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I followed him without further question. He took me to the marketplace, and we walked through the many streets of vendors. He seemed to be searching for something, so I did not speak. However, as we passed the raised dias that was used for the hawking of large wares or other spectacles, I was forced to avert my eyes."Kill her! The traitorous wretch!"
I could still hear them--even after all these years.
"She has betrayed us! She has betrayed our Queen! Slay her like the dog she is!"
I tried to close my ears to the sounds, but these were not sounds heard by the ears, but the sounds heard and remembered by the soul.
"She doesn't even deserve Death!"
The crowd roared in assembled unison, "Exile! Send her to the Outlands where wretches like her belong! And if she returns, we will kill her!"
I stumbled, lagging behind Krolaun, but as the platform vanished into the crowd, the voices in my mind ebbed and faded away. I glanced around, and saw Krolaun helping some old Tyberan woman to her feet. I managed to get over before Krol noticed my absence. He looked over his shoulder at me, "Can I get a Starflight to WaterDeep?"
"Starflight can go anywhere you require," gently I sent a thought up to one of the falcons that circled above Tybis, "All you need to do is telepath one."
The falcon swooped down from the sky, alighting upon my outstretched arm. Krol looked at the falcon, "Can I do it? Or must you?"
I looked at him, "Starflight is not limited to the Tyberan."
The elf nodded and I could feel his mind reach out for the bird's. He latched onto it, imprinting the bird's mind with his orders. Then, the bird mantled and screamed, launching itself into the air and taking flight. As the bird faded away into the sky, Krol turned to me, "Will getting the old one out be a problem? Or should I resort to my usual means?"
I looked at the Old One thoughtfully, "I don't see how it would be a problem. She possesses no major items; no major magic. The Border Guards would not see her as a threat."
He turned fromme to the Old Tyberan, "I will return for you at the stroke of midnight. Until then is there some safe place you can go?"
"Yes," the Old One said, "Yes, I will go back to the Tavern of the Golden Eyes in the District of Shadows."
"Then that is where I will be at that time," Krolaun stated.
With that she shuffled off, and Krolaun turned to me, "I'm sorry," he said, "but I simply could not watch that happen again."
I nodded, "I understand."
I looked around at the city, but found nothing more I wished to see.
"So," Krolaun said suddenly, "if we are no longer hunted, perhaps your family would welcome you..."
I stiffened, but knew he meant nothing by it. It was a suggestion, nothing more, "No," I stated simply, "It is best to leave them alone. I am no more a part of their lives as they are of mine..."
I heard him heave a large sigh of...disappointment? But before I could turn and inquire, he spoke, "Then let us get back; the noon hour grows near."
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© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield