Light glinted off the ancient moonblade, pooling in the elven runes carved down its length. The man's black eyes widened and he stepped backward so abruptly that he stumbled over the hem of his robe. The matter settled to her satisfaction, Arilyn sheathed her sword and resumed her seat.
Danilo shook his head. 'Your bartering technique could use a little work.'
'Didn't it occur to you that he was serious?' Arilyn demanded, stabbing a finger in the direction of the retreating servant. 'The saying here is 'Barter met is bargain sealed.' What would you have done if he'd met your price?'
'I'd've asked him to throw a couple of camels into the deal.'
'Cam-' Arilyn broke off, dropping her head forward. 'All right, I'll play: why camels?'
'For my mother, of course. The redoubtable Lady Cassandra bid me acquire something interesting for her stables,' Danilo replied mildly.
Arilyn fought against laughter, but the mental image of the elegant Waterdhavian noblewoman astride a camel was too much for her.
'You really ought to laugh more often. It becomes you. Ah, thank you,' Danilo said as the innkeeper appeared at their table with two large goblets. The nobleman sipped at his wine and praised it extravagantly.
'The grapes are grown on my own lands,' the innkeeper said modestly. 'I'm honored that you are pleased.'
'More than pleased,' Danilo said. 'My family deals in fine wines, you know. Perhaps if I were to join your guild, I could carry your wine-and your fame-to the North.'
The innkeeper's smile faded abruptly. 'I would like that very much, Lord Thann, but I doubt it will be possible. You will excuse me.' He bowed quickly and scurried away.
'What was all that about?' Arilyn asked warily.
Danilo picked a bit of cork out of his wine. 'You may have noticed that this establishment is not the sort of place I usually frequent. It is, however, a meeting place for guildmasters. Didn't you see the sign outside? The Guilded Dagger? Terrible pun, but there you have it.'
'Yes? So?'
'The guilds control every aspect of trade in Tethyr, which makes them rather influential. If Pasha Balik refuses to give the Harpers an audience, perhaps he'd listen to a representative from one of the local guilds.' Danilo took another sip of wine. 'Namely, me.'
Arilyn choked on her wine and set down her goblet with a thunk. 'Danilo, the guilds are plotting to overthrow Pasha Balik. We're here to warn him, not join the other side.'
'Guild membership would give me access to the pasha's court,' Danilo argued. 'Moreover, as a guild insider, I could find evidence that would force Balik to listen to us.'
It wasn't a bad plan, but Arilyn was in no mood to be generous. 'Which guild would you join? The procurers?' she asked in an acid tone.
'Now, there's a thought,' Danilo said with a grin. 'Come now, Arilyn. Don't tell me you're upset over a little harmless bartering. My asking price was too low-is that it?'
'It's not easy to get into the guilds here,' the half-elf said, ignoring his teasing. 'Membership is passed down from father to son, or earned through apprenticeship. You could buy your way in, I suppose, but these people are more likely to be impressed by a clever bargain than by a pile of gold and jewels. Do you have a plan?'
'Not yet,' Danilo admitted. 'I'll think of something, though.'
'Another thing.' Arilyn leaned in closer and spoke with quiet urgency. 'If the guilds learn you're a Harper, they'll assume you're here to meddle-'
'A reasonable assumption,' he broke in.
'And you'll be as good as dead. I say keep away from them.'
'Guild rule was attempted once in Waterdeep,' Danilo reminded her, his voice suddenly serious. 'It was, to put it mildly, a disaster. Pasha Balik might have his faults, but he's the strongest leader in Tethyr and the best hedge against political chaos in the area. If I have to go through the guilds to get the pasha's ear, I'll do it.'
As Arilyn nodded reluctant agreement to Danilo's plan, a grim possibility occurred to her. Perhaps guilds allied against Balik-which would include the powerful Assassins Guild-had already discovered their Harper identity. That would explain the mysterious pursuer and his skill at stalking; southern assassins were peerless killers trained at a secret college known as the School of Stealth. It also meant that the Guilded Dagger was the most dangerous spot in Port Kir for them to be lingering over a glass of wine.
'Let's get out of here,' she murmured, and quickly explained her fears. The nobleman was silent for a moment, then reached across the table and covered one of her hands with his.
'Arilyn, we're not known as Harpers. If someone is indeed watching you, it's undoubtedly due to your unfortunate reputation as-'
'Point taken,' interrupted the half-elf quietly.
Although she had worked for the Harpers for years, she had just recently joined their ranks and few who knew of her would suspect her affiliation. She was known as a sword-for-hire. Given the political unrest in the area, the sudden appearance of a known assassin would be cause for concern. Any number of beleaguered rulers might want her watched.
Danilo gave her hand a quick, sympathetic squeeze and then nodded toward the entrance. 'Who do you suppose that man is?'
Grateful for the change of subject, Arilyn glanced at the front door in time to see the innkeeper fold himself into a deep bow. The recipient of this courtesy was a lone man whose dark purple robes were drawn close against the sudden chill of the night. Light glinted off a golden ring on his outstretched hand.
'I wouldn't know. Does it matter?' she asked.
'It might. Look where he's being seated.'
The half-elf watched as the newcomer was escorted to the taproom's finest curtained booth. Just before the innkeeper drew the gaudy drapes, Arilyn caught sight of the newcomer's face. He was a beardless lad, probably no more than fourteen or fifteen, and he returned Arilyn's scrutiny with intensity remarkable for a boy his age.
'Here we go again,' Danilo observed calmly. Arilyn followed the line of his gaze and immediately forgot about the youth. An enormous bearded man approached their table, his black mustache twisted with a sneer of challenge.
'You wish to barter with your sword, eh?' taunted the man. He drew a scimitar and leered down at Arilyn. 'Let us make a bargain, elf woman.'
'You know the ordinances, Farig!' the innkeeper scolded, rushing up to the table. He flapped his hands at the brute as if he were shooing chickens. 'Outside, outside.'
As Arilyn rose from the table, she murmured to Danilo, 'You're the one who likes to barter. Do you want to take this one?'
Danilo brightened. 'In a manner of speaking, yes. You handle the sword end of the deal, though.' The nobleman removed a large gold-and-amethyst ring from his finger and held it aloft. 'I'll wager this that the elfwoman wins,' he said loudly. There was a rumble of laughter, and soon a small crowd circled Danilo's table, arguing odds and laying bets.
The half-elf suppressed a smile as she followed the tavern bully out into the street. She knew what Danilo would bet against his ring and her skill: full guild membership.
The Guilded Dagger emptied as its patrons followed the combatants outside. Arilyn noted that the strange, intense lad was among the crowd. To her eyes, he looked troubled and oddly disappointed.
But other, more pressing matters demanded her attention, so Arilyn turned back to her opponent. Drawing her sword, she held it before her in a defensive stance. If at all possible, she wouldn't harm more than the man's pride.
The big man shrugged off his outer robe, baring massive arms and a thick torso gone soft around the middle. 'What price does your sword require?' he asked, clearly enjoying himself. 'Do I let it draw first blood?' The crowd laughed at his jest.
'Offer the sword a new scabbard and get on with it, Farig!' one man called. 'Why tire the elfwoman in battle?'
The answering chorus of bawdy laughter abruptly faded when the fighters crossed swords. For several moments Arilyn simply parried the blows, giving Danilo the chance to raise the stakes on his wager. It proved to be
