was his custom, and he instinctively found himself listening for hidden layers of meaning in the archmage's words. He thought he probably would have done so even without Eilistraee's warning. There was something about the dark elf that inspired caution.
'That is a very fine dagger you carry,' Ka'Narlist commented, nodding toward the long knife tucked into Sharlario's boot. 'I don't believe I've seen one quite like it.'
Remembering local custom, the Moon elf slipped the knife from his boot and handed it, hilt first, to the wizard. 'It is yours, if you will do me the honor of accepting so small a token.'
'With pleasure,' the dark elf said. He shifted aside a fold of his tunic to reveal a weapon belt from which hung a jeweled dagger and two small silk bags. He removed a dagger from its sheath to make room for Sharlario's gift, then he offered his to his guest as an exchange.
The weapon was a marvelous thing, with a bright satin sheen to the blade and a large ruby set in a richly engraved hilt.
Sharlario bowed and accepted the fine dagger, wondering as he did why the archmage had pointedly admired a lesser weapon. The dagger in the Moon elf's belt was clearly visible, and nearly as fine as the one Ka'Narlist had just given him. It would have been a nearer exchange. He wondered what the inequity signified.
'In our land, an exchange of weapons is a sign of trust,' the archmage said with a faint smile. 'In some circumstances, it is also a pledge of service or assistance.'
This was something Sharlario had not anticipated, but it made a certain sense. 'What service do you require of me?'
Ka'Narlist's crimson eyes lit with amusement. 'That was not my intent, I assure you. To the contrary. You have traveled far, no doubt with some purpose in mind to speed your steps. Speak freely, and I will aid you if I can. At the very least, I can answer some of your questions. I suspect you have many,' he added shrewdly.
The Moon elf nodded thoughtfully. As a diplomat, he had learned the value of news from far places. What he had just given Ka'Narlist might well be many times the worth of the ruby-hilted dagger. He was also tempted by the offer of information in exchange, and eager to hear what explanations the archmage might give for some of the customs of Atorrnash.
'I have heard that many of the People in this land worship Vhaeraun. Of this god I know little, and would like to learn whatever you can teach.'
'Vhaeraun!' The corner of Ka'Narlist's lip lifted in an expression of contempt. 'A minor godling, an upstart. His followers are mostly thieves, raiders, rogues of all kinds. I myself have nothing to do with this god.'
'Most reassuring,' Sharlario murmured.
'For those who seek to understand the source of power, to tap the force of life itself, there is only Ghaunadar, the Ancient One,' Ka'Narlist continued. He shot a wry look at the wemic, as if exchanging an unvoiced secret. 'You and your son may yet have an opportunity to observe a service to the Elemental God.'
Sharlario did not find that reassuring in the slightest, though he had no knowledge of Ghaunadar. 'Another thing puzzles me,' he said. 'I cannot help but notice the division between the dark elves and the fair. In other places, I have seen class distinctions of royal, noble, and common, but these are matters of birth and breeding.'
'And the division of Atorrnash is not?' the wizard retorted. 'It is a simple matter, really. Nature is governed by certain immutable rules. By virtue of claw and fang, the lion will always triumph over the goat. Given time, the pounding of the sea will wear away the stone. And when dark elves mingle with the lighter races, the offspring invariably take after the dark parent. It is all much the same-that which is greater will prevail. Our numbers increase steadily, both through birth and conquest. The dark elves are the dominant race, so ordained by the gods,' Ka'Narlist concluded in a matter-of-fact tone. 'By this, I mean no offense.'
The apology was so obviously specious that Sharlario declined comment. 'Nature is indeed full of wonders,' he continued. 'The sheer variety of Atorrnash's inhabitants leads the observer to marvel at nature's prodigiousness.'
Ka'Narlist's crimson eyes glinted with amusement. 'Delicately put. As you surmised, nature has had little enough to do with most of those ridiculous creatures that crowd the streets,' the archmage said with a touch of asperity. 'What, then?'
'There are many wizards in this city who experiment with powerful magic, and in the process create twisted beings of all descriptions. There is an art and a science to such things, but most of the wizards go about it as if they were scullery servants tossing bits of herbs and meat into a stew pot. The result is the appalling hodgepodge you witnessed.'
'And you do such things, as well?' Cornaith demanded.
'I do such things, my dear young elf, but not 'as well.' Better. Far better. I do them as they should be done. My studies are thorough, my results remarkable.'
Ka'Narlist allowed a moment's silence to give weight to this pronouncement. 'You might think me prideful in these claims,' he continued in a disingenuous voice, 'But I mention my work only because rumor has it you are merchants as well as diplomats. I thought you might be interested in acquiring some unusual slaves. There are several intriguing breeds that are unique to my stables.'
Sharlario caught his son's eye with a silent warning, commanding the visibly enraged youth to hold his tongue. In truth, he was as appalled by this as was Cornaith, but he understood that speaking of it would do little good and could cause considerable harm. One thing his centuries of travel had taught him was to observe well, ponder long, and speak only after much thought. But even as Sharlario reminded himself to reserve judgment on a culture he understood but little, he began to see how the Dark Maiden's prophecy might well come to pass.
'Despite the class divisions, surely all the People of Atorrnash would stand together against a common threat,' Sharlario commented. It was, in his opinion, well past time to turn the conversation to safer matters.
The mage lifted one snowy brow. 'Such as?'
'Dragons, for example. Is Atorrnash threatened by their wars?'
'Not really. The use of magic is intense in the city, and most dragons find this uncomfortable and give Atorrnash a wide berth. They do bedevil trade routes from time to time, but except in the savannahs and the forest to the north, dragons are a minor inconvenience at worst. Except, perhaps, for that one,' the mage amended, grimacing slightly as he nodded toward a faint red dot in the sky.
Sharlario looked up, and his heart plummeted. 'The Master of the Mountains,' he murmured in a voice raw with dread.
'You mean Mahatnartorian, I take it. Yes, he is a bit of a nuisance. I have lost considerable cattle to his appetite-my herdsmen's magical defenses are pitifully inadequate against a great wyrm. I will construct better wards when my work permits me the time. But surely, Mahatnartorian is no threat to your homeland, distant as it is.'
'The dragon is flying north, and I know where he is bound,' the Moon elf said grimly. 'We must leave at once.'
'Ah.' Ka'Narlist nodded in understanding. 'You have had dealings with him, I take it?'
'He was conquered and banished by a clan of avariel. I fought with them, as I owed them an honor bond.'
'Avariel?'
'Winged elves,' Sharlario said grudgingly, wishing for some reason he had not spoken of them.
But Ka'Narlist seemed to take the comment in stride-no doubt he was jaded by exotic beings brought into existence by his own work. 'And now the dragon is returning to settle the score. Of course you must go. But if you can tarry an hour's time, my wemic will see that you have a warrior band to take with you. A vengeful dragon is no easy thing to vanquish.'
For a moment, Sharlario was tempted. He could not dismiss, however, the casual way that the archmage had spoken of the dark-elven attitude toward conquest and dominance. Instinct told him that accepting Ka'Narlist's offer would almost certainly seal the fate of the forest elves.
'I thank you, but I cannot wait. Not only is my family endangered, but I am bound by oath…' the Moon elf began.
Ka'Narlist cut him off with an upraised hand. 'I quite understand. Do as you must, with all possible speed.' The wizard turned to the ever-attentive servants who lingered on the garden's perimeters and bade them escort the Moon elves to the northern gate without delay. 'Or better yet,' he amended to Sharlario, 'I will put you well on your
