The arrival of the mages from Shadowdale seemed to set things in motion. Nearly two hours later, newcomers arrived at the Harpers Building across from the inn.
The Harpers then took the Shadowdale mages to the Elven City Guard patrolling the streets. They hoped to visit Magistrate Lynn, and an audience with Lord Hill would be even better.
Lynn promptly invited the visitors to City Hall. After all, they had brought official letters from Alustriel and Moongrin Amcathra, Shadowdale's nominal leader.
But as Lynn spoke with them, he sensed something different from before.
Whenever they mentioned Hill, they took care to sound respectful, even deferential. In the past, the Mystra's Chosen had seen no need to forge a deeper friendship with the lord of Aglaia. He had been too neutral for their liking, powerful though he was, and despite being Laira's lord.
Hill had always seemed mild and apparently held a grudge only against Khelben. But the Undead he had brought with him, and Corellon behind him, had never shown Mystra much respect.
So the powers led by Mystra's Chosen in northern Faerûn had kept Aglaia City at arm's length, even after Laira became magistrate of Luskan.
Yet all that cool reserve had melted away like spring rain into a stream when three beings of Greater Divine Power had spoken of Hill by name. Even if Mystra herself appeared, she would not speak ill of the lord of Aglaia.
Shar and Selûne together were enough to make the Goddess of Magic steer well clear. Even when Shar had sought to trouble her at every turn, no incarnation of Mystra had ever chosen to confront the Daughter of Dark Night openly.
That included Midnight, for all her fierce hatred of evil. She had always declared that she would never tolerate Shar