The Amber Enchantress (Prism Pentad) by Troy Denning

Author:Troy Denning [Denning, Troy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786961160
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2011-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

SUDDEN

DEPARTURE

SADIRA FELT SOMEONE PULL AWAY THE CAPE SHE HAD been using as a blanket, then a rough hand began tugging at her smock. She opened her eyes to see Huyar bending over her, a crumpled wad of blood-soaked blue cloth clutched in his hand. Behind him stood a dozen elves, the green rays of dawn streaming over their shoulders. Two of the warriors held Gaefal’s lifeless body suspended between them.

“What are you doing?” Sadira demanded, trying to sit up.

Huyar forced her back to the bench, then grabbed her smock and held the cloth next to it. The smell of stale blood came to the sorceress’s nostrils.

A cold knot of dread formed in Sadira’s stomach. “Get off me!” she yelled, pushing the elf’s hand away.

“It’s the same color!” Huyar screamed, thrusting the blood-crusted rag into Sadira’s face.

“So what?” demanded Magnus. He forced his way through the elves behind Huyar and plucked the enraged warrior off Sadira. “Leave her alone.”

“I found this cloth in the wound that killed my brother,” Huyar explained, holding the rag up for Magnus to see.

Sadira grabbed her satchel and stood, fearing she might need her magic to defend herself.

Without putting Huyar down, the windsinger took the rag, and held it up in front of one of his black eyes. “This cloth’s so blood-stained it’s impossible to say what color it is.”

“There’s blue around the edges,” Huyar said. He pointed at Sadira’s smock. “The same blue she wears now.”

“I’ve seen a thousand tunics that color,” Magnus said dismissively.

The windsinger started to slip the bloody cloth into his pocket, but Huyar snatched it back and stepped toward Sadira.

“Then let us see if this matches the shape of her torn collar,” he said, unwadding the cloth.

“It does,” Sadira answered, realizing she would only arouse suspicion by trying to keep Huyar from checking the rip. “I was passing by the Bard’s Quarter when I saw that youth stagger from the gate,” she said, pointing at Gaefal. “I stopped and bandaged his wound, but he died anyway.”

“Rhayn and I found her not too far from there,” Magnus said, his snaggle-toothed snout creased by what may have been an approving grin.

“I’m only sorry I didn’t recognize him as a Sun Runner,” Sadira added. “I would have told you about him sooner.”

“What do you suppose Gaefal was doing in the Bard’s Quarter?” Magnus asked, at last releasing Huyar. “Hasn’t Faenaeyon always warned us to leave the bards alone?”

The windsinger’s ploy almost worked. The warriors began discussing the reasons the youth might have had for entering such a dangerous place. Even Huyar fell into a thoughtful silence.

Unfortunately, the warrior reached the wrong conclusion. “There’s only one reason Gaefal would have disobeyed his chief,” the warrior said, glaring at Sadira. “He was chasing you, so you killed him.”

“You don’t know that to be true,” said Magnus.

“I don’t know it to be false,” Huyar answered, stepping toward Sadira and reaching for his dagger. “And I won’t take Lorelei’s word for it.”

Magnus grasped the elf’s wrist and prevented him from drawing the weapon.

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