Elfshadow

"Such as finding the assassin."

"Yes."

Danilo pointedly swept a gaze around their wilderness campsite. "Why are we out here?"

Arilyn's shoulders slumped. "No matter what I do, the assassin keeps following me. Not to kill me-he probably could have done that a dozen times-but as the pawn in some grisly game. I don't understand his motive, but until I figure it out I don't want to be responsible for any more Harper deaths." She hurled another stick at the fire. "There are no Harpers out here to kill."

"Is it possible," Danilo suggested tentatively, "that the assassin wants you for the powers of your sword?"

Bitterness flooded the half-elf's face. "Of course it's possible. The sword and I are inseparable."

"All the more reason for investigating your sword's magic. Once you know what the moonblade can do, you'll be able to figure out the assassin's ultimate motive. Once you know the motive, you have a chance of discerning the villain's identity."

Arilyn stared at the dandy in amazement. There was truth in his words, and more than a little wisdom. "How did you figure all this out?'

"Quite easily. After all," he said grandly, "magic is my specialty." Danilo drew back with a melodramatic flourish. "Really, my dear. If you were to advise me as an assassin, I would take your word as that of an expert. I expect you to extend me the same courtesy."

He rose to his feet and flounced off, settling down on a log on the other side of the fire, the very picture of offended dignity. Arilyn gri

Danilo caught sight of her smile. "What's so fu

Arilyn wiped her face clear. "I can't imagine. All right, Danilo, you win. I'll find out everything I can about the sword." She rose to her feet. "Let's go."

"Now?" Danilo protested, with a longing glance at the sizzling partridges.

"I like to keep busy."

They were very busy indeed for the next hour. After they kicked the fire into ash, Danilo placed simple magical wards around the campsite to protect the horses from night-stalking predators. He and Arilyn carefully climbed down the rocky incline that led to the sea, then they headed northward along the coastline of the Waterbreak peninsula. Even with the light of the bright autumn moon to guide them, they had to pick their way carefully along the jagged rocks of the shoreline.

At the very tip of Waterbreak stood a natural formation of black rocks, the lower part of which was submerged in the sea. Small crustaceans clung to the base of the rock, and several jagged points thrust skyward like small turrets. On the whole, Danilo thought, it looked like a drunken mage's attempt at conjuring a miniature castle.

Arilyn reached into a niche in the rock formation and drew out a small leather box. From it she took a silver pan pipe. As a fascinated Danilo looked on, she put the instrument to her lips and played a few notes. The silvery tones rang out over the water, shimmering there like moonlight.

"Nice tune," Danilo observed. "What do we do now?"

"We wait."

Arilyn motioned Danilo toward a pile of rocks some hundred yards away. He obediently withdrew and settled down to wait, and Arilyn stationed herself at the point of Waterbreak and gazed out over the water with elven patience.

The nobleman could not gauge how long they stared out to sea. After a time he noted that a ripple disturbed the still silver surface of the water to the south. Assuming their wait was nearly over, he rose and brushed the lichen and sand from the seat of his trousers. Arilyn flung out a hand to halt him, then she gestured for him to stay back and stay quiet. Again Danilo did as he was bid.

The ripple appeared twice more, each time closer, then the surface of the water was broken by a glossy black head. Danilo watched in amazement as a large seal-like creature emerged from the sea. As it climbed onto the rocky strand beside Arilyn, the nobleman noted that its body ended in legs rather than tapering to the flippers of a seal. The creatures's black eyes shone with intelligence, and it reached out to clasp Arilyn's forearm in the salute of fellow adventurers. In the bright moonlight Danilo could discern that its hands were like that of a man, albeit covered with dark fur and webbed between the fingers.

"A selkie," Danilo breathed. He had heard of the rare creatures, but he had never expected to see one. His wonderment increased a hundredfold as the selkie stepped back from Arilyn and, in the span of a heartbeat, transformed into a human man.

Never had Danilo seen such perfection in a man. The transformed selkie was no taller than Arilyn, but his pale body was perfectly formed and powerfully built. Sleek, dark brown hair fell to his shoulders and framed a clean-shaven face too masculine to be called beautiful.

"Hello, Gestar," Arilyn said warmly. The half-elf did not seem disconcerted by the transformation or by the selkie man's nakedness.

"Well met, Arilyn. It is good to see you, even at this late hour," said the selkie. He cast a suspicious look at Danilo, and the nobleman caught a glimpse of intense eyes the color of fine blue topaz.

"The man over there is a friend of mine and quite harmless," she assured the newcomer. "Can you send a request through the Relay? I need some information from Evermeet, by morning if possible."

"Anything for the elf who saved the life of my mate."

Arilyn smiled her thanks. "I seek information about a moonblade. It belonged to an elf named Amnestria, who left Evermeet about forty years ago. I'm afraid that's all I have."

"It should be enough. I'll see to this immediately and send word in the morning. Since I ca

"Seeing her again will be a pleasure. Thank you, Gestar." The adventurers embraced unselfconsciously, and the selkie man turned and dove into the sea.

Danilo could contain himself no longer. "That was a selkie!"

Arilyn turned to face him. "An old friend. We'll wait here until morning for the information. If you're cold, make a fire."

The nobleman nodded his agreement. Although he was full to the brim with questions, the night was chill. He began to collect driftwood, aware that Arilyn watched him with an amused smile.

"Go ahead and ask," she said. "I can see the toll your silence is taking upon you."

Danilo cast her a grin. "What is the Relay? And how can it send a message to Evermeet and back in the span of a single night? Is it magic?"

"No, it's not magic. The Relay is a network of selkies, sea elves, and sentient sea creatures that look very much like small whales. All can move at impressive speeds, and sound itself travels three times as fast in water as it does in air. Underwater messages travel swiftly."

"But to Evermeet and back?"

"It may be that my inquiry need not go so far. Those who serve in the Relay are bound to secrecy concerning specific messages, but as you can imagine there is a wealth of accumulated information in its members."

"Oh. Who is this Black Pearl?"

"A sea half-elf."

"That's possible? I doubt I could hold my breath long enough to accomplish such a feat," Danilo marveled.

Arilyn let out a burst of surprised laughter. "Sea elves do not always stay under water."

"Interesting name, Black Pearl."

"You'll understand when you see her. Black Pearl's human mother came from a land far to the southeast. Her ship sank off the coast of Calimport and she was rescued by sea elves. There are few half sea-elves, and Black Pearl spends much time with the selkies."