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His chortles died away abruptly as he felt his free hand trembling. He looked down
and discovered that he was clutching one of the gewgaws like a stone ready to throw
and that it was glowing slightly, a blue radiance that pulsed and faded under his
astonished gaze. More than that: somehow, in the moments of fear since he'd first
seen that armored head rise into view, his free hand had opened two of his pouches,
tossed away the palm-flasks of wine he carried there, and thrust all of the rest of the
gewgaws into the emptied pouches.
"Mystra, Lady of Magic," he prayed hoarsely, watching the trembling in his hand
grow stronger and realizing that something was urging him to return to the trail and
take it ahead in that direction and to go nowhere else. "What by all your sacred
mysteries is going on?"
Surth, he saw, was struggling to his feet, holding out another of the gewgaws in
one hand as if it were towing him forward.
"We . . . we're being led like mules," he gasped, suddenly drenched in fear-sweat.
"Oh, gods, we're going to die!"
As if in reply to his words, another silent armored warrior floated into view along
the trail. It headed purposefully for Surth, raising its blade as it came.
Surth threw the gewgaw in his hand, and Bezrar hastily buried his face in the moss
and leaves.
The blast was even bigger this time.
The tug of the thing in his hand grew insistent. He struggled to his feet and
stumbled toward the trail. Surth was reeling among the trees and there was already
another gewgaw in his hand.
"Oh, Bane and black doom," Bezrar muttered helplessly, as he found himself
heading for the trail as fast as his shaking limbs could take him.
* * * * *
"Wait," Rhauligan said suddenly. "What about that . . . protection?"
"The stars of Mystra did not bar me," Laspeera said, "and nothing steered me in
my reading. I think."
"You truly think the goddess herself . . . ?"
"I don't know," Caladnei said firmly. "Narnra . . . did you see seven stars?
Blue-white fire?"
The Silken Shadow stared at the three Cormyreans, sudden hope kindling. I could
play this as a shield, try to win free of this room and these three, and . . . and . . .
As she discovered she didn't know what she'd want to do if she did win her
freedom, Laspeera suddenly turned her back.
She's still reading my thoughts! She knows this would be a ruse.
"No," the senior War Wizard said firmly, turning around again to face Narnra.
"Where the Mother of Mysteries is concerned, Narnra, none of us who work magic
can be sure of anything. Your mind has already shown me that you saw seven stars
go out, one by one, as the Mage Royal used spells on you. Yet Mystra's protection
may still encloak you, whether you know it or not."
Caladnei nodded gravely. "I'd not like to proceed unless you say so, Narnra
Shalace. Mystra may take note of your willingness or your refusal. So ... what say
you?"
My choice handed right back to me. Narnra stared at the three Cormyreans,
wondering what other twists this day might hold . . . and what she should say now.
The three Cormyreans stared back at her, waiting.
* * * * *
"Well, Lady Joysil, I'm certain that everyone believes they have the misfortune to
live in truly troubled times for Cormyr," Lady Honthreena Ravensgar observed,
triumphantly taking the largest nut-cake with one hand and reaching for her
just-refilled goblet with the other. "But truly I think we do." She waved a profusely
ring-adorned hand and added, "Oh, I know that dreadful Devil Dragon no longer
menaces half the realm, gulping up knights and soldiers like snacks while ores and
goblins march, but . . . really, are things any better now?"
Lady Baerdra Monthor did not wait for the Lady Joysil Ambrur to answer but said
darkly, "Well, unlike some at this table, I am truly a daughter of Marsember and
any misfortune to befall the Obar-skyrs and the precious Royal Court in Suzail
delights me! I'd be just as happy if they all fell down some dragon's gullet by
nightfall today and let us regain rule of our own city! All these flirtations with
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