Pools of Darkness by James M. Ward, Anne K. Brown Read Free Book Online

famous in Phlan. They were honored heroes of the town. Any of them could have easily risen to be a ruling councilman, but these were honors they always refused. All three wanted only peace for Phlan and themselves.
    The streets of Phlan were nearly deserted by the time Tarl entered Denlor’s Tower. The door banged shut behind him, and he turned to secure the lock. “Shal?” he called up the spiraling stairs. Gripping his basket, he raced up the stairs, two at a time, in search of his wife. He found her upstairs in her reading room. As he unpacked the basket, they discussed a topic the cleric had come to dread.
    “Tarl, First Councilman Kroegel wants you to join the council. I think it’s a good idea. Your temple leaders think it’s a good idea. Phlan needs a strong leader on the council, and you’re the best man for the job. If you don’t take it, we might get stuck with Gormon on the council. And the only position he’s suited for is chief of sanitation.”
    Irritated, Tarl paced around the reading room and into Shal’s spellcasting chamber. He thought much better on his feet, and he needed to think clearly right now. He wasn’t good at resisting his wife. “Shal, you know why. You’ve been asked to join the council as many times as I have. Please, let’s not fight about this. We both know I’m a priest, not a politician. Besides, now that I’m Phlan’s military advisor, I’ll never get any rest. I can’t juggle both positions.”
    “Rest! Is that all you think about is rest? If ever Phlan needed you, it’s now. Fiends and armies are threatening the city!”
    Tarl stopped his pacing and went to her side. He tried to put his arms around his beloved wife.
    “Don’t even try it, cleric,” she snapped, shaking him off. Tarl was a big man, six feet tall and all muscle, but an old mishap with a magical wish had left him shorter than his wife and less muscled. When she didn’t want to be touched, she usually got her way.
    Shal’s purple robes swished about her with a life of their own. Tarl smiled, thinking that something magical probably did give her clothes some animation. His mind wandered as he thought how wonderful it would be to spend some time as her clothing, wrapped around her firm body and feeling her every move. He sighed but was abruptly brought back to reality.
    “Tarl, we aren’t through arguing about the councilman’s position.” Shal spoke in her most authoritative voice, waving a finger at him. It was the same finger that had launched purple fireballs and lightning bolts to halt ogres and giants in their tracks.
    “Look, Kroegel gave me until the end of the week to give him my answer. Can’t we forget about this for a while? Let’s enjoy this peaceful interlude while it lasts. We both know an attack could come at any time.” Tarl had discovered the poppyseed cake in his basket and now held it up for Shal to see. Taking a bite, he teased her. “Mmm, I’m really hungry!”
    Shal saw through his diversion but allowed herself to succumb. She suddenly realized she was ravenously hungry. Striding over to her husband, she broke off a piece of cake and wrapped her arm around his waist. “Don’t think you’ll get out of this discussion so easily next time,” she said softly.
    “I know you far better than that. I wouldn’t think of it.” He kissed her hair, and the couple sat down to dine on the bread, cheese, and apples from Tarl’s basket.
    Shal grew more and more quiet as they ate. Finally she looked at her husband with wide eyes. “Tarl, I’m scared.”
    The cleric leaned close and wrapped his arms around the sorceress. “As long as I’m here, there is no force in this world that can hurt you. What’s scaring you?”
    Shal sighed. “Just being here in this hole is enough to frighten anyone. Not knowing how or why we’re here makes it worse. But I’ve used all the detection spells I know and haven’t learned anything. The other wizards in Phlan are in the same