"You speak lightly of asking us to abandon our homes," Gervas Imesfor observed. "Evereska is almost as old as Evermeet itself. Only two years ago we spent thousands of lives to defend it against the phaerimm. It would shame the valiant dead of that war to flee this fight."
Meraera Silden, the Speaker of Leuthilspar, stepped in.
"The point of whether or not we should aid Evereska and the High Forest may be moot," she observed. "The first question is, can we help them? Do we have sufficient strength? If the answer to that question is no, then our debate is without purpose."
"We ask only what you think you can spare," Imesfor said. "Five hundred archers and fifty mages would help us greatly, and would not place Evermeet itself in jeopardy. But you may need to consider more if you hope to aid the folk of the High Forest, too."
"We heard the exact same point raised two years ago, when we sent an expedition to Evereska's aid against the phaerimm," Grand Mage Breithel Olithir said. "Less than half of those we sent then came home, and none of the high mages. We cannot afford another such disaster in Faerun."
"Talk of what we can spare and what we can afford to lose is absolutely pointless," Seiveril interjected. "If something is worth doing, then it is worth doing with all of our might! The defense of Evereska and the safeguarding of our kinfolk in the High Forest is not an act of charity on our part, but an act of self-preservation. The defense of Evermeet begins in the hills of Evereska and beneath the trees of old Eaerlann."
"We who Retreated to Evermeet did so because the wide seas serve as a mighty rampart against exactly the sort of threat that now menaces Evereska," Lady Veldann retorted. "If we had had the sense to leave matters in Faerun alone, we would not have to consider this question."
"Lady Veldann, it does not matter whether we abandon Faerun or not, because Faerun will not abandon us," Seiveril replied. He stood and rested his hands on the cool glassteel of the table. "We learned three years ago that evil can and will follow us here, regardless of whether we 'provoke' it or not. For my part, I will take my chances with provoking those who would do us harm. They will hate and envy us no matter what we do, so it seems better to me to exert my strength against them in Faerun than to wait until they come to Evermeet's shores."
The Dome of Stars fell quiet. Seiveril glared at Ammisyll Veldann, and she returned his anger with her own.
Lady Durothil turned to Amlaruil and said, "You have heard your council speak. Now what do you intend to do, Lady Moonflower?" Seiveril scowled at the deliberate insult the noblewoman delivered by refusing to address Amlaruil as queen, but Selsharra Durothil continued, "What is the throne's response to this latest catastrophe?"
Amlaruil didn't rise to Lady Durothil's provocation. She folded her hands in her lap.
"I will carefully weigh the question of how much assistance can be sent without placing Evermeet in undue danger," said the queen, "and I will then dispatch as much aid as I can. For today, it seems clear that we must learn all we can of the forces marching against the High Forest and Evereska." She turned to High Marshal Blackhelm. "Keryth, go with Lord Imesfor back through the elfgate to Evereska, and take a company of the Queen's Guard with you. I feel confident that we can spare that much, at least. Remain only as long as you must to survey the situation firsthand and return here to report."
"Yes, my queen," the general replied.
He rose and strode from the room, his helm tucked under one arm.
"Grand Mage Olithir," he queen continued, "redouble your efforts to scry our foes. Organize the mages of the Towers to find the daemonfey armies and spy out their strength and movements. I want to know what we are up against."
The high mage inclined his head and replied, "It will be done."
The queen stood, weariness evident in her posture, and said, "When we have learned a little more, we will meet again to consider our response."
CHAPTER 7
6 Ches, the Year of Lightning Storms
Araevin and Ilsevele set out from Waterdeep on a cold, bright day scoured by fierce westerly winds. With the two elves rode Grayth Holmfast, who wore a suit of light golden mail beneath a white surcoat emblazoned with the sunrise of Lathand-er, and his younger companion Brant, dressed in the orange surcoat of an aspirant to the Order of the Aster. Maresa Rost rounded out the party, wearing a jerkin of studded leather dyed deep crimson, a striking contrast with her pale skin and white hair. They had spent two days outfitting themselves, purchasing good horses, an ample supply of provisions, and equipment for their search.
"So, where exactly are we going?" Maresa asked as the keep of Daggerdale disappeared below the hills at their back. The cold waters of the Sea of Swords thundered and crashed below the cliffs a few hundred yards from the road, and the roaring wind made speech difficult.
"I am not sure," Araevin replied. "I have a sense of how far away the item we seek lies, and in what direction. I've also glimpsed the place where it lies, a ruined tower deep in a forest. Based on that intuitional believe that we will find what we seek in the Forest of Wyrms, though it might be the Reaching Woods, or the Wood of Sharp Teeth, or possibly even some unnamed copse somewhere south of the Chionthar and north of the Small Teeth."
"You still haven't gotten around to telling me what we're looking for."
Araevin frowned. He could feel Ilsevele and Grayth endeavoring not to look at him as he answered. When it came down to it, he still didn't know Maresa well at all, and he hesitated to say too much. But he suspected that she was sharp enough to see through him if he didn't trust her with something close to the truth.
"I am looking for a set of enchanted gemstones," he said. "There are three of them. I have the first, and it permits me to sense the second."
"Enchanted? What do they do?"
"They hold spells," Araevin answered. "Like a wizard's spellbook. I'm interested in the spells that I think might be stored in the second and third stones."
"Fair enough," said Maresa. "I suppose there's no point in asking for a cut of the magic gems, but I'll require an even share of any other treasure we find."
"Agreed," said Araevin, then he fell silent, considering what else he should add.
Ilsevele spoke for him.
"There is something else, Maresa," she said. "We have reason to believe that there may be others who want these gems-sorcerers with demon servants. They will kill for them without hesitation. Be on your guard."
"There are always complications," the genasi said brightly. She patted the rapier at her hip. "Let them come."
"So we start near Soubar," Grayth said. "That's a tenday's ride, possibly more if the rains come early this spring. I guess we'll have time to get to know each other."
"I intend to cut seven days from that," Araevin said. "I know of an old portal that will shorten our journey by three hundred miles. It was built in the early days of ancient Illefarn. The gate will take us from the Ardeep Forest to an abandoned watchtower in the eastern portion of the Trollbark Forest."
"Is it safe to use?" Grayth asked, with no small anxiety.
"The portal is sound enough, though we will have to be careful when we reach the other side," Araevin answered. "The Trollbark is aptly named. But we won't cross more than ten miles or so of that forest before we meet the Trade Way again."
"Would it be better to remain on the road?" Ilsevele asked.
"I don't know. The road has its perils, too-brigands and marauding monsters from the High Moor, thieves and cutthroats in the roadside inns. On the other hand time might be important."
They rode on for the rest of the day, and by nightfall the company had reached the outskirts of the Ardeep Forest. The sea wind kept its strength all day and into the evening, though with sunset a low, scudding cloud cover set in, making for a lightless and gloomy night. The House of Long Silences was still almost ten miles farther on, so they decided to camp for the night in the shelter of a ruined hunting lodge, a moss-covered building made of rough-hewn logs and fieldstone. It was open to the sky, but with a little work they hoisted some of the fallen timbers back into place and spread evergreen boughs over the gaps. After stabling the horses in the other half of the old lodge and fixing supper over the campfire, they drew for watches and retired.