Vangerdahast sighed. 'That I am not, and they have only to watch me to see that. Unless they don't want to see it. They may disagree with me as to what a loyal or honest courtier would do if in my boots, but few of them can properly appreciate what wizards do and face, let alone know all the secrets I do and the worries I have. If they knew just a little of what I hear and ponder and know, they might see me very differently.'
'Fair enough,' Tanalasta replied. 'So tell us some of these secrets.'
'Such as all about Ondel, and the She-dragon, and the barn,' Alusair said.
Vangerdahast sighed again. 'Very well. Ondel was a wizard of great power, a Sembian resident in Saerloon who was of interest to the Crown because he'd begun buying up farmland in Cormyr, near Marsember. Someone murdered him, probably an assassin or team of killers hired by a Sembian rival or perhaps someone in Westgate. We investigated but haven't learned who was to blame. We suspected that in his Cormyrean purchases he may have been acting for one of the exiled former noble families of Cormyr, but that's mere supposition on our part. He was cut apart, and pieces of him left all over Shadowdale-another place where he'd started buying land. Wizard of War Lorbryn Deltalon-who is not suspected of being any sort of traitor, by the way-did most of the looking into Ondel's death. None of you were told about, this because we could learn nothing definite touching on the security or governance of Cormyr and because we delve into literally thousands of such matters every year. Would you want to sit through my filling your ears about odd murders of Sembian wizards, and half a hundred other things, for half a day, every day?'
'No, and I grant your point, Vangey. What about Sundraer the She-dragon?'
'Also a Sembian. Of interest to us because she was Ondel's lover, when in human form. She died some years back, but aside from some handfuls of valuables she shared with Ondel, no one ever found her hoard. It's been local legend in Saerloon for nigh a decade. The usual rumor after rumor about its great size and someone finding it. Well, we believe someone finally did find it-somewhere in the Thunder Peaks. Just where, when, who, and what they found… again, just guesses and rumors. Nothing to share with Obarskyrs who have real concerns about Cormyr to deal with. The Harpers take an interest in rumors and odd happenings just as we do, but I can't think why a princess of Cormyr would want to, unless nobles or courtiers or rising personages of this realm were directly involved.' Alusair nodded. 'The barn fire?'
'Barns burn down all the time. If there are any suspicions about a barn fire in Cormyr, we investigate. This one was in our realm, and it spat out lightning bolts and green flames while burning. Therefore magic was involved, and we are investigating. If anything worth reporting comes to light, I'll certainly share ir with you.'
'See that you do, Royal Magician,' Tanalasta said. 'As you've no doubt gathered by now, Loos and I are both tired of being treated like brainless children.'
Vangerdahast nodded, looking a little weary. 'Have you heard enough for now?' he asked. 'I'd think hearing all I hear and worrying about all I think about would soon darken your hearts and lives and make you rue being born an Obarskyr in Cormyr. Believe me, both of you: it has been my intent and my hard work to shield you both from as much of this as possible, so you can enjoy your lives before the heavy burdens begin-the burdens that, once taken up, will only be lifted from your shoulders by death.'
'So is your heart darkened, Vangey?' Alusair asked, sounding almost gentle. 'Do you have nightmares? What haunts you?'
The Royal Magician regarded her gravely and said quietly, 'Dreams of drawn daggers haunt me. Picturing your royal mothet weeping in grief haunts me. Seeing sorrow and disappointment in your father's eyes when he looks at me after I've been too slow to see peril and disaster has harmed any of his family. Those are among the foremost things that haunt me, but my collection of hauntings is not a small one.' He rose from his chair. 'Now, if you'll permit me the impertinence, what I've heard out of your mouths here in this room suggests to me that you've both become quite old enough to enjoy a stiff drink. I know I need one.'
Doust yawned. Again. 'Isn't it time to wake Jhess and Stoop?' he asked, fighting down yet another yawn.
'Yes,' Florin said, leaning close to dig steel-hard fingers into Doust's ear and bring him instantly and very painfully wide awake, 'but see that you do it quietly. And weapons out, all.'
Doust blinked. 'Why? Is there someone out there?'
'Someone. And a beast, too. They're watching us.'
As he said these words, Florin rose, his drawn sword moving from across his knees to ready in his hand.
As it happened, he was just in time.
Chapter 20
Talons in the Night Now dripping red where once so white Fangs well fed flash not so bright Yet no gentler now their thirsty bite Fear always lurking talons in the night
He had to leave. Sooner or later a Wizard of War would discover some need to use a spell-shielded chamber and walk in on him. Yet he might never again have this much safe, quiet solitude in which to think.
And by Mystra, Azuth, and the Purple Dragon, he had to think.
Cormyr was a deathtrap for him, now and henceforth. Even if Vangerdahast should happen to drop dead before the next highsun-and he'd not be surprised in the slightest if the Royal Magician turned out to be one of those mages who has to be slain six or seven times before it worked-war wizards did not forget.
Not that Onsler Ruldroun had ever been bright lightning and gasps of awe as a war wizard. He had managed to steal a few spell scrolls down the years and retain a spellbook that should have been passed on to Old Thunderspells, but that still left him as 'competent, but no more.' He couldn't hope to challenge anyone but a fumbling lackspells and survive.
So he would have to be what he'd been before Yellander's gold had seduced him. Very careful. Until the bright empire could be founded, another mistake would mean death.
Which was why he'd dared to use the portals to take himself here after Boarblade was safe. He would have to disappear now and keep hidden, trailing along after Boarblade and the four. He'd keep close watch over their doings but stay unseen, using his spells to aid them only when he could do so undetected.
The four were on their way to join Boarblade already. Only the second man to whom he'd whispered had refused, and he'd managed to stuff that body down into the sewers. If he could manage it, those would be last individuals he would ever meet and have dealings with as Onsler Ruldroun.
Careful and cautious, that would be his way. From now on, he would work only through others, always hiding his true face.
As if it had heard his thought, his favorite hargaunt emerged at the top of the tapestry it had been hiding behind and flowed down the rich fabric toward him.
He reached out a hand to it, and it curled itself off the tapestry like a caterpillar to flow along his arm.
Ruldroun embraced it, kissing and then licking its wrinkled, purplish-brown warmth. It shifted in hue to match his skin and nuzzled him, emitting a purr he could feel more than hear.
His only friend, perhaps his only lover…
'Mother of my precious ones, I'll hide my real face using you,' he murmured to it. 'And when Shadowdale is ours, my beloved, you shall have the rewards I've promised, that you've been so patiently waiting for all these years. Your picks of the best humans to subvert and conquer: the strongest war wizard and Zhentarim agents who come skulking, the best Harper mages, perhaps even a Chosen of Mystra, if we dare that high. Persons of importance, who, when they return to the realms you desire to rule, can get you to rulers and those who choose rulers… and the real conquest of Faerun can begin. Unnoticed by those who bluster and blow warhorns and gallop under banners.'
He was humming happily to match its purrings now, as he tenderly stroked the shifting, caressingly moving bulk of the hargaunt.
'A hargaunt empire, where humans made docile reap rich harvests and burn out diseases and stand together
