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Elminster said a single cold word that echoed across the meadow like a
thunderclap, freezing everyone. Narnra's face went bone-white and terror flamed in
her eyes as she found herself unable to move or speak.
Her father took a step forward and suddenly seemed a shade less old and
ridiculous. Contempt flared in his blue-gray eyes as he met her gaze and said softly,
"My daughter just one more young hothead with all the answers. The 'right thing' is
whatever ye think it is ... but unfortunately ye've seen so little of the world and are
capable of understanding so little beyond what's right at the end of thy nose for thine
eyes to fall upon easily that ye only see one 'right thing.' "
He walked right up to that nose and began to circle her, keeping close, hands
clasped behind his back, voice soft but fierce. "Listen to me, lass: I'm guilty of
whimsy and vengefulness and standing in judgment and bad temper, willful
meddling, and even loss of my wits, often but before I try to shape the world
around me I also try to do something ye've not yet learned to do: I try to look at
things from all sides, to understand disagreements and rivalries through the eyes of
all involved . . . more than that, to look ahead to the probable consequences of what
I might do."
He stopped in front of her and said more gently, "Sometimes I may appear
heartless to ye, young Shining Eyes with thy heart ruling ye but I think about what I
do, before, during, and after, and turn right around to try to right my mistakes
instead of striding on and dismissing yesterday's misdeeds as gone and past, beyond
recalling. If ye don't grow enough to do that, ye are no better than this grasp-all, evil
Thayan."
He waved his hand, and Narnra found herself free to walk and speak. She
trembled, wondering if she dared say anything but found herself whispering, "And
you expect me to see all your manipulating as right? And wise? Benevolent,
following some master plan I'm too stupid or impatient to see? You think
manipulating folk isn't the greatest evil there is?"
"Lass, lass," Elminster replied wearily, "manipulating folk is what humans do. If ye
knew of my youth, ye'd know just how much I hate mages who rule, and being
manipulated . . . but I learned down the centuries that 'tis best to do some steering of
folk before the steering is done to ye. Because, rest assured, 'twill be. I can at least
be sure of my own motives, and that I've thought about them, though whether they
be 'good' or 'evil' is for others to judge. The motives of others, I can never be so
sure about until I see the glee in their eyes reflecting off the bright blade aimed at
my heart... as they swing it down."
"You . . . you're maddening," Narnra snarled, fists clenched. "You you
heartless monster!"
"That's right, hurl back views that force ye to think by name-calling 'tis the grand
old tradition, let it not down! Anything to keep from having to think, or Mystra
forfend change thy own views!"
Narnra glowered at her father. "Just how am I to learn how to think? By being
taught by you?"
"Some folk in the Realms would give their lives for the chance to learn at my feet,"
Elminster said mildly. "Several already have."
He turned away. "However, I think ye're not ready for that, yet. I'm too useful to
ye as the villain who sired then spurned ye, Old Lord Walking Blame For All Things
Dark. No, I think ye must find thy own teachers in thy own way, taking no hint from
me. See how well ye've received the few words of advice I've offered here and
now?"
Narnra took a deep breath and wrestled down her rage. "So what advice would
you give me, Old Lord, about where to go now and what to do? Not how to govern
my own wits and what views to hold but what to do next?"
Elminster met her gaze again and said, "Come into my Tower and have a cup of
tea. Let thy anger fade, and we'll talk. I'll give ye some baubles of magic and mutter a
lot of stale old advice then whisk ye with my Art to wherever ye desire to be and
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