The skin of his hand was smooth and very soft when she took it. His face had the same soft look as wellthe aftereffect of massive magical healing, Feena realized. She wondered what had happened to him.
'Well met,' she said. She looked back to Strasus and Dagnalla. 'And your other son, is he here tonight as well?'
The smiles on the old wizards' faces faltered, turning thin and strained.
'I'm afraid Keph seldom attends events such as this,' Dagnalla said. Her voice was flat, and Strasus's eyes filled with a deep sadness.
Feena cursed herself silently. It didn't take a wolfs nose to know she'd stepped into a dung heap.
'I'm sorry to hear that,' she said. 'Perhaps another time.' She fell back on Julith's advice and asked, 'How is your research, madam? What are you working on?'
Dagnalla glanced to her husband and a little life struggled back into Strasus's eyes.
'Historical research,' he said. 'A cache of artifacts recovered from the depths of one of the tunnels in Yhaunn's cliff walls.' He swept his hand around them, taking in the bowl of the city, his voice gaining strength as he warmed to his subject. 'Few people realize how ancient the quarry that gave birth to Yhaunn truly is. Most historians date the first settlement here to about a thousand years ago, roughly concurrent with the establishment in the 380s of the Chondathan colonies that would become Selgaunt and Saerloon. However, it's known that humans, refugees from the devastation of Jhaamdath to the south, were colonizing the Dalelands to the northwest almost five hundred years before that and it seems highly unlikely that such a vast source of fine quality stone as originated here should be entirely ignored. In fact, I've found supporting architectural evidence for this in Westgate, where a monument erected by the city's ruler about fifty years before the beginning of Dalereckoning is constructed of what is clearly Yhauntan stone.'
Feena struggled to keep an interested smile on her face. Hadn't Julith warned her that could happen? Unfortunately, the dark-haired priestess was actually listening to Strasus's tale with interest. Feena couldn't very well tear herself away.
'And the artifacts you're studying?' she asked.
Strasus stroked his beard and said, 'Well, that's the really fascinating thing. Almost three hundred and fifty years before Dalereckoning, the northern empire of Netheril fellquite literally. The floating cities that were its greatest achievement dropped out of the sky in a moment of terrible catastrophe. There were survivors among ground-based settlements, of course, but the last cities of Netheril faded over the following centuries as the Anauroch Desert expanded and swallowed them. The last survivor-state, Hlondath, was abandoned to the sands in 329 or the year 4188 by Netherese reckoning.'
Strasus's eyes were fully alive again, any hint of Feena's gaffe clearly forgotten. Feena was afraid, however, that she was about to make another. She scanned the gardens, looking for a way to escape the old wizard as Strasus droned on.
'The artifacts that were brought to me recently are clearly Netherese and had apparently lain undisturbed since they were deposited in the deep tunnel where they were found. What interests me is when they were placed or lost and'
Dagnalla chuckled and interrupted her husband with an elbow in the ribs. 'What interests you is the Netherese magic!'
'Well, that goes without saying,' grunted Strasus, 'but the implications for Yhaunn's history…'
From the corner of her eye, Feena spotted a pair of figures standing a little way off, watching them. Watching her. Lantern light shone on a stark gray robe and glinted off silver hair. Velsinore and Mifano! Feena cursed silently. If she and Julith broke off conversation with the Thingoleirs, the priest and priestess would be down on them like vultures.
Dagnalla, however, had followed her furtive gaze. She must have recognized the clerical vestments that Mifano and Velsinore wore because she cut Strasus off with another elbow.
'My dear, enough with your history. The Moonmistress-Designate has followers waiting to speak with her.' She nodded to Feena and said, 'A delight to meet you.'
Feena's silent curse turned into a blasphemy. At her side, she could feel Julith stiffen as she spotted Mifano and Velsinore as well.
'No, please go on,' Feena said, but Strasus was already sighing and nodding.
'I'm sorry,' he apologized, 'I tend to get carried away. Another time?'
Roderio and Dagnalla drew him away, and Feena blinked numbly.
'The best of luck with your research,' she called after them, the response drilled into her by Julith. 'When you complete it, I hope you'll call on me at Moonshadow Hall and present the results!'
There were footsteps behind her. She turned to face Velsinore and Mifano. Neither looked pleased.
'I didn't expect to see you here,' Mifano commented with a scowl. He looked her up and down. 'You've got a new dress.'
Velsinore scowled as well, but her eyes were fixed on the filigree web in Feena's hair and the opal crescent hanging against her forehead. 'Who gave you approval to go through the regalia chests?' she seethed.
Feena gave Julith a fast glance, then drew herself up tall and lifted her chin boldly.
'The same person who authorized the expense of a new gown, Velsinore. Me. Isn't it my right and duty as Moonmistress-Designate to dress in a manner that does credit to Selune and Moonshadow Hall?'
Mifano's eyes narrowed at the sound of confidence in her voice, but Velsinore didn't even pause.
'That… cobweb is two hundred years old! It hasn't been worn in a generation. Mother Dhauna wouldn't touch it!'
'I'm not Mother Dhauna,' said Feena. 'The tiara and circlets that she wore belong to her generation. This' She touched the opal crescent, 'is a fine piece of our temple's history. It should be worn proudly.'
Velsinore gasped. 'I'm in charge of Moonshadow Hall's internal affairs!' she spat. 'The regalia is in my keeping as part of the temple's treasury.'
'The regalia isn't part of the treasury, Velsinore,' Julith said. The dark-haired priestess stood firm at Feena's side. 'It isn't an account. It can't be spent or sold or traded for food or supplies for the infirmary. It doesn't fall under the purview of the Waning Crescent. It's entirely within the charge of the High Moonmistress.' She inclined her head toward Feena. 'And her designated successor.'
Velsinore turned such a violent shade of red that Feena thought she might give herself a nosebleed. Mifano, however, remained tense and cold.
'Speaking of the High Moonmistress,' he commented, 'who is watching over Dhauna Myritar tonight?'
'No one is 'watching over' her, Mifano,' Feena said as she turned to look at the priest. 'I gave Jhezzail a break from the gate and asked her to stay close to Mother Dhauna's quarters in case she needed anything. I also,' she added before he could raise another objection, 'told Chandri that we would be out, just in case the infirmary was needed.'
Mifano's lips pressed together. 'The assignment of gate duty,' he said thinly, 'is my charge.'
'As the infirmary is mine!' snarled Velsinore.
Feena took a deep breath. Moonmaiden favor me, she prayed silentlyand looked down on both of them.
'And 7,' she reminded them, 'am the Moonmistress-Designate, heir to the High Moonmistress and entrusted with her responsibilities.' The wolf within her stirred, but she held it back, allowing only the force of authority to enter her voice. 'You say you've sent to Waterdeep and the House of the Moon for advice on Mother Dhauna's condition. You haven't had a response yet, have you?'
Neither Velsinore nor Mifano responded.
Feena raised an eyebrow and continued, 'No? Then until you hear back, I think you should accept Mother Dhauna's decisionsand mine.'
Velsinore glowered at the ground, but Mifano glared at her, two spots of color high on his cheeks. Feena met his glare and waited. Finally, he looked down and gave her a stiff bow.
'As you wish, Moonmistress,' he growled under his breath.
'I'm glad we spoke,' said Feena. She stepped around the priest and priestess, her fine gown swaying around her feet as she walked confidently down the tiled path. Julith followed her without a word until they turned a corner and were out of sight of the twothen she let out a long breath.
'Feena…' she began in awe.
Feena held up a hand. 'Don't say it.' She groaned and sagged, stopping for a moment to catch her breath,
