pace again. “This was no common thief,” he fretted. “It would take considerable magic to overcome the wards I placed upon the doors and windows. Perhaps there is a hidden door. I did not think to check.”
He hurled an accusing look at Isabeau, as if blaming her for the distraction she offered. Not willing to give up the offensive, she tossed back her head, wiped her eyes, and returned his glare with equal heat. “What do you intend to do about this?” she demanded.
The question set Oth back on his heels. Isabeau had expected that it would. If the nobles and wizards were as opposed to Dreamspheres as Oth claimed, they would not be pleased to learn that a score or so of the forbidden objects would soon be in circulation. Nor would they believe Oth was innocent. The theft of his precious Dreamspheres, so soon after his presentation was soundly rejected, would appear far too convenient a solution.
“Well?” she pressed. “Will you call the Watch and report this, or shall I?”
After a moment of intense, silent struggle, the mage snatched up her clothing and tossed it to her. “Forget the matter. It is of no consequence.”
Isabeau stopped in the act of pulling her chemise over her head, as if his words had stunned her into immobility. She tugged on the undergarment with a single quick, furious motion and rose from the bed. Stalking over to Oth, she stabbed him in the chest with an angry forefinger.
“My rubies were of considerable consequence! If you wish me to remain silent on this matter, I insist upon reparations.”
Oth’s narrow face turned pale with fury. “Extortion is hardly a wise course of action for a woman alone.”
There was a cold, dangerous note in his voice. Isabeau’s frightened expression was not completely feigned. She took two steps back, her hands turned palms up in supplication.
“I meant no such thing, my lord. I was distraught over the loss of my gems. You have my word that I will say nothing of this matter. I would not in any case, for fear of damaging your good name and mine. There were many who saw us leave the Thann estate in one carriage.”
She kept her gaze wide and ingenuous while Oth tried to ascertain whether her words held a second, subtler threat. Finally he threw up his hands in surrender. “Shed no more tears over your baubles. The Eltorchul family will see to their replacement. Before you carry tales, though, know that your new rubies will place a geas of silence upon the wearer!”
A little fact that Isabeau did not intend to pass along to the fence who would resell these gems. She sank into a low curtsy. “More than I dared ask, my lord.”
Oth hauled her to her feet. He stripped a ring from his finger and pressed it into her hand. “Take this. Show it to the seneschal of any of the Eltorchul estates and bid him handle the matter.”
Isabeau took the proffered ring. “Will you see me safely on my way, my lord?” she asked in tentative tones.
The mage scoffed. “The thief has come and gone.
What more can he take that you have not lost? Or eagerly given,” he added in nasty insinuation.
She gasped in genuine outrage. “You are no gentleman!”
Oth sneered. “I will not gainsay you. How could I? Though you have not been long in Waterdeep, I dare say you have already sampled enough of my peers to be considered an expert in the matter.”
Isabeau lunged for the oil lamp and hurled it at the mage. He stood his ground and made a short, sharp gesture with both hands. The lamp shattered in mid air and fell to the ground in a shower of glass shards and droplets of scented oil. Without another word, Oth turned and stalked from the room, leaving Isabeau shaking with rage.
And fear. And triumph and excitement blended in a sudden, wonderful, waterfall burst of relief.
The moment she was alone, Isabeau flung herself back onto the bed and opened her mouth in a long, silent scream of victory. She had done it! Oth’s treasure was hers, and no suspicion would
He hurled an accusing look at Isabeau, as if blaming her for the distraction she offered. Not willing to give up the offensive, she tossed back her head, wiped her eyes, and returned his glare with equal heat. “What do you intend to do about this?” she demanded.
The question set Oth back on his heels. Isabeau had expected that it would. If the nobles and wizards were as opposed to Dreamspheres as Oth claimed, they would not be pleased to learn that a score or so of the forbidden objects would soon be in circulation. Nor would they believe Oth was innocent. The theft of his precious Dreamspheres, so soon after his presentation was soundly rejected, would appear far too convenient a solution.
“Well?” she pressed. “Will you call the Watch and report this, or shall I?”
After a moment of intense, silent struggle, the mage snatched up her clothing and tossed it to her. “Forget the matter. It is of no consequence.”
Isabeau stopped in the act of pulling her chemise over her head, as if his words had stunned her into immobility. She tugged on the undergarment with a single quick, furious motion and rose from the bed. Stalking over to Oth, she stabbed him in the chest with an angry forefinger.
“My rubies were of considerable consequence! If you wish me to remain silent on this matter, I insist upon reparations.”
Oth’s narrow face turned pale with fury. “Extortion is hardly a wise course of action for a woman alone.”
There was a cold, dangerous note in his voice. Isabeau’s frightened expression was not completely feigned. She took two steps back, her hands turned palms up in supplication.
“I meant no such thing, my lord. I was distraught over the loss of my gems. You have my word that I will say nothing of this matter. I would not in any case, for fear of damaging your good name and mine. There were many who saw us leave the Thann estate in one carriage.”
She kept her gaze wide and ingenuous while Oth tried to ascertain whether her words held a second, subtler threat. Finally he threw up his hands in surrender. “Shed no more tears over your baubles. The Eltorchul family will see to their replacement. Before you carry tales, though, know that your new rubies will place a geas of silence upon the wearer!”
A little fact that Isabeau did not intend to pass along to the fence who would resell these gems. She sank into a low curtsy. “More than I dared ask, my lord.”
Oth hauled her to her feet. He stripped a ring from his finger and pressed it into her hand. “Take this. Show it to the seneschal of any of the Eltorchul estates and bid him handle the matter.”
Isabeau took the proffered ring. “Will you see me safely on my way, my lord?” she asked in tentative tones.
The mage scoffed. “The thief has come and gone.
What more can he take that you have not lost? Or eagerly given,” he added in nasty insinuation.
She gasped in genuine outrage. “You are no gentleman!”
Oth sneered. “I will not gainsay you. How could I? Though you have not been long in Waterdeep, I dare say you have already sampled enough of my peers to be considered an expert in the matter.”
Isabeau lunged for the oil lamp and hurled it at the mage. He stood his ground and made a short, sharp gesture with both hands. The lamp shattered in mid air and fell to the ground in a shower of glass shards and droplets of scented oil. Without another word, Oth turned and stalked from the room, leaving Isabeau shaking with rage.
And fear. And triumph and excitement blended in a sudden, wonderful, waterfall burst of relief.
The moment she was alone, Isabeau flung herself back onto the bed and opened her mouth in a long, silent scream of victory. She had done it! Oth’s treasure was hers, and no suspicion would
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