Ascendancy of the Last - By Lisa Smedman Page 0,89
why you’re really here.”
Blinnet: that must be the name of the female who’d led Q’arlynd here. He waggled a finger at Flinderspeld. “You’re entirely too smart, for a s”
“For a what?” Flinderspeld interrupted, his nostrils flarŹing. “A slave? A svirfneblin?”
“For a shopkeeper,” Q’arlynd said, affecting a hurt look.
“Oh.”
“But then, I always knew you were an intelligent fellow.” Q’arlynd nodded at the display of expensive gems. “Just look what you’ve built for yourself, in such a short time. This is quite the shop.”
Flinderspeld glanced through the window at the knot of people gathered outside his shop. “What is it you want, Q’arlynd?”
“If I told you I came to see how you were faring, what would you say?”
“I wouldn’t believe you. It’s been four years.”
There it was again: that flicker of disappointment.
Q’arlynd gestured at the frowning faces outside the window. “Visiting you might have caused you problems. I enquired after you instead, from time to time. That’s how I knew where to find you. I thank you for welcoming me into your shop, even though it will be bad for business.”
Flinderspeld shrugged. “I was curious to see what you wanted.” His eye settled on the tiny silver sword Q’arlynd had hung around his neck. “You wear Eilistraee’s symbol, I see.”
Q’arlynd hid his smile. “That I do.” He plunged into his carefully rehearsed request. “It’s temple business that brings me to Silverymoon. Together with some other wizards, I’m trying to learn the location of a surface elf temple that predates Eilistraee’s banishment from Arvandora quest Eilistraee’s high priestess has given her blessing to. The divinations we’ve tried so far haven’t worked; you may have heard of the difficulties the augmented Faerzress is causing among the drow.”
Flinderspeld nodded.
“WeIneed your help.”
Flinderspeld turned to the counter. “What do you want? A scrying gem?”
“We’ve tried that already, and it didn’t help. Nor, it turns out, did the gorgondy wine we purchased. I hoped to locate a more potent vintage.”
Flinderspeld frowned. “Why come to me? I cut gems; I don’t vint wine.”
Q’arlynd spread his hands. “You’re the only svirfneblin I know. And, more to the point, the only one who knows me. Years ago, you mentioned the Fountains of Memory. I need to look into their waters and use them to find the temple.”
Flinderspeld gave Q’arlynd a guarded look. “What makes you think I know where they are?”
“I don’t. But you must know someone who doeswhoever told you about them. If not him, then a gorgondy wine vintner, or his supplier. Your business here in Silverymoon brings you into contact with scores of svirfneblin. Surely one of them will know where the Fountains of Memory can be found.”
“They won’t take you there.”
“That’s right. You will.”
Flinderspeld’s arms folded. “Or what?” He shook his head. “Are you going to threaten me?”
Q’arlynd spoke softly. “No.”
“What then? Remind me that you set me free? I was your slave for years before you did that.”
“I thought about trying that,” Q’arlynd said. “Then I decided that it wouldn’t work. You bear me too big a grudge; I can see that now. And offering to pay you for the informaŹtion would only insult you. I’m forced, therefore, to resort to something a little more drastic.”
He reached inside a pocket and pulled out two black rings.
Flinderspeld tensed and glanced around his shop, as if searching for a weapon.
Q’arlynd held out one of the rings. Flinderspeld’s eyes widened as he saw which one Q’arlynd was offering him.
“If you can describe the Fountains of Memory, I can teleport us there,” Q’arlynd explained. “You can ensure I bring you along by using the master ring to control my actions. Once I’ve glimpsed the temple in the pools, and we’ve used them to reach it, you can erase my memories of the Fountains of Memory, with a spell that’s contained within this.” He gestured at his forehead, and rendered the lorestone visible.
Flinderspeld’s eyes widened. “A selu’kiira! And a powerful one, judging by the color. How?”
“It’s a long story,” Q’arlynd said. “But the awarenesses inside it can do as I’ve describedsomething you can verify for yourself once you’re wearing that ring. You’ll be able to touch not only my thoughts, but theirs, as well.”
Flinderspeld stared at the proffered ring. “Why would you let me do this?”
“Because I trust you.”
Flinderspeld fell silent for several moments. Q’arlynd waited, trying not to betray the tension he felt. Svirfneblin were naturally mistrustful. Flinderspeld might reject the proposal out of hand, ring or no.
Flinderspeld thrust out a hand. “Give me the ring. And your trueseeing crystal.”