"He can wait that long," Mourngrym said firmly. "Try to keep in mind, Orcsbane, that if you bring nothing but heads back, we may never find Elminster or Nameless or Olive Ruskettle. I understand how you feel about Kyre, but we have to think of those who are still alive. I want you to try to capture the beast."

"Capture a denizen of the Nine h.e.l.ls?" Breck shouted. "That's impossible!"

"Try," Lord Mourngrym said. "It may not be a fiend."

"Kyre said that it was!" Breck hissed angrily.

"Try to capture it anyway," Mourngrym insisted. "And return Akabar Bel Akash alive, whether he resists or not."

"I will go, too, to see that this man obeys," Zhara said.

"Oh, no, you don't!" Breck insisted. "Your lordship, this woman is the man's wife. I want you to arrest her."

"I can't arrest a woman for being a man's wife," Mourngrym said, barely able to contain his own annoyance with the ranger.

"But she could warn him that we're coming and foil our attempts to capture him," Breck argued.

"Lady Zhara," Morala said softly, "it would be best if you remain here in the tower. As you said, your husband is a man of honor. The least we can do is keep you safe until his return."

"Keep me hostage, you mean!" Zhara exclaimed hostileiy.

"We're riding into the wilderness, and we'll probably end up having to fight this Grypht," Alias said with annoyance. "You'd only slow us down and get in the way."

"I am following my husband," Zhara insisted angrily.

"No, you aren't!" Breck shouted.

"Please stay here, Lady Zhara," Morala coaxed.

Dragonbait made two short, sharp signs to the Turmishwoman, which Alias did not see. Zhara bit her lip and took a deep breath. "I will stay," she said softly. "Show me to my room."

"Captain Thurbal, would you escort this lady to my wife's quarters and ask Lady Shaeri to look after her?" Mourngrym asked.

"Yes, your lordship," the captain said, nodding. "This way, lady," he said, motioning for Zhara to follow him.

Akabar's wife laid her hand on Dragonbait's chest and looked into his eyes. The paladin ran a clawed finger down the sleeve of her robe and nodded. Then Zhara turned and followed Thurbal from the room, as meekly as a child.

Dragonbait signed to Alias that he would fetch their things from the inn.

Alias nodded. "I'll gather some provisions together if Harper Breck will take care of saddling our horses," she said.

"I'll be waiting for you at the bridge," Breck replied. He strode from the room. Dragonbait followed him out.

"You have your work cut out for you," Mourngrym warned Alias. "If you think you need help handling Breck, I can ride along with you."

"No, thank you, your lordship," Alias said. "I'm sure Kyre was wrong about Grypht's origins, but if she was correct about his working for the Zhentarim, the Zhentarim may be planning an attack on Shadowdale. The dale folk need you here. As a favor to me, however, please see that Akabar's wife stays here."

"We'll keep her safe," Morala promised.

"Just keep her out of my way," Alias muttered.

Mourngrym pursed his lips with disapproval. Alias never seemed to get along with clergy. It was lucky Dragonbait had so much influence over the Turmishwoman. His lordship wondered what it was the saurial had signed to the priestess to make her obey so readily. "I'll be sure the guards know she's not to leave the tower, Alias," Mourngrym said. "I'll take you down to the storeroom to help you collect provisions."

"I think I'll stay here to rest awhile," Morala said. She stepped closer to the swordswoman. "We should say our good-byes now. Alias of Westgate. If you happen to meet Nameless before we meet again, remember to ask him to tell you the whole truth."

"I'll remember," Alias replied.

Morala reached up and laid a hand on Alias's shoulder. "Grief and pain lie in your path. May sweet music and brave songs bring you strength to endure them until you know joy again." Morala removed her hand from Alias's shoulder.

Alias sighed. She didn't believe prayers did any good, but at least Morala's blessing hadn't been too silly. "Good-bye, Morala," the swordswoman said. "It's been ... interesting meeting you"

Morala smiled wryly.

Alias turned and strode from the room, and Mourngrym followed after her.

Grypht looked with a great deal of satisfaction down the ravine that cut across his path. It was quite deep and long, but far too wide to leap across. It was just what he needed to slow down any would-be trackers. He walked north along the edge for a hundred yards, then halted. The scent of fresh-mown hay rose again from his body as he summoned another dimensional portal to take him across the ravine with his burden. Once he stood on the other side, he moved as carefully as possible so as not to leave a trail that could be easily spotted from across the ravine. Then he turned once again toward the sinking sun, following the beam of the yellow crystal.

Dragonbait loped back to the tower carrying two sacks in addition to his pack and Alias's. One sack was full of Alias's weaponry and armor, both old and new; the other contained leftover dried rations he'd had stored in his room. The saurial nodded politely to the guards as he pa.s.sed through the tower's front gate once again. He crossed the entrance hall quickly, then dashed up the stairs and raced through the corridors. He didn't have much time. He stood before the door to Lady Shaerl's quarters and took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves.

He was about to engage in a deceit, something which always made him uncomfortable, even when he believed it was for a good cause, such as allowing Zhara to accompany her husband's rescue party. Without Alias's support, Dragonbait knew he'd never break down Breck's opposition to the priestess's presence. The paladin needed time to persuade the swords-woman to accept Zhara, but things were happening too quickly. He didn't want to defy Lord Mourngrym, Breck, or most especially Alias, but he had no other choice.

The saurial knocked on Lady Shaerl's door.

From within. Lady Shaeri called out, "Come in."

Dragonbait opened the door and stepped inside. Zhara sat on a couch beside Mourngrym's wife, Shaeri, who held a sleeping Scotty in her arms. The saurial signed very quickly to her ladyship.

Shaeri understood the signing immediately and laughed. "Certainly, Dragonbait. Any time you wish to be alone with a lady in my quarters, just ask," she said lightly.

The paladin raised his eyes to the ceiling. Her ladyship's teasing could be most inappropriate at times. But then what else could one expect of a Cormyte n.o.blewoman who understood the thieves' sign language? Not even motherhood, Dragonbait noted, had dampened the woman's taste for mischief and adventure. Obviously she did not intend her future to be any less colorful than her past. The saurial signed that his business was urgent.

"Excuse me, Zhara," Shaeri said, "while I go put this little monster to bed." Her ladyship rose and carried Scotty into an adjacent room and closed the door behind her.

"I did as you asked," the priestess said in low tones once the two of them were alone. "I pretended to submit. But I will not remain here while Akabar is in danger."

Dragonbait signed to Zhara that he was sure that Akabar had nothing to fear from Grypht; Grypht was his friend. Hastily the paladin signed his plans for her escape; then he began pulling pieces of Alias's armor out of the sack. A few minutes later, the pair of them descended the stairway into the front entrance hall. "This will never work," Zhara whispered, tugging at the uncomfortable studded leather collar she now wore around her throat. "Even if I look like Alias, my skin is too dark," she argued.

Dragonbait made a wheezing noise. Zhara realized he was chuckling. They won't see your skin, he signed, only your flesh.

Zhara shuddered and clutched the bundle that held her robes closer to her chest. Dragonbait stepped in front of her, and Zhara halted. The saurial forced her arms down from her chest, revealing a healthy cleavage between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s that Alias's enchanted chain armor did not cover.

Carry your bundle under one arm, the saurial ordered with his fingers. Hold your head up higher. Don't look modest. G.o.ds know, Alias isn't. Dragonbait reached up and arranged a lock of Zhara's hair over the scholar's tattoo of three blue dots on her forehead. Don't rest your hand on the sword hilt, he added. That's for swaggering amateurs.

Zhara moved her hand from the blade's handle, and Dragon-bait continued to instruct the priestess as they made their way down the staircase. Just nod to the guards when you go past. Pay attention to my signing, and they'll realize you're too busy to chat.

When they reached the entrance hall, the saurial began to encourage Zhara with a steady banter. Remember, you're Alias, the warrior who defeated the Iron Throne's hired kalmari and the evil fiend Phalse. They all admire your courage. You're probably the most talented singer in the Realms. They all love your singing. You are very beautiful. The young women want to be like you and the young men want to be with you.

Zhara's eyes met with those of one of the guards at the door. The guard nodded politely. Zhara nodded in return and hastily averted her eyes back to Dragonbait's signing hands. She could feel herself flushing. She had never before appeared in public without her veil, let alone without her priestess's robes. Only her husband had ever seen this much of her body before, and the priestess felt more than embarra.s.sed. She felt ashamed, as though she'd been unfaithful to Akabar.

Once they'd stepped through the tower's front gate, Dragon-bait clutched Zhara's arm and hurried her toward the stable. They pa.s.sed an ornamental rose arbor, and the saurial dodged into it, yanking the priestess after him. The arbor protected them from the rain that continued to fall as well as from curious eyes.

Give me the sword, but put your robes back on over the armor. You may need its protection, Dragonbait signed.

"How much protection can it possibly offer?" Zhara asked, unstrapping the sword's sheath from the metal girdle about her waist. "There's nothing to it. Besides, what will Alias wear?"

Don't be fooled by the chain mail's looks. It's heavily enchanted, Dragonbait explained. Alias can wear her spare armor. Remember what I told you, he warned as she donned her robes, once you are across the bridge, hide in the woods until you see us pa.s.s. Wait awhile longer be fore you follow. Look for strips of white or blue cloth. Here, take this cloak, he ordered, handing her one of Alias's old cloaks. Cover your head with the hooda"a veil will attract too much attention.

Handing her a small sack of dry rations, he signed. This is all the food I could collect, but we will pa.s.s several farm fields. The farmers will not object if you glean from them. Take care, lady, until we meet again.

Zhara grabbed Dragonbait's tunic. "All those things you said about Alias in the tower ... I am not like her. I'm not nearly so brave or so talented or so beautiful. I do not think I can do this," she whispered anxiously.

Dragonbait stroked Zhara's arm, and the priestess felt the blue brand on her arm tingle just as it had when he had touched it before. It was an oddly comforting feeling.

You are different from Alias, the paladin signed, but you can do this. You must and you will. The smell of garlic surrounded them, the scent of the saurial's determination. Without another word, Dragonbait gave Zhara a light shove toward the road. The woman hurried toward the bridge and pa.s.sed by the sentries stationed on the near side. In the drizzling rain, they didn't find it unusual that a traveler should keep her face covered under the hood of her cloak. When Zhara had reached the opposite side, the lizard strode back to the tower, carrying his and Alias's packs and the sack containing the swordswoman's spare armor.

The guards at the gate exchanged confused looks as Dragonbait returned to the tower. "Forget something, Dragonbait?" one of them asked.

The saurial nodded and strode past quickly.

The guards shrugged as Dragonbait raced down the hall toward the tower storerooms.

The paladin followed the trail of Alias's scent until he found her standing beside Mourngrym in the armory, examining longbows. Dragonbait shook the sack of armor to attract her attention.

"Just a minute, Dragonbait," Alias said, choosing a hornwood bow and handing it to Mourngrym.

"You change," Mourngrym said, picking up a quiver of arrows. "I'll take this out to your horse and make sure Breck doesn't bolt off without you." His lordship left the storeroom.

When they were alone, Alias asked the saurial, "What took you so long?"

Dragonbait set the sack of armor down and signed, I went to say good-bye to Zhara and to try to rea.s.sure her about Akabar.

"Tymora! You are so naive," Alias chided. "Zhara doesn't need any comforting. That woman doesn't care anything about Akabar. As far as priests are concerned, G.o.ds come first; husbands and wives place a poor second," she declared.

You are wrong, Dragonbait signed. She is a good woman.

"She's a fanatic," Alias countered.

So are you, the paladin signed. K u denied everything she and Akabar said without considering it carefully.

"Moander is not coming back," Alias snapped.

You argue from emotion, not reason, Dragonbait signed. You cannot change the truth by denying it. Moander is returning, Alias, and Akabar must destroy him.

"Why Akabar?" the swordswoman cried. "Why should he have to fight Moander again? Why not someone else?"

I don't know, the paladin signed, but you are not helping him by insulting his wife and his faith.

Alias lowered her eyes, realizing uneasily that Dragonbait could be right but unwilling to admit it. "We have to hurry or Breck will try to leave without us," she said, bending over and dumping out the contents of her sack of armor. "Where's my other chain shirt?" she asked.

Dragonbait shrugged and signed that he hadn't been able to find it.

"Dragonbait!" the swordswoman cried with annoyance. "It was lying across the chair. Are you certain you didn't just choose not to bring it?"

Dragonbait shrugged.

For months the paladin had tried to talk Alias out of wearing the chain shirt she'd gotten from the evil sorceress Ca.s.sana. The piece of armor was exceedingly immodest and consequently earned Alias a good deal of unlooked-for attention from men, but it also carried powerful enchantments that protected her far more than a full breastplate could. After she'd worn it for over a year, Dragonbait had ceased objecting to it. Alias thought that he had finally surrendered to her logic. Until now.

"You are such a stick-in-the-mud!" Alias grumbled. "Next thing I know, you'll try to get me to wear a veil like Zhara."

It would be easier to get Zhara into Ca.s.sana's armor, the paladin signed.

Alias laughed. "There's no time to argue about it now." She picked up her old chain shirt and slipped it over her tunic, then picked up the breastplate. "Well, now that I have no choice but to wear this awful, bulky plate, you could at least help me get into it."

Dragonbait helped the swordswoman attach the breast and back plates of her old armor about her torso and fastened the shoulder plates to the chain.

"Forget the rest of the pieces," Alias said. "I'm not used to that much weight. Leave them here." She strapped on her sword and shouldered her pack as Dragonbait placed the rest of her armor on an empty shelf. The swordswoman stepped up behind the saurial. When he turned around, she lowered her head meekly and said, "I'm sorry I was so rude to Zhara. Forgive me?"

Dragonbait looked very stern and signed, It is Zhara you need to apologize to.

"I will," Alias promised. "Later. The next time I see her. Don't be angry with me now . . . please?"

Dragonbait ran his claw along her sleeve, so that her brand tingled comfortingly.

Alias could sense from the saurial's smell that he was still disturbed by something. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Grypht isn't from the Nine h.e.l.ls, the paladin signed.

"I know that," Alias agreed. "He couldn't be, but there's no sense arguing with Breck about it. Kyre said he was, and Breck worshiped Kyre."

Grypht is a friend, Dragonbait signed. He is one of my people.

Alias's jaw dropped. "You mean he's a saurial?"

Dragonbait nodded.

"Why didn't you say something?" Alias asked.

Breck wouldn't trust Zhara because she was Akabar's wife. He would not trust me if he knew I was Grypht's friend. Breck is too angry, Dragonbait signed.

"Of course he's angry. Wouldn't you be if you found me in ashes like Kyre?" Alias asked.

Breck's anger is dangerous. He cannot be trusted. Grypht and Akabar could not have murdered Kyre, but Breck is too angry to consider any other possibility.

"He'll cool off on the trail," Alias replied.