Part 35 (2/2)

Then they s.h.i.+vered, shuddered, and came out of whatever had just smitten them, to blink at each other.

Nodding in grim unison, they rushed with one accord to put their shoulders to the door of the rented rooms of old Lord Murandrake.

And broke it down.

As they came cras.h.i.+ng into a lamplit and pleasant room, an elderly man in a nightrobe started up from his chair, dropping his book of derring-do tales and his drink, as he fought to somehow pa.s.s through his seat backward to get away from them and to keep his balance at the same time.

It was a battle he lost, and swiftly. Wherefore Lord Barandror Murandrake ended up on the floor, cowering back in the cave made by his toppled chair, with three bright, sharp swords menacing him.

”An axe-d'you have an axe?” one swordsman snapped.

”A hand axe?” the second spat accusingly.

”An enchanted enchanted hand axe?” the third snarled. hand axe?” the third snarled.

Murandrake's quavering voice failed him, and he gabbled incoherently in his fear, but with wild wavings of his arms managed to indicate that there was something something in the next room. in the next room.

The trio of lordlings charged through the open doorway, found themselves in a luxuriously appointed bedchamber, saw a gleaming helm mounted high on one wall in pride of place with a sword and a hand axe crossed beneath it, s.n.a.t.c.hed all three trophies, and stormed back to the old n.o.ble on the floor.

”These all of them?” Windstag shouted into the terrified face. When Murandrake managed a desperate nod, the young lord spun around and ran for the door.

Dawntard and Sornstern were right behind him. They fled down the stairs together, Windstag waving the axe in wild triumph.

”Another false Elminster?” Mereld muttered.

Starbridge shrugged. ”We'll know soon enough. Let's see how he reacts to the moonglow.”

Lemmeth nodded, drew his hands slowly apart...and the hollow was suddenly awash in bright, pearly white light.

Eskrel stared down into it, hard-eyed. He had a dozen highknights-aye, one of them that dolt Narulph, but still-and another three war wizards in the trees all around it, but they stayed there, awaiting Starbridge's signal.

In the meantime, they were doing the same thing as Starbridge. Staring down into a hollow where bodies were sprawled around a dead fire, with a lone figure standing over them.

The standing one was human in size and shape, and wore a battered old war-helm and motley clothing taken from the fallen, who might or might not be dead.

The figure stood still, silent, waiting for them. Gaunt and tall but stooped over as if weary or old.

”Elminster?” Starbridge asked. ”Will you come with us, or be slain?”

The figure slowly spread empty hands in a gesture of surrender-or despair-and sat down on a log beside the remains of the fire.

Starbridge whistled, and the ring of men emerged from the trees and started to close in.

”You are are Elminster?” Starbridge asked. ”We'd like a word or two.” Elminster?” Starbridge asked. ”We'd like a word or two.”

A deep growl from within the helm replied, ”Oh? I'm about done with dispensing words to armed men who menace me and make demands.”

It was about then that Lemmeth's conjured light showed them the menacing row of rough twigs-wands!-at the old wizard's belt. Clenching their teeth against their fear, the highknights pounced.

Hard, swift hands clawed at the wands, grabbed the seated man's arms, clawed at his garments to have off any amulets or hidden weapons, tore helm, wands, belt, and jerkin away-and the Cormyreans found themselves staring at a pair of round, firm, and very unmasculine b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

”Who...?” Starbridge and Narulph snarled in unison, but in far different tones of voice.

Blue eyes looked fearlessly up at them, and the lips beneath them said calmly, ”You, gentle gentlesirs, have captured Storm.”

”There!” Wizard of War Glathra roared as loudly as any man, pointing. ”There! Take them!”

Then she, Dralkin, and the Purple Dragon patrol with them were all shouting and charging down a dark Suzail street toward the three fleeing men in the distance.

Who, it rapidly became apparent, were too winded and weary to stay ahead of the pursuit for long.

”Halt! Halt in the name of the king!” Dralkin bellowed, as the sprinting lawkeepers closed in on the running trio.

He was answered by a sudden crackling in the air, a surge of energy that brought with it the overwhelming impression of someone smiling maliciously over a glow in a vast, dark cavern. The energy rushed down on the three fleeing men-and they were gone, the street ahead of the rus.h.i.+ng patrol empty.

”Dung,” Glathra snapped. ”Magic! I hate hate magic!” magic!”

Swordcaptain Dralkin swung his head to look at her in surprise. A wizard of war who hated magic?

Seeing the expression on her face, he decided to wait for a better time to ask her about that. On his deathbed, perhaps.

”Nice, aren't they?” Storm asked crisply, locking eyes with Highknight Narulph. Who turned a rich shade of crimson and looked away, wincing.

”Lady, they are,” Mereld said swiftly, offering her his own overrobe. ”Pray accept our apologies for this...rude handling we've given you. I'm afraid we're going to have to cast a spell or two on you, to learn the truth about what befell all these men around you, but-”

”I'll save you the trouble,” Storm told him firmly. ”I rang their heads for them. 'Twasn't quite a fair fight, I'll grant you-there were only eight against me, but sometimes the needs of all the Realms outweigh courtesies. Now, I've a question for you: who's in charge here? I see highknights, so you're from Cormyr-”

”We'll ask the questions, woman,” Narulph started to growl from behind her, but an older man loomed up over the many who were still holding Storm down and said heavily, ”I command here, Lady. Sir Eskrel Starbridge, now the ranking highknight of Cormyr. And you are-?” ask the questions, woman,” Narulph started to growl from behind her, but an older man loomed up over the many who were still holding Storm down and said heavily, ”I command here, Lady. Sir Eskrel Starbridge, now the ranking highknight of Cormyr. And you are-?”

”Storm Silverhand,” came her reply. ”Named Lady Highknight Protector of the Realm by Queen Filfaeril, and confirmed in that office by her husband, the fourth Azoun-which would seem to make me me the ranking highknight of Cormyr, Starbridge-and before that enn.o.bled as Marchioness of Immer-dusk by Baerovus, when he was king. I was also Lady Envoy of the Dales to the second Palaghard, and Lady Envoy of Cormyr the ranking highknight of Cormyr, Starbridge-and before that enn.o.bled as Marchioness of Immer-dusk by Baerovus, when he was king. I was also Lady Envoy of the Dales to the second Palaghard, and Lady Envoy of Cormyr to to the Dales to the second Rhigaerd.” She arched her neck to look up and back behind her, and added in a murmur to Narulph, ”So if I were you, sir, I'd phrase my questions rather carefully.” the Dales to the second Rhigaerd.” She arched her neck to look up and back behind her, and added in a murmur to Narulph, ”So if I were you, sir, I'd phrase my questions rather carefully.”

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