The Dream Spheres

"I think so," Danilo admitted. "Hard to tell, though. Everything hurts, and it's difficult to sort one thing from another."

"There is one sure way of finding out." Elaith seized the man's wrist and gave it a sharp, vicious tug.

Danilo let out a startled oath, then rolled his shoulder experimentally. "That worked," he said, surprised. "There isn't a better way?"

"Of course there is, but I'm of no mind to use it," the elf returned. "That cut on your arm needs attention. I can stitch it if you wish."

"With what? A fishhook?" Dan retorted. "Thank you, but I will await the healer." He paused. "You followed me. Why?"

Elaith considered what to say. The dream spheres were on the streets, sold to those who were likely to have knowledge that would aid the elf's chosen vendetta. He had picked up the dreams of one of these men, a hired sword who harbored a twisted desire to inflict pain on one of the city's privileged, wealthy men. Elaith had seen the man's mental image of his victim. Despite all that he had done, all that he was currently doing, Elaith could not allow a man he'd named Elf-friend to suffer this fate.

No, this was hardly the sort of explanation he could afford to give.

"Why were you following me?" persisted Danilo.

"Morbid curiosity?" the elf suggested.

"Very amusing," Danilo said dryly. "How did you know where to find me?"

"Not a difficult thing. I assumed you would go to confront Regnet Amcathra, considering that you two are longtime friends."

The man sighed and slumped lower onto the cot. "Of that, I am not so certain. The attack outside his house, so soon after I challenged him about his involvement in Lilly's death? I do not want to think ill of Regnet, but I no longer know whom to trust."

Elaith was silent for a long moment. "I saw Myrna Cassalanter leave. She looked angry. She is not without resources."

"She did threaten Regnet and me," Danilo admitted. "I suppose it is possible that she sent those thugs, although to date Myrna has limited herself to assassinating character."

"It is possible she took aim at your character, but missed so small a target," Elaith suggested pleasantly.

Danilo sent him a wry look. "Is that any way to address an Elf-friend?"

Elaith thought of the Mhaorkiira Hadryad. He could almost feel the heat of it, even though the stone was hidden. He could feel the compelling, twisting magic of the thing, and he answered from the heart. "I am doing the best I can."

* * * * *

In Arilyn's opinion, she had spent far more time in the company

of Waterdeep's merchant nobility than any sane person should have to endure. Yet here she was, standing at the magic-blackened gate to the Eltorchul manor.

Isabeau was co

However, Lady Errya was not receiving visitors. The servant made a point of sniffing at Arilyn's lack of a calling card, then slowly sca

After a few minutes of this, Arilyn lost patience. She shouldered past the servant and stalked through the halls in search of the noblewoman. The suddenly frantic servant followed close on her heels, imploring her to see reason.

"That will do, Orwell," said a cold, female voice. "I will handle this."

The servant bowed deeply and hurried off, clearly glad to have shed himself of this responsibility.

For a long moment the two women faced each other in silence. "What do you want?" Errya Eltorchul demanded.

"Information," the half-elf replied.

The noblewoman gave a scornful little sniff. "Have you no sense of propriety at all, to come storming in, making demands of a family in grief?"

"That leads nicely to my first question," Arilyn said. "Why does no one know of Oth's death?"

"That is no business of yours," the woman retorted.

"The creatures that killed Oth have followed and attacked me. That makes this very much my business." She remembered Errya's words about the death of the first Lady Dezlentyr, and added, "Nor am I the only person of elven blood who has been attacked."

A sly, cold smile edged on the woman's beautiful face. "I find it hard to weep over this."

"Why's that?"

"Nothing good comes of mixing with elves. You provide proof of that!"

Arilyn ignored the insult. "Yet your brother did business with Elaith Craulnober."

The woman's gaze shifted to one side. "Did he?" she said vaguely.

"That's what you said when we brought word of your brother's fate. I'd like to know more."

Errya tossed her head, sending her flame-colored ringlets dancing with indignation. "Go ask him yourself. The elf, not Oth," she added hurriedly.

This struck Arilyn as an odd statement. "Maybe I'll do that."

The woman's strange, sly smile returned. "If you hurry, you should be able to find him in the Castle. Danilo as well, for that matter."

"The Castle?" Arilyn repeated, not understanding where this was going. The Castle of Waterdeep was an enormous structure that housed the city guard, the headquarters and barracks of the Watch, the armory, offices for city administrators, and a host of other practical functions, including .. .

"The prisons," she concluded aloud, understanding the malicious delight dancing in Errya's green eyes. Anger and frustration washed through her at the realization that Danilo had ignored the warnings to stay away from the treacherous elf. "Both Elaith and Danilo? Since you seem to know so much, why don't you tell me what happened?"

"Didn't I make myself clear?" the woman said with false sweetness. "That's what comes of associating with the wrong people. Now if you'll excuse me, you've been here rather too long. I have no interest in courting Beshaba's fancy," she said, naming the goddess of bad luck.

Arilyn noted the woman's animosity, but her attention was more on the contents of her own purse. As she left the Eltorchul manor, she mentally counted her coin and tallied whether or not she had enough to pay damage fees for both of the offenders. If not, she was not entirely certain which of the pair she would leave to languish in his cell!

* * * * *

As it turned out, Arilyn was not forced to make that choice. Elaith had left the Castle within the hour, but despite Danilo's arguing and bargaining, he had refused to carry word of Danilo's predicament to his steward. "You are safer where you are," was all that the elf would say.

Judging from the grim set of Arilyn's face, Danilo was inclined to agree with Elaith. She strode along at a pace Danilo was hard pressed to match.

"Consider it a new experience," he suggested. "How many times have you had to sign pledge for a prisoner in the castle?"

"Too many," she muttered. "But you may get a chance to return the favor. Myrna Cassalanter doesn't inspire my better nature. I'm half hoping she'll come at me with a poker."

Danilo chuckled and slipped an arm around her waist, keeping it there until they reached Myrna's manor.

The maid ushered them into Myrna's presence and dropped her tray with a shriek. Her mistress was on her knees on the floor, both hands clutching at her throat. Her face was blue, and though her mouth worked frantically, no sound emerged.

Arilyn strode forward, reaching in her bag for the small vial she carried for just such occasions. She uncorked it with her teeth and spat out the cork, then seized the woman's chin and tilted her head back. She poured the liquid into the woman's mouth and held her head back until it ran down her throat.