticipated, Kharza-kzad’s protests evaporated at once, and they were able to get down to business with a minimum of his usual fussiness.
Together they went over Liriel’s new spellbook, rehearsing arcane words and gestures, exploring the limits and the secrets of the various magical gates. Liriel threw herself into the lesson with her customary intensity, and her focus did not falter until they neared the center of the book,
“This gate goes to the surface,” she murmured. The eyes she lifted to her teacher’s face were wide with astonishment and wonder. This gate goes to the surface! I had no idea such things existed!”
“Of course, my dear,” the wizard said mildly. “There are many such spells. Some raiding parties use them, as do merchants. Have you never wondered how fish from the Sea of Fallen Stars, which is many hundreds of miles from here, appear fresh on your plate?”
“I have no idea how it gets from the market to my plate,” she said absently. “But just imagine, Kharza! To see the Lands of Light with your own eyes!”
The Xorlarrin wizard frowned, troubled by his pupil’s rapturous expression. “If you must talk of such things, Liriel, take care who might be listening. These spells are hoarded like rare gems, and the teaching of them is carefully regulated by the masters of the Sorcere. If it were known you were learning to access such gates, your studies with me would be quickly ended.”
The light faded from Liriel’s eyes. “They are ending,” she mourned. “This will be my last lesson. Tomorrow morning I have to report to Arach-Tinilith.”
“You, a priestess!” The wizard was clearly aghast at the thought.
“Don’t get me started,” she grumbled. She untied the strings
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