Elfshadow

Danilo stretched languidly. "Not entirely. We know what power each wielder granted your sword, with the exception of you and your mother."

"I will never add to the moonblade's magic," the half-elf said. "The moonstone is missing, and all magic originates in the stone and is gradually absorbed by the sword. I'm not sure whether my mother added a power-" She broke off.

"What's wrong?" asked Danilo, suddenly alert.

"Elfgate," Arilyn said softly. "That has to be it."

Danilo looked thoroughly bewildered. "I beg your pardon?"

The half-elf drew the moonblade and pointed to the bottommost rune. "When we were in the Drunken Dragon, the mage Coril deciphered this mark to read 'elfgate.'" Her face grew more animated as she tapped the ancient scroll laid out before them. "This traces the moonblade's history from its creation until it passed to my mother. There were seven wielders, and we know seven of the sword's magic powers: rapid strike, glowing to warn of coming danger, silent warning of danger present, dreamwarning, fire resistance, casting illusions over the wielder, and elfshadow." As she spoke, she counted off the powers on her hand.

"Go on," urged Danilo, catching some of her excitement.

"Look at the sword," she said triumphantly. "There are eight runes. The final one, elfgate, must refer to the power my mother gave the sword. That has to be it!" The half-elf turned to Schoonlar. "Can you check and see whether you have any information concerning something called elfgate?"

Their assistant bowed and withdrew. He returned almost immediately, looking deeply troubled. "The files are sealed," he said without preamble.

Arilyn and Danilo exchanged worried looks. "Well, who can unseal them?" Danilo asked. Schoonlar hesitated. "Surely telling us the names can do no harm," Danilo said persuasively.

"I suppose not," the man conceded. "The only persons who can open the files are Queen Amlaruil of Evermeet, Lord Erlan Duirsar of Evereska, Laeral the mage, and Khelben Arunsun of Waterdeep."

Arilyn's face darkened. "I knew it. Khelben already has the answers, doesn't he?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if he's got most of them," Danilo admitted.

"Why send us here?"

"Like everyone else allied to the Harpers, Khelben likes to keep secrets," the nobleman said. "He also likes to collect them. If there's one puzzle piece he lacks, he's probably hoping we'll find it."

"Such as?"

"Well, such as who's behind the assassinations, I imagine."

"That I know," Arilyn said sadly.

Danilo sat up straight. "You do?"

"I'm pretty sure. What I don't know is what the elfgate is or how it could possibly be co

Danilo suddenly became very still. "Bran Skorlsun," he said quietly. "By every god, that has to be the co

Seventeen

By the time the courtyard of Jester's Square firmed beneath her feet, Arilyn had recovered from her uncharacteristic attack of docility. She stepped out from between the twin black oaks that flanked the invisible dimensional door and turned to face Danilo, blocking his way. "Just before we left Candlekeep, you spoke a name. Who is this Bran Skorlsun, and what does he have to do with me?"

"My dear Arilyn," Danilo said in his lazy drawl, "it is not yet daybreak, and you wish to stand here and chat? I don't like being on the streets at this hour." He cast an uneasy glance over her shoulder at the deserted square. "By the gods, doesn't Uncle Khelben know of a dimensional door with a tonier address?"

The half-elf blinked, stu

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," he said lightly, trying to brush past Arilyn into the square.

She would not be budged. "Who are you, Danilo Tha

"A naked one," he quipped lightly. "But please feel free not to take my word on the matter."

"Enough!" said Arilyn violently. "Why do you present yourself as you are not? You've a quick mind and a strong sword arm; you show promise as both scholar and mage. I will no longer accept that you are a fool, and I will not allow you to treat me as one!"

"I would not," he said gently.

"Oh no? Then stop this nonsense and answer my question! Who is this Bran Skorlsun?"

"All right." The noble leaned close and spoke as quietly as he could. "He's the Harper ranger of whom Elaith Craulnobur spoke, whose business is to track down false and renegade Harpers."

"Really. How would you come by such information? Perhaps you are also employed by the Harpers?"

"Me, a Harper?" Danilo stepped back and laughed immoderately. "My dear girl, that jest would inspire much mirth in some circles."

"Then you won't mind if I read this." Arilyn deftly plucked from Danilo's pocket the note Khelben Arunsun had written. She read aloud. "Candlekeep is protected from magical observation. You need only maintain your facade enough to convince Arilyn."

The eyes the half-elf raised to Danilo's face were blazing with anger and accusation. "Sing me a song, bard, a song of a man with two faces."

Before Danilo could parry her demand, a cat's squall erupted from the alley behind them, followed by a muffled oath. Danilo cast an uneasy look toward the dim alley and glanced down at the moonblade. It glowed with a faint blue light. He grasped Arilyn's shoulders and firmly turned her around, urging her forward.

"We'll talk about this later," he said in a low voice. "I think someone's following us."

Arilyn laughed derisively. "That, Lord Tha

"So are you, gray elf," growled a voice from the alley.

Her anger forgotten, Arilyn whirled toward the alley, sword in hand. Harvid Beornigarth stepped out of the shadows, closely followed by a pair of his thugs. The lamplight reflected off his bald pate and rusty armor; were it not for the lout's vast size and his confident air, his appearance would have been more comic than threatening. He folded his arms across his rusty chain mail shirt and leered down at the half-elf with malevolent satisfaction.

"See? I told you so," Danilo murmured. "Does anyone ever listen to me? Of course they don't."

Arilyn glared at the huge adventurer. "Haven't you had enough?" she asked, her voice edged with contempt. "You should have learned by now that you can't win."

Rage washed over the man's face, and he raised one hand to his eye patch. "You'll not get the best of me this time," he vowed, shaking a spiked mace at her.

"Apparently he's a slow learner," Danilo remarked.

Harvid Beornigarth's scowl deepened. He barked a command, and two more ruffians stepped out of the alley.

Danilo let out a long, slow whistle. "Five-to-two. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything?"

The half-elf merely shrugged. "Coward's odds."

Her insult swept away the last of Harvid Beornigarth's restraint. With a roar, he charged at her like a maddened bull, swinging his mace wildly. Arilyn nimbly dodged the swing, and the battle was on.

Fury gave speed and power to Harvid's mace. Cursing and roaring, he swung at the half-elf again and again. His slender opponent was forced into a defensive position, putting all her strength into dodging and blocking the onslaught.

As soon as she could, she cast a glance toward Danilo. The nobleman was not faring well. Harvid's four thugs had surrounded him; apparently Harvid had instructed them to leave Arilyn to him.

Dread chilled the half-elf. She knew that Danilo, although skilled in the ways of classic swordplay, could not hold off four streetwise fighters for long. She would have to come to his aid, and quickly.