Master (Book 5) by Robert J. Crane Read Free Book Online Page A

why.”
    “—and we should remain neutral,” Ryin said. “Going on some hunt for the Goddess of Life is us begging to take another step away from our principles at a time when are experiencing enough slide as it is.”
    “I think it’s another case where principle intersects with opportunity,” Cyrus said at last. Heads turned, and a hush fell over the chambers. “No, we don’t all follow Vidara, but some of our number do. No, we don’t love the idea of taking gold in exchange for our services, but we are experiencing a rapid drain of our treasury because we’re trying to make good on our commitment to the Luukessians, whose lives and well-being are in our charge.” Cyrus shrugged. “I’m not a Vidara worshipper, but I don’t have anything against her, either. Why not go searching? Why not try and find out what happened to her? It’s not like she’s Yartraak, God of Darkness,” he said with a smirk, noting that J’anda and Erith, the only dark elves at the table, soured at the mere mention of the name. “She’s not one of the evil ones, the ones that inflict pain and sorrow and suffering. She’s either neutral or good, depending on your view of things, and her followers are benevolent for the most part. Why not give comfort to some of our guildmates who believe, earn some gold from a group who has given us aid in the past, and do some right in the process?”
    “Because it’s another step toward making us a gold-grubbing band of mercenaries who are constantly looking for a higher bidder,” Ryin said, sighing in exasperation. “Do you not see what evil can come from this? Do none of you acknowledge that whatever footing we were on before the day we went to the Realm of Death has slipped away and we are falling down a steep and rocky slope? Every choice we have made since then has been in a vain effort to undo the wrong we did by that decision, ignoring that we continue to find ourselves in a worse predicament following each such action.” He folded his arms and sighed. “But you wish to traverse this road again.”
    “It’s not exactly the same road,” Cyrus said.
    “As Longwell indicated, you want to mix the affairs of men with those of gods,” Ryin cut him off. “There are places we do not belong, and this is one of them.”
    “I thought your argument was that you don’t want us to accept money for our services,” J’anda said.
    Ryin took a breath. “Are you incapable of seeing the complexity of my argument? I am opposed to both taking money for our services and further engaging in any sort of dealings with gods.”
    “I understand your argument,” Curatio said, finally speaking up. Cyrus looked to him, the regal elf who was as close to a Guildmaster as they presently had. “But I think you are outnumbered in this instance, as before.” He gave a quick look around the table. “Does anyone stand with Ryin in this matter?” When no nods were forthcoming, he turned his attention back to the druid. “Your intentions are noble, your objections are understood—”
    “I don’t understand them,” Vaste said, “but then again I’m a troll, and perhaps your complexity is just a little too much for my simple mind to comprehend.”
    Erith snickered, and J’anda echoed her. A look from Curatio snuffed it in a moment.
    “Yes, I can tell my opinions are well tolerated here,” Ryin said sourly.
    “Be that as it may,” Curatio said, “it would appear we are going to undertake preliminaries in this matter of investigation.” The healer looked around the table once more. “May I suggest we only commit to an investigation at present? No action of any sort? I would hate to see us take this on in haste and land ourselves in further trouble.” There was a murmur of agreement, and Cyrus looked at the healer to realize something for the first time—Curatio looked as though he’d aged. His eyes were a bit sunken, with dark circles underneath them. The smile that had so defined him was