Miltiades and Kern!”
“As you wish High Mage. When do” A hissing zap cut off the captain’s question. The bed chamber door swung open and a throng of sleeping guards spilled into
the chamber with it.
“No oneno onetells me not to come into my father’s chambers!” snarled Aleena Paladinstar, striding in with a swirl of wizard’s robes. “Father!” she cried, rushing to the bed. “Is he dying?”
“I don’t know, Aleena. We need to find the people who took Eidola. Only they know how he was put to sleep, and apparently only they’ll know how to wake him.”
Khelben reached down and drew a chain from around Piergeiron’s neck. Upon it hung a sphere of clear crystal. I suspect this will come in very handy now,” he said, removing the gem and slipping it into his robe.
The elder mage looked grimly into the eyes of the younger. “I’m sending you and the paladins of Tyr to the Utter East, to find Eidola and her kidnappers. I wanted to send Force Grey, but your father was adamant they protect Waterdeep. He was equally convinced Kern and Miltiades should lead the rescue. This time, I think we’ll respect his wishes. Meet the Phlan delegation in my tower. Let it be you who requests their help.”
A grim look of determination cleared the worry from the lovely spellcaster’s face. “Gods and fiends won’t help whomever’s behind this,” she swore. “I’ll talk to the paladins, gather a few things, then meet you all in your chambers.” With one last, lingering look upon her sleeping father, she left the room. Judging from her expression, Khelben wouldn’t give two coppers for the lives of the kidnappers.
“Rulathon, forget my earlier orders. Madieron Sunderstone is probably running here from my tower as fast as his oafish feet can carry him. Until he gets here, stand guard over your lord, and let no one else near him. I’ve no doubt Sunderstone will take it from there.”
After making his own last check of Piegeiron, Khelben found his way out of the palace and slowly walked
toward his tower, too spent to cast another teleport spell.
“Mage Arunsun!” called Laskar Nesher, waddling to intercept the High Mage. “Mage Arunsun, is it true Lord Paladinson has been struck down? Word is all over the streets! You must tell me what is going on!”
“I don’t have to tell you anything, Nesher.”
The portly merchant clutched at Khelben’s arm. “But you know the trade pact with Kara-Tur depends upon Piegeiron, so the interests of the Guild rest with him as well!”
Khelben frowned down at Nesher’s hand, then up at his face; Nesher let go. “Yes, I know. Tell me, guilds-man, do you stand to make more money if the pact is ratified or not?”
Laskar started back. His chins waggled in distress. “Surely you must know the Merchant’s Guild is loyal to the Nine Lords, and no member would dream of sub-verting_the will of the Open Lord himself!”
“Get out of my way, Nesher, or every gold piece you touch turns to lead…
Laskar blinked at Khelben, considered how serious the mage might be, then hastily moved aside.
Chapter 1
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
“Lords, you now know all Aleena and I know. I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter,” said Khelben in his private council chamber, walled from its circular floor to its domed ceiling with overcrowded bookstacks. He sat at the apex of a large, triangular table of thick mahogany. The table’s glossy surface swirled with curls of thick burgundy inlays flaring to crimson here and here and then dimming, as though fireflies crawled beneath the veneer. The inlays’ enchantment rendered all languages into a tongue easily understood by those wound the table. To Khelben’s trained ears, lies spoken ever the design resonated like tin.
To the High Mage’s left and right sat Kern and Miliades, while Aleena Paladinstar occupied an overstuffed chair at the base of the triangle, opposite Khelben.
The wizard
“As you wish High Mage. When do” A hissing zap cut off the captain’s question. The bed chamber door swung open and a throng of sleeping guards spilled into
the chamber with it.
“No oneno onetells me not to come into my father’s chambers!” snarled Aleena Paladinstar, striding in with a swirl of wizard’s robes. “Father!” she cried, rushing to the bed. “Is he dying?”
“I don’t know, Aleena. We need to find the people who took Eidola. Only they know how he was put to sleep, and apparently only they’ll know how to wake him.”
Khelben reached down and drew a chain from around Piergeiron’s neck. Upon it hung a sphere of clear crystal. I suspect this will come in very handy now,” he said, removing the gem and slipping it into his robe.
The elder mage looked grimly into the eyes of the younger. “I’m sending you and the paladins of Tyr to the Utter East, to find Eidola and her kidnappers. I wanted to send Force Grey, but your father was adamant they protect Waterdeep. He was equally convinced Kern and Miltiades should lead the rescue. This time, I think we’ll respect his wishes. Meet the Phlan delegation in my tower. Let it be you who requests their help.”
A grim look of determination cleared the worry from the lovely spellcaster’s face. “Gods and fiends won’t help whomever’s behind this,” she swore. “I’ll talk to the paladins, gather a few things, then meet you all in your chambers.” With one last, lingering look upon her sleeping father, she left the room. Judging from her expression, Khelben wouldn’t give two coppers for the lives of the kidnappers.
“Rulathon, forget my earlier orders. Madieron Sunderstone is probably running here from my tower as fast as his oafish feet can carry him. Until he gets here, stand guard over your lord, and let no one else near him. I’ve no doubt Sunderstone will take it from there.”
After making his own last check of Piegeiron, Khelben found his way out of the palace and slowly walked
toward his tower, too spent to cast another teleport spell.
“Mage Arunsun!” called Laskar Nesher, waddling to intercept the High Mage. “Mage Arunsun, is it true Lord Paladinson has been struck down? Word is all over the streets! You must tell me what is going on!”
“I don’t have to tell you anything, Nesher.”
The portly merchant clutched at Khelben’s arm. “But you know the trade pact with Kara-Tur depends upon Piegeiron, so the interests of the Guild rest with him as well!”
Khelben frowned down at Nesher’s hand, then up at his face; Nesher let go. “Yes, I know. Tell me, guilds-man, do you stand to make more money if the pact is ratified or not?”
Laskar started back. His chins waggled in distress. “Surely you must know the Merchant’s Guild is loyal to the Nine Lords, and no member would dream of sub-verting_the will of the Open Lord himself!”
“Get out of my way, Nesher, or every gold piece you touch turns to lead…
Laskar blinked at Khelben, considered how serious the mage might be, then hastily moved aside.
Chapter 1
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
“Lords, you now know all Aleena and I know. I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter,” said Khelben in his private council chamber, walled from its circular floor to its domed ceiling with overcrowded bookstacks. He sat at the apex of a large, triangular table of thick mahogany. The table’s glossy surface swirled with curls of thick burgundy inlays flaring to crimson here and here and then dimming, as though fireflies crawled beneath the veneer. The inlays’ enchantment rendered all languages into a tongue easily understood by those wound the table. To Khelben’s trained ears, lies spoken ever the design resonated like tin.
To the High Mage’s left and right sat Kern and Miliades, while Aleena Paladinstar occupied an overstuffed chair at the base of the triangle, opposite Khelben.
The wizard
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