asked, not really meaning to speak his thoughts aloud.
Khelben shrugged. “A forester,” he replied, “with a love for painting, though I daresay that I am not very good at it.”
Drizzt studied Khelben, not believing either of his disclaimers. The man had an aura of distinction about him, a distinguished manner and confidence befitting a lord. By Drizzt’s measure, Khelben was more likely Malchor’s peer, at least. And if the man truly loved to paint, Drizzt had no doubt that he had perfected the art as well as any in the North. “A guide through Waterdeep?” Drizzt asked.
“A guide to a guide,” Khelben answered. “I know of your quest and your needs. Passage on a ship is not an easy thing to come by this late in the year, unless you know where to inquire. Come, now, to the south gate, where we might find one who knows.” He found his mount a short distance away and led them to the south at an easy trot.
They passed the sheer cliff that protected the city’s eastern border, a hundred feet high at its peak. And where the cliff sloped down to sea level, they found another city wall. Khelben veered away from the city at this point, though the south gate was now in sight, and indicated a grassy knoll topped by a single willow.
A small man jumped down from the tree as they breached the knoll, his dark eyes darting nervously about. He was no pauper, by his dress, and his uneasiness when they approached only added to Drizzt’s suspicions that Khelben was more than he had presumed.
“Ah, Orlpar, so good of you to come,” Khelben said casually. Drizzt and Wulfgar exchanged knowing smiles; the man had been given no choice in the matter.
“Greetings,” Orlpar said quickly, wanting to finish the business as expediently as possible. “The passage is secured. Have you the payment?”
“When?” Khelben asked.
“A tenday,” replied Orlpar. “The
Coast Dancer
puts out in a tenday.”
Khelben did not miss the worried looks that Drizzt and Wulfgar now exchanged. “That is too long,” he told Orlpar. “Every sailor in port owes you a favor. My friends cannot wait.”
“These arrangements take time!” Orlpar argued, his voice rising. But then, as if he suddenly remembered who he was addressing, he shrank back and dropped his eyes.
“Too long,” Khelben reiterated calmly.
Orlpar stroked his face, searching for some solution. “Deudermont,” he said, looking hopefully to Khelben. “Captain Deudermont takes the
Sea Sprite
out this very night. A fairer man you’ll not find, but I do not know how far south he will venture. And the price will be high.”
“Ah,” Khelben smiled, “but fear not, my little friend. I have wondrous barter for you this day.”
Orlpar looked at him suspiciously. “You said gold.”
“Better than gold,” Khelben replied. “Three days from Longsaddle my friends have come, but their mounts have not broken even a sweat.”
“Horses?” balked Orlpar.
“Nay, not the steeds,” said Khelben. “Their shoes. Magical shoes that can carry a horse like the wind itself!”
“My business is with sailors!” Orlpar protested as vigorously as he dared. “What use would I find with horseshoes?”
“Calm, calm, Orlpar,” Khelben said softly with a wink. “Remember your brother’s embarrassment? You will find some way to turn magical horseshoes into profit, I know.”
Orlpar took a deep breath to blow away his anger. Khelben obviously had him cornered. “Have these two at the Mermaid’s Arms,” he said. “I will see what I can do.” With that, he turned and trotted off down the hill toward the south gate.
“You handled him with ease,” Drizzt remarked.
“I held every advantage,” Khelben replied. “Orlpar’s brother heads a noble house in the city. At times, this proves a great benefit to Orlpar. Yet, it is also a hindrance, for he must take care not to bring public embarrassment to his family.
“But enough of that business,” Khelben continued. “You may
Khelben shrugged. “A forester,” he replied, “with a love for painting, though I daresay that I am not very good at it.”
Drizzt studied Khelben, not believing either of his disclaimers. The man had an aura of distinction about him, a distinguished manner and confidence befitting a lord. By Drizzt’s measure, Khelben was more likely Malchor’s peer, at least. And if the man truly loved to paint, Drizzt had no doubt that he had perfected the art as well as any in the North. “A guide through Waterdeep?” Drizzt asked.
“A guide to a guide,” Khelben answered. “I know of your quest and your needs. Passage on a ship is not an easy thing to come by this late in the year, unless you know where to inquire. Come, now, to the south gate, where we might find one who knows.” He found his mount a short distance away and led them to the south at an easy trot.
They passed the sheer cliff that protected the city’s eastern border, a hundred feet high at its peak. And where the cliff sloped down to sea level, they found another city wall. Khelben veered away from the city at this point, though the south gate was now in sight, and indicated a grassy knoll topped by a single willow.
A small man jumped down from the tree as they breached the knoll, his dark eyes darting nervously about. He was no pauper, by his dress, and his uneasiness when they approached only added to Drizzt’s suspicions that Khelben was more than he had presumed.
“Ah, Orlpar, so good of you to come,” Khelben said casually. Drizzt and Wulfgar exchanged knowing smiles; the man had been given no choice in the matter.
“Greetings,” Orlpar said quickly, wanting to finish the business as expediently as possible. “The passage is secured. Have you the payment?”
“When?” Khelben asked.
“A tenday,” replied Orlpar. “The
Coast Dancer
puts out in a tenday.”
Khelben did not miss the worried looks that Drizzt and Wulfgar now exchanged. “That is too long,” he told Orlpar. “Every sailor in port owes you a favor. My friends cannot wait.”
“These arrangements take time!” Orlpar argued, his voice rising. But then, as if he suddenly remembered who he was addressing, he shrank back and dropped his eyes.
“Too long,” Khelben reiterated calmly.
Orlpar stroked his face, searching for some solution. “Deudermont,” he said, looking hopefully to Khelben. “Captain Deudermont takes the
Sea Sprite
out this very night. A fairer man you’ll not find, but I do not know how far south he will venture. And the price will be high.”
“Ah,” Khelben smiled, “but fear not, my little friend. I have wondrous barter for you this day.”
Orlpar looked at him suspiciously. “You said gold.”
“Better than gold,” Khelben replied. “Three days from Longsaddle my friends have come, but their mounts have not broken even a sweat.”
“Horses?” balked Orlpar.
“Nay, not the steeds,” said Khelben. “Their shoes. Magical shoes that can carry a horse like the wind itself!”
“My business is with sailors!” Orlpar protested as vigorously as he dared. “What use would I find with horseshoes?”
“Calm, calm, Orlpar,” Khelben said softly with a wink. “Remember your brother’s embarrassment? You will find some way to turn magical horseshoes into profit, I know.”
Orlpar took a deep breath to blow away his anger. Khelben obviously had him cornered. “Have these two at the Mermaid’s Arms,” he said. “I will see what I can do.” With that, he turned and trotted off down the hill toward the south gate.
“You handled him with ease,” Drizzt remarked.
“I held every advantage,” Khelben replied. “Orlpar’s brother heads a noble house in the city. At times, this proves a great benefit to Orlpar. Yet, it is also a hindrance, for he must take care not to bring public embarrassment to his family.
“But enough of that business,” Khelben continued. “You may
Similar Books
