The Dream Spheres by Elaine Cunningham Read Free Book Online Page B

poisons, and certain types of pipeweed. But such things are forbidden by law, Oth, and you know it well.”
    “There are no prohibitions against Dreamspheres,” protested Oth.
    “There will be,” announced a voice Arilyn recognized as Boraldan Ilzimmer. She also noted that the man seemed none too pleased by his own observation. “The wizards’ guild holds much power in this city, and their desires will soon be bolstered by force of law.”
    “Well said, Lord Ilzimmer. The Watchful Order of
    Magisters will seek to have these baubles declared illegal. If for some reason they do not, I will see to it myself.”
    Maskar Wands’s voice might be creaky with age, but Arilyn did not doubt that he would do precisely what he said. The patriarch of the Wands clan was probably the most traditional wizard in the city and was vehemently opposed to frivolous or irresponsible magic.
    “There you have it,” agreed a deeper, younger male voice that Arilyn did not recognize. “You’ll find no investors here, Oth. Who would pledge good money to an endeavor destined for failure?”
    “Failure is not quite the word I would use,” amended Lady Cassandra. “As Oth pointed out, there probably is money to be made with these toys. A prohibition would put this product into the hands of less scrupulous dealers.” She sniffed. “Not our kind of people.”
    “You surprise me, Lady Thann,” retorted Boraldan Ilzimmer. “In the past, your words and deeds have matched admirably well. Yet you speak of unscrupulous rogues, even while you entertain the elf lord Elaith Craulnober under this very roof. Consorting with elves, even if they were the honorable sort, is hardly the done thing.”
    “That is my son’s doing, not mine,” Cassandra said in clipped tones. “Perhaps I indulge him too much.”
    Arilyn blinked, startled by this news. She had not seen Elaith among the revelers but she could hardly blame Lady Thann for her displeasure.
    Danilo and Elaith had been foes for as long as she’d known either of them. Matters had changed earlier that summer, when Danilo had repaid the elf’s treachery by saving his life. Elaith might be a rogue and a scoundrel, but he was still an elf and he followed certain codes of honor. He had named Danilo an Elf-friend, the highest honor an elf could pay a human. Danilo probably thought including Elaith among his guests was the only natural
    thing to do. Arilyn could understand why Cassandra would think otherwise.
    “I don’t trust the elf, and I don’t appreciate his inclusion among the peerage,” Boraldan said flatly. “If any problems arise—”
    “He will be dealt with,” Cassandra said firmly, and with great finality. “Are we agreed that Lord Oth will not sell these toys?”
    “If I do not, then someone else will,” Oth said stubbornly. “Once a thing is made it cannot long be hidden. Word of these marvels will spread. Someone will find a way to profit from them. Better it be one of us.”
    A long, pregnant silence followed his words, one that Arilyn could not interpret. “There are strictures on trade,” Cassandra Thann said carefully, “that are not always obvious to those who buy and sell in the shops and stalls. Those who try to circumvent these restraints often come to grief.”
    “I am heir to the Eltorchul lordship,” Oth said indignantly. “Do you presume to threaten me?”
    “Not at all,” the woman said in a wry tone, “but you asked for an audience and for our advice. It has been given.”
    “I understand,” Oth said in a stiff voice.
    Arilyn did not, but she was not particularly interested in learning more. Nor did she wish to be discovered eavesdropping. She headed for the stairwell at the end of the hall and hurried down the tightly curving spiral. Sooner or later, she reasoned, she would reach the main floor, and the din emanating from the great hall would make tracking easy.
    Several moments passed, and Arilyn judged that she had descended a depth sufficient to