Part 31 (1/2)
The blooms withered in seconds, and the table burst into flames as the vase shattered fro”
Where the ele to rise, black, oily wisps that thickened by the , where they spread out, engulfing the hall in a malodorous darkthe ele creature would not release its death-grip
The hall was now ablaze and Arutha shouted to nearby soldiers, ”Clear everyone out of this wing of the palace! Call for water!” A bucket-line would have to be for ti to setting s to one another in a revolving struggle, a twisting dance of power,faster as they di the hall with a choking, greasy cloud that threatened to suffocate everyone
”Out!” ordered Arutha ”Everyone get out to the garden!”
One of the palace's several carefully-tended gardens was near the guest wing Jalass doors that opened fro air was cool and fresh after the soaring teered out of the door behind Ja as they escaped the s sulfur and rotting garbage
Voices reverberated from nearby precincts of the palace as the fire alarration ”Did Father Belson get out?” he asked Amos
”He was behind us,” replied the admiral ”I don't see hi to the floor to get as low under the sent stench filled his nose The ceiling rafters were ablaze and the conflagration flowed along overhead like a river of flame James blinked hard to clear his eyes of tears and saw a solitary figure at the far end of the hall
The priest of Prandur stood with aric Jaray haze that rilled the hall under the black, billowing clouds of s turned dark and sole that struck a note of sadness in Ja, James shouted, ”Father Belson! Come away! The fire will consu the hall shuddered, then drew back, as if sucked away froreat intake of a God's breath The flames and smoke withdrew
Jaarden and saw the flames and sather in a giant ball above the head of the priest, who stood motionless The ball quickly contracted into a sot smaller At last it was coh it burned as bright as the sun at noon Jaarden outside the doors was ablaze with light
Then suddenly the light vanished, and the hall was plunged into darkness Ja his eyes
”What happened?” asked Arutha
James said, ”I think it's over”
A moment later Father Belson walked out the door Smoke swirled at his feet and came off his robes in wisps His face was blackened with soot, but otherwise he appeared unharht?” asked Ja a priest of Prandur needs to fear is fire, young hness, the da
Prince Vladic, clutching the cloak tightly around hi , and I'll raise a new temple to Prandur in Olasko, priest!”
Father Belson looked pleased, and said, ”That would be nice” before collapsing
Ja to examine the cleric ”He's fainted,” said the squire
”Carry hiuards were detailed to carry the exhausted cleric to his bed
A scribe wended his way through the garden, blinking at all the smoke and the crowd around the Prince ”Sire!” he called
”What is it?” asked Arutha
”We've” he blinked and tears started to run down his cheeks as he coughed ”Sorry, Highness, but smoke makes me dizzy”
”What is it?” Arutha repeated
”Sorry, sire We've deciphered ents here in Krondor, as well as other cities One in particular seeent, so I came as soon as it was pointed out to me”
”What is it?” Arutha demanded finally, his patience clearly at its lie specifies the need to deliver a sealed chest to the palace It contains a trap of soh to warn you, should such a chest be delivered here”
Arutha shook his head in a et some supper” To the scribe he said, ”Return to your work Let me knohat the other scrolls say after we break fast to scribe bowed and quickly departed, obviously glad to get away frohness, don't be too hard on him”
Arutha nodded ”I won't be He tried his best It just wasn't all thattihed, and Prince Vladic said, ”I shall return to my chambers if they're not too befouled with shness”
Arutha nodded and uest To James, he said, ”If we'd known”
”We'd still have opened the trunk,” said James ”Only we'd probably have been in the deepest cell in your dungeon with only a dozen guards, and that would have been a disaster”
Arutha cast a long, sideways glance at his, squire Come, let's eat I'm sure nificant portion of our palace”
With a wolfish grin, James said, ”Just tell her you hope she'll redecorate the suites, and that will make her happy”
Arutha returned a pained expression, and said, ”Soht woman, I pray she takes pity on you, else your days as a husband are certain to be rocky”
”I'll keep that in mind,” James replied dryly
Williahness, do you requireofficer ”Why? Have you somewhere more important to be?”
Williahed, and Arutha said, ”I' so lady and have so lady, sire?” Willia at Jarinned, while Arutha said, ”My squire insures that I a a fao”