The Grey Pearl (Of Caladuin: Volume Two)

13

After spending an hour or so explaining themselves, they left a couple of guards to tidy up the mess at Lethril's house. As they descended the last flight of the Long Stair toward the harbour they came upon an Elf climbing towards them. His head was bowed, looking at the steps as he climbed. When he looked up, Tathariel saw that it was Noenion. His bearing changed and he turned and ran back down the steps. They bounded after him. It was Caladuin who reached him first; he grabbed him by the shoulders and pressed him against the wall at the foot of the stairs.

"Noenion, wait," Tathariel pleaded. "Why do you run?"

"I took you for someone else."

"Oh?" Caladuin said incredulously. "You are much sought after?"

"We missed you at Lethril's house," Tathariel said.

"I do not understand."

"Come, Noenion," Caladuin said. "Condir asked us to meet you there and he sent our mutual friend in your stead."

"Our mutual - who?"

Caladuin lost his patience at this. He slapped Noenion once across the cheek. Tathariel flinched.

"Please. I know nothing of this. I have been at the harbour, watching Roscereb's lackeys. They have just left for Pîn Balar."

"Go on," Tathariel said.

"A new shipment," he stuttered. "Small crates. The Grey Pearls."

"Now would be the time to tell us all you know of the Grey Pearls," Caladuin said.

"Only what I saw in the journal."

"You took it from Lethril's house," Tathariel said.

"No. I saw it in Condir's study but I do not know how it came to be there."

"And what was in this journal?"

"I only glimpsed the odd phrase – there was mention made of Pîn Balar and the Pearls."

Caladuin leaned into him. "Do I need to strike you again, Noenion?" Tathariel stepped forward.

"I saw nothing more. I heard Condir coming up the stairs. Please, you must believe me, Tathariel."

Noenion was not the kind to be involved in any subterfuge. In the short time she had known him, Tathariel had learnt that his kindness and generosity were matched only by his blind loyalty to Condir. He was a small, insignificant piece in this game. A gentler tack was needed with him. She reached into her tunic and held up Lethril's strongbox key.

"Do you see this, Noenion?"

He was unwilling to look at anything except the step he was standing on, cowering from Caladuin.

"Noenion," she said softly. "Look at me."

He glanced at her then stared at the key.

"Opening her strongbox would have been far easier with this." Again, he looked away, ashamed.

"I saw the letters," Tathariel said.

Noenion glared at her with a look of confused, supressed rage.

"Lethril was my friend," she murmured. "She confided in me." Tears were welling in Noenion's eyes and she felt a pang of shame. "She told me of your love for each other."

Noenion started to sob and took a step down. Caladuin reached out and grasped his upper arm but Noenion yanked it away. He leaned against the wall and sobbed into his hand. The shame of it brought tears to Tathariel's eyes. But sometimes such pieces had to be played.