Read Online Errand of Mercy by Roger Moore - Free Book Online Page B

Garkim— whirled, searching for the source.
    “Then show yourself!” Miltiades called out angrily. “We have come too far and lost too much already to be amused by trickery!”
    “There is no trickery here,” said the voice. “This is where we meet our guests. We are the emperor of Doegan.” There was no anger in the voice. There was no feeling in it at all.
    Garkim waited patiently, standing with hands clasped before him, while the four men before him continued looking around the room. Their weapons were readied but at the moment useless as toothpicks.
    “You are here to find Lady Eidola of Neverwinter, the intended bride of the Open Lord of Waterdeep, Piergeiron Paladinson,” continued the voice. “The High Mage of Waterdeep, Khelben Arunsun, who is called the Blackstaff, determined that this city of Eldrinpar was where Lady Eidola’s kidnappers had taken her. You are here to find Lady Eidola and to destroy the thing that prevents Khelben Arunsun from magically scrying our city, so that he may determine where Lady Eidola is being held and send such assistance as you may need to rescue her and bring her back to Waterdeep.”
    None of the men answered. Kern, Trandon, Jacob, and Noph stared at Miltiades, who turned to stare at Lord Garkim. Garkim returned the stare impassively.
    “Miltiades of Phlan,” said the voice.
    “Yes,” said the paladin, his tone dangerously low.
    “Lord Garkim has spoken to you of the bloodforges.”
    Miltiades looked away from Garkim at the red-curtained walls around the room. “He has. Why do you not show yourself?”
    “We are here. We meet with you as is our custom.”
    “Is it because of your bloodforge?” Miltiades scanned the room at eye level, then squinted up at the rafters. “Do you not appear before us personally because you wish to conceal some power of your bloodforge?”
    “We are here before you, Miltiades of Phlan. We are very near you in body. We meet with you in this manner because there is no other way to meet with you.”
    “You’re with us more in spirit than body, maybe?” said Jacob. Miltiades and the others looked at him. He gave a wry smile and shrugged. “Couldn’t think of anything else to say,” he said apologetically.
    “I don’t get this,” said Kern. He moved away from the others toward the long wall to the right of the door they had entered. “This is the craziest meeting with a king I have ever had.”
    “Miltiades of Phlan.”
    “Speak your mind,” said the paladin sharply, starting to walk toward the wall on the left side of the room from the door. Jacob caught on and began walking toward the far wall opposite the double doors, examining the curtains.
    “Lord Garkim explained the nature and powers of the bloodforges to you.”
    “He did not explain very much,” said the paladin. He reached the wall and carefully began to probe the thick red curtains with the head of his warhammer. They seemed normal enough. He pushed in, and the hammer head thumped into the wall behind.
    He abruptly looked down at his left hand. The ring given to him by his wife Evaine was glowing faintly. Poison? Where?
    “A bloodforge was used to kidnap Lady Eidola,” said the voice. “It was not the bloodforge of Doe-gan that was involved in this act. Your lady was taken by the bloodforge of Ysdar.”
    Miltiades snorted skeptically. He carefully knelt down by the curtain, so that the wall was on his left side. With his left hand, he reached down and picked up the bottom of the curtain. He raised his hammer with his right hand and prepared to strike, expecting a venomous creature.
    Behind the curtain was a solid black wall, its surface slick and glossy. Miltiades smelled mildew and must, noting cobwebs were pulled away as he lifted the curtain’s bottom. He looked back at Lord Garkim, who watched him intently without moving, arms folded in front of him.
    “Who is Ysdar?” said Kern, far across the room. He poked the curtain before him. A low clunk sounded