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."Tell me who trained you in Bardcraft.Tell me he didn't send you back into the world of Men tokill me," Ria said in a low intense voice."Dharinel?" Eric said in surprise.Dharinel disliked humans and despised the half-blood, it wastrue, but his contempt was meted out with a fine evenhandedness.It would be completely beneathhis dignity as Magus Major and Elven Bard of Elfhame Misthold to acknowledge any particular humanenough to want to destroy them.Ria was about to reply when there was a scrabbling on the fire escape.She set down her cupquickly, and glanced from Eric to the window behind her.The sash raised, and Greystone climbed down into the room.Ria got slowly to her feet, staring atthe gargoyle."She's okay, boyo," Greystone said to Eric."I admit I had me doubts about you bringing her herean' all, but t'is copacetic.She's levelling with you, laddybuck."* * *Ria stared down at the squat, misshapen creature in speechless shock.It had a fanged doglike faceand curling horns.Its arms were long and apelike, and its hindquarters like a satyr's, right downto the cloven hooves.Great bat wings lay against its back like furled umbrellas.And despite thefact that it lived and moved and talked, it seemed to be made of solid stone."So," she heard it say, "how'd your night out go? Or should I say going? Any o' that high-poweredcoffee left? It's a cold night out, and no mistake.I could use a wee bit of a jolt.""Sure," Eric answered easily."I'll get you a cup.Ria, this is Greystone.Greystone, meet Ria Llewellyn.I've told you about her."With a distant part of her mind, Ria registered that Eric seemed to be on very good terms withthis creature--;and that he had brought her to it as a sort of test.She found it hard to be angrywith Eric for showing such caution.She'd been wary herself.She stood perfectly still as the gargoyle waddled up to her.Though if it could stand completelyupright it might be as tall as she was, its crouched position made it several inches shorter."You've nothin' to fear from me, Blondie.As for meself, there's more things in heaven an' earth,as I'm sure you know," Greystone said, and winked at her."I'm finding that out," Ria said levelly.Eric returned from the kitchen with a mug of espresso and handed it to Greystone.The gargoyleslurped it down with evident relish, then reached out a long simian arm to grab a handful ofbiscotti.The talons on its fingertips would have done credit to an eagle with their sharpness,for all that they seemed to be made of stone.It set the empty cup down on the table, and, stillclutching the handful of cookies, headed for the window once more."Well, I've gotta be going.No rest for the wicked, an' all that.You kids behave yourselves,now." He favored both of them with one last toothy grin and made his exit, closing the windowfile:///G|/rah/Mercedes%20Lackey/Lackey,%20M.%20Rosemary%20-%20Beyond%20World's%20End.txt (80 of 124) [2/2/2004 1:21:14 AM]file:///G|/rah/Mercedes%20Lackey/Lackey,%20Mercedes%20&%20Edghill,%20Rosemary%20-%20Beyond%20World's%20End.txtcarefully behind him.Eric was looking at her, obviously waiting for her reaction."Well," Ria finally managed."I see you still have interesting friends."Eric laughed."I seem to have a knack for that."Cautiously they both sat down once more."So." Ria said finally, returning to the earlier conversation."MasterDharinel trained you?""Even he had to admit that everybody was better off if I knew how to use what I had.But he didn'tsend me after you, Ria.I swear it.I don't think most of the elves really care one way or theother about you now that Perenor's dead.""I hope you're right.But I do know that your friends blame me for a lot of what happened at SunDescending and the Fairegrove.Beth Kentraine, for example?"She knew she was fishing now, but if Claire MacLaren's PI report hadn't mentioned talkinggargoyles, it was even less likely to have included mention of elves and their friends.BethKentraine was not somebody she wanted to have appear unexpectedly in her life.From what Riaremembered, Kentraine had a fiery temper and a wicked right cross."Oh, you won't be seeing her.She and Kory mostly live Underhill these days.It's not like they'd be dropping by unexpectedly.We're still close, but it's.not like itwas."When to scratch one of the three of you made the other two bleed, Ria finished silently.The wayEric spoke of them--;as a couple--;made Ria cheer inwardly.So little Bethie had thrown her lot inwith the elven lover, had she? That was the best news Ria'd had in a long time."I suppose I ought to offer my condolences," Ria said politely."Or.not?""Not," Eric said cheerfully."Things just worked out the way they had to.The only thing is.I'd like to be able to think of some way to help them out.Because they want kids, and--;with elves and humans--;it's hard to arrange.I don't know if Iought to be asking you this, but.do you know anything that could help? Some kind of spell ormagic, I mean.I mean, you're here
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