Giogioni Wyvernspur, sitting in the muddy road, cursed his bad luck. After all the misfortunes that befell me at Cousin Freffie's wedding, he complained to himself, you'd think it was time for a little sunshine to fall into my life. But no. I've got a cloud of Tymora's blackest luck following me.
"Daisyeye, come back here!" he shouted as he picked himself off the ground and tried, as best he could, to brush the wet mud from his velvet britches. "That's the problem with really good horses—they spook so damned easily."
The mare that had thrown him was now out of sight, having galloped around a bend in the country road.
"If it isn't one thing, it's another," Giogi muttered. He began to relate his adventure aloud, rehearsing it for his chums. "First I made a fool of myself at Minda's behest and did that silly imitation of Azoun. This caused the bard's lovely but quite mad sell-sword to attack me with a cake knife. Then Darol seized the opportunity to make himself look like a hero in front of Minda and got himself slashed across the face. Minda positively swooned with admiration when she saw his scar, and she gave the scurrilous cove permission to accompany her carriage to Suzail.
"Naturally, I considered I might play up to Minda's sympathies as well. After all, I was the one the lady in blue tried to assassinate. I'm not completely witless. I knew this was not a good time to visit court. Aunt Doroth is a horrible gossip and just a little too palsy with His Majesty's pet wizard, Vangerdahast. And if Aunt Doroth doesn't let the whole sordid affair leak out, you can bet Darol will find a way to let His Majesty know all about my remarkable impersonation.
"So while everyone is riding off to the capitol, I'm forced to travel back to Immersea, all alone, on horseback. Though I must say that Dimswart fellow was quite decent, putting me up for an extra two days until I recovered from my shock. I left early in the morning, traveling up the road to Waymoot. I was thanking Chauntea for the nice weather when Daisyeye reared up on her hind quarters and galloped up the road, leaving me in the mud."
Suddenly realizing that if he didn't catch Daisyeye in a hurry he'd never reach Waymoot by nightfall and would be forced to stay in some roadside inn, or worse, a farmer's bed, Giogi set off after his mount. He hummed what he called "that catchy little number" written by that Ruskettle woman for Freffie and Gaylyn. Rounding the curve in the road, he noticed a clicking noise.
"Is that you, Daisyeye? You naughty girl. Whatever possessed you to run off like—" Giogioni halted in his tracks, his words constricting in his throat. Very cautiously, he took a step backward, then another.
The young Wyvernspur froze, unable to answer the red dragon who had addressed him. Quite aside from the shock of discovering poor Daisyeye serving as the red dragon's entree—quite a shock since there was blood oozing all over the cobblestone, and Daisyeye's eyes remained open in death as though accusing him of something—he couldn't get over the size of the monster. A single one of its paws could block traffic along the road, and Daisyeye looked like a chicken leg next to the beast's maw.
"Well?" the dragon asked.
"I-I-I—"
"Oh dear, a stutterer," the dragon sighed. "Try to relax. The words will come out more easily."
"—don't want to disturb your meal. I'll just be moving on. Don't mind me," Giogioni gasped.
The dragon swished its big russet tail around so that the scaly appendage made a curl about Giogioni, blocking all avenues of escape. "You've been so kind to provide me with lunch," the monster said, swallowing another gobbet of Daisyeye's haunch, "the least I can do is offer you a lift."
"Oh, that's very kind, but I wouldn't want to trouble you any." Giogioni took another step backward.
"Freeze!" the dragon ordered.
Giogioni froze.
"What's your name?"
"Giogioni Wyvernspur. Ah, everyone calls me Giogi."
"How quaint." The dragon sliced off the straps to Daisyeye's saddle with a single claw and shoved it over to Giogioni's feet. "Have a seat."
Giogioni collapsed onto the saddle, feeling a little green. I never realized that such a pretty horse could look so awful with her middle slit open, he thought, reaching down into his saddlebag and pulling out the flask of Rivengut he always kept there. Thank Oghma, he prayed silently, it was more than half full.
"D-d-do you mind if I pour myself a drink?" he asked the dragon.
"Be my guest."
Giogioni took a long, hard pull on the flask of liquor. "If I might ask, what shall I call you?"
"Mist."
"Is that all?"
"That's all," the beast snapped and went back to rasping her tongue along Daisyeye's ribs.
Giogioni took another swig of Rivengut. If he was going to be dessert, he decided, he didn't want to feel it. He wondered idly if he would be served en flambe,so to speak.
"I heard you singing," Mist said when there was nothing left of Daisyeye but shattered bones. "Catchy little tune."
"Yes, something composed by that new bard, Olive Rus- oh, gods!" The man gulped. "You're that
Mist."
Suspicious, Mist cocked an eybrow and asked, "Just what did Mistress Ruskettle have to say about me?"
"Nothing, nothing. Er—just that she was your prison— uh—guest."
"She still traveling with that tramp, Alias of Westgate?"
"The red-headed sword-sell, er, I mean, sell-sword? Maybe. If she could find—um, I have no idea."
Mist grinned from ear to ear—not an attractive sight with parts of Daisyeye still caught between her teeth. She rested a claw on Giogioni's shoulder. "We musn't have any secrets, my dear boy."
"I don't know, really I don't. She went a little crazy at the wedding, this Alias person, that is, and then she ran off."
"Which way did Ruskettle go?" Mist asked.
Giogioni gulped. Only a cad would betray that cute little bard. He was determined not to be a cad.
A little steam escaped from Mist's nostrils, but enough Wyvernspur blood—and Rivengut—pumped through Giogioni's veins to give him the courage to keep silent.
"Very well," the dragon sighed. "If that's the way it has to be." She slipped a claw through the back of the man's shirt and lifted him from the ground.
"Oh, gods!" he gasped, sure he was about to follow Daisyeye into heaven. Instead of swallowing him, though, the dragon lifted him up, beat her massive wings, and took off from the ground.
Mist spiralled up over the Cormyrian countryside. When she reached a cruising altitude of one thousand feet she barked, "Look down, Giogi."
"No, please! I'm not very good with heights."
"You'll be an expert on them in a moment, for all of eight seconds—at which time you'll hit the ground rather hard— unless you tell me which way Ruskettle went."
"Suzail!" Giogioni gasped. "She headed toward Suzail! On a small pony named High Roll."
"Such a nice boy. I knew we could come to an understanding. Now, I need a message taken to King Azoun."
"Oh. I'd be happy to, but there's just a teensy problem. You see, at the moment, I'm not very welcome in court. I wouldn't be the best person to represent your interests."
don't have any more use for you, I may as well just drop you here."
"No! No. I'll do it. Anything. Just don't drop me, please!"
Mist smiled, and dove toward the earth.
*****
Azoun IV focused his telescope at a point west of the city walls, on the Fields of the Dead. "What cheek," he muttered. The dragon, Mist, had taken up a post on Suzail's burial ground, outside the gates of the city, but near enough to be seen by any of the populace who cared to swarm on top of the walls. And swarm they did, too intrigued by the preening wild beast to fear for their lives. No work would get done in the city until the monster left.
"If only we still had the Seventh Division in the city," His Majesty sighed.
Vangerdahast spoke from the doorway, where he awaited reports from his own network of spies. "I assure you, Your Highness, that Tilverton's need of them was greater than our own. Besides, Lord Giogioni said that she would fly off only if attacked, and then her offer will be rescinded."
"It would have to be a sudden, single deathblow. I don't suppose any foolhardy adventurers have come forward, offering their services?" Azoun turned from the window to address his court wizard.
Vangerdahast shook his head. "The wyrm has chosen her ground too well. There is no cover for a sneak attack, and she will leave before sunset, so we cannot use the darkness to any advantage. Mist is too wise to fly over the city and set off the magical wards protecting it."
"Well, I don't like this. Dealing with a creature like that goes against my grain."
"Her offer is quite generous, Your Highness, if she keeps her word and departs the area forever. In addition to making the merchant caravan routes safe again, there are livestock and Your Highness's own hunting grounds to consider, both of which Mist has seriously depleted of late."
"I can't believe I'm hearing this from you, Vangy. Naturally I'd expect the merchants to jump at the chance of ridding us of the dragon at the price of a human sacrifice. I, however, must consider the safety of all my people, even some poor, little adventuress."
"This Alias claimed to be from Westgate, Your Highness," Vangerdahast said, already putting her in the past tense.
"Even worse. How would it look to the outside world, foreign traders and travelers, if I simply turned over one of their own just to rid my realm of a dragon?"
"If it please Your Highness, there is something more you should know about this poor, little adventuress. Something to indicate a more sinister nature."
Azoun tapped his foot impatiently. "Well?"
"Perhaps you should hear it from a firsthand witness: Vangerdahast suggested, nodding toward the young man who stood in a corner, working hard at steadying his nerves with large snifters of brandy.
"Giogioni!" Azoun snapped. "What do you know about this Alias of Westgate?"
"Me?" Giogioni squeaked, turning toward Azoun.
"You," the wizard insisted. "It would be best if His Highness heard it in your own words,"
"I suppose so," Giogioni whispered, though he didn't suppose so at all.
"Spit it out, boy," Azoun ordered.
"She was at the wedding, Freffie's, uh, Lord Frefford's. She attacked me. Tried to kill me. Would have succeeded, too, if the crowd hadn't gotten in her way."
"What was this lady killer doing at the wedding of Lord Frefford and Sage Dimswart's daughter?" Azoun asked.
"Dimswart said he was doing some research for her because she was under some curse," Giogioni blurted.
"Dimswart would have to come up with an excuse," Vangerdahast said.
Azoun wrinkled his brow in confusion. "Why would this woman try to kill you?"
"She thought I was you," Giogioni answered with a gulp
"What nonsense. You don't look anything like me."
"No, Your Highness," Giogioni agreed.
"He does, however, do a remarkable impression of Your Highness's voice," Vangerdahast explained.
"He does? You do?"
Giogioni nodded weakly.
"Well, let's hear it," Azoun said.
Giogioni's jaw dropped, and his face went pale.
"Come on, boy," Azoun prompted him.
"If you please, Your Highness," the Wyvernspur nobleman gulped, "I would rather n—"
"That's an order!"
Giogioni gulped. "M-m-my Cormytes," he began. "My people, as your king, as King Azoun, and as King Azoun IV, I must say that the need to raise your taxes is a result of the depravations of-of-of th-this d-dragon."
"I don't sound like that," Azoun said, scowling.
"With respect. Your Highness," Vangerdahast intervened, "you do."
"I don't stutter like that," Azoun objected.
"No, Your Highness. Lord Giogioni's stutter is a consequence of the shock he's had. Ordinarily, his impression of you would be much better. Apparently, he was giving a performance at the wedding when he was attacked."
"But he still doesn't look like me."
"No, but perhaps this Alias woman thought you were in disguise. You have been known to travel
incognito. Any good assassin would know that. If she did indeed come from Westgate, there can be little question exactly who sent her."
"No," Azoun agreed, remembering the numerous threats made by the Fire Knives when he banished them from his kingdom. Their new headquarters was in Westgate.
There was a knock on the tower room door, and Vangerdahast left to answer it.
Azoun looked at Giogioni, who swayed slightly. Wyvernspur blood must be getting thin for one little dragon to upset him so, the king thought. "Better sit down, boy," he said kindly. "Not there, that's my chair," Azoun corrected him before the young man sank onto His Majesty's own royal, purple cushion.
Vangerdahast returned to the conference table. In his wake was a portly, balding man in a tavernkeeper's apron.
"Who's this?" Azoun asked.
The man bowed his head. "Phocius Green, Your Highness. Owner of the inn and tavern The Hidden Lady."
Azoun shot a questioning glance over the barkeep's head to Vangerdahast.
"The woman Alias stayed several evenings in The Hidden Lady," the wizard explained.
"Oh. You came to tell us about her?" Azoun asked the bar-keep.
"Begging Your Majesty's pardon, but I was summoned."
"Oh?" Azoun looked surprised.
Vangerdahast explained further. "Since I have been unable to track this Alias woman by magical means, a suspicious circumstance in and of itself, I summoned Goodman Green here. I knew the woman had stayed at his inn, because one of Your Majesty's citizens reported her last week to the town guard. Apparently, he thought she was a Rashemen witch."
"What made the man think that?" Azoun asked.
"She was branded with a bizarre tattoo," the wizard explained. "A member of the Council of Mages went to the inn to register her, but the woman was unconscious, so the councilman let her be."
"Please, Your Highness," the barkeep interrupted. "She was no witch, just a sell-sword. She came in with so much iron on her she wouldn't've been able to cast a light even if she were magic."
"Where is she now?" His Majesty asked.
The barkeep shrugged. "She left nearly a ride ago, Your Highness."
"When exactly?" Vangerdahast asked.
The barkeep thought for a moment. "The fifteenth, Your Lordship."
"Eight days. Do you know which way she was heading?" the wizard asked.
The barkeep stiffened. He turned to address his answer to the king. "Please, Your Highness, you aren't going to tell the dragon where she is, are you? She hasn't done any harm, She's just an adventuress with some bad luck."
"What makes you think she has something to do with the dragon?" Azoun asked.
"Well, she fought it, now didn't she?" the barkeep said. "Freed Olive Ruskettle, the famous bard. The bard herself told me."
"That's right," Giogioni piped up from his chair. "She told us all about it at the wedding party. Ruskettle told us, that is. Wonderful bard."
Having confirmed the barkeep's story, Giogi went back to slurping His Majesty's brandy and humming snatches of Ruskettle's wedding song.
"Did you know about that, Vangy?" Azoun asked.
The royal wizard colored slightly. "No, Your Highness."
Azoun turned to the barkeep. "For the time being we need to know where this Alias is. She may be nothing more than a sell-sword, but she could be something much more dangerous. We must know all about her. Now, which way was she heading?"
The barkeep sighed. "She and the bard and the Turmish mage said something about going to Westgate, then they said something about going to Yulash."
"Yulash?" Azoun exclaimed. "How bizarre."
"The two towns are in opposite directions," the wizard pointed out. "Which way did they decide to go?"
The barkeep thought for a moment again. He remembered the Turmish mage listing all the reasons for going to Westgate. The barkeep was a loyal subject to his king, but he didn't quite trust the wizard
Vangerdahast. To him, Alias would always be the hidden lady and hence, like the name of his inn, good luck. She had looked so miserable the last night she'd stayed at his hostel. The barkeep was not keen on turning her over to the undoubtedly less than tender ministrations of the royal wizard.
"The lady wanted to go to Yulash," he told Vangerdahast.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Goodman Green," the wizard replied. "You may leave now."
The barkeep bowed his head to the king and left the tower room. Vangerdahast's eyes followed him thoughtfully.
"I don't know many assassins who rescue bards in distress," Azoun said to his wizard.
"But many make deals with dragons, Your Highness, and as is the way with their kind, they often cheat