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."Before I left Halarahh, I sent Avariel ahead.I'm putting the ship at your disposal."Matteo brightened."That will help.In addition to everything else I must do, the king must hear that Kiva is alive, the laraken is back, and Akhlaur may have not only survived but even returned.""If Zalathorm doesn't already know, we're in more trouble than we realize," Basel commented."I understand your duties, but formalities will have to wait on matters that cannot."The young man's eyes blazed with hope."You found a spell to free Tzigone?""By Mystra's grace.And, as usual, the Lady's blessings are not entirely unmixed."Basel quickly described the spell to Matteo."I would go for her myself, and gladly," he concluded, "but my heart has enough dark corners to ensure failure.I can think of only one man who'd last in the Unseelie Court longer than a snowfall in a Halarahh bathhouse." When no understanding entered Matteo's eyes, Basel added, "I know only one man who values Tzigone's life as I do."This time Matteo didn't hesitate."If it's in me to bring her back, I will."Themo jolted to his feet with a cry of protest.The effort proved too much for the wounded man; his face drained of color, and he all but dropped back onto the ground."Don't," he said through gritted teeth."You saw what happened to me when we fought those thrice-bedamned fairies.What'll it be like in their world?""Perhaps Tzigone will tell you, once she returns," Matteo said quietly."But-"Matteo sent Themo a look that froze the big man's protest in his throat.He turned back to Basel."What about my jordaini resistance to magic?""There are exceptions to every rule," Andris put in with obvious reluctance."Travel spells seem to be one.At Kiva's side, I walked across Halruaa in a single step.""Kiva was a magehound," Basel reminded him."Her spells would have more effect on you than a wizard's might.She is not, however, the only magehound in Halruaa, and the church of Azuth possesses certain artifacts that can bypass, at least to some extent, a jordain's magical resistance.""Another magehound," grumbled Themo."'Some extent: This plan is shaping up nicely."The wizard's shoulders rose and fell in a profound sigh."I won't paint this picture with falsely bright colors.The risks are enormous.""Not as high as the price of no action whatsoever.Is the spell ready?" A look of horror crossed Matteo's face as a grim possibility occurred to him."Or was it absorbed by the laraken?"Basel placed a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder and pointed to a nearby peak."When I realized what sort monster you men faced, I left my magical items up on the ledge there.No, the spell is not quite ready.We need to discuss one of the needed spell components."The wizard hesitated.Matteo nodded encouragement "You need a lock of hair from an ancestor, a wizard of considerable power."Matteo's gaze slid to the wizard's multitude of tiny black braids.A faint wistful smile lifted the corners of his lips."And you've come to give me the needed token."Basel's brows rose."I wish it were that easy! A jordain's lineage is not exactly common knowledge.""Mine will not be spoken of lightly," Matteo said, holding onto patience with difficulty."If you like, I will swear an oath to tell no one you are my father, but for the love of Mystra, let's get on with it!"He wasn't prepared for the dumbfounded expression that flooded Basel's plump face.Matteo's heart plummeted as he realized his error."I see that I misspoke," the jordain said slowly."Tzigone's most heartfelt quest was her search for family.She found my mother, so I assumed she took her apprenticeship with you because you were either her father or mine.It is known that your wife and child passed away in childbirth.That is often said of jordaini births.I thought-indeed, I hoped." His voice trailed off into uncomfortable silence.The conjurer gathered the shreds of his composure."My wife did indeed bear a jordaini child, but the babe was a stillborn girl.""You're certain of this?"Basel's gaze was bleak but steady."Beyond doubt.I refused to leave the room when the greenmage delivered the child.I held my daughter in my arms.With my own hands I lit her pyre.I am not your father, Matteo.Believe me, I would claim you if I could.""And I you," the jordain said softly, "but let's speak of the world as it is, not as we wish it to be.I've learned that searching for a jordain's mother is not only futile, but harmful.We must focus upon my paternity.Tzigone told me my father was one of the masters at the Jordaini College.""How did she find that out?" Themo demanded, looking both aghast and intrigued by this notion.This was not something jordaini discussed or pondered-such knowledge was considered beyond retrieval."She got into the birth records kept in the queen's palace.""There you go.You're the king's counselor."Matteo shook his head."I don't have Tzigone's skill at evading locks and wards, and the legal pathways to such knowledge are long and convoluted.""There's another possibility," Basel said."During my years as a jordaini master, I learned of a hidden book listing the jordaini ancestry.""I have seen it," Andris said flatly.Matteo brightened."Did you read of my ancestry?"The ghostly jordaini hesitated."Mine was bad enough.Gods only know what swamp you sprang from." He punctuated his half-hearted jest with an equally wan smile."That is an evasion, not an answer," Matteo observed."With reason," his friend said softly.'Truths of this nature provide a dark mirror.I have learned that where family is concerned, each man must face his own reflection."At that moment the clouds parted, and a wash of color swept over the rocky ground.Matteo glanced up.An enormous flying ship glided through the dissipating clouds, seemingly sped by the winged elves painted upon ship and sail.Sunlight filtered through bright, silken sails.Basel's crew brought the skyship daringly close to the clearing.A rope ladder tumbled down.The wizard scampered up, amazingly nimble, and within moments a makeshift sling was lowered to raise the injured Themo.Matteo and Andris saw Iago's body aboard, then they climbed onto the skyship's deck.They stood together by the rail, watching as the Nath fell swiftly away."It is fitting that Iago's ashes be scattered on jordaini land," Matteo commented as the skyship set course for southwestern Halruaa."At least one aspect of this trip will end as it should.""I'd reserve judgment until we learn what new thing has gone awry," murmured Andris as he nodded toward Basel.The wizard strode toward them, one hand steadying the large seabird perched upon his shoulder.His face was grim, and his eyes burned with wrath as well as something that might have been unshed tears."You should hear this," he said abruptly.The wizard plucked a small feather from the bird and blew it from his palm.Immediately the feather dissolved into milky haze
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