Bez sneered. And why, merchant, would I want to talk to a false friend who snuck a horror aboard my ship?
Dai Shan s smile widened just a bit. Stalwart captain, had you not opted to make yourself the foremost soldier of the age, I m confident you would have won equal distinction as a poet or a player, for you unquestionably have the requisite flair for the dramatic. Things that rise from shadow have their appetites, and I won t insult your intelligence by suggesting otherwise. But I never let this one slip the leash, and even if I had, how could one little phantom truly threaten a warrior who s fought giants and malebranches in his time?
Bez smiled a grudging smile. It always feels strange to talk to you, Shou. I think it s because I m used to being the glib one. Do you swear the shadow was only aboard to spy and give you and me a way to talk if need be? You didn t plan anything worse?
August warlord, in my father s sight, I swear it, Dai Shan replied. May I also point out that, if my poor intermediary s presence on your vessel was inappropriate, at least you re rid of it now. It won t survive to board a second time.
Bez extinguished the power burning in his weapons and slid them back into their sheaths. All right. Forget it for now, if only because you re right. I can t thrust a sword into the real Dai Shan across the length of this wretched country. So what do you want, anyway?
I want you to return to Immilmar to pick me up.
Why?
Well, that s the part that s slightly awkward. I ll explain when my true self is aboard the skyship. Until then, I m asking you to trust me.
Bez snorted. No offense, merchant, but that s not going to happen. I offered to work with you, not blindly carry out your commands.
But, stalwart and sagacious captain, surely you see that the real problem is my inability to repose complete and utter faith in you. If I told you now where you ought to sail and why, perhaps you would simply do so immediately without bothering to collect me. And then how could I convince the hathrans that I played even a minor part in the achievements that will follow?
Bez grunted. I ll think about it, he said.
Dai Shan frowned ever so slightly. It was about as much of a display of sincere emotion as he ever permitted himself. In its way, his face was as much of a mask as any the witches wore.
Obviously, the little Shou said, I understand why such a shrewd leader of men prefers to weigh his decisions carefully. But if we lose our means of communication before you say yes or no, that will leave me in an awkward and ambiguous position.
Bez sneered. That s your problem, he said.
Indeed it would be. As your problem is chasing a quarry you haven t caught and will never catch without my guidance. Clearly, you realize it, too, or you wouldn t be meddling with a demon trap in the middle of a frigid night.
We re looking for clues that will lead us to the enemy.
Master strategist, wily tactician, scourge of the Dragon Coast, I have the utmost respect for your intelligence. I ask you to respect mine as well. Plainly, you paid attention to the tales of the durthans and their ilk breaking open the old Raumathari menhirs. Frustrated by your inability to locate the actual foe, you ve decided to open a stone yourself, kill whatever s inside, and carry the carcass back to Immilmar as a trophy.
Just for amusement s sake, let s say you re right. What of it?
If I may be forthright, it s a weak ploy. It may slightly elevate Yhelbruna s opinion of you, but it won t convince her you ve made any fundamental progress toward accomplishing the task she set us. Whereas if you honor my request
All right! Bez snapped. I ll come for you. And if it turns out you re wasting my time, well, you ll be in reach of my blades then, won t you?
Indeed, Dai Shan said. Until I see you next. He bowed deeply, and his body broke apart and disappeared, like it was crumbling into a dust so fine the eye couldn t see it.
After a moment, Melemer chuckled. I like that one, he said.
Bez grinned. You would, he replied. You both have weasel blood flowing in your veins. But don t get too attached to him.
So, Olthe said, nodding toward the monument.
We re giving up on this?
No, said Bez. We re already here. And whether the idea s a weak ploy or not, I don t feel like going back to the Iron Lord and the Wychlaran empty-handed.
Fair enough, the priestess said, frowning.
The only problem I see is that while we don t know if those miners down there have noticed any undead lurking about, someone probably has noticed the Storm sitting on the mountainside. What if the villagers figure out that we freed the demons ourselves? What if they send word to the Iron Lord? I admit, it s unlikely
More than unlikely, said Bez, impossible. The fiends are going to prove just what a terrible threat they are by wiping out the village. Well, technically, we re going to do it for them, but I m sure that if they knew, they d appreciate our efforts on their behalf. Then, after we finish the miners, we ll crack open the trap, kill its prisoners, and take their heads.
NINE
A griffon is about to fly down among us! Aoth shouted in Elvish. Don t shoot at him! He s Jet, my steed that I told you about!
Everyone stood and waited for the creature to appear, and shortly thereafter, Aoth pointed with his spear and said, There. Then an enormous shadow swept over the snowy ground.
Jet swooped to the ground. Heeding Aoth s warning, no one attacked the griffon. But some of the stag warriors couldn t resist the impulse to raise their weapons.
Jet looked them over and snorted. Relax, he rasped, I m not going to hurt you. Now, if you were centaurs or maybe not. I ve seen things lately that put me off horseflesh.
So you told me, Aoth said. He advanced, scratched among the feathers atop the griffon s head, then lifted Cera out of the saddle and gave her a hug.
The Stag King strode up to them, and to Jet, with no apparent hesitation. Either he was confident the griffon wouldn t lash out at him, or he was simply unwilling to act timidly.
Highness, said Aoth, this is Cera Eurthos, sunlady of Soolabax, and Jet, my familiar. Cera, Jet, this is the Stag King.
Smiling, Cera moved her hand in an arc, and for a moment, the pale winter sunlight shone brighter and felt warmer. Hello, she said. The Keeper s blessing on you and all your company.
The Stag King grunted. Your god doesn t love me, cleric, nor I, him, he said. How near are these berserkers of yours?
Cera blinked. You should meet up well before dusk, she said.
Then let s pick up the pace, the spirit said, and find out what this army of ours looks like when we put it all together. Turning away, he swung his antler weapon over his head to urge the company onward.
Well, the priestess said. That was a gracious welcome.
Even though he hails from the Feywild rather than the Shadowfell, Aoth replied, he s a dark thing, like the fomorians, and perhaps not partial to clerics of the light.
Aoth, Cera, Jhesrhi, and Jet started forward amid the stag men, most of whom were still keeping a cautious eye on the griffon and making sure they didn t get too close.
But enough about him, Aoth said. By the Pure Flame, it s good to see you again! Both of you! What s your impression of the Griffon Lodge? How s their morale?
Oh, that s no problem, said Jet, a sardonic note in his voice.
Meaning what? Aoth replied.
Jet said he told you about the fey mound, Cera said.
Yes, said Aoth. It s a miracle that any traveler ever gets anywhere in Rashemen, considering that you have to change direction or stop to make an offering to a spirit twenty times a day. But my understanding was that Vandar did mollify the guardian, and it lifted the curse.