by Mel Odom
“So do I,” Baylee replied. “And he can be trusted to keep his mouth shut.” He paused, studying the justifier. “If you were so close to me, why were you so far away when these dopplegangers attacked?”
“I saw you take the flask from the fountain,” Cthulad said. “I guessed that it might be from your mentor. While you were in Nalkie’s, I thought it would be better if you had some time to yourself to sort things out. By the time I saw what was going on, it was over.”
Baylee nodded, satisfied with the answer. From start to finish, the battle with the dopplegangers had lasted hardly any time at all.
“I have to tell you,” Cthulad said. “I don’t mind cutting the Waterdhavian watch out of our operation, but I feel a bit rancorous about being cut out myself. As I told you, I represent the families and friends of those slain at the forgathering. I shall not shirk that duty.”
“I represent them as well,” Baylee said.
“No, my young friend. You represent your own interests. Not to say that you are in nowise selfish, but you are closely involved in these matters. A clearer head will prevail. If you allow me, I can be of service.”
“Perhaps.”
Cthulad laughed. “You against the world? Baylee, that’s only your youth talking. Your mentor left you a clue to the next part of this quest you are upon, or I’ll eat my horse. Do not foolishly assume you can defeat a power that took his life. By all accounts, Fannt Golsway knew his way around a spell or two. The foes you may be facing could be formidable indeed.”
Baylee remained silent.
“I should like an answer,” Cthulad said. “Your word that I shall be included in this endeavor. Or we can part here and I’ll dog your tracks anyway.” After a moment, he offered a hand, reaching down from his saddle.
“You’ve got my word,” Baylee said, taking the other man’s hand.
“Good. Then let’s get your horse and see about removing those scrying eyes.”
Folgrim Shallowsoul waved a hand over the crystal ball. The amber tint faded from the crystal, but the figures of Baylee Arnvold and Civva Cthulad remained. The lich turned his hollow-eyed gaze on Krystarn Fellhammer. He knows where the wreck is.
Krystarn met the lich’s gaze straight on, wondering how best to play the bit of information she’d just received. “What wreck?”
Shallowsoul ignored the question. Do you have a means of getting in touch with the other agents you have in Waterdeep?
“Only by teleporting there and contacting them. As you know, I can’t do that until after dark.” Krystarn almost shuddered at the idea that the lich might ask her to journey to Waterdeep for such an undertaking anyway.
“By then you will be too late,” Shallowsoul said, and Krystarn jumped at the sound of his spoken words. “I don’t think they’ll remain in the city much longer. He turned away from the crystal ball.
Krystarn stared into the crystal ball’s depths, watching as Baylee returned for his mount at the front of the tavern. Together, he and Cthulad rode along the docks, going north.
“After all these years,” Shallowsoul said, “the library will once more come closer to being complete. How I have longed for this day. And to have it threatened by this Baylee Arnvold, who is not much more than a mere boy, is insufferable.”
For the first time, Krystarn heard the madness in the lich’s words. She had always heard such creatures were quite mad, but she’d seen no real example of it. The weakness gave her hope. As a drow, she’d been trained from birth how to exploit the weaknesses of others.
“Perhaps,” she said, “you could send me to this shipwreck and I could prevent the ranger from arriving there.”
The lich turned to her, its grotesque face tweaked into angry mirth. “Do you take me for a fool, Krystarn Fellhammer?”
“No,” she answered quickly.
“Good. Because I don’t take you for a fool either. Were I you and had a chance at the things that you might find in that wreck, I would take what I could and run. Studying those things alone would take several lifetimes, even for a drow.” The lich shook his head. “No, it would be better if you were not subjected to such temptation. I would be loathe to kill you while you are still of use to me.”
Krystarn waited quietly, watching Shallowsoul open the amethyst book and read. In the crystal ball, Baylee and his companion arrived at a small shop in Waterdeep. A few moments later, the image in the crystal ball silently closed like a giant eye. It did not reopen.
“Baylee is gone from us now,” the lich said. “Use the crystal ball to reach your other contacts within the city. I want to know how he leaves Waterdeep. The crystal is already attuned to all of those you gave me information about.”
Krystarn sat and began her work. When she was finished, Shallowsoul dismissed her like a child. She mastered her anger and didn’t say anything. She felt his hollow-eyed gaze on her all the way back to the dimensional door. But her mind was busy thinking up ways to make Baylee’s diversion pay off for her.
“I’m afraid I wasn’t able to get you much,” Madonld said apologetically. He was short and wiry, silver-haired with a neatly cropped beard. Despite wearing the robes of a law-reader, he also wore the worn sword at his hip with authority.
Baylee looked at Golsway’s old friend. The ranger hadn’t often talked with the law-reader over the years, but there had been a few occasions when the old mage had invited the man to their table for eveningfeast and conversation afterwards. Those conversations always turned to the stories and twice-told tales they all shared as new speculations had arisen and been debunked all in the same hour.
“I did not expect miracles,” Baylee said. They sat in the back of a pipeweed shop near the dock area. A few silver pieces had purchased the room for an hour. A number of shops fronting the wharf area had the same business practices. A number of “trade” agreements had to be reviewed, as well as any bribes paid that needed paying. The room was small, having only a circular table and three spindly chairs. Candles in wall sconces lit the room and filled the air with the odor of burning wax.
Madonld passed over the money belt from a bag of holding he carried. “I think you’ll find you’re well provided for there, Baylee, but Fannt left you much more. It’s just at the moment, all those belongings and moneys are being scrutinized. I’ve already had an officer of the watch banging on my door less than an hour ago.”
“Cordyan Tsald?” Baylee asked, buckling the money belt around his waist.
“That’s her.” Madonld gazed at him carefully, glancing back at Civva Cthulad, who stood by the door. “Are you in some kind of trouble? Maybe it’s something I could help with.”
No trouble that you could help with, Xuxa put in.
“Maybe I should be the judge of that,” Madonld said.
Law-reader Madonld, if there was anything you could do besides what you’re doing here and now, don’t you think I’d be the first to know?
“Xuxa’s right,” Baylee said. “She would tell me to talk to you. And she wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” He checked through the pockets of the money belt, surprised at the amount of gold coins he found.
“You’ll find that you’ve been quite well provided for,” Madonld said to Baylee. “Fannt wanted you provisioned for whatever expedition he’s set up for you, and he wanted you looked after so that you may ‘charge with the winds, wherever your curiosity and sense of adventure,’ as he put it, takes you.”
“I never expected this,” Baylee said in a strained voice. “He was someone—” His voice finally broke. “You just thought he would live forever.”
Madonld put his hand on the back of Baylee’s neck. “I know.” The law-reader’s voice was husky. “I’m going to miss him too. So you be sure you get this matter cleared up and get back to me. I don’t want to see you lost as well.”
After a moment, Baylee stood. “I haven’t been to Golsway’s crypt to say my good-byes. I can’t go now because the watch will probably have it surrounded.”
�
��There will be time later. A more proper time.”
“Would you do me a favor?”
“Yes.”
“Would you send someone to take a flower blanket to put over his crypt? Wild red roses, with the thorns left on, and some dark purple orchids if you can. He never said so, but I knew they were his favorites.”
“Of course.”
Baylee shook the man’s hand and left the room, Cthulad at his heels. He had money enough, now. All he had to do was find a ship.
19
“It’s not much, is it?” Baylee looked around at the ship’s cabin he’d been assigned with Civva Cthulad.
“I’ve bivouacked in worse,” the justifier said. He struck flint to a lantern on a wall sconce, then blew gently on the wick to get it going. When he was satisfied, he lowered the glass again and adjusted the flame.
The yellow glow splashed against walls that needed a good scrubbing to get rid of the black-green mildew. Scars decorated the wood, as well as names, curse words, and pieces of prayer that had been carved into the surfaces. The ceiling wasn’t tall enough for Baylee to comfortably stand in. He dropped his duffel on the floor beside one of the two cots suspended above the floor. All the bedding looked worn and moth-eaten.
“With the accommodations looking like this,” Baylee said, “you have to wonder what the food is going to be like.”
“Pray that you’re hungry enough to eat it anyway,” Cthulad said good-naturedly.
Xuxa hung from the struts coming from the center of the ship. The azmyth bat hadn’t made any complaints yet, but the ranger knew they would come along soon enough.
“And I don’t think the fare will be all that bad,” Cthulad said. “I’ve got a food pouch that will give us an additional meal a day each of nuts, grains, and dried fruits. We won’t starve, and we won’t have to worry about scurvy on the trip.”
“And I’ve got a few packages of jerked beef that will last for a time.” Baylee lay on the cot. “We’ve got an hour or so before we sail out of the harbor. I don’t think it would be a good thing for me to be seen above deck.” He put his arms behind his head. “I’m going to take a nap. If there’s anything I need to know, wake me.”
“When did the ship sail?” Cordyan Tsald asked the watch officer giving her the report. She stood at the dock and gazed out at the Sea of Swords. A number of sailing vessels floated in the large anchorage behind the breakwater. The pinging of sail cloth cables ringing against the masts created an undercurrent of sound almost as loud as the waves breaking under the docks.
“Perhaps as much as two hours ago,” the watch officer replied.
Cordyan cursed silently. They had managed to track Baylee to Nalkie’s. Although none of the staff at the tavern readily admitted to seeing the ranger there, patrons and shopkeepers across the street had volunteered information that led her to believe Baylee had been the man they’d seen. The two dead dopplegangers in the alley cinched it.
“He has gotten away,” Calebaan said, gazing out to sea with her.
“For the moment only,” Cordyan said. “What was the name of the ship?”
“Kerrijan’s Hammer,” the watch officer replied.
“And where is she bound?”
“The maritime office here in Waterdeep says she’s a regular traveler between Waterdeep and the Moonshae Isles. She’s a cargo ship with contracts between businesses on both sides of the sea.”
“What is her usual anchorage in the Moonshaes?”
“At Caer Callidyrr.”
Cordyan dismissed the watch officer, leaving herself alone with Calebaan. “Why do you suppose Baylee travels there?”
“The obvious answer would be that he has received some kind of communication from Fannt Golsway,” the watch wizard said.
“So he takes off on his own to go up against an opponent strong enough to kill Golsway in his own home? That’s foolish.” Despite her harsh summation of the situation, Cordyan felt fearful for the young ranger. In their days together on the journey back to Waterdeep, she had seen much to like about him.
Calebaan turned to her, his face only slightly amused because worry showed in there as well. “And what do you propose to do?”
“With Piergeiron’s blessing,” Cordyan said, “I’ll sail after him.”
“Why?”
“Because what he knows could offer a threat to Waterdeep,” she said stubbornly.
“It has been nearly two tendays since Golsway was killed here in Waterdeep. There have been no further evidences of any threat to this city at all.”
“Just because you don’t see it, don’t think it’s not there.”
“I suppose that is the stance you’re going to take with Piergeiron and Senior Civilar Closl.”
“Yes.” Cordyan glanced up at her friend. “Do you think it will work?”
The watch wizard nodded. “Maybe. But I don’t know whether to be wishful for you that it does, or wishful for you that it doesn’t. Baylee Arnvold is not sailing a safe course at the moment. Those two dopplegangers back there are mute testimony to that. Someone wants him dead.”
“I know, Calebaan, and I should hate to hear of that happening.” Cordyan walked back to the hitching post where they’d left their mounts.
“You like this young man, don’t you?” the watch wizard asked.
Cordyan felt her face color and she didn’t dare look at her friend. “He is a brave, good man from what I have seen.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“That’s the only answer that I’ll give you, Calebaan. Anything else is for my thoughts only.”
“Then you should not wear them so apparently on your sleeve.”
“You think you know so much, then tell me where Baylee is right now and what it is that he seeks.”
Calebaan only laughed, which infuriated Cordyan even more.
“You missed dinner last night.”
Baylee took his plate from the mess hall and crossed the deck to sit with Civva Cthulad near the middle of the cargo vessel. The morning had brought rough seas, and eating in the galley hadn’t seemed a good idea. Xuxa hadn’t liked the idea at all.
The justifier sat on the rise of deck just above the cargo hold, his plate held before him. Sailcloth cracked and popped overhead. Sailors scurried through the rigging, dropping and adding sheets as orders were carried out.
“I didn’t know I would sleep through the whole night.” Baylee dropped into a cross-legged position in front of the old ranger. He balanced his plate on his knees, piled high with wheat cakes, bacon and breakfast steak, fried potatoes, and two oranges. He’d had to pay the cook a few silver pieces above his boarding passage for the extra fruit.
“Evidently you needed it. I know you didn’t sleep well on the journey from the forgathering.”
Xuxa flew to a net of ship’s rigging over Baylee’s head and remained within reach. She waited politely as he peeled the first orange and sectioned it out. He broke the first wedge in half and offered it up.
Thank you, she said as she took the offered bit of fruit. She chuckled contentedly as she began to eat.
“I offered her dinner last night,” Cthulad said, “but she deigned not to eat, chancing instead to await you.”
Little did I know you were going to sleep away your life last night, Xuxa chided.
Sorry. Silverware appeared to be something of a luxury aboard Kerrijan’s Hammer. Baylee rolled up the first wheat cake, all smothered with butter and honey, and ate it. The wheat cake, after spending the night without food, seemed as good as any he’d ever had. “She meant no offense.”
“Oh, none was taken. She explained how she felt and I graciously accepted her decision.” Cthulad smiled at the bat. “I sat with her and kept her company. She is quite eloquent.”
“There are times,” Baylee admitted, “when you can’t get her to shut up.” He took a strip of bacon in his fingers, broke off a tiny piece, and offered it to Xuxa.
The azmyth bat lapped at it with her tongue.
She wouldn’t eat the meat out of preference, but she did like the taste of the grease.
“She seems quite concerned about your relationship with a young woman named Jaeleen,” Cthulad said.
Baylee dropped his hand away from Xuxa. She made a frantic grab and managed to snatch the bacon morsel from his fingertips. “That has no bearing on our present course,” Baylee pointed out.
“True.” Cthulad finished the last bite of his wheat cakes. “Tell me about Uziraff Fireblade, the man we are going to the Moonshaes to meet.”
“He considers himself an explorer.” Baylee made a grimace of disgust. “But he is little more than a freebooter who sometimes strikes the skull and crossbones to do a little trading with those who wish to purchase certain discoveries he’s been fortunate enough to discover.”
“I wouldn’t think a man of Fannt Golsway’s reputation would deal with such a man.”
“When it comes to antiquities,” Baylee said, “those are the people an honest explorer deals with most of the time. Grave robbers. Tomb raiders. Body snatchers. Thieves. And killers. You run the gamut of the bottom of all Faerûn when you seek to uncover the past. And you have to deal with them all.”
“Why?”
Baylee sopped up more honey with another wheat cake and popped it into his mouth. “Because those are the people who generally get into areas that you haven’t been able to get into yourself. Some of the regions they make discoveries in are sanctioned, and explorers are viewed only as interlopers. They take things that are better left to museums and true collectors.”
“For a price?”
“Yes. If you have a collector with a deep purse, those grave robbers know they can get a lot of gold pieces from someone who really wants a particular piece.”
“I’ve heard some say that the work of an explorer is only one step removed from a grave robber,” Cthulad said.
Baylee started to take offense.
He is only asking, Xuxa said, seeking to better understand how you see yourself.
Forcing himself to relax, Baylee said, “In some respects, I suppose the comparisons are inevitable. We operate from the same deep purses. The grave robbers demand the money after they’ve made the discovery. Explorers ask benefactors to put the money up ahead of time, wheedling and pleading, and showing as much of the information as they dare so that it is not stolen and used by someone else. In the end, all the items that are worthwhile and are recovered end up in the same museums and collectors’ hands. Only the prices differ. A thief won’t care about the history that goes with a particular piece, but an explorer will learn from it first before passing it along. In fact, many of an explorer’s discoveries will be of things that are not of gold or silver. Codices to a forgotten language, for example.”
