Elaine Cunningham: Elfshadow

"If I did, I wouldn't have had to spend an obscene amount of money on bribes to the Zhentarim. They're quite willing to betray their own, but the price of friendship is high," Elaith said. He held up the documents he had shown to Arilyn two days earlier. "Where is Arilyn? I must speak with her about these."

Danilo calmed himself. "Someone sent copies of those papers to Waterdeep Castle. I thought it might be you."

"Good gods, no. It was Kymil Nimesin. He's the one who originally sent the bill to the Zhentarim. Working both sides of the fence, he's been amassing a tidy sum." The moon elf shook his head, and a grim expression replaced his usual facade of gentle amusement. "I'd like to know what Kymil plans to do with those funds. He should be quite a wealthy elf by now, and he's ending the scam by serving up Arilyn as the Harper Assassin."

Danilo looked up at Bran, his expression worried. "That would be a convenient way for Kymil to explain Arilyn's death, wouldn't it? The noble armsmaster slays the half-elf assassin?" Bran merely nodded, never once taking his eyes off Elaith's face.

"All the more reason for Arilyn to deal with Kymil at once," the moon elf agreed. He handed the papers to Danilo. "Please give her these."

The nobleman glanced at the papers. "I don't understand."

"It is always wise to have a contingency plan," Elaith said. "With this letter, Arilyn can turn the Zhentarim against Kymil. An amusing end for the villain, wouldn't you say?"

"Arilyn would not work with the Black Network!" Bran thundered.

"My dear Raven, do try to be practical for once." Elaith took the itemized bill from Danilo's hand. "There are a number of names on this list, people for whom the Zhentarim had no further use."

"Yes? So?"

"So, just suppose there were more names on this list, including some individuals who are important to the Zhentarim leadership."

Bran still looked outraged, but a tiny smile of comprehension tugged at Danilo's lips. "I see. Pad the bill a bit?" asked the young nobleman.

"If you chose the right names, it could raise some hackles," Elaith agreed mildly. "I've already looked into the matter. As usual, there have been several unexplained deaths in the network's ranks of late. If an explanation were suddenly presented…"

"Very clever," Danilo admitted, "but I doubt Arilyn would want the Zhentarim doing her work for her. Don't give the matter another thought. She'd prefer to handle Kymil Nimesin herself."

"You're probably right." Elaith inclined his head.

Bran observed the moon elf with suspicion. "This is hardly the behavior one expects from the famous Serpent."

Elaith let out a ripple of cynical laughter. "Do not make the mistake of thinking me noble. I am not."

"What do you want from Arilyn?" Bran demanded.

"Taking your fatherly duties a bit seriously, aren't you?" the elf mocked. His smile faded abruptly, and his amber eyes suddenly seemed dull and empty. "Don't concern yourself, Harper. I realize that Amnestria's noble daughter is beyond my reach. If Arilyn were in truth the devious assassin I once thought her, it would be another matter."

"Then why do you help her?" Bran asked, puzzled.

"Unlike the etriel, I have no compunction against letting others do my work for me." Suddenly Elaith's voice hardened, and his amber eyes met Danilo's. "Kymil Nimesin has insulted me too many times. I want him dead. Unless I miss my guess, Arilyn is going to kill him. It is that simple. Though she and I may be very different, where Kymil Nimesin is concerned we both want the same thing."

Danilo held the deadly elf's gaze for a moment, then he nodded. "Revenge," he said softly.

"We understand each other at last," said the moon elf with a strange smile. He melted into the shadows and was gone.

"Merciful Mystra," Danilo said softly. "Keeping Kymil Nimesin alive may prove to be more difficult than I thought."

"By Mielikki, this is no way for a ranger to travel," Bran Skorlsun grumbled, shaking his head free of the travel spell's confusion. The Harper stamped his feet several times as if to assure himself that he once again stood on solid ground. The action was greeted by the crunch of fallen leaves. He and Danilo had teleported into a mist-shrouded forest. Night was deepening around them, and the nobleman pointed toward some lights flickering through the bare tree branches.

"The Halfway Inn is up ahead. Let's go," Danilo urged, crashing off through the fallen autumn leaves with an appalling lack of woodcraft. More skilled in such things, Bran followed him silently. Urgency quickened their pace.

In minutes Danilo and Bran arrived at a large clearing. Laid out before them was a complex of wooden buildings clustered around a large stone inn. Both elven and human merchants bustled about, busying themselves with the care of their animals, or bartering with other traders, or storing their goods for the night in one of several warehouses. Contented nickers wafted from the large stables, and the clinking of crockery could be heard through the windows of the tavern's kitchen. The odors of the evening meal gave a pleasant warmth to the autumn air.

"The Halfway Inn was where I first met Arilyn. She left her horse here, and even without Khelben's inquiries to the Griffon Eyrie I was quite sure she'd return for it."

"How far are we from Evereska?" Bran asked.

"Not far at all," Danilo assured him. "We're just to the west of the city. The ride takes an hour, maybe two. Let's make sure that Arilyn's horse is still here."

The men slipped into the stable. Danilo had no trouble finding Arilyn's gray mare. "Let's go to the main tavern and find someone who'll sell us some horses of our own," the nobleman suggested.

"Fine." Bran pulled the cowl of his cape over his head and followed Danilo toward the sprawling stone building. As the nobleman hung his lavishly embroidery cape on a cloakroom peg, the Harper peered into the large, crowded tavern. He laid a restraining hand on Danilo's arm.

"Who is that elf behind the bar?"

Danilo looked. A small and solemn moon elf stood at one corner of the bar, bent over what appeared to be an account book. "Him? Myrin Silverspear. He owns the place." Danilo answered. "Why do you ask?"

"I met him once before, many years ago, on my one and only trip to Evermeet," Bran murmured. "Odd that a captain in the palace guard should become an innkeeper." He turned to Danilo. "You go in alone. It's unlikely that he would recognize me, but it's best that I stay out of sight." So saying, the ranger slipped out of the cloakroom and melted into the shadows of the night.

Danilo sauntered toward the bar. The proprietor looked up at his approach, regarding the nobleman with silver eyes that gave away nothing. "Lord Thann. Welcome back."

"Thank you, Myrin. I would say it's good to be back, but I've had a bit of bad luck. Ale, please."

The elf produced a foaming mug, and Danilo settled down on a bar stool and took a couple of sips. "I just lost my horse in a game of chance," he said. "I need to purchase two new mounts. Fast."

"The horses or the transaction?" asked the proprietor without a touch of humor.

"Well, both, I suppose. I'd like to take care of it now, since I don't bargain well after too many of these." Danilo lifted his half-empty mug.

The elf studied Danilo in silence. "Several of my current guests can oblige you. I would be happy to make the introductions."

Myrin Silverspear summoned a barmaid, a slip of a moon elf whose black hair and blue-tinted skin reminded Danilo of Arilyn's. After a few words of instruction, the girl disappeared. She returned within moments with an Amnish merchant.

Danilo took one look at the merchant's well-oiled smile and prepared to part with most of his ready cash. The man was obviously a horse trader in every sense of the term. As were most natives of Amn, the merchant was short, thick, and dark. He wore colorful clothing that was ill suited to the chill autumn winds of the north, as well as an impressive amount of gold jewelry and an equally flashy smile. The lust for gold shone in his eyes as plainly as his gold teeth lit his smile.