a wastrel son living off his father's money, if you choose to continue that tale. We'll both know who's the latger land holder in Waterdeep-and we'll both know each other's measure. I'll keep your secrets, if you keep out of my affairs.'
After a long pause, Dagult said, 'Done,' but he remained unmoving before the large window.
'Am I free to go, then?' Renaer asked.
'One thing more-do you know where Khondar Naomal is now? Or his illusion-slinging lackey of a son?' Dagult turned to face him. 'They, at least, are traitors, and the city shall demand blood.'
'I don't know what happened to Centiv,' Renaer said, 'but my friends were going to face Ten-Rings before he tried to broach the shields around Ahghairon's Tower.'
'What?' Dagult's surprise was genuine. 'Guards!'
The three Watchmen burst in.
'Summon all forces and surround Ahghairon's Tower!' Dagult screamed. 'Now! Get a runner to the Watchful Order and get us their most powerful to stop one of their own guildmasters from high treason!'
'Why the panic, Father?' Renaer asked. 'It's not like Khondar'11 be able to penetrate all the shields. He's under a compulsion to do this, and Vajra believes it to be a suicide run. Thus, the city will get its blood after all.'
'I helped raise you, so I know you're no fool,' Dagult said. 'Few know how to penetrate those shields, but those who tried unleashed all manner of magic. Ahghairon's magic helps protect this city and keeps spells more stable here than elsewhere. Should something disrupt that, the only magic left here might be mundane commerce.'
Renaer finished his father's thought. 'And there's too much coin to be taken from wizards and their ilk to let that happen.'
Dagult spun around and spread his arms as if to say, 'Of course!' His smile faded when he said, 'Another thing we do know is that any intruder who penetrates those fields far enough, a Walking Statue-yes, a monolithic guardian of the City-teleports in from gods-know-where to attack the intruder.'
Renaer started to ask where the problem was, but stopped and gasped. 'That statue hasn't been summoned. Ever. It could very easily-'
Dagult and Renaer uttered the same conclusion together. '-bring a patch of the spellplague back with it!'
Renaer ran for the door, heading for the same destination as the Watchmen.
Dagult walked quickly back to the Lords' Court, its gallery now emptied as folk chased the commotion outside. 'Where is Renaer?' asked the presiding Lord.
'He is free to go, by my hand and by Code Legal,' Dagult said.
'We shall have our answers on those other matters soon enough. Come, our best view of a traitor's end may be from the East Tower.'
'What happened in there?' another Lord asked.
'My son has become a man, and worse yet, a hero. Something this city has not seen in some time.'
CHAPTER 26
The only thing the Watch may count on among lawbreaking-wizards is this-corner them where they live, and they are loathe to loose spell-work that damages overmuch.
12 Nightal, Year of the Ageless One (1479 DR)
Meloon, Osco, and Laraelra apparated onto the stoop of the Halaerim Club on Kulzar's Alley. They breathed a sigh of relief. No shadows at their feet showed them the invisibility Vajra wrapped around them stayed in effect.
'Eugh,' Osco whispered. 'Hate that. Always leaves me guts in an uproar.'
'We must be as quick as we can,' Meloon said. 'Catch the bastard before he's ready for us or any opposition- or before this spell fades.'
Laraelra held the Blackstaff out in both of her hands, paused a breath, and then said, 'Gehrallen!' She sighed in relief as the Blackstaff suddenly grew much heavier. The duskwood staff was replaced by a larger staff of twisted black metal topped with a clear crystal. The duskstaff's crystal glowed slightly, and Laraelra heard Vajra, though none of the others could.
Ah, good, she said. Elra, you'll be able to hear me, and I can cast spells through this staff as long as you hold it. This ought to even the odds against this wizard.
Laraelra smiled and said, 'I'm ready. Let's go.'
Meloon and Osco moved ahead, and Laraelra stepped forward to cross Kulzar's Alley. For the third time in as many days they stood at the threshold of Roarke House.
'Ready?' Meloon asked, hefting Azuredge, the blue runes shining brighter than the golden sunshine rising behind them.
'No,' Laraelra said, her voice intermingled with Vajra's. 'Let» us.
She leveled the duskstaff at the door, and a blue-black beam erupted from the globe. Laraelra saw four separate flashes of energy as the beam punched through and dispelled Ten-Rings' defenses. A massive hand of energy formed from the beam, and a blue-black fist punched down the door to Roarke House. A brief shimmer around them all, and their shadows fell across the threshold.
'I suppose this means we can enter,' Laraelra said, turning to Meloon and Osco. She smiled. 'After you.'
She heard a voice in her head from Vajra. Don't be overconfident, Elra. I can only cast spells and counter those I'm expecting. Ten-Rings is predictable when it comes to his outer defenses, but his spells in combat may be less so.
The trio moved cautiously into the star-and-moon covered entrance hall, Meloon in the lead. He stepped toward the cellar door, and Laraelra hissed at him, shaking her head. She whispered, 'Even if he flees that way, Harug and his friends have some surprises behind every way out down there. What we need to find is probably upstairs.' She pointed up the stairs that spiraled up the outer wall and overhead.
'I'll scout ahead and disable any traps or locks I find along the way,' Osco whispered. 'Just don't expect to see me easily, thanks to this ring.' With that, Osco hopped up the stairs silently, slipping into a shadow and vanishing from sight.
Meloon dashed up the stairs after him, Laraelra following. Energy flared out of the crystal, enveloping Meloon and then Laraelra in protective spells, though Laraelra still felt nervous heading into unknown territory. They reached the first landing and paused at the first ajar door. This floor had a number of doors off this hallway while the stairs continued up, winding along the wall. Laraelra barely noticed the ball of flame bouncing down the stairs ahead of them when Meloon grabbed her and forced her through the door. He shoved her inside and kept his shoulder to the door as explosive gouts of flame scorched the wall alongside the partly open door.
'Thanks, Meloon,' Laraelra gasped. 'How did you-'
'Just lucky, I guess,' Meloon said, and he dashed out the door and up the stairs toward the next level.
Laraelra followed, looking up the winding stairwell that led to the third and fourth floors of Roarke House. Dominating the stairwell atrium and facing east on the front wall of the house was a massive stained-glass mosaic filled with crescent moons and stars. She spotted a figure on the stairs ahead of and above Meloon- Khondar Naomal in olive green robes and a bear-pelt cloak, as if he intended to go out in the cold quickly. Elra cast a spell at him, and the purple dart caught him in the throat. His hands stopped glowing and his current spell dissipated, allowing Meloon the chance to catch up to Ten-Rings. He swung the axe and shattered some kind of magical shield around his target, but the mute wizard held his right fist toward Meloon, and a ring on his thumb pulsed with gray magic. As if he'd been shoved hard, Meloon fell backward, rolling down the stairs until Laraelra broke his fall.
