'Had I done so, would you have considered my friends, as well?'
'No,' the captain admitted. 'Though they are as quick and skilled as any elf under my command.'
Zaor tactfully declined to point out the obvious flaw in the captain's claim. 'The three of us, then,' he pressed.
The Gold elf shrugged. 'Done.'
At that moment a sharp thud resounded through the tavern. They turned, observing as Saida gritted her teeth and tugged at the blade embedded in the living wood of the tavern wall. Myronthilar, who had just sidestepped her lunge, was examining his fingernails in an exaggerated gesture of patience.
'One more thing. Call off your lieutenant before she takes the edge off her kinsman's blade,' Zaor requested dryly.
The captain sniffed, as if in derisive agreement. He slanted a look up at the blue-haired elf. 'What your friend said of Saida Evanara's courage in battle-was there any truth to it, or was he merely taunting her to start this fight?'
Zaor shrugged. 'As to that, you must judge for yourself. Myronthilar Silverspear's words had a purpose, and they served their purpose well. Saida Evanara is under your command. Her measure is not mine to take.'
'Fair enough.' The captain cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, 'Hold!'
Myron responded instantly, dancing back out of his opponent's reach and dropping his sword to a low guard. He inclined his head to Saida, the respectful gesture of one fighter to another to mark the end of an honorable practice match.
But the female stood still, her sword poised for a strike and her entire body quivering with rage and indecision.
'I said hold!' snapped the captain. He strode over to the elf woman and seized her wrist. Saida's gaze snapped onto his face. Her eyes grew wary, then guarded.
'On your command,' she agreed, then added, 'I would not have struck, captain.'
The Gold elf searched her face. 'I wonder,' he murmured.
He dropped her wrist and turned away. 'Follow me to the guard's barracks. You have much to learn.'
The three Moon elves exchanged triumphant smiles and fell into step behind the captain. But the Gold elf whirled, and fixed a stare upon the company of guards behind them.
'I was talking,' he said grimly, 'to you.'
Lady Mylaerla Durothil, the formidable matriarch who headed the city's most powerful Gold elf clan, regarded her visitor with interest.
She was not a young elf, and had left the midpoint of her mortal life behind many summers past. But she was not too old to appreciate so handsome an elf as the one who sat before her. If the young captain of the guard had charm enough to waste on an old elf woman, why not give him the chance to use it? More, his plan intrigued her.
'You are certain that Ahskahala Durothil is of my kindred?' Mylaerla asked.
'Beyond a doubt,' Zaor said stoutly. 'I have made a study of the Durothil linage, and can assure you that she, like you, is a direct descendant of the Rolim Durothil who first settled Evermeet. Her ancestors fought against the dragonflight in the year of Malar's Great Hunt. She is a worthy descendant of all these illustrious elves; moreover, she is the finest, fiercest dragonrider I have ever seen.'
'Is it so? Then how is it that she survived Myth Drannor's fall, when so many fine, fierce warriors did not?'
It was a hard question, but an important one. Nearly as important was the manner in which Zaor posed the answer. 'Ahskahala has little patience with the habits and concerns of city dwellers,' he said carefully. 'She preferred to live in the wild places, and she served the People of Cormanthyr by guarding the outposts. But for her efforts, the city would have fallen much sooner than it did. More than one marauding band of orcs or goblins met their end due to her diligence. But her dragon was wounded during the early days of the siege, stranding both of them in their mountain lair. When at last they could take flight, the time for battle had passed.'
'Hmm. How would we contact this dragonrider?'
Zaor inclined his head in a gesture of respect. 'The abilities of House Durothil in matters of communication are legendary. I do not think this task would pose much challenge to your magi.'
'Well said. But what makes you think she would come to Evermeet now?' the elf woman asked shrewdly. 'What gain would she hope to find here? Power? Honor? Wealth?'
'Ahskahala has seen one elven culture fall. She would not wish the same on another.'
Mylaerla blinked, startled by the young warrior's bluntness. 'You think it possible that Evermeet could share Myth Drannor's fate?'
'Don't you?'
For a long moment, the elves regarded each other keenly. Then Mylaerla leaned back in her chair, and a mask seemed to drop from her face.
'You are more right than you know about many things, Zaor Moonflower,' she said bitterly. 'I cannot tell you how weary I am of the Durothil clan's endless concern with magic-aided chitchat. It was not always so. The first dragonrider was a Durothil-the Durothil. Did you know that?'
Not waiting for an answer, she hissed out an earthy curse and shook her head in frustration. 'My clan are descendants of Durothil, and what have we become? Effete, tower-bound layabouts, content to waste our brief centuries of life using magic to exchange gossip and to peek into distant bedchambers! Bah!'
Zaor leaned forward. 'There are yet dragons on Evermeet, are there not?'
Mylaerla considered this. 'I believe so, yes. I've heard talk of fairly recent sightings of a gold and a mated pair of silvers flying above the Eagle Hills.' She lifted an inquiring eyebrow. 'If Ahskahala is all you say, I doubt she would have much difficulty in training the dragons to this task. My concern is this: How would she deal with the Durothils of Evermeet and their ilk?'
'Your kindred will not have an easy time of it,' Zaor admitted.
The elf woman nodded. 'Good,' she said with grim satisfaction. 'In that case, we will send for her at once.'
Hearing the dismissal in her words, Zaor rose to leave.
Mylaerla sighed heavily. Something in the sound froze Zaor in the midst of his polite bow of leave-taking. He straightened and met her eyes, nodding encouragement for her to continue.
'This visit has reminded me of many things I should not have forgotten. For one, I have been too long in this city. It has been many years since I climbed the slopes of Eagle Hills. I do not even know for certain whether there still are dragons upon Evermeet!' She looked up at Zaor, and her smile was strangely tentative. 'Tell me something, youngling, do you think that even such as I could ride a dragon?'
As she spoke, a wistful expression crept into her eyes and softened her aging face. But her poignant longing did not in the least blunt the steel in her voice or the forceful impact of her presence.
Zaor could not keep the smile from his face. 'My lady, I don't think there's a dragon alive who could keep you from it.'
The elf woman burst into surprised and delighted laughter. Still smiling warmly, she rose and extended her hand to the young warrior as one adventurer to another. 'Then it is settled. The dragonriders will become Evermeet's guardians. Her shores will be kept inviolate.'
'As the gods will,' Zaor responded fervently.
Mylaerla cocked her head. 'I meant what I said, you know, about learning the craft myself. But what of you? Will you be joining those who ride the winds?'
'Regretfully, no. My responsibility lies elsewhere.'
Lady Durothil regarded him for a long moment. Then she nodded thoughtfully. 'Yes. Yes, it may indeed be so.'
17
