01 Shadowbred by Forgotten Realms

Author:Forgotten Realms [Realms, Forgotten]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T16:04:31.490000+00:00

Vees snorted into his goblet. "The man is returned for a day and already has suggestions." Cale stared at Vees. Vees took another sip of his wine and averted his gaze. "You are my advisor," Tamlin said with a tip of his goblet. Cale nodded. "The city is overcrowded. The people are hungry." "There is food in the market," Vees said. "Little, and it is priced so high that none but the rich can afford to eat," Cale said, trying and failing to keep the coolness out of his voice. Vees made an uncaring gesture. "Unfortunate, but true. But this is Sembia, Mister Cale. The market is what the market is." Cale barely resisted the impulse to punch the noble twit in the face. Despite his best efforts, shadows leaked from his skin. The room dimmed. Tamlin noticed and looked alarmed. So did Vees but he looked more puzzled than afraid. "I will explain later, my lord," Cale said softly, and with an effort of will, caused the light to return and the shadows to subside. Tamlin nodded slowly, eyes wide. Vees took another sip of his wine and studied Cale over the rim. Cale said, "My lord, if your answer is the same as that of Lord Talendar, you will soon have riots. Hunger makes people desperate." Cale thought of Skullport and said, "I have seen it before." Vees harrumphed. "That is why the Helms are on the streets." Cale ignored Talendar and addressed Tamlin. He decided to be candid. "If I am going to be of service to you, this all must end right now." Tamlin looked confused. "I do not understand, Mister Cale." Cale gestured at the parlor, at Vees, at Tamlin. "This. All of this. The polite speech. The discussions over wine. The clothes. The city is in a crisis, my lord. From what you have told me, all of Sembia is in crisis. We are not discussing a contract for trade. May I be fully candid or not?" "There is no need for panic," Vees said. "No, but there is need for hard thinking and bold action," Cale said. "And I never panic, Talendar." A few streamers of shadows rose from Cale's flesh and dissipated in the air. If Vees thought to rebuke Cale for neglecting the nobleman's honorific, he thought better of it. "I take your point," Tamlin said thoughtfully. "Let's hear him out, Vees. Mister Cale brings an outsider's perspective on things. Go on, Mister Cale." Cale plowed forward, eyeing Vees as he spoke. "Get the Helms off the street. They make you look frightened." Vees said, "The Helms are helping keep order. And are you accusing the Hulorn of being afraid?" Cale surmised that putting the Helms on the streets had been Vees's idea. "There are not enough of them to stop a riot, if it happened. In the meanwhile, they contribute to the perception that matters are not in hand, that the nobility is frightened." He looked to Tamlin. "My lord, get them off rhe street.

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