The Bargain

"The Bargain" is a short story by Elaine Cunningham included in the 1993 anthology Realms of Valor, and reprinted in the 2007 anthology The Best of the Realms III. The story features characters from Cunningham's Songs & Swords series.

Summary[]

This short story takes place between the novels Elfshadow and Elfsong.

Arilyn Moonblade and Danilo Thann are sent on a mission to warn Pasha Balik, one of the warlords vying for the throne of Tethyr, of a plot on his life, but find themselves stalked by assassins in turn.

Index[]

Characters

Hasheth Balik • Farig • Arilyn Moonblade • Akim Nadir • Danilo Thann

Referenced only

Pasha Balik • Cassandra Thann

Creatures

half-elf • horse • human (Calishite)

Referenced only

camel • Tuigan

Locations

Forest of Tethir • The Guilded Dagger • Port Kir • Tethyr

Referenced only

Calimport • Nine Hells • the North • School of Stealth • Waterdeep • Zazesspur

Magic: Arilyn's moonblade • healing potion

Miscellaneous: coffee • wine

Organizations

Assassins' Guild (Zazesspur) • Harpers • Wine Merchants Guild of Tethyr

Referenced only

Army of the Alliance

Appendix[]

Notes[]

↑ The web article "Presenting...Seven Millennia of Realms Fiction" dates this short story to 1362 DR. This cannot be the case since the events of "The Bargain" take place just a few months prior to the novel Elfsong, which is set in 1364 DR.

[Date-1] The web article "Presenting...Seven Millennia of Realms Fiction" dates this short story to 1362 DR. This cannot be the case since the events of "The Bargain" take place just a few months prior to the novel Elfsong, which is set in 1364 DR.

[note 1]