“No. We had the idea that we could sail to Caer Callidyrr.”
“You were going to Dernall Forest, looking for a way into the Feywild,” Saeldian guessed. “That explains why you dared set foot in Waterdeep.”
“Idared set foot? You live here. How do you explain that?”
Saeldian smiled. “It was the one place I was sure you’d never show your face.”
Every moment of betrayal Kell had felt since that morning slipped right between his ribs. He must not look at his dancing partner like that, much less one of Waterdeep’s homegrown heroes.
Saeldian was too busy chasing along the path of reasonable guesses to notice. “Briona had to know about the storm harp, but how did she know we…”
Saeldian’s realization on a stranger’s face looked so odd. “It was you.”
Shit.Of course Saeldian turned it around to blame him, but they had hit the target. Kell signaled a traveling spin, and they whirled in perfect response, speaking through clenched teeth.
“It was you. Briona saidyouowed the Zhentarim. This is them collecting your debt.”
Kell didn’t spin lies much these days, and he’d never be able to fool Saeldian, who could spot them as readily as they spoke them. “Yes. They helped me escape from Baldur’s Gate.”
Then the dancers call, ho!
Saeldian stamped and clapped as if they weren’t ready to curse Kell on the spot. They turned away from him and bowed to Lorzok, ready to change partners, and all their fury vanished from their face when they took his hand. Saeldian was so good at switching to smiles or whatever expression would get the best results from a mark. Why did he ever think he knew the truth about their feelings?
Jubilee came to Kell with a graceful smile, and Lorzok switched to the lead steps with Saeldian without a stumble. Jubilee started their meeting with a bow, lead to lead.
Weaving trouble, spinning strife, gossip from the cooper’s wife!Saeldian blamed him for this job. Two leads dancing meant showy steps that mirrored the other, and Jubilee carried off the posture and movement of a woman who had been in prime physical shape before settling down to relax with her years. He smiled companionably and hooked elbows with her.
Kell did owe the Zhentarim. They ran in Baldur’s Gate. A few questions in the right ears—exactly the right ears—would bring enough gossip for them to figure out that Saeldian was his partner back in Baldur’s Gate. Their network was wide enough that someone could bring back the story of a warlock living with a family of retired adventurers trying to make the best of a “reward” that needed a fortune of gold to restore.
Jubilee bumped Kell’s elbow and fluttered her toe on the kick step. Was the retired war priest she impersonated that skilled a dancer? “They told you about the Conundrum?”
Kell stepped to Jubilee’s left, backed up, and repeated on the right. “They did. I don’t know why I’m surprised.”
Jubilee put her palm in the air, and Kell matched it, circling as two leads dancing would. She smiled under the wrinkles and scars of a dashing human woman. “They said the two of you beat one once.”
“Don’t think you get to slack off,” Kell said. “The two of us barely made it.”
“How?”
“We have to get up there,” Kell said. “Arming the trap is disarming it in reverse. We should know as much as possible.”
“Right. I studied the floor plates and made a map. Sheld can point out the spells—”
Jubilee had a good ear for verse. She was right on time with the stamping and clapping, then swept Saeldian into a cloak step so they could promenade and flutter-kick.
Kell circle-stepped with Lorzok, who looked at him, concerned. “Are you well?”
“Can you ever leave anything behind you?” Kell asked.
“If you only leave miles behind you? No,” Lorzok said. “But I apologize. I was asking about the plan.”
“I was too.”
Lorzok nodded. “You mean the Conundrum Chamber. The trap that Saer Madenhal said you had succeeded in defeating with Tevailia Trueshot.”
“That’s Saeldian and Jubilee.”
“They are,” Lorzok agreed, “but that’s not what their names are right now.”
