father’s laughter rings off the walls as I plummet.
CHAPTER TEN
5 Nightal, the Year of Lightning Storms
Drawn blades and an alarmed shout of “Shades,” met the arrival of Cale and Riven. Cale held up his hands. Riven already had his sabers clear of their scabbards.
“We are friends,” Cale said.
“Hold!” Abelar shouted, his eyes on Cale.
Abelar, Regg, Jiiris, Roen, and a dozen other members of Abelar’s company stood in a circle on the shore of a river Cale assumed to be the Mudslide. The Lathanderians relaxed, and sheathed their weapons. Apologies and greetings followed. Abelar embraced both Cale and Riven.
“I am pleased to see you both. We could use your blades and talents.”
Downriver, Cale saw the inkblot of Sakkors hovering in the air. Opposite that, he saw the charred, churning clouds of the Shadowstorm as they ate the sky. Between them sat Abelar’s company and the Saerbian refugees, just as Rivalen had said.
“Our blades and talents did nothing against Kesson Rel. We failed, Abelar.”
The Lathanderian kept his expression neutral. “But you live, still. We will find another way.”
“We may have found one. We need a word in privacy. You and Regg.”
Abelar looked to Regg and Regg nodded and said to his company, “See to your duties. Get everyone near the river. No closer to that city, though. Summon food. Keep everyone as warm as possible.”
Nods and murmured assent, then they moved off.
“Jiiris,” Abelar called, and the red haired warrior brought her horse over. She nodded to Cale and Riven, though Cale saw distant hostility in her eyes. Perhaps she blamed them for Abelar’s turn from Lathander.
“You do not have to ask,” she said to Abelar. “I will see that Elden eats.”
He smiled at her. “Thank you.”
When the four men were alone, Cale said, “Ordulin is in ruins, as we suspected. Its people have been consumed by the storm and raised as shadows serving Kesson Rel. The storm transforms Sembia as it moves.”
“The Morninglord’s light,” Regg oathed.
“He is more powerful than we thought,” Cale said.
“Much more,” Riven added.
Abelar shook his head. “Darkness grows. You see our straits.” He nodded at Sakkors. “The Shadovar will prevent us from crossing the river on orders of the Hulorn. I misjudged Tamlin Uskevren badly. He did not seem a man to countenance this. When I met the two of you, I thought it you I should worry over, not him.”
Cale smiled at that, recalling their first meeting. “Tamlin is desperate to prove himself and easily steered. I misjudged him as well. It is … unfortunate.”
He could think of no better word. He was just pleased Thamalon had died before seeing his son sink so far.
“‘Unfortunate’ understates his culpability should something happen to these refugees,” Regg said.
Cale took the point. “The Hulorn is not behind this. Prince Rivalen of Shade Enclave is. Tamlin—the Hulorn—is just a tool.”
“What does he hope to gain, this Shadovar prince?” Regg asked. “These are ordinary folk.”
“Our assistance,” Cale answered, and the shadows around him spun.
Regg and Abelar’s expression formed questions, waited for answers.
Cale and Riven told them of their encounter with Rivalen, of the deal he offered if Cale and Riven helped him with Kesson Rel.
“He makes hundreds of innocent people the stakes in his play,” Regg said.
“He is a Sharran,” Abelar said simply, and Regg grunted in agreement.
“I am sorry,” Cale said, and the darkness around him crowded close. “We did not intend for your people to be caught up in any of this.
“You are not at fault,” Regg said, but Cale felt otherwise.
Abelar nodded at Regg’s comment. He looked to Cale. “I have seen you use the shadows to move yourself and others from place to place. Can you take the refugees through the darkness, remove them to safety? Avoid this Sharran plot all together?”
Cale considered. Once, he had attempted to transport an entire ship and its crew across the Inner Sea. Instead, he had inadvertently taken the ship from Faerûn to the Plane of Shadow. He knew he could not safely move the refugees as a group.
“In twos and threes, perhaps, but I think the Shadovar would learn of it and exact payment from those who remained behind.”
“At least some would get to safety,” Regg said. “Elden could go first, with Endren.”
Cale watched the war in Abelar’s head do battle in his expression. He shook his head. “No. We cannot put everyone else at risk to save a few. If matters become desperate and there is no other way …”
Cale said, “If we assist Rivalen, all of you will be