Windwalker: Starlight & Shadows, Book III by Elaine Cunningham

Author:Elaine Cunningham [Cunningham, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786960217
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2011-08-23T00:00:00+00:00

Khelben Arunsun crouched in a deserted cavern a few leagues from Skullport, backlit by the fading remnants of his blinding light spell. He carefully split his attention between the battered elf female on the cavern floor and the silent tunnels beyond. The drow band had scattered like cockroaches before a suddenly lit lamp, but where dark elves were concerned, not even an archmage could afford a moment’s incaution.

Sharlarra groaned and stirred. The wizard pinched her jaws open and poured another healing potion into her mouth, grimly vowing to make the apprentice work off the cost of all three of them. He mentally listed the most odious chores and invented a few more for good measure.

The elf’s eyes flickered open and slowly took focus. For just a moment, their green depths held all the bleakness of a northland winter.

Khelben did not have to ask what that meant. There had been times when he, too, had been less than pleased to awake and find himself still among the living.

He banished these thoughts from his face and arranged his features in a fearsome scowl. “Stupid girl. What I have told you about fighting drow?”

Sharlarra struggled up, propping herself on one elbow and gingerly pressing the fingertips of her other hand against the large knot on her forehead.

“Don’t?” she ventured.

“That, too.” The wizard sighed and settled back on his heels. “Lady Sharlarra Vindreth—if that is indeed your name—have you any idea what you’ve done?”

“I thought I was helping two companions on their way.”

“You didn’t think at all! Liriel Baenre is not just any drow, although Mystra knows that would be bad enough. She opened herself to Lolth’s power in a way few mortals ever have. She was, albeit briefly, an avatar of sorts. Some might call her a ‘Chosen.’ ”

The returning color drained from the elf’s face. “So that explains what happened in the Promenade,” she said slowly.

“Yes, we heard about that,” Khelben grumbled. “Laerel has gone to Evermeet to try to recruit elven clerics to help shore up the Promenade’s defenses. My lady has a fondness for the impossible challenge and the hopeless cause.”

“True, but she’s also attracted to your sunny disposition,” she said, attempting a flippant tone and a wry little smile. Never before had she dared such a comment. Most likely she assumed her apprenticeship was well and truly over.

Khelben stared at her for a moment. “Aren’t you going to ask about the sea elf?”

Her façade shattered, and her violet eyes were haunted. “No need,” she said softly. “I looked for Xzorsh and found drow warriors instead. I’m not stupid enough to think that they might have thanked him for returning Liriel’s gems and sent him on his way.”

The archmage knew all too well the weight of this particular burden.

“Then nothing more needs to be said. You’re done with this, and so am I. Others must follow Liriel to the end of her particular quest, and we must find a way to be content with whatever comes of it.”

Khelben rose and traced a sweeping, circular path with his black staff.

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