'You see, I have made a study of your colorful career, Ar'talen,' Darien went on. He pressed his shapely hands into a steeple before him. 'I learned all I could of your daring exploits, and by so doing I have come to know you. I was certain that, once you were outside your magically warded cell, you would attempt an escape. By plotting the course on which the guards would lead you, and by studying parallels in your past work, I predicted the route that you would take. From there, it was a simple matter to have Melthis bring you here.' A smile coiled about his lips. 'I must say, I am gratified to see my prediction proved so accurate.'
This caught Artek entirely off guard. Was he really so simple that his actions could be guessed by one who had merely examined his past work?
'I don't know what you want of me, Darien,' he growled angrily. If the nobleman noticed the omission of the honorific lord, he showed no sign of it. 'But you should know that I'm not the thief I used to be. I'm not sure if I'm even a thief at all anymore.' He plucked at the dirty rags that covered his emaciated frame. 'Either way, I'm certainly damaged goods.'
Darien shook his head, laughing softly. 'No, Ar'talen, you are not damaged. If anything, you are greater than you ever were before. For in being captured you have finally known humility. You have learned that you have limits. And that knowledge will drive you to reach beyond those limits all the harder.'
Artek did not answer. Darien had been right about him so far; perhaps he was correct in this as well. It was a disturbing thought, but one he could not quite dismiss.
'So what do you want me to steal?' he asked darkly.
'Nothing,' Darien replied. 'Rather, there is something I want you to find. Something of great value to me-and to all of Waterdeep as well.'
Darien motioned to Melthis, and the wizard filled two silver cups with crimson wine from a crystal decanter. Artek downed his in one gulp, then reached for the decanter to refill his goblet. It was expensive stuff, much better than prison swill. Darien sipped his own wine slowly as he spoke.
Three days ago, in search of sport, a hunting party consisting of several nobles and their attendants ventured into the upper levels of Undermountain. By accident, one of the nobles, Lord Corin Silvertor, was separated from the rest of the party. Before the others could search for him, they were set upon by a vicious band of kobolds and forced to retreat to the private entrance through which they had entered the maze. Subsequent forays into the same areas of Under-mountain have revealed no trace of Lord Silvertor, and it is feared that he is lost'
Artek shrugged his shoulders. He had no sympathy for nobles whose stupidity put them in danger. 'And why isn't it feared that he found his way into the kobolds' stew pot?'
'This is why.' Darien set a small blue crystal on the table. A faint light flickered inside the gem. This is a heart jewel,' the lord explained. 'They are magical stones, each linked to the one it is created for. This one belongs to Lord Silvertor. The light within pulses in time to his heart, and by that we know he yet lives. The nearer the jewel is to its master, the brighter the light. By the faintness of the light in this jewel, we know that Lord Silvertor is lost deep in Undermountain-deeper than any hunting party has ever ventured.'
Artek gazed thoughtfully at the pulsing jewel. 'And I suppose you want me to go down and find your missing little lord.'
Darien nodded gravely. 'It is imperative that we find him, Ar'talen.' His voice dropped to a dire whisper. 'You see, in two days' time, there is to be a vote among all the nobility of Waterdeep. The vote will determine who is to take the seventh seat in the Circle of Nobles, left vacant after the untimely death of Lord Rithilor Koll. Lord Corin Silvertor is the leading candidate for the seat-which is well, for among his rivals are those with dark ambitions. They see the Circle as a means to rule over all the city's nobility, and as a position from which to launch an all-out assault against the hidden Lords of Water-deep.' Darien's expression was grim. 'Such strife would certainly tear this city asunder. But Silvertor is loyal to the Lords of Waterdeep. That is why it is crucial that he be found in time for the election. The fate of all Waterdeep depends on it.'
Artek considered these words. 'So if I go down into Undermountain and find this precious lord of yours, you'll give me my freedom. Is that the deal?9
'No, it is more than that,' Darien countered. 'I am authorized by the Magisters to grant you a full pardon for all your past crimes. It would be as if you were never a thief, Ar'talen.' Darien's sharp green eyes bore into Artek's own. 'All you must do is say yes.'
Artek glared at the lord. Damn the smug bastard to the Abyss. What choice did he really have? It was exactly what he wanted-to have his dark past forgotten. There was only one thing he could say. He clenched his hands into fists and spat the word like a curse.
'Yes.'
Darien leaned back, smiling toothily. 'Excellent.' He eyed Artek's gaunt frame critically. 'But we must prepare you for your task. Imprisonment has left you ill fit for the rigors of this mission.' He glanced at the red-robed wizard. 'You may cast the spell now, Melthis.'
Artek started to spring from his chair, but he was too slow. Melthis raised his hands and uttered a string of words in the weird tongue of magic. Searing pain arced through Artek's body, and he fell to the floor, writhing. His flesh felt on fire, as if his bones and muscles were being molded like hot wax. Then, as quickly as it had begun, his pain ended. Gasping, he climbed to his feet. Something about the motion felt… strange.
Artek gazed down at himself, and his coal-black eyes went wide with shock. His ragged clothing had been reduced to a fine dusting of ash, but this paled in comparison to the change in his body. It was as if he had never spent those long months chained to the wall, wasting away in the dark. His skin was not pale and jaundiced, but a deep olive. No longer was he a half-starved skeleton. Now, thick muscles knotted his compact frame. He flexed his hands, staring at the fingers. Moments ago they had been calloused stumps, covered with sores from worrying his chains, but now they were smooth and strong and whole. He looked at Melthis in amazement.
Darien rose to his feet and slowly approached Artek. 'Yes, I can see it,' he murmured in fascination. 'Though I would hardly notice it if I didn't know what to look for. You are handsome enough in a swarthy way. But the signs are there: brow ridges slightly too thick, jaw a little too protruding, shoulders a bit too heavy. And those eyes-the jet-black eyes give it away.' The nobleman's lip curled up in disgust. 'Ore blood indeed runs in your veins, doesn't it, Ar’talen?'
Artek glowered but said nothing. He felt suddenly naked and exposed, and not because of his lack of clothes.
Darien opened a trunk next to the table and pulled out a bundle of dark leather. He heaved it toward Artek. 'Here. Put these on. I believe black is your favorite color.'
Artek put on the clothes: jerkin, breeches, and boots. The supple black leathers fit his body tightly but comfortably, as if made just for him.
'Take this,' Melthis said, pressing the heart jewel into Artek's hand. 'It will guide you to Lord Silvertor. I have two other objects for you as well.' He handed Artek a curved saber in a leather sheath. 'This sword is enchanted, and will lend you strength against any enemy you may encounter.' Finally he held out a small golden box. 'And this is a transportation device. If you open it, a magical gate will appear. All you have to do is step through and you will be instantly transported out of Undermountain.'
Artek belted the sword around his waist, then tucked the heart jewel and the golden box into his pocket. It was good to know that he had a way out of Undermountain if things looked bad.
Darien nodded in approval. 'There's only one more thing we need to do, Ar'talen. Hold out your arm.'
Artek eyed the noble warily, but did as he was told. Melthis rolled up the sleeve of Artek's jerkin. Then, using a quill pen and ajar of black ink, the wizard drew an intricate tattoo on his arm: a wheel depicting a stylized sun and moon, with an arrow next to it. In the center of the wheel was a grinning skull. Artek wondered what it could possibly mean.
Setting down the pen and ink, Melthis held his hand over the tattoo and whispered a dissonant incantation. The lines of ink glowed with scarlet light, then went dark again. Artek felt no pain, only a cool tingling against his skin.
'What was that all about?' he asked with a frown as Melthis moved away.
A mysterious smile played around the corners of Darien's mouth. 'Take a closer look at the tattoo, Ar'talen.'
Feeling a sudden chill at the nobleman's words, Artek looked. At first he noticed nothing unusual. Then he blinked in surprise. Slowly but perceptibly, the circle drawn upon his arm was moving, the sun and moon spinning around the grinning skull.
