Part 32 (1/2)

Their spies told them that the muster in Saerloon would result in several thousand troops, with hundreds of cavalry among them, and that the muster in Ordulin would result in half that again. Selgaunt would be outnumbered four or five to one, not accounting for hired mercenaries.

”We have not yet heard from Abelar and the Saerbians,” Cale said.

”If only he could rally those loyal to his father,” Tamlin said. He sipped at a goblet of Storm Ruby, the heaviest wine in the Uskevren cellar.

”He will bring a few hundred men, no more than that,” Vees said, and topped off Tamlin's goblet.

”We do not know what forces he will bring, Talendar,” answered Cale.

”If he does not hurry, he will bring nothing,” said Tamlin tiredly. ”The snows will soon arrive. He will not be able to reach us at all if he does not arrive soon.”

”Perhaps he does not intend to,” said Vees casually.

”What? What do you mean?” Tamlin asked, alarmed.

Cale glared at Vees, then said to Tamlin, ”I read Abelar as a man of his word, my lord. He said he would return or send word. He will do so.”

Tamlin nodded absently. ”He could be dead, Mister Cale. We would not know it.”

To that, Cale could say nothing. Abelar could could be dead. be dead.

Vees leaned back in his armchair and looked at the ceiling. ”Deuce, I have something ... controversial to say.”

Tamlin set down his goblet and looked a question at Vees. Cale did the same.

”It is a bit embarra.s.sing to admit,” Vees said. ”But ... my family has indirect trading ties with ... no, never mind.”

”Speak, Vees,” Tamlin commanded.

Vees looked to Tamlin, to Cale, and said, ”Very well. My family trades with the Shadovar of Shade Enclave.”

He tried to look embarra.s.sed but Cale saw through it.

”The Shadovar?” Tamlin exclaimed. ”How? What kind of trading ties?”

Vees said, ”A Shadovar trade emissary contacted me while I was in Waterdeep taking the rites. They wanted dressed stone-marble and the like-so we supplied it. The relations.h.i.+p grew from there. It has been quite lucrative.”

”The Shadovar?” Tamlin said, sounding more intrigued than appalled. He glanced at Cale, at Cale's shadowhand, and returned his gaze to Vees. ”Why have you never spoken of this before?”

Vees shrugged and smiled sheepishly. ”As I said, it is embarra.s.sing for the family. The Shadovar are held in low regard, but as my father always said, 'coin is coin no matter its source.' And the Shadovar are desperate for trade, Deuce. They live in a floating city above a desert. They need almost everything, but they lack trading partners.”

”That is because they attack their neighbors,” said Tamlin.

Cale knew that forces out of Cormyr, and even some Sembian soldiers, had battled the Shadovar, but he did not know the underlying reasons.

”I think much of that may have been a misunderstanding,” Vees said. ”These things happen in politics, Deuce. Look at what is happening in Sembia now. Ask ten people outside of Selgaunt who started this whole affair, and eight of them will point at Selgaunt and Saerb.”

”They would be wrong,” Tamlin said.

Vees nodded. ”And that is my point. What is said of the Shadovar does not square with my experience.”

Cale said, ”What relevance does any of this have to events, Talendar?”

Vees did not look at Cale. He said to Tamlin, ”The Shadovar are aware of our plight. They have indicated to me that they would be willing to a.s.sist us if we were willing to entertain a formal and open trade and political alliance.”

Tamlin stared at Vees for a long while. Cale noticed for the first time how much the gray in his hair had multiplied.

Cale said, ”I like this not at all, my lord. From what I have heard of the Shadovar, they are not trustworthy.”

”I have heard the same of priests of Mask,” Vees said.

Cale rose, shadows bleeding from his skin. Tamlin laid his hand on Cale's forearm.

”Please, Mister Cale. We are all tense.”

Cale glared into Vees's smug face, at his dull eyes and weak chin. Vees only smiled.

Tamlin said, ”I fear we are in no position to be selective in our choice of allies.”

”I have found them trustworthy, Deuce,” Vees added, and looked at Cale. ”For whatever my word is worth.”

”It is worth much,” Tamlin said.

”I will get us aid elsewhere,” Cale said suddenly.

Vees scoffed. ”From where? We stand alone. Only the Shadovar have stepped forward to offer aid. Tamlin, I can arrange a meeting as soon as tomorrow.”

Cale did not like the eager undertone to Vees's words.

”The n.o.bility around Saerb and near the High Dale,” Cale said. ”They will rally to Endren Corrinthal.”

”Endren Corrinthal is rotting in the Hole of Yhaunn,” Vees answered. ”He is a murderer. And honestly, what are we talking about here? The northern n.o.bility are little more than retired old men and their house guards.”

Cale knew Talendar was at least partly correct. Merchants, not soldiers, retired upcountry. Still, it was a better course than an alliance with the Shadovar.

”I would wager Endren is no more a murderer than we are traitors,” said Cale. ”Mirabeta Selkirk arranged all of this, built one lie on another. I will get Endren out of the Hole. The northern n.o.bility will answer his call.”

Tamlin sat up in his chair. ”You can do this?”

Shadows leaked from Cale's flesh. ”I can do it.”

He would need help, but he knew where he could get it.

”Then do it,” Vees said, and turned to Tamlin. ”But Deuce, do not let the possibility of aid from one quarter dissuade you from aid from another.”

”You seem eager to put the Shadovar before the Hulorn,” Cale said, and shadows swirled about him. ”Too eager.”