instead. An invisible barrier spread out to meet the fire, to throw it aside.
Another group of books went up in flames.
Tennora pulled the drawer right out of its frame, scattering papers and the mask in its case and all four of her carvestars. She plucked one up and hurled it at the intruders. The flying blade pierced the half-elf woman's thigh. She cried out and stumbled.
Tennora pointed a finger and sent a burst of silver energy after it. A second followed, but collapsed onto the floor, scorching the wood.
Tennora cursed. She gathered up the carvestars.
Cassian waved his hands and sent a curtain of fire over the cluster of intruders. The half-elf dropped to the ground, but the man and the antiquary both cried out as the fire singed them.
So close, Tennora thought. She threw the carvestar and once again caught the antiquary. This time, though, the blade sank into his chest. He grunted, but managed to pull it free and fling it aside. Blood seeped across the silk of his shirt, and he pressed his hand to it.
Veron burst through the door behind Cassian, crossbow taut and loaded. He scanned the room, spotting Nestrix prone on the floor and then looking up at Tennora.
'Shoot him!' she shouted, pointing at the man with the knives.
'Lay down your arms!' Veron cried, raising the crossbow to his eye.
The man from the antiquary's shop spun another knife out of its sheath and hurled it at Veron. The bounty hunter threw up his crossbow and knocked the blade aside. He let fly a bolt, which struck the shoulder of the antiquary, who yelled a string of foul curses and clutched the bolt's shaft.
'Alina!' he shouted. 'The favor! For the love of the gods, use the favor!'
The half-elf woman, still favoring her wounded knee, pulled out a coin a little larger than a platinum sun.
'No!' Tennora shouted, and threw herself at the half-elf woman. The coin flew from the woman's outstretched hand as she fell beneath Tennora. It spun lazily away.
The antiquary reached up and plucked it from the air. He gave Tennora and the half-elf a wicked grin. 'Sorry ladies,' he said. He spread his fingers and the token fell.
It clinked as it hit the floor, and before the sound had faded, Dareun, his servants, and Nestrix were gone.
All except the half-elf.
Veron strode across the room and pointed his crossbow down at her throat. 'In accordance of the laws of Waterdeep, consider yourself under arrest and in my custody until the Watch arrive. I don't suggest you move.'
ELEVEN
'You,' Veron said to Cassian, not taking his eyes off the half-elf. 'Go fetch the hearthmaster and find a Watch patrol.'
'Where did he take her?' Tennora said, gripping the half-elf by her shirtfront. 'Where did they go?' The woman stared up at Tennora, still looking shocked.
'Tennora,' Veron said sharply, 'you need to get off her.'
She ignored him and shook the half-elf. 'Where did they go?' The woman squirmed and shook her head.
'She's not going to talk with you sitting on her chest,' Veron said.
'Pardon me,' Cassian said, 'but who in the Nine Hells are you?'
'Veron Angalen. Go get the Watch.'
'He's a bounty hunter,' Tennora said.
'Why do you know a bounty hunter?' Cassian asked.
'Go get the Watch, Cassian!' Tennora shouted. After a moment of hesitation, she heard him sprint down the stairs.
'Tennora.' Veron set a heavy hand on her shoulder. 'I know you're upset. But you need to get up. Let me do my job.'
Tennora looked up. His face was stern, but his golden eyes were gentle. Worried, even. She scowled back.
'Your job?' she said, climbing to her feet. 'You mean the job where you convinced me to turn traitor on my friend? The job where you nearly got me killed assuming she was a liar? She saved my life and you'd have had me… had me…'
Veron suddenly yanked her behind him and trained the quarrel on the half-elf woman, who had sprung to her feet. 'Goodwoman, I suggest you sit and put your hands on your head. I don't miss.'
The woman's eyes darted toward the door, as if gauging the distance and the speed with which she could cross it. She set her hands on her head and went slowly to her knees. 'I'm not worth your trouble,' she said. 'I don't know what he's doing. Besides, I was going to give you a hand with that dragon-woman, wasn't I?'
'You have a funny way of doing it,' Veron said, still holding Tennora's arm.
Tennora shook herself free of him. 'We have to find her. Where is she?'
The woman shrugged. 'No idea.'
'You were the one with the coin,' Veron said. 'Are you suggesting you carry teleportation tokens without knowing where they go?'
'That goes back to the shop. Your girl there could guess that much. But Ferremo's not an idiot. He'll get them somewhere safe before you ever get to the shop. And while I could guess, it's just as likely I've never been there. Didn't even know Ferremo worked for a dragon 'til last tenday. Also,' she added, 'I'm not an idiot either. I'll take you two ready to flay me over Ferremo and the master any day.'
'We'll see what the Watch has to add,' Veron said. He turned to Tennora. 'I've been here before. We'll have to wait for them to resurface.'
'He won't let her resurface, you fool!' Tennora cried. 'He's not helping her escape: he means to kill her.'
A rush of footsteps came up the stairs and Mardin burst through the broken door, red-faced and short of breath.
'Holy gods,' he said, 'Tennora. Mask's empty casket, you-did they hurt you? You're burned. Sit down.' 'You sit down,' Tennora said. 'You look like you're going to have a fit.' The shock was wearing off, pain starting to pulse along her nerves. Mardin turned a chair upright and gestured to her to sit, his shoulders still heaving.
'Sit, petal, please,' he said. 'Ah, all the gods, how could I let this happen?'
Tennora pursed her lips but sat. Mardin seemed to spot Veron for the first time.
'You!' Mardin said. 'What have you done? I ought-'
'Mardin, he had nothing to do with this,' Tennora said, a bit harshly. 'And you couldn't have done anything to help.'
'Well, I might have kept the worst of it away,' Mardin said. 'I might be old, but I know a thing or two.'
So do I, Tennora added silently. It was something everyone in the room seemed to be forgetting.
'There were two dragons in here fighting,' Tennora said.
'No there weren't,' Veron said.
'Yes, there were,' the half-elf said.
Tennora turned in her seat. 'Truly, Mardin, there was nothing to have stopped it. You'd be just as battered as I.'
'Petal, dear, you're-'
Another rush of footsteps and the remnants of the door opened again, this time for Cassian and a trio of Watchmen. The captain stepped forward, short sword out, eyes on Veron.
'Hold and down weapons, you,' he shouted.
'I'm not the intruder!' Veron snapped.
'Down arms!'
'I beg your pardon!' Tennora shouted. All three Watchmen turned to look at her. She stood and pulled her shoulders back, despite the pain that raced down her spine, and regarded them like the brighter-nose noble they thought she was. She was sick and tired of being overlooked and stepped over, and she wasn't about to let it
