title: Elminster Enraged: The Sage of Shadowdale, Book III
author:  Ed Greenwood 
description: ED GREENWOOD is the creator of the Forgotten Realms fantasy world setting and the author of more than 170 books that have sold millions of copies worldwide in over two dozen languages. In real life, he's a Canadian librarian who lives in the Ontario countryside with his wife, a cat, and far too many books.
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  The three Harper judges waited impatiently for the sage to continue. Elminster
  rose to his feet and circled around the table till he stood directly before
  the tribunal. “Three things …” he began. Then suddenly his face went pale. He
  gasped and clutched at his chest.
  
  
  “Elminster?” Morala cried, rising to her feet.
  
  
  “Are you all right, sir?” Breck asked, leaping from his seat to come to the
  aid of the sage. Some invisible force, though, repelled the young ranger. He
  bounced backward onto the dais at Kyre’s feet.
  
  
  In the span of three breaths, Elminster’s body seemed to turn to clear
  crystal. Then, in a flash of bright light, the sage was gone. In his place
  stood a huge, hideous beast.
  
  
  The creature stood as tall as a hill giant, towering over the three Harpers.
  The long red robe and f