Crown of Fire

"What's wrong, Shan-" Narm began anxiously as she sobbed and shook against him.

Delg stumped up to him, shook his head to stop Narm's words, and reached out one brawny arm to stroke Shandril's heaving back. His stubby fingers moved gently, lovingly, as his other arm took hold of Narm's wrist, and guided the young mage's hand firmly to Shandril's back. Narm obediently began soothing his lady, and the dwarf stepped back, nodding in satisfied silence.

Shandril cried, seeing again the clutching claws of the gargoyles in ruined Myth Dra

Delg let the fire die low as he stumped around the clearing, peering watchfully into the dimness of the woods around him. It would do the lass good to cry awhile-past time for it, for one so young. He stroked the familiar curves of his axe head as he went, remembering Shandril's anger in battle, her eyes turned to blazing flames as she dealt death to the Zhents. He shook his head to banish those sights from his mind. More power than was good for anyone, this one had-more power than most could carry, and stay good folk.

A little chill went through him as he stopped and looked into the night-and thought about how he might have to kill her, for the safety of all in the Realms. His superiors had been grimly insistent that he never lose sight of that.

It was not the first time he'd had this dark thought. Delg stroked his axe again. It was the first time his mind had envisioned his axe leaping down to cleave Shandril's head, her long hair swirling amid blazing spellfire… the dwarf shook his head angrily and stumped back toward the fire with u

Shandril lifted bright eyes to him as he came up, and she managed a wavering smile. Delg nodded at her, and asked roughly, "More stew?"

Narm smiled, shaking his head slightly; Shandril did the same. The dwarf shrugged and sat down beside the fire, shifting the burning branches and adding a few more.

And then there was light where no light should be, touching his face on the side away from the fire. Delg spun, hand going to his axe. Narm and Shandril scrambled to their feet behind him.

In the air above the fallen shadowtop, a patch of light had appeared. It hung at about the height of a tall man's head, an area of spi

"Be not alarmed," came a faintly echoing voice from it. A man's voice, sounding somehow dignified and elderly, speaking from a long distance away.

A wizard, no doubt. Whatever the voice said, Delg was alarmed. Damn all magic, anyway! Honest folk couldn't-

"Hold, Shandril of Highmoon!" The voice had grown louder, and stern. "In the name of Azoun, I bid you make answer to me! I am Vangerdahast, Royal Wizard of Cormyr, and by this magic can only speak to you, not cast magic on you or do any harm to you and yours. Shandril, do you hear me?"

Three pairs of startled eyes met. Delg shrugged. Impulsively, Shandril leaned forward and said, "I am here, Lord Wizard." Her voice quavered; for some reason, she felt guilty and weak and in need of approval from this far-off wizard she'd never met. In Highmoon, she'd heard often of the mighty Vangerdahast-and by all accounts, he sounded less good-natured and forgiving than the far mightier Elminster she knew. The patch of radiance pulsed and grew brighter.

"That is good, Lady Shandril. I repeat: I mean you no ill, and this sending of mine can do you no harm." The light drifted nearer, and Narm's face darkened in suspicion. He raised his hands, ready to cast a spell, and stepped between Shandril and the wizard's glow, waving to Delg to keep watch on the woods around them. The dwarf gave him an approving, mirthless grin and did so.

"What would you, then?" Shandril's voice was steady now, her tears forgotten. It seemed they were under attack once more. Her fingertips tingled as excitement rose within her, and her spellfire awoke.

"I would know what you intend to do within the borders of Cormyr, and where you are bound. More: I must know what befell at Thundarlun, and your part in it." The light dwindled slightly, danced, and then strengthened again. "What say you?"

Shandril trembled in sudden suspicion. Just who was listening? Was this really the great Vangerdahast? And who might be listening from the dark woods all round them? She caught Delg's eyes; the dwarf had turned to look at her levelly, his face expressionless. Shandril took a deep breath and made her decision.

"I intend no harm to the folk and land of Cormyr, nor my challenge to the authority or property of the king," she said flatly. "I am fleeing enemies who would destroy me-among them, the warriors of Zhentil Keep, who followed me into your land through the Gap and caught up with me at Thundarlun. I can trust no one enough to tell where we are headed, but I assure you that I do not intend to settle or tarry in Cormyr. Let us pass in peace, I ask you."

"What happened at Thundarlun?" The voice was calm and level.

"Zhentilar troops, on horses, attacked us at Thunder Gap. We escaped them, and got as far as the guard post at Thundarlun before they caught up with us. Their arrows killed all the soldiers and the war wizard there. They set fire to houses and threatened to burn all the village if I did not come out to them. So I did." Shandril paused for a moment, and then added simply, "When they were dead, we took what food and drink we needed from the guard post, and went on."

"You slew them all?"

"You know what I bear," Shandril said sharply, more cold anger in her tone than she really felt.

"I do," came the voice. "I do not question your words, but I must know if any Zhentilar still ride free in eastern Cormyr."

"All that I saw are dead," Shandril said wearily, "but again and again they find me with magic-as you have done. Zhents may listen to us even now; I feel they are near."

"How many did you kill? And how many soldiers of Cormyr did you see dead in Thundarlun?"

Shandril fought down sudden tears, struggling to speak.

Her voice, when it came, was a fierce whisper. "I don't count the dead any more, wizard. I can't bear to!"

"Have you heard enough?" Narm could no longer contain his anger; his shout echoed back at them from the nearest trees.

"Peace, lad!" Delg said gruffly, and tromped closer to the floating light. "As near as I can tell," he told it without introduction, "Shan burned about a score from their saddles at the Gap. That many and a dozen more at the hamlet where we fought. I saw near two dozen more Purple Dragons lying dead there. And I have a question for you, wizard: Is it Azoun's will that we pass freely through Cormyr, or are we going to have to fight every soldier and war wizard we meet? Tell us now-or that's just what we'll have to do, for the sake of our own hides."

The light shimmered. "I ca

Delg bent closer. "He's there with you, though, listening, isn't he?"

A heavy, waiting silence hung in the glade after those words, and the light slowly grew brighter.

Then a new voice spoke from it, younger and more melodic-and yet somehow heavier with authority. "I am. I have heard of you, sir, and have heard now three voices speaking; how many of you are there?"

Delg said promptly, "I'm no longer young enough to willingly wear the cloak of a fool. Would you make true answer, in our place?"