'I will not,' Vangerdahast snarled. 'I-I . . .'
'Am disgusted with how cruel and tyrannical I can be?' Elminster asked, his voice almost a whisper. 'So am I, old friend. So am I. Yet I long ago cast my lot with Mystra, and do what she needs me to do. Yet I've not yet reached the point of being so disgusted that I refuse to do it and defy her.'
The Old Mage was aware of the two women backing instinctively away from him, awe warring with apprehension on their faces. 'And like ye,' he went on, his eyes never leaving those of his onetime pupil, 'I feel the talons of time clawing at me at last. Like ye, I know not how much time I have left-but I know enough to feel 'tis not much any longer. So like ye, this drives me to do all I want to do, as swiftly as I can-and be damned to all these younger fools who stand in my way. I know just how ye feel, Vangey. Believe me.'
He lifted one open hand, as if offering something invisible to the empty air. 'So now, I'm going to ruthlessly compel ye-quite rudely, but 'tis necessary and this way 'twill at least be swift.'
Vangerdahast glared at him, shuddering and going red-faced as he fought the invisible bonds of Elminster's magic. At last he barked out brief, wordless frustration and gave up, to slump and hang limply in midair. 'Ask your questions,' he said bitterly.
'I'm sorry, Vangerdahast,' the Old Mage told him. 'First then, precisely what creatures are you planning to bind, with these secret spells you're crafting?'
'What secret spel-'
'Truth, Vangey. The truth, if ye can still remember what that is after so many years at Court,' Elminster ordered, his voice calm but implacable.
Vangerdahast glared at him then snapped, 'Dragons. Neutral or benevolent dragonkind.'
Both Caladnei and Myrmeen drew in breath so sharply that they almost gasped-but said nothing, their eyes burning at Vangerdahast. So it was true!
Elminster spared them not a glance. 'Willingly or unwillingly bound?'
The former Royal Magician seemed to shrink, dwindling in the air. 'Willingly, if possible,' he murmured.
'To awaken at what triggers?'
'When called.'
Elminster acquired a sour look. 'Vangey,' he murmured, 'are we going to have to do this by dragging every last word out of ye like so many hooked sea-beasts being hauled ashore? No one in this room thinks ye're anything less than Cormyr's savior and staunch defender, the backbone of the realm. We admire thy intended legacy-so why not discuss it freely? None of us three wants to see Cormyr overrun by Red Wizards and Zhentarim-among many others-hunting for ye or for thy spells, so we're hardly likely to pass on what we hear to anyone else. I'll even mindshield these two ladies, if they desire it, so anyone who tries to read their thoughts or memories will get blasted by magic that should leave that anyone drooling-witless for a day or so. So why not just speak freely? Hey?'
Vangerdahast closed his eyes, sighed, and said, 'Very well. I intend that the guardian wyrms will be awakened by any being who utters the right words of summoning. For the words to work, the speaker will have to find and stand in the active area of the right portal-there should be at least two 'right portals' per dragon- while holding an item of the correct substance.'
'And that substance is?'
'I know not, yet. Most probably a particular sort of gemstone. I haven't yet decided on that part of it. I'm leaning toward establishing two allowable substances in all cases, either one of which will 'work.' Of course, 'tis best if such substances will last down the years.'
'Of course. Under what orders will these bound guardians operate when awakened?'
The former Royal Magician cast a quick glance at Caladnei-and just as quickly averted his eyes from her furious stare. 'To defend and preserve the realm,' he replied, almost sighing the words, 'its government, and those of its folk who stand loyal. To strike at foes of the realm the guardian identifies or that are pointed out to it by its summoner and other beings it comes to trust.'
'It comes to trust?'
'In the end, all things come down to trust,' Vangey muttered quietly, looking at the floor. 'They always do.'
One of the two women drew in her breath sharply again, swallowing a tremulous sob that sounded the width of a sharp sword blade away from bursting forth as furious words.
Elminster smiled a mirthless smile, glanced at the two ladies- Myrmeen standing watchfully, sword out, ready to menace either of the two wizards, and Caladnei seething, her face white and her hands clenched around a chairback so tightly that it almost seemed her grip would crush the wood-and asked, 'Whom would the guardians obey? Whom would they ally or cooperate with?'
'Their summoner would be their commander,' Vangerdahast replied, 'but they'd be freed of obedience to that being, instantly and forever, if ordered to harm any member of the Obarskyr ruling family, any castle or fortification of Cormyr, and . . . other conditions not yet specified.'
'Left free for you to amend at any time?' Caladnei snapped.
The floating wizard kept silent for a moment, but before Elminster could order him to answer, he said heavily, 'No. I … I'd not yet decided how long and precise a list of commands, and qualifications to those orders, to place upon the guardians.'
'And if an Obarskyr threatens the realm?' the Mage Royal asked sharply. 'What then?'
Vangerdahast turned his head to look at Caladnei. 'I've been wrestling with that very concern for some months now, on and off, but still see no clear, correct conclusion.'
Caladnei seemed about to say more-if her trembling was any indication, something intemperate-but instead waved a furiously dismissive hand and turned her face away.
'While in stasis,' Elminster continued, as quietly and calmly as if Caladnei had never spoken, 'these bound guardians will be kept where?'
'In an extra-dimensional space anchored to at least seven portals around Cormyr, only two of which will be made known to anyone but me,' Vangerdahast replied promptly.
'Who'll know the location of their abiding?'
'No one, if I can keep it so.'
Elminster nodded, took a step back, and let his former pupil descend a little. 'How are the wyrms protected when in stasis?'
What might have been a smile touched Vangerdahast's lips for a moment. 'Not at all, given how far my spells have progressed, thus far. Protections are something I must craft, however, if this scheme is to work at all.'
Elminster nodded again. 'Once loosed to serve, do the guardians return to their bindings?'
'No,' Vangey replied reluctantly. 'They'd be free, though someone who knew just which spells to cast could bind them again. The process will be lengthy and require the immediate presence of the guardian to be bound, so the dragon would have to be either subdued in some way … or willing to re-enter stasis.'
'Mystra! Murderous mothering Mystra!' Caladnei shouted, boiling over at last. 'Mage, I am appalled! Revolted! Disgusted at this treasonous betrayal of the kingdom we both love! How could you? After serving and stitching together this realm through years of strife and dire doom, you set forth to shatter it out of pure pride? O'erweening folly?'
'Oho,' Elminster murmured. 'Nice phrase.'
The Mage Royal stalked past him to plant herself right under Vangerdahast's lined and unhappy face and shake a furious fist up at it. 'I'm aghast that a Royal Magician of the realm-for you're still that, whether you wear the title or not-could play such a dangerous fool by contemplating forging this blade to strike at the very heart of Cormyr! And to plot this without telling anyone-using me as your dupe!'
'Lass,' the floating wizard told her sadly, 'the very strength of this blade is its secrecy and always has been.' He lifted his head, his voice growing stronger, and added, 'You are the realm's hope and the realm's future, and I believe I chose rightly. Yet you're but young at this. In what is needful for Cormyr I know best, better than any man, maid, or beast living-like it or not.'
Caladnei's mouth dropped open in astonishment, her jaw working in rage as she struggled through blazing fury to find the right words to hurl at him, and Vangerdahast gave her a wintry smile and said, 'I'll admit this much, Gala: I've often hated what I've had to do in service to the kingdom . . . and what those doings have in turn done to me, down the years.'
