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.Joel nodded."Does the song have a purpose?" he asked."It might," Jedidiah answered, "but I'd rather explain that later, after you've learned it."It still took a lot of work, but by dinner Joel had mastered Jedidiah's song.The god put off explaining the purpose of the song for another day.Joel accepted the delay.Dinner that night was a simple affair, a buffet in Grypht's stone tower with only the wizard and the humans attending.When they'd all finished eating, they began discussing their plans for the next day.Grypht didn't cast any magic to enable him to speak with the guests.Instead, he listened quietly and attentively as they talked.On the table before Joel, Jedidiah spread out a map of the Desertsmouth Mountains and the Anauroch Desert.A collection of X's, drawn like bones, dotted the map.Holly and Jas leaned over the table to get a better look."These were the locations of the cities of the dead empire of Netheril," Jedidiah explained to Joel."Not all its wizards together could block the encroaching sand that eventually buried it.There's nothing left but ruins inhabited by desert nomads and an occasional ancient dark monster.We are here," the older priest said, pointing to an unmarked spot on the map.Jedidiah jabbed a finger at one of the X's."This is Cat's Gate.It's large enough to march an army through.It leads to the Plane of Concordant Opposition, otherwise known as the Outlands.Grypht will teleport Joel and me there." "I want to come with you," Holly said matter-of-factly,Jedidiah shook his head."I can't imagine either the banelich or Walinda will welcome you back aboard," he pointed out."But if you insist on my coming," Holly said sweetly, "I'm sure you can talk them into it.""Don't you dare!" Jas warned, waving a finger at Jedidiah."This is too dangerous for her, and you know it!"Joel agreed completely with the winged woman, but he tried a different tack on the paladin."Holly, their god is an enemy of your god.They're going to know you plan to thwart them," the Rebel Bard pointed out."Jedidiah and I, though, have no choice but to help them.We can't allow you to disrupt our plan.""On the other hand," Holly argued, "you don't really want to help them.If there's any chance of getting Jedidiah's stone back without helping Bane's church, I'm going to find it and make sure you take it.Besides," the girl added, "you can't afford to trust Walinda and the banelich.They'll betray you the first chance they get.Then you'll really need my help."Jedidiah studied the girl with a grim smile."Very well, paladin," he said."I cannot guarantee the banelich will accept you into the party, but I will do my best to convince it that we need your help to find the hand.In turn, you must promise not to try anything rash.at least not without consulting with me first."Holly grinned and nodded.Jas threw her hands up."Has everyone here taken leave of his senses?" she growled.Joel shifted uncomfortably.He wanted to argue with Jedidiah about bringing Holly, but not in front of the others."I take it you haven't changed your mind since we talked on the spelljammer.Your goal is still Waterdeep?" Jedidiah asked Jas."You bet," the winged woman replied."Other spelljammers land in Waterdeep.I've got plenty of experience.I won't have any trouble getting one to take me on as crew.I'd prefer to have my own ship back, but under the circumstances, I think I'd be better off cutting my losses.Just as soon as I see you three off tomorrow, I'm going to take up Grypht's generous offer to teleport me to Waterdeep."Grypht nodded to Jas.As he rolled his map up, Jedidiah addressed the saurial wizard."We'll meet you in the temple tomorrow morning."Back in the privacy of the cottage that he shared with Jedidiah, Joel confronted the god with his concern for the paladin."How can you let Holly come along? She's in far greater danger from Walinda and the banelich than we are.They may despise us, but they hate her.""I imagine Holly feels you are in far more danger because Walinda has taken a liking to you," Jedidiah replied.Joel huffed."This isn't her problem," he said."How can you allow her to take such a risk on our behalf?""Joel, she's used to taking risks, especially on behalf of her god.No doubt she feels she can serve Lathander if she comes with us.She's a sensible girl, with a sensible attitude.If the banelich agrees to her presence, she can serve as a distraction, maybe even a big enough distraction to give us a chance to get the stone back.""You're using her as a decoy?""The Hand of Bane is the decoy.Holly is the stalking horse," Jedidiah corrected
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