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.Please come out and be at ease.I did not know ye still dwelt here.I'll pay ye proper respects, then withdraw from thy house and leave ye in peace."He retreated to the door, put on his cloak and summoned up defenses in case the undead sorceress did use the wand, and waited, watching the open closet door.After a long time, that dark-eyed skull peered out.and hastily withdrew.El leaned against the door frame and waited.After a few moments more, the skeleton hesitantly shuffled out of the closet, looking in all directions for adventurers who might be waiting to pounce.She held the wand upward, not leveled upon him, and came to a stop halfway down the room, gazing at him in silence.El offered her the chair beside him with a gesture.She didn't move, so he picked up the chair and carried it to her.The wand came up, but he ignored it.even when magic missiles spat forth and streaked at him, trailing blue fire.His spell defenses absorbed them harmlessly, El felt only gentle jolts as they struck.Pretending they'd never existed at all.or the second volley, that tore into his face from barely an arm's length away.the last prince of Athalantar set down the chair and gestured to the walking remains of Sharindala, then to the chair, offering it to her.Then he bowed and went back to the doorway.After a long, silent moment, the skeleton went to the chair and sat down, crossing its legs at the ankles and leaning back on one arm of the chair out of long habit.Elminster bowed again."I apologize for my intrusion into thy home.I serve the goddess Mystra and am here on her bidding to leave magic for later searchers to find.I shall restore thy wards and trouble ye no more.Is there anything I can do for ye?"After a long while, the skeleton shook its head, almost wearily."Would ye find lasting rest?" El asked gently.The wand shot up to menace him.He held up a staying hand and asked, "Do ye still work magic?"The hair-shedding skull nodded, then shrugged, holding up the wand.El nodded."I've not searched for any magic ye may have hidden.I've only added, not taken away." A thought occurred to him, then, and he asked, "Would ye like to know new spells?"The skeleton stiffened, made as if to rise, then nodded so emphatically that hair fell out in handfuls.El reached into his cloak and drew forth a spellbook.Muttering a word over it, he strode back across the room, ignoring the hesitantly lifted wand.which spat nothing more at him.and gently placed the tome in her lap, holding it as her free hand came across to clasp it.Her other hand dropped the wand and reached up impulsively to clasp his arm.Rather than pulling free, El reached out slowly to place his own hand over the dry, bony digits on his forearm and stroked them.Sharindala trembled all over, and for a long time blue-gray eyes and dark points of light in the sockets of a fleshless skull stared into each other.El withdrew his stroking hand and said, "Lady, I must go.I must place more magic elsewhere.but if I survive to return to Ripplestones in time to come, I'll stop and visit ye properly."He received a slow but definite nod in answer."Lady, can ye speak?" El asked.The skeleton stiffened, then the hand on his arm became a fist that smashed down on the arm of the chair in frustration.El bent over and tapped the book."There's a spell in here, near the back, that can change that for ye.It requires no verbal component, obviously.but I want ye to remember something.When ye have some unbroken time to devote to things and have mastered that spell, I want ye to hold this tome and say aloud the words, 'Mystra, please.' Will ye remember?"The skull nodded once more.El took hold of bony fingertips and brought them to his lips."Then, Lady, fare thee well for now.I go, but shall return in time.Be happy."He straightened, gave her a salute, and strode out of the room.The skeleton managed a wave at its last glimpse of his smiling face, then its hand fell to the book, cradling it as if it would never let go.For a long time the skeleton that had been Sharindala sat in the chair, staring at the door and shuddering.The only sound in the room was a dry clicking as fleshless jaws worked.She was trying to weep."But there's more!" Beldrune hissed, creeping forward with his fingers held out like claws before him.Spellbound, the circle of pupils watched him with nary a titter at the appearance of an old and overweight wizard trying to tiptoe like an actor overplaying the part of a skulking thief."This mighty mage has walked these very streets! Here.just outside, down yon alley, not three nights past.I saw him myself!""Think of it," Tabarast took up the telling excitedly, never knowing that the mage they were speaking of was at that moment kissing the fingertips of a skeleton."We've walked with him, we studied magic at his very elbow in fabled Moonshorn Tower.and soon, just perhaps, you too may have this opportunity! To talk with the supreme sorcerer of the age.a man touched by a god!""Nay," Beldrune leered suggestively, "a man touched by a goddess!""Think of it!" Tabarast put in hastily, flashing a warning glare at young Droon.Don't the young ever think of anything else? "The great Elminster has lived for centuries! Some believe him to be a Chosen One, personally favored by the goddess Mystra.that's what my colleague was trying to say.and records are clear: he is a man who dwelt in fabled Myth Drannor when elven magic flowed like water, was respected enough to be accepted into a noble elf family there, advise their ruler, the Coronal
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