hardly any time at all.
'I have to tell you,' Cthulad said. 'I don't mind cutting the Waterdhavian watch out of our operation, but I feel a bit rancorous about being cut out myself. As I told you, I represent the families and friends of those slain at the forgathering. I shall not shirk that duty.'
'I represent them as well,' Baylee said.
'No, my young friend. You represent your own interests. Not to say that you are in nowise selfish, but you are closely involved in these matters. A clearer head will prevail. If you allow me, I can be of service.'
'Perhaps.'
Cthulad laughed. 'You against the world? Baylee, that's only your youth talking. Your mentor left you a clue to the next part of this quest you are upon, or I'll eat my horse. Do not foolishly assume you can defeat a power that took his life. By all accounts, Fannt Golsway knew his way around a spell or two. The foes you may be facing could be formidable indeed.'
Baylee remained silent.
'I should like an answer,' Cthulad said. 'Your word that I shall be included in this endeavor. Or we can part here and I'll dog your tracks anyway.' After a moment, he offered a hand, reaching down from his saddle.
'You've got my word,' Baylee said, taking the other man's hand.
'Good. Then let's get your horse and see about removing those scrying eyes.'
Folgrim Shallowsoul waved a hand over the crystal ball. The amber tint faded from the crystal, but the figures of Baylee Arnvold and Ciwa Cthulad remained. The lich turned his hollow-eyed gaze on Krystarn Fellhammer. He knows where the wreck is.
Krystarn met the lich's gaze straight on, wondering how best to play the bit of information she'd just received. 'What wreck?'
Shallowsoul ignored the question. Do you have a means of getting in touch with the other agents you have in Waterdeep?
'Only by teleporting there and contacting them. As you know, I can't do that until after dark.' Krystarn almost shuddered at the idea that the lich might ask her to journey to Waterdeep for such an undertaking anyway.
'By then you will be too late,' Shallowsoul said, and Krystarn jumped at the sound of his spoken words. 'I don't think they'll remain in the city much longer. He turned away from the crystal ball.
Krystarn stared into the crystal ball's depths, watching as Baylee returned for his mount at the front of the tavern. Together, he and Cthulad rode along the docks, going north.
'After all these years,' Shallowsoul said, 'the library will once more come closer to being complete. How I have longed for this day. And to have it threatened by this Baylee Arnvold, who is not much more than a mere boy, is insufferable.'
For the first time, Krystarn heard the madness in the lich's words. She had always heard such creatures were quite mad, but she'd seen no real example of it. The weakness gave her hope. As a draw, she'd been trained from birth how to exploit the weaknesses of others.
'Perhaps,' she said, 'you could send me to this shipwreck and I could prevent the ranger from arriving there.'
The lich turned to her, its grotesque face tweaked into angry mirth. 'Do you take me for a fool, Krystarn Fellhammer?'
'No,' she answered quickly.
'Good. Because I don't take you for a fool either. Were I you and had a chance at the things that you might find in that wreck, I would take what I could and run. Studying those things alone would take several lifetimes, even for a drow.' The lich shook his head. 'No, it would be better if you were not subjected to such temptation. I would be loathe to kill you while you are still of use to me.'
Krystarn waited quietly, watching Shallowsoul open the amethyst book and read. In the crystal ball, Baylee and his companion arrived at a small shop in Waterdeep. A few moments later, the image in the crystal ball silently closed like a giant eye. It did not reopen.
'Baylee is gone from us now,' the lich said. 'Use the crystal ball to reach your other contacts within the city. I want to know how he leaves Waterdeep. The crystal is already attuned to all of those you gave me information about.'
Krystarn sat and began her work. When she was finished, Shallowsoul dismissed her like a child. She mastered her anger and didn't say anything. She felt his hollow-eyed gaze on her all the way back to the dimensional door. But her mind was busy thinking up ways to make Baylee's diversion pay off for her.
'I'm afraid I wasn't able to get you much,' Madonld said apologetically. He was short and wiry, silver-haired with a neatly cropped beard. Despite wearing the robes of a law-reader, he also wore the worn sword at his hip with authority.
Baylee looked at Golsway's old friend. The ranger hadn't often talked with the law-reader over the years, but there had been a few occasions when the old mage had invited the man to their table for eveningfeast and conversation afterwards. Those conversations always turned to the stories and twice-told tales they all shared as new speculations had arisen and been debunked all in the same hour.
'I did not expect miracles,' Baylee said. They sat in the back of a pipeweed shop near the dock area. A few silver pieces had purchased the room for an hour. A number of shops fronting the wharf area had the same business practices. A number of 'trade' agreements had to be reviewed, as well as any bribes paid that needed paying. The room was small, having only a circular table and three spindly chairs. Candles in wall sconces lit the room and filled the air with the odor of burning wax.
Madonld passed over the money belt from a bag of holding he carried. 'I think you'll find you're well provided for there, Baylee, but Fannt left you much more. It's just at the moment, all those belongings and moneys are being scrutinized. I've already had an officer of the watch banging on my door less than an hour ago.'
'Cordyan Tsald?' Baylee asked, buckling the money belt around his waist.
'That's her.' Madonld gazed at him carefully, glancing back at Ciwa Cthulad, who stood by the door. 'Are you in some kind of trouble? Maybe it's something I could help with.'
No trouble that you could help with, Xuxa put in.
'Maybe I should be the judge of that,' Madonld said.
Law-reader Madonld, if there was anything you could do besides what you're doing here and now, don't you think I'd be the first to know?
'Xuxa's right,' Baylee said. 'She would tell me to talk to you.
And she wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.' He checked through the pockets of the money belt, surprised at the amount of gold coins he found.
'You'll find that you've been quite well provided for,' Madonld said to Baylee. 'Fannt wanted you provisioned for whatever expedition he's set up for you, and he wanted you looked after so that you may 'charge with the winds, wherever your curiosity and sense of adventure,' as he put it, takes you.'
'I never expected this,' Baylee said in a strained voice. 'He was someone-' His voice finally broke. 'You just thought he would live forever.'
Madonld put his hand on the back of Baylee's neck. 'I know.' The law-reader's voice was husky. 'I'm going to miss him too. So you be sure you get this matter cleared up and get back to me. I don't want to see you lost as well.'
After a moment, Baylee stood. 'I haven't been to Golsway's crypt to say my good-byes. I can't go now because the watch will probably have it surrounded.'
'There will be time later. A more proper time.'
'Would you do me a favor?'
'Yes.'
'Would you send someone to take a flower blanket to put over his crypt? Wild red roses, with the thorns left on, and some dark purple orchids if you can. He never said so, but I knew they were his favorites.'
'Of course.'
Baylee shook the man's hand and left the room, Cthulad at his heels. He had money enough, now. All he had to do was find a ship.
