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way of the fool," the Thayan told her, his voice a little stronger.
"Trust," Narnra told him furiously, leaning forward to drive her words home with
slow, soft emphasis, "is a strength."
"You are a fool," he replied.
"And you're a cruel idiot," she replied scornfully. "Are all Red Wizards of Thay
like you? Preening villains?"
Starangh shook his head. "Just kill me and have done taunting."
"Why? Do words of sense truly hurt you more than wounding magic?"
"Kill me," he pleaded, furious and ashamed.
"No," Narnra snapped, turning away. "My father shall have his chance to twist and
shape you, as he does to so many. Why should you escape my fate?"
* * * * *
The flash and flare of magic in their faces sent Vangerdahast staggering back into
Myrmeen even before the great silver-blue, scaled bulk burst into being, shattering
the low passage ceiling with a roar of mingled exultation and pain then bursting forth
skywards, flooding the sanctum with sunlight.
With a surge of wings and claws, the song dragon turned and pounced on the War
Wizard Telarantra, rending her limb from limb before she could even shriek to turn
and hand the dripping result to Vangerdahast.
"Here's your traitor," she said, in a soft and vast echo of her human voice.
Back on his feet, Vangerdahast stood facing her calmly, as Myrmeen scrambled to
her feet to defend him with her blade.
However, the song dragon did not strike. "Why," she asked the former Royal
Magician, "did you spare me?"
"Lady," Vangerdahast replied gruffly, "you fought for your cause as I fight for
mine. You've long dwelt among folk of Cormyr and must enjoy our company
somewise to have persisted so long in doing so. I bear you no malice and hope to
turn you to support my plans."
"So I might become one of your willing defenders," she replied, a touch of
bitterness in that great voice. "Exhibiting the grand destiny of... a useful tool."
Vangerdahast sighed. "Of course you'll see dragon-binding as evil. In truth, I'd
avoid it if I could find a better way but for me, all other things fall before my
devotion to Cormyr."
"What has Cormyr done for you to deserve this devotion?"
The old wizard sighed. "Lady, defending this fair realm is what I do. There is no
higher calling, no greater task, no brighter boon to all Faerun than this."
The great dragon head shook in resignation, those burning turquoise eyes never
leaving those of Vangerdahast yet searing also into Myrmeen's wary gaze. "What
will you do now, Vangerdahast, if I fly away, gather a dozen dragons, and return to
destroy you and your precious sanctum utterly?"
The old wizard shrugged. "Try me."
"Are you not afraid?"
"No," the retired Mage Royal replied. "I'm growing too old to fear for this
wrinkled old hide."
"Do you not fear for your precious realm?"
Vangerdahast raised both of his empty hands in expressionless silence and
spell-links shone forth in the air like silver spider-webs, spanning emptiness between
the rings on his fingers and the winking radiances of risen spells and a dozen
revealed wands. They formed a vast and glowing ring around Joysil and pulsed
powerfully enough that she did not could not doubt that they could destroy her
in an instant.
The song dragon regarded them . . . and shivered. "Will you use these? If I try to
fly away now?"
Vangerdahast shook his head. "Nay. Sworn to defend Cormyr I am, but in her
defense I'll stand and fight those who come against her and me. I'll not lash out and
become a tyrant over those who may menace her or rival me. I will never make
Cormyr into the likes of Thay, or Zhentil Keep, or Mulmaster, just to keep its name
on maps."
He started to pace, as if forgetting how close and powerful she was, and added,
"I've far more to worry over than dragons I've the usual treachery among nobles,
traitors among the War Wizards, and more than one eager Red Wizard all seeking
the downfall of the Forest Kingdom. Any of them is apt to do more harm to Cormyr
just now than dragonkind of any sort."
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