"Oh, that's because I'm dead;' Fizban stated, propping his feet up on the table.

Gunthar's eyes opened wide, but before he could reply, Wills came in. Glaring at Tasslehoff, the retainer set mugs down on the :able in franc of his lordship.

"three mugs, here" my lord. And one an the mantle makes four. .end there better be four when I come back!"

He walked out, shutting the door with a thud.

"III keep an eye on them;' Tas promised solemnly. "Do you have a problem with people stealing mugs:" he asked Gunthar.

"I-no.... Dead?" Gunthar felt he was rapidly losing his grip on the situation.

"It's a long story," said Fizban, downing the liquid in one swallow. He wiped the foam from his lops with the tip of his beard. "Ah, excellent. Now, where was I?"

"Dead;' said Tas helpfully.

"Ah, yes. A long story. Too long for now. Must get the orb. Where is it?"

Gunthar stood up angrily, intending to order this strange old man and this kender from has chamber and his castle. He was going to tall his guards to extract them. But, instead, he found h mself caught by the old morn's intense gaze.

The Knights of Solamnia have always feared magic. Though they had not taken part in the destruction of the Towers of High Sorcery-that would have been against the Measure-they had mat been sorry to see magic-users driven from Palanthas.

"Why do you want to know?" Gunthar faltered, feeling a cold fear seep into his blood as he felt the old man's strange Power engulf him. Slowly, reluctant: y, Gunthar sat back down.

X85

 

 

 

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

Fizban's eyes glittered. "I keep my own counsel;" he said softly. "Let it be enough for you to know that I have came seeking the orb, It was made by magic-users, long ago I I know of it. I know a great deal about it:"

Gunthar hesitated, wrestling with himself. After aII, there were knights guarding the orb, and if this old man really did know something about it, what harm could there be in telling him whew it was? Besides, he really didn't feel like he had any choice in the matter.

Fizban absently picked up his empty mug again and started to drink. He peered inside it mournfully as Gunthar answered.

"The dragon orb is with the gnomes."

Fizban dropped his mug with a crash. It broke into a hundred pieces that went skittering across the wooden floor.

"There, what'd I tell you?" Tas said sadly, eyeing the shattered mug.

The gnomes had lived in Mount Nevermind for as long as they could remember-and since they were the only apes who cared, they were the only ones who counted. Certainly they were there when the first knights arrived in Sancrist, traveling from the newly created kingdom of Solamnia to build their keeps and fortress along the westernmost park of their border

Always suspicious of outsiders, the gnomes were alarmed tosee a ship arriving upon their shores, bearing hordes of tall,

stern-faced, warlike humans. Determined to keep what they ' considered a mountain paradise secret from the humans,

gnomes launched into action. Being the most technological minded of tile races an Krynn (they are noted for ha ' invented the steam-powered engine and the coiled spring;, t gnomes first thought of hiding within their mountain cave

but :hen had a better idea. Hide the mountain itself!

After several months of unending toil by their greatest mechanical geniuses, the gnomes were prepared. Tneir p They were going to make their mountain disappear

It was at this juncture that one of the members of the get ish IPhilosopher s Guild asked if it wasn't likely that the Knight would have already noticed the mountain, the tallest on island. Might not the sudden disappearance of the m create a certain amount of curiosity in the humans'..'

THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT

This question threw the gnomes into turmoil, Days were spent in discussion. The question soon divided the Philosopher gnomes into two factions: those who believed that if a tree fell in a forest and no one heard it, it still made a crashing sound; and those who believed it didn't. Just what this had to do with the original question was brought up on the seventh day, but was promptly referred to committee.

Meanwhile, the mechanical engineers-in a huff-decided to set off the device anyhow.

And thus occurred the day that is still remembered in the annals of Sancrist (when almost everything else was last during the Cataclysm) as the Day of Rotten Eggs.

On that day an ancestor of Lord Gunthar woke up wondering sleepily if his son had fallen through the roof of the hen house again. This had happened only a few weeks before. The boy had been chasing a rooster.

"You take him dawn to the pond;' Gunthar's ancestor told his wife sleepily, rolling over in bed and drawing the covers up over his head.

"I can't!" she said drowsily. "The chimney"s smoking!"

It was then that both fully woke up, realizing that the smoke filling the house was not coming from the chimney and that the ungodly odor was not coming from the hen house.

Along with every other resident of the new colony, the two rushed outside, choking and gagging with the smell that grew worse by the minute. They could see nothing, however. The land was covered with a thick yellow smoke, redolent of eggs that had been sitting in the sun for three days.

Within hours, everyone in the colony was deathly sick from the smell. Packing up blankets and clothes, they headed for the beaches. Breathing the fresh salt breezes thankfully, they wandered if they could ever go back to their homes.

While discussing this and watching anxiously to see if the yellow cloud on the horizon might lift, the colonists were considerably startled to see what appeared to be an army of short,

brown creatures stagger out of the smoke to fall almost lifeless at their feet

The kindly people of Solamnia immediately went to the aid of the poor gnomes, and thus did the two races oFpeople living on Sancrist meet..

zd7

 

 

 

 

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

The meeting of the gnomes and the knights turned out to be a friendly one. The Solamnic people had a high regard for four things: individual honor, the Code, the Measure, and technology. They were vastly impressed with the labor-saving devices the gnomes had invented at this time, which included the pulley, the shaft, the screw, and the gear.

It was during this first meeting that Mount Nevermind got its name as well.

The knights soon discovered that, while gnomes appeared to be related to the dwarves-being short and stocky-all similarity ended there. The gnomes were a skinny people with brown skin and pale white hair, highly nervous and hot-tempered. They spoke so rapidly that the knights at first thought they were speaking a foreign language. Instead, it turned out to be Common spoken at an accelerated pace. The reason for this became obvious when an elder made the mistake of asking the gnomes the name of their mountain.

Roughly translated, it went something like this: A Great, Huge, Tall Mound Made of Several Different Strata of Rock of Which We Have Identified Granite, Obsidian, Quartz With Traces o£ Other Rock We Are Still Working On, That Has Its Own Internal Heating System 'Which We Are Studying In Order to Copy Someday That Heats the Rock Up to Temperatures That Convert It Into Both Liquid and Gaseous States Which Occasionally Come to the Surface and Flow Dawn the Side of the Great, Huge, Tall Mound ....

"Nevermind,"' the elder said hastily.

Neverrnind'. The.grvomes were impressed. To think that these humans could reduce something so gigantic and marvelous into something so simple was wonderful beyond belief. And so, the mountain was called Mount Nevermind from that day forth-to the vast relief of the gnomish Map-Makers Guild.

The knights on Sancrist and the gnomes lived in harmony after that, the knights bringing the gnomes any questions of a technological nature that rxeded solving, the gnomes providing a steady flood oz new inventions.

Whew the dragon orb arrived, the knights needed to know how the thing worked. They gave it into the :keeping of the gnomes, sending along to^a young knights to guard it. The though: that the orb might be magic did not occur to them.

5

~'~, nomeflinglers \  Rio ors uses  

\ ; -x.wves .a

 'w  .

4

   IN. remember. No gnome living or dead ever in his life completed a sentence. The only way you get anywhere is to interrupt them. Don"t worry about being rude. They expect it:"

The old mage himself was interrupted by the appearance of a gnome dressed in long brown robes, who came up to them and bowed respectfully.

Tasslehoff studied the gnome with excited .curiosity-the

kender had never seen a gnome before,, although old legends concerning the Graygern of Gargath indicated that the two

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

races were distantly connected. Certainly there was something kenderish in the young gnome-his slender hands, eager expression, and sharp, bright eyes intent on observing everything. But here the resemblance ended. There was nothing of the kender's easy-going manner. The gnome was nervous, serious, and businesslike.

"Tasslehoff $urrfoot;'said the kender politely, extending his hand. The gnome took Tas's hand, peered at it intently, thenfinding nothing of interest-shook it limply. "And this-" Tas started to introduce Fizban, but stropped when the gnome reached out and calmly took hold of the kender's hoopak.

"Ah . . :" the gnome said, his eyes shining as he grasped the weapon. "Sendforamemberofthe WeaponsGuild-"

The guard at the ground-level entrance to the great mountain did not wait far the gnome to finish. Reaching up, he pulled a lever and a shriek sounded. Certain that a dragon had landed behind him, Tas whirled around, ready to defend himself.

"Whistle;' said Fizban. "Better get used to it!"

"Whistle?" repeated Tas, intrigued. "I never heard one like that before. Smoke comes out of it! How does it war-Hey! Comeback! Bring back my hoopak!" he cried as his staff gent speeding down the corridor, carried by three eager gnomes.

"Examinationroom;'said the gnome, "uponSkimbosh-"

"What?"

"Examination Room;" Fizban translated. "I missed the rest. You really must speak slower," I-ie said, shaking his staff at the dome.

The gnome nodded, but his bright eyes were fixed an Fizban's staff. Then, seeing it was just plain, slightly battered wood, the gnome returned his attention to the mage and kender.

"Outsiders," he said. "rIltryand'member . . . I will try and remember, so do not worry because'-he nova spoke slowly and distinctly-"your weapon will not be harmed since we are merely going to render a drawing-"

"Really." interrupted Tas, rather flattered. "I could give yarn a demcnstration of how it works, if you like."

The gnome's ewes brightened. "'Thatwou;vdbeznuch-"

'And now:' interrupted the kender again, feeling pleased chat he was learning to communicate, "what is your name?•'

THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT

Fizban made a quick gesture, but too late.

"Gnoshoshallamarianininillisyylphanitdisdisslishxdie-"

He paused to draw a breath.

"Is that your name?" Tas asked, astounded.

The gnome let his breath out. "Yes;" he snapped, a bit disconcerted. "It's my first name, and now if you'll let me proceed-"

"Wait!" cried Fizban. "What do your friends call you?"

The gnome sucked in a breath again. "Gnoshoshallamarioninillis-"

"What do the knights call you?"

"Oh"-the gnome seemed downcast-"Gnash, if you-"

"Thank you," snapped Fizban. "Now, Gnash, we're in rather a hurry. War going on and all that. As Lord Gunthar staked in his communique, we must see this dragon orb:'

Gnosh's small, dark eyes glittered. His hands twisted nervously. "Of course, you may see the dragon orb since Lord Gunthar has requested it, but-if l might ask-what is your interest in the orb besides normal curi-?"

"I am a magic-user=" Fizban began.

"Magicuser!" the gnome stated, forgetting, in his excitement, to speak slowly. "Comethiswayimmediatelytothe Examination room sincethedragonorbwasrnadebymagicuser

Both Tas and Fizban blinked uncomprehendingly,

"Ol,., just come-" the gnome said impatiently.

Before they quite knew what was. happening; the gnome talking-hustled them through the mountain's entrance, setting off an inordinate number of bells and whistles.

"Examination Room:?" Tas said in an under-tone to Fizban as the}• hurried after Gnash. "What does that mean? They wouldn't have hurt it, would they?"

"I don't think so" Fizban muttered, his bushy white eye

brows coming together in an ominous V -shape over his nose. "Gunthar sent knights to guard it, remember:'

"Then what are you worried about?" Tas asked.

"The dragon orbs are strange things. Very powerful. _'Ay fear;" said Fizban more to himself than to Tas, "is that they may try to use it!"

"But the book I read in Tarsis said the orb could control dragons!" Tas whispered. "Isn't that good? I mean, the orbs aren't evil, are they?"

 

"I don't suppose;" Fizban asked in a hopeless tone, "that the Examination Room would be on the ground level?"

Gnosh shook his head. "Examination Room on level fifteen-"

The old mage heaved a heart-rending sigh.

Suddenly there was a horrible grinding sound that set Tas's teeth on edge.

"Ah, they're ready for us. Come along-" Gnosh said.

Tas leaped after him gleefully as they approached a giant catapult. A gnome gestured at them irritably, painting to a long line of gnomes waiting their turn. Tas jumped into the seat of the huge sling catapult, staring eagerly up into the shaft, Above him, he could see gnomes peering down at him from various balconies, all of them surrounded by great machines, whistles, rapes, and huge, shapeless things hanging from the sides of the wall like bats. Gnosh stood beside him, scolding.

"Elders first, young man, so get outoftherethis instantandlet"-he dragged Tasslehoff out of the seat with remarkable strength="the magicusergofirst="

'Uh that's quite all right." Fizban protested, stumbling backwards into a pile of rape. "I-I seem to recall a spell of mine that will take me right to the tap. Levitate. How did that g-go? v Just give me a moment:"

"You were the one in a hung-" Gnosh said severely, glaring at Fizban. The gnomes standing in line began to shoat rudely, pushing and shoving and jask:iing.

"t7h, vep,r well;' the old mage snarled, and file climbed into'; the seat, with Gnosh's help. The gnome operating the lever that' launched the catapult yelled something a': Gnosh which sounded like "whalevel?"

Gnoshpainted up, yelling, back. "SiFimbos5~'

The chief walked over to stand in front of the first o£ a series; of five levers. An inordinate number of ropes stretched upward info infinity. Fizban sat miserably in the seat of the catapult stir trying to recall his Spell.

"Now;" yelled Gnosh, drawing Tas closer so he could have the advantage of an excellent. view, "in just a moment, the chief will give the signal, there it is-"

The chief pulled on one of the ropes.

"What does that do?" Tas interrupted.

"The rope rings a bell on Skimbosh-er-level fifteen, telling them to expect an arrival-"

"What if the bell doesn't ring?" Fizban demanded loudly.

"Then a second bell rings telling them that the first bell didn t-"

"What happens down here if the bell didn't ring?"

"Nothing. It's Skimbosh's problem not yours-"

"It's my problem if they don't know I'm coming?" Fizban shouted. "Or do I just drop in and surprise them!,

'Ah;' Gnosh said proudly, "yousee-'

"I'm getting out . . :" stated Fizban.

"No,wait," Gnash said, talking faster and faster in his

anguish, "tl•.ey'reready

"Who's ready?" Fizban demanded irritably.

"Skimbosh! Withthe net tacakchyou,yousee-"

"Net"." Fizban turned pale. "That does it!" He flung a foot over the edge.

But before he could move, the chief reached out and pulled

on the first lever. The grinding sound started again as the catapult began pivoting in its mooring. The sudden motion threw Fizban back, knocking his hat over his eyes.

"What's happening?" Tas shouted

"They re getting him in position;' Gnosh yelled. 'The longitude and latitude have been precalculated and the catapult set to come into the correct location to send the passenger-'

"What about the net?" Tas yelled.

"'The magician flies up to Skimbash-oh. quite safely, L

assure you-we've done studies, in fact, proving gnat flying is safer than walking-and just when he's. at the height of his trajectory, beginning to drop a bit, Skimbosh &,rows a net out

underneath him, catching him post like this"-G'nosh demonstrated with his hand, making a snapping motion like catching a fly-`and hauls him-"

"What incredible timing that must take!

-'The timing is ingenious since it all depends on a certain hack We've developed, though"-Gnosh pursed his lips, his

eyebrows drawing together-"something is throwing the timing off a bit, but there's a committee..

The gnome pulled down on the lever and Fizban-with a shriek-went sailing through the air.

"Oh dear;' said Gnosh, staring, "it appears-"

"What) What?" Tas yelled, trying to see.

"The net's opened too soon again"-Gnosh shook his head"and that's the second time today that's happened on Skimbosh alone and thisdefinitelywillbebroughtupatthe nextmeetingoftheNet Guild-"

Tas stared, open-mouthed, at the sight of Fizban whizzing through the air, propelled from below by the tremendous force of the catapult, and suddenly the kender saw what Gnosh was talking about. The net on level fifteen-instead of opening after the mage had flown past and then catching him as he started to fall-opened before the mage reached level fifteen. Fizban hit the net and was flattened like a squashed spider. For a moment he clung there precariously-arms and legs akimbo-then he fell.

Instantly bells and gongs rang out.

"Don't tell me;' Tas guessed miserably. "That's the alarm which means the net failed:"

"Quite, but don't be alarmed (small joke);' Gnosh chuckled, "because the alarms trip a device to open the net on level thirteen, just in time-oops, a bit late, well, there's still level twelve-"

"Do something!" Tas shrieked.

 "Don't get so worked up!" Gnosh said angrily. "And I'll finish what I was about to say about the finaI emergency backup system and that is-oh, here it goes-"

Tas watched in amazement as the bottoms dropped out of six huge barrels hanging from the walls on level three, sending thousands of sponges tumbling down onto the floor in the center of the chamber.. This was. done-apparently-in case all they nets on every level failed. Fortunately, the net on level nine actually worked, spreading out beneath the mage just in time: Then it folded up around him and whisked him over to the baldeny where the gnomes, hearing the mage cursing and swearing inside, appeared reluctant to let him out.

"Sonowevergthirg'sfineandit`syourturn;' said Gnosh.

"Just one last question!" Tas yelled at Gnosh as he sat down in the seat. "What happens if the emergency backup system

with the sponges fails?"

"Ingenious-" said Gnosh happily, "because you see if the sponges come down a little too late; the alarm goes off, releasing a huge barrel of water into the center, and-since the sponges are there already-its easy to clean up the mess-'

The chief pulled the lever.

Tas had been expecting all sorts of fascinating things in the Examination Room, but he found it-to his surprise-nearly empty. It was lighted by a hole drilled through the face of the mountain which admitted the sunlight. (This simple but ingenious device had been suggested to the gnomes by a visiting dwarf who called it a 'window;' the gnomes were quite proud of it.) There were three tables, but little else. On the central table, surrounded by gnomes, rested the dragon orb and his hoopak.

It was back to its original size, Tas noted with interest. It looked the same-still a round piece of crystal, with a kind of milky colored mist swirling around inside. A young Knight of Solamnia with an intensely bored expression inn his face stood near the orb, guarding it. His bored expression changed sharply at the approach of strangers.

"Quiteallright," Gnosh told the knight reassuringly, "these are the two Lord Gunthar sent word about-" Still talking, Gnosh hustled them over to the central table. The gnome's eyes were bright as he regarded the orb. "A dragon orb;' he murmured happily, "after all these years-"

"What years?" Fizban snapped, stopping at some distance from the table.

"You see,'' Gnosh explained, "each gnome has a Life Quest assigned to him at birth, and from then on his only ambition in life is to fulfill that Life Quest, and it was my Life Guest to study the dragon orb since-"

"But the dragon orbs have been missing for hundreds of years!" Tassaid incredulously. "No oneknew about them! Flow could it be your Life Quest'"

"Oh, we knew about them;" Gnosh answered, "because it was my grandfather's Life Quest. and then my f.athez's Life Quest. Both of them died without ever seeing a dragon orb. I feared I might, too, but now finally, one has appeared. and I can establish our family's place in the afterlife-"

"You mean you can't get to the-er-afterlife until you complete the Life Quest?" Tas asked. "But your grandfather and your father-"

"Probably most uncomfortable," Gnosh said, looking sad, "wherever they are- My goodness!"

A remarkable change had come over the dragon orb. It began to swirl and shimmer with many different colors-as if in agitation.

Muttering strange words, Fizban walked to the orb and set his hand upon it. Instantly, it went black. Fizban cast a glance around the room, his expression so severe and frightening that even Tas fell back before him. The knight sprang forward.

"Get out!" the mage thundered. "All of you!F

"I was ordered not to leave and I'm not-" The knight reached for his sword, but Fizban whispered a Few words. The knight slumped to the floor.

The gnomes vanished from the room instantly, leaving only Gnosh; wringing his hands, leis face twisted in agony.

"Came on, Gnosh"" Tas urged. "Ive never seen him like this. We better do as he says. If we don't, he's liable to turn us into gully dwarves or something icky like that!"

Whimpering, Gnosh .allowed Tas to lead him out of the ' room. As he stared back at the dragon orb, the door slammed

shut.

"My Life Quest-" the gnome moaned.

"I'm sure it will be alb right," Tas said, although he wasn't' sure, not in the least. He hadn't liked the look. on Fizban's face. , In fact, it hadn't even seemed to be Fizban's face at all-or anyone Tas wanted to know!'

Tas felt chilled and there was a tight knot in the pit of his

stomach. The gnomes muttered among themselves and cast baleful glances at him. Tas swallowed, trying to get a bitter taste out of his mouth. Then he drew Gn .osh to one side.

"Gnosh, did you discover anything about the orb when yo studied it?" Tas asked in a low voice.

"Well;' Gnosh appeared thoughtful, "I did find) out th

where's something inside of it-or seems to be-because I'd st

a2 it and stare at it without seeing anything for the longest t

then, right when I was ready to quit, I'd sere words swim

about in the mist

"Words7" Tas interrupted eagerly. "What did they say?"

Gnosh shook his head. "I don't know;" he said solemnly, "because I couldn't read them; no one could, not even a member of the Foreign Language Guild-"

"Magic, probably," Tas muttered to himself.

"Yes;" Gnosh said miserably, "that's what I decided-"

The door blew open, as if something had exploded.

Gnosh whirled around, terrified. Fizban stood in the doorway, holding a small black bag in one hand, his staff and Tasslehoff's hoopak in the other. Gnosh sprang past him.

"The orb!" he screeched, so upset he actually completed a sentence. "You've got it!"

"Yes, Gnosh;' said Fizban.

The mage's voice sounded tired, and Tas-looking at him closely-saw that he was on the verge of exhaustion. His skin

was gray, his eyelids drooped. He leaned heavily on his staff, "Come with me, my boy," he said to the gnome. "And do not worry. Your Life Quest will be fulfilled. But now the orb must

be taken before the Council of Whitestone."

"Come with you;' Gnosh repeated in astonishment, "to the Council"-he clasped his hands together in e.xcitement"where perhaps I'll be asked to make a report, do you chink-"

"I wouldn't doubt it in the least;' Fizban ansWered.

"Right away, just give me time to pack, where's my papers-"

Gnosh dashed off. Fizban whipped around to fare the other gnomes who had been sneaking up behind him reaching out eagerly for his staff. He scowled so alarmingly that they stumbled backwards and vanished into the Examination Room.

"What did you find out?" Tas asked, hesitantly approaching Fizban. The old mage seemed surrounded by darkness. "The

gnomes didn't do anything to it, did threy7"

"No, no:' Fizban, sighed. -Fortunately for them. For it is still active and very powerful. Much will depend on the decisions a few make-perhaps the fate of the world.."

"What do you mean? Won't the Council make the decisions:"'

"You don't understand' my boy" Fizban said gently. "Stag a

moment, I must rest:' The mage oat dot~rn; leaning against a

wall. Shaking his head, he continued. "I concentrated my will on the orb, Tas. Oh, not to control dragons;' he added, seeing the kender`s eyes widen. "I looked into the future:"

"What did you see?" Tas asked hesitantly, not certain from the mage's somber expression that he wanted to know.

"I saw two roads stretching before us. If we take the easiest" it will appear the best at the beginning, but darkness will fall at the end, never to be lifted. If we take the other road, it will be hard and difficult to travel. It could cost the lives of some we love, dear boy. Worse, it might cost others their very souls. But only through these great sacrifices will we find hope" Fizban closed his eyes.

"And this involves the orb?" Tas asked, shivering.

"Yes:"

'Do you know what must be done to . . . to take the d-dark road?" Tas dreaded the answer.

''I do," Fizban replied in a law voice. "But the decisions have not been left in my hands. That will be up to others:'

"I see;' Tas sighed. "Important people, I suppose. People like kings and elflords and knights." Then Fizban's words echoed in his mind. The lives of some we lave . . .

Suddenly a lump formed in Tas's throat, choking him. His head dropped into his hands.. This adventure was turning out all wrong! Where was Tanis? And dear old Cararnon? .And pretty Tika? He had tried not to think about them, particularly after that dream.

And Flint-I shouldn't have gone without him, Tas thought miserably. He might die, he might be dead right now! Thelives of some you love.! I never thought about any of us dying-not really. I always figured that if we were together we could beat anything! But now, we've gotten scattered somehow. And ':kings are going all wrong!

Tas felt Fizbari s hand stroke his topknot, his one great van-: iky. And far the first time in his life, the kender felt very lost and= alone and frightened. The wage's grip tightened around hima affectionately. Burying his face in Fizban's sleeve, Tas began to. cry.

Fizban patted him gently. "`yes;' the wage repeated, "important people.''

300

the Council of "itestone. ?fin important person.

he Council of 4h~'hitestone met upon the twenty-eighth day of December, a day known as

Famine Day in Salamnia, for it commemorated the suffering of the people during the first winter following the Cataclysm.

Lord Gunthar thought it fitting to hold the Council meeting on this day, which was marked by fasting and meditation.

l: had been over a month sine the armies sailed for Palanthas. The news Gunthar received from that city was snot good. A report had arrived early an the rncrning of the twenkyeigh:h, :n fact. heading it twice over, he sighed heavily,

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

frowned, and tucked the paper into his belt.

The Council of Whitestone had met once before within the recent past, a meeting precipitated by the arrival of the refugee elves in Southern Ergoth and the appearance of the dragonarmies in northern Solamnia. This Council meeting was several months in the planning, and so, all members-either seated or advisory-were represented. Seated members, those who could vote, included the Knights of Solamnia, the gnomes, the hill dwarves, the dark-skinned, sea-faring people of Northern Ergoth, and a representative of the Solamnic exiles living on Sancrist., Advisory members were the elves, the mountain dwarves, and the kender. These members were invited to express their opinions, but they could not vote.

The first Council meeting, however, had not gone well. Some of the old feuds and animosities between the races represented burst into flame. Arrnan Kharas, representative of the mountain dwarves, and Duncan Hammerrock, of the hill dwarves, had to be physically restrained at one point, or blood from that ancient feud might have flowed again. Alhana Sta.rL~reeze, representative of the Silvanesti in her Eatheis absence, refused to speak a ward during the entire session. Alhana had come only because Porthios of the Qualinesti was there. She feared an .alliance between the Qualinesti and the humans and was -rietermined to prevent it.

Alhana need not have worried. Such was the distrust between humans and elves, that they spoke to each other only out of politeness. Not even Lord Gunthar's impassioned speech., in which the had declared, "Our unity begins peace; our division ends hope!" made an impression.

Porthios's answer to this had been to blame the dragons' reappearance on the humans. 'The humans, therefore, could'; extricate themselves from this disaster. Shortly after Porthiia

made his position clear, Alhana rose haughtily arid left, leaving no cane with any doubts about the position .of the ilvanesti. .

The mountain dwarf, Adman Kharas, had declared that ' people would be willing to help, but that until tine Hammer

ICtIaras was found, the mountain dwarves could not be unit ' No one knew at the time that the companions would

return the Hammer, so Gunthar was forced to discount the ' of the dwarves. The only person; in fact, who offered help

was Kronin Thistleknott, chief of the kender. Since the last thing any sane country wanted was the "aid" of an army of kenders, this gesture was received with polite smiles, while the members exchanged horrified looks behind Kronin's back.

The first Council disbanded, therefore, without accomplishing much of anything.

Gun thar had higher hopes for this second Council meeting. The discovery of the dragon orb, of course, put everything in a much brighter light. Representatives from both elven factions had arrived. These included the Speaker of the Suns, who brought with him a human claiming to be a cleric of Paladine. Gunthar had heard a great deal about Elistan from Sturm, and he looked forward to meeting him. Just who would represent the Silvanesti, Gunthar wasn't certain. He assumed it was the lord who had been declared regent following Alhana Starbreeze's mysterious disappearance.

The elves had arrived on Sancrist two days ago. Their tents stood out in the fields, gaily colored silk flags fluttering in brilliant contrast to the gray, stormy sky. They were the only other race to attend. There had not been time to send a message to the mountain dwarves, and the hill dwarves were reported to be fighting for their lives against the dragonarmies; no messenger could reach them.

Gunthar hoped this meeting would unite the humans and the elves in the great fight to drive the dragonarmies from Ansalon. Hut his hopes were dashed before the meeting began.

After scanning the report from the armies in Palanthas, Gunthar left his tent, preparing to make a final tour of the Glade of the Whitestone to see that everything was in order. Wills, his retainer, came dashing after him.

"My lord;' the old man puffed" "return immediately:"

'What is it?" Gunthar asked. )gut the old retainer was too much out of breath to reply.

Sighing, the Solamnic lord went back to his tent where he found Lord Michael, dressed in Eull armor, pacing nervously.

"What's the matter?" Gunthar said, his heart sinking as he saw the grave expression on the young lord's face.

-Michael advanced quickly, seizing Gunthar by the arm. "My lord, we have received ward that the elves will demand the return of the dragon orb. If we don't return it, they are prepared to go to war to recover it!"

"What?" Gunthar demanded incredulously. "War! Against us! That's ludicrous! They can't- Are you certain? How reliable is this information?"

"Very reliable, I'm afraid, Lord Gunthar"

"My lord, I present Elistan, cleric of Paladine;' Michael said. "I beg pardon for not introducing him earlier, but my mind has . been in a turmoil since he first brought me this news:"

"I have heard a great deal about you, sir;" Lord Gunthar said, extending his hand to the man.

The knight's eyes studied Elistan curiously. Gunthar hardly knew what he had expected to see in a purported cleric of Paladine-perhaps a weak-eyed aesthetic, pale and lean from study. Gunthar was not prepared for this tall, well-built man who might have ridden to battle with the best of the knights. The ancient symbol of Paladine-a platinum medallion engraved with a dragon-hung about his neck.

Gunthar reviewed all he had heard from Sturm concerning Elistan, including the cleric's intention to try and convince the elves to unite with the humans. Elistan smiled wearily, as if ; aware of every thought gassing through Gunthar's mind. They were the thoughts he answered.

"Yes, I have failed;' Elistan admitted. "It was all I could do to ' persuade them to attend the Council meeting, and they have:,

comehere only, I fear, to give you an ultimatum: return the orb.~

to the elves or fight to retain it:'  ?

Gunthar sank into a chair,, gesturing weakly with his, hand for the others to be seated. Before him, an a table, were spread maps of the lands of Ansalon, showing in shades of darkness,: the insidious advance of the dragonarmies. Gunthar's gaa~, rested on the maps, then suddenly he swept them to the flood

"We might as well give up right now!" he snarled. ".'Send .~ message to the Dragon Highlords: 'Don't bather to come an wipe us out. We're managing quite nicely on our own.'

Angrily, he hurled on the table the message he had received "There''. That's from Palant!nas. The people have insisted knights leave the city. The Palarrthians are negotiating with t . Dragon B-lighloa~3s, and :he presence of the knights 'serio compromises their position.' They refuse to give us any ae And so an army of a thousand I'alanthiarss sits idle!"

"What is Lord Derek doing, my lord?" Michael asked.

"He and the knights and a thousand footmen, refugees from the occupied lands in Throtyl, are fortifying the High Cierist"s tower, south of Palanthas;' Gunthar said wearily. "itguards the only pass through the Vingaard Mountains. We'll protect Palanthas for a time, but if the dragonarmies get through . . :' He fell silent. "Damn it;' he whispered, beating his fist gently upon the table, "we could hold that pass with two thousand men! The fools! And now this?" He waved his hand in the direction of the elven tents.

Gunthar sighed, letting his head fall into his hands. "Well, what do you counsel, cleric?"

Elistan .•,•as quiet far a moment, before he answered. "It is written in the Disks of Mishakal that evil, by its very nature, will always turn in upon itself. Thus it becomes self-defeating:' He laid his hand upon Gunthar's shoulder. "I do not know what may come of this meeting. My gods have kept this secret from me. It could be they themselves do not know; that the future of the world stands in balance, and what we decide here will determine it. I do know this: Do not enter with defeat in your heart, far that will be the first victory of evil:"

So saying, Elistan rose and left the tent quietly.

Gunthar sat in silence after the cleric had gone. It seemed that the whole world was silent, in fact, he thought. The wind had died during the night. The storm clouds hung low and heave, muffling sound so that even the clarion trumpet's call marking day's dawning seemed flat. A rustling broke his concentration. Michael was slowly gathering up the spilled maps. Gunthar raised his head, rubbing; his eyes.

"What do you think?" "'Of what? The elves?" "That cleric;" Gunthar said, staring out the tent opening.

"Certainly nor. what I would have expected;" Michael answered, his gage following Gunthar's, "More like the stories

~n^'e've heard of the clerics of old, the ones that guided the KnigAts in the days before the Cataclysm. He's not much like these charlatans we've got now. Elistan is a man who would

stand beside you on the field of battle, calling dawn Paladine's blessing with one hand while wielding his mace with the other. He wears the medallion that none have seen since the gods

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

abandoned us. But is he a true cleric?" Michael shrugged. "It will take a lot more than a medallion to convince me:"

"I agree:' Gunthar rose to his feet and began to walk toward the tent flap. "Well, it is nearly time. Stay here, Michael, in case any mare reports came in:" Starting to leave, he paused at the entrance to the tent. "Haw odd it is, Michael;' he murmured, his eyes following Elistan, now no more than a speck of white in the distance. "We have always been a people who looked to the gods for our hope, a people of faith, who distrusted magic. Yet now we look to magic for that hope, and when a chance comes to renew our faith, we question it:"

Lord Michael made no answer. Gunthar shook his head and, still pandering, made his way to the Glade of the Whitestone.

As Gunthar said, the Solamnic people had always been f aith-

ffollowers of the gods, Long ago, in the days before the Cataclysm, the Glade of the Whitestone had been one of the hole centers of worship. The phenomenon of the white rock had attracted the attention of the curious longer than anyone remembered. The Kingpriest of lstar himself had blessed the huge white rock that sat in the middle of a perpetually green glade, declaring it sacred to the gods and forbidding any mortal; being to touch it.

):ven after the Cataclysm, when belief in the old gads died, the Glade remained a sacred place. Perhaps that was becausey not even the Cataclysm lead affected it. Legend held that whew the fiery mountain fell from the sky, the ground around the' Whitestone cracked and split apart, but the Whitestone~ remained intact.

So awesome was the sight of the huge white rock that,even now none dared either approach or touch it. What stan>=~ powers it possessed, none could say. All they knew -was that the air around the Whitestone eras always springlike and warm No matter how bitter the winter, the grass in Whitestone Gla was always.green.

Though his heart was, heavy. Gunthar relaxed as he step inside the glade and breathed the warm, sweet air. Far moment, he felt once again the touch of Elistan's hand upon shoulder, imparting a feeling of inner peace. ~

Glancing around quickly, he saw all in readiness, Mass wooden chairs with ornately carved backs had been placed on the green grass. Five for the voting members of the Council stood to the left side of the Whitestone, three for the advisory members stood on the right. Polished benches for the witnesses to the proceedings as demanded by the Measure, sat facing the Whitestone and the Council members.

Some of the witnesses had already begun arriving, Gunthar noticed. Most of the elven party traveling with the Speaker and the Silvanesti lord were taking their seats. The two estranged elven races sat near each other, apart from the humans who were filing in as well. Everyone sat daiietly, some in remembrance of Famine Day; others, like the gnomes, who did not celebrate that holiday, in awe of their surroundings. Seats in the front row were reserved for honored guests or far those with leave to speak before the Council.

Gunthar saw the Speaker's stern-faced son, Porthios, enter with a retinue of elven warriors. They took their seats in the front. Gunthar wondered where Elistan was. He'd intended to ask him to speak. He had been impressed with the man's words (even if he was a charlatan) and hoped he would repeat them.

As he searched in vain for Elistan, he saw three strange figures enter and seat themselves in the front row: it was the old mage in his bent and shapeless hat, his kender friend, and a gnome they had brought back with them from Mount Nevermind. The three had arrived back from their journey only last night.,

Gunthar was forced to turn his attention back to the Whikestone. The advisory Council members were entering. There were only two, Lord Quinath of the Silvanesti, and the Speaker of the Suns. Gunthar looked at the Speaker curiously, knowing he was one of the few beings an Krynn to still remember the horrors of the Cataclysm.

The Speaker was so stooped that he seemed almost crippled. His hair was, gray; his face haggard. But as he took his seat and turned his gaze to the witnesses, Gunthar saw the elf's eyes Were bright and arresting. Lord Quinath, seated next to him, was known to Gunthar, who considered him as arrogant and proud as Porthios of the Qualinesti, but lacking in the intellgence Porthios possessed.

As for Porthios, Gunthar thought he could probably comet o like the Speaker's eldest son quite well. Porthios had every characteristic the knights admired, with one exception-his quick temper. Gunthar's observations were interrupted, for now it was time for the voting Council members to enter and Gunthar had to take his place. First came Mir Kar-thon of Northern Ergoth, a dark-complexioned man with iron-gray hair and the arms of I a giant. Next came Serdin MarThasal, representing the Exiles i on Sancrist, and finally Lord Gunthar, Knight of Solamnia. Once seated, Gunthar glanced around a final time. The huge Whitestone glistenedi behind him, casting its own strange radiance, for the sun world not shine today. On the other side of the Whitestone sat the Speaker, next to him Lord Quinath. I Across from them, facing the Council, sat the witnesses upon their benches. The kender was sitting subdued, swinging his short legs on his tall bench. The gnome shuffled through what looked like a ream of paper; Gunthar shuddered, wishing there'd been time to ask for a condensed report. The old magi- . clan yawned and scratched his head, peering around vaguely.

AII was ready. At Gunthar's signal, two knights entered, . bearing a golden stand and a wooden chest. A silence that was almost deathlike descended on the crowd as they watched the entrance of the dragon orb.

The knights carne to a halt, standing directly in (rant of the Whitestone. Here, one of the knights placed tl!e golden s card` upon the ground. The other set down the chest, unlocked it and carefully brought forth the orb that was back to its origin site, over two feet in diameter.

A murmur went through the crowd. The Speaker of the Su shifted uncomfortably, scowling. His son, Porthios, turned t_ say something to an elflord near him. All of the elves., Gunth muted, were armed. Not a good sign, from what little he kne of elven protocol.

He had no choice but to proceed. Calling the meeting . order, Lard Gunthar Uth Wistan announced, "Let tine Coon cf V"dhitestane be:gin:'

After about two, minutes, it was obvious to Tasslehoff things were in a real mess.. Before Lord Gunthar had even c eluded his speech of welcome, the Speaker of the Suns rose-.

"My talk will be brief;' the elven leader stated in a voice that matched the steely gray of the storm clouds above him. "The Silvanesti, the Qualinesti, and the Kaganesti met in council shortly after the orb was removed from our camp. It is the first time the members o£ the three communities have met since the Kinslayer wars." He paused, laying a heavy emphasis on those last words. Then he continued.

"We have decided to set aside our own differences in our perfect agreement that the dragon orb belongs in the hands of the elves, not in the hands of humans or any other race upon Krynn. Therefore, we come before the Council of Whitestone and ask that the dragon orb be given over to us forthwith. In return, we guarantee that we will take it to our lands and keep it safe until such time-if ever-it be needed:"

The Speaker sat down, his dark eyes sweeping aver the crowd, its silence broken now by a murmur of soft voices, The other Council members, sitting next to Lord Gunthar, shook their heads, their faces grim. The dark-skinned leader of the Northern Ergoth people whispered to Lord Gunthar in a harsh voice, clenching his fist to emphasize his words.

Lord Gunthar, after listening and nodding for several minutes, rose to his feet to respond. His speech was cool, calm, complimentary to the clues. But it said-between the linesthat the Knights would see the elves in the Abyss before they gave them the dragon orb.

The Speaker, understanding perfectly the message of steel couched in the pretty phrases, rose to reply He spoke only one sentence, but it brought the crowd of witnesses to their feet.

"Then, Lord Gunthar," the Speaker said, ''the elves declare that-from this time on-we are at war!"

Humans and elves bath headed for the dragon orb that sat upon its golden stand, its milky white insides swirling gently within the crystal. Gunthar shouted For order time and again, banging the hilt of his sward upon the table. The Speaker spoke a ie4v words sharply in elven, staring hard at his son, Porthios, and finally order was restored.

)3u t the atmosphere snapped I_ke the air before a storm. Gunklrar talked. The Speaker answered'. The Speaker talked. Gunthar answered. The dark-skinned mariner lost his temper and made a few cutting remarks about elves. The lord of the

Silvanesti reduced him to quivering anger with his sarcastic rejoinders. Several of the knights left, only to return armed to the teeth. They came to stand near Gunthar, their hands on their weapons. The elves, led by Porthios, rose to surround their own leaders.

Gnosh, his report held fast in his hand, began to realize he warn"t going to be asked to give it.

Tasslehoff looked around despairingly for Elistan. He kept hoping desperately the cleric would come. Elistan could calm these people down. Or maybe Laurana. Where was sheT There'd been no ward of his friends, the elves had told the kender coldly. She and her brother had apparently vanished in the wilderness. l shouldn't lave left them, Tas thought. l shouldn't be here. Why, why did this crazy old mage bring me7 I'm useless! Maybe Fizban could do something? Tas looked at the mage hopefully, but Fizban was sound asleep!

"Please, wake up!" Tas begged, shaking him. "Somebody's got to do something!"

At that moment, he heard Lord Gunthar yell, "The dragon orb is not yours by right! Lady Laurana and the others were bringing it to us when they were shipwrecked! You tried to keep it on Ergoth by force, and your own daughter-"

",Mention not my daughter!" the Speaker said in a deep, . harsh voice. "I do not have a daughter:'

Something broke within Tasslehoff. Confused memories of

Laurana fighting desperately against the evil wizard whoj guarded the orb, Laurana battling draconians, Laurana tiring her bow at the white dragon;. Laurana ministering to him sari tenderly when bed been near death. To be cast off by her owl people when she was working so desperately to save them,~ when she had sacrificed so much ...

.  -

"Stop this!" Tasslehoff heard himself yelling at the top of his voice. "Stop this right now and listen to me!" ~

Suddenly he saw, to his astonishment, that everrjone haac stopped talking and was staring at him.

Now that he had his audience, Tas realized he didn.'t ha ^ any idea what to say to all of these important pecVie.But knew he had to say something. After all, he thought, this is fault-I read about these damn orbs.. Gulping, he slid off ~~' bench and walked toward the Whitestone and the two host' groups clustered around it. He thought he saw-out of the corner of his eye-Fizban grinning from under his hat.

"I-I . . ." The kender stammered, wondering what to say. He was saved by a sudden inspiration.

"I demand the right to represent my people;' Tasslehoff said proudly, "and take my place on the advisory council:'

Flipping his tassle of brown hair over his shoulder, the kender came to stand right in front of the dragon orb. Looking up, he could see the Whitestone towering over it and over him. Tas stared at the stone, shivering, then quickly turned his gaze from the rock to Gunthar and the Speaker of the Suns.

And then Tasslehoff knew what he had to do. He began to shake with fear. He-Tasslehoff Burrfoot-who'd never been afraid of anything in his life! He'd faced dragons without tremb;ing, but the knowledge of what he was going to do now appalled him. His hands felt as if he'd been making snowballs without gloves on. His tongue seemed to belong in some larger person"s mouth. But Tas was resolute. He just had to keep them talking, keep them from guessing what he planned.

"You've never taken us kenders very seriously; you know," Tas began, his voice sounding too loud and shrill in his own ears, "and I can't say I blame you much. We don't have a strong sense of responsibility, I guess, and we are probably too curious for own goad-but, I ask you, how are you going to find out anything if you're not curious?"

Tas could see the ;Speaker's face turn to steel, even Lord Gunthar was scowling. The kender edged nearer the dragon orb.

"4Ire cause lots of trouble, I suppose, without meaning to, and occasionally some of us do happen to acquire certain things which aren't ours. But one thing the kender know is-'

Tasslehoff broke into a run. Quick and lithe as a mouse, he sipped easily through the hands that tried to catch him, reaching the dragon orb within a matter of seconds. Faces blurred ar ound hinn, mouths opened, shrieking and yelling at him. But they were too late.

Ir, one swift srnocth movement, Tasslehoff hurled the dragon ors at the huge, gleaming Whitestone.

The round, gleaming crystal-its insides swirling in a3itation-hung sus~emded in the air for long, long seconds. Tas wondered if the orb had the power to halt its flight. But it

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

was just a fevered impression in the kender's mind.

The dragon orb struck the rock and shattered, bursting into a thousand sparkling pieces. For an instant, a ball of milky white smoke hung in the air, as if trying desperately to hold itself together. Then the warm, springlikebreeze of the glade caught it and swept it apart.

There was intense, awful silence.

'She kender stood, looking calmly down at the shattered dragon orb.

"We know;" he said in a small voice that dropped into the dreadful silence like a tiny drop of rain, "we should be fighting dragons. Not each other."

No one moved. No one spoke- Then there was a thump.

Gnoeh had fainted.

The silence broke-almost as shattering as the breaking of the orb. Lord Gunthar and the Speaker bath lunged at Tas. One caught hold of the kender's left shoulder, one his .right.

"What have you done?" Lord Gunthar's :ace was livid, his; eyes wild as he gripped the kender with trembling hands.

"Yore have brought death upon us all!" The Speaker's finget bit into Tas's flesh like the claws of a predatory bird. "You haves5 destroyed our only hope!"

"And for that, he himself will be the first to die!"

I3nrthios-tall, grim-faced el5lord-loomed above the cow Bring kender, his sword glistening in his hand. The lend

stood his ground between the elven king .and the knight, ' small face pale, his expression. defiant. He had known when

commited his crime ahat death would be the penalty.

Tanis will be unhappy over what I've done" Tas than sadly. But at least he''II hear that I died bravely.

"Now, now, now. . :" said a sleepy voice. "No ones going t die! At least not at this moment. Quit waving that swo around, Porthios! Someone lI get hurt:"

Tas peered out from under a heaving sea of arms and shin arrnar to see Fizban, yawning, step over the inert body of

gnam.e and totter toward them. Elves and humans made

Ecr [-,:m. to pass, as if compelled to do so by an unseen force Porthios whirled to face Fizban, so angry that saliva bubbl or, his lips and his speech was nearly incoherent.

"Beware, old man, or you will share in the punishment['

"I said quit waving that sword around;" Fizban snapped irritably, wiggling a finger at the sword.

Parthios dropped his weapon with a wild cry. Clutching his stinging, burning hand, he stared down at the sword in astonishment-the hilt had grown thorns! Fizban came to stand next to the elflord and regarded him angrily.

"You're a fine young man, but you should have been taught some respect for your elders. I said to put that sword down and I meant it! Maybe you'll believe me next time!" Fizban's baleful gaze switched to the Speaker. "And you, Solostaran, were a good man about two hundred years ago. Managed to raise three fine children-three fine children, I said. Don't give me any of this nonsense about not having a daughter. You have one, and a fine girl she is. More sense than her father. Must take after her mother's side. Where was I? Oh, yes. you brought up Tanis Half-Elven, too. You know, Solastaran, between the four of these young people, we might save this world get.

"Now I want everyone to take his seat. Yes, you, too, Lord Gunthar. Come along, Solostaran, I'll help. We old men have to stick together. Tao bad you're such a damn fool:"

Muttering into his beard, Fizban led the astounded Speaker :a his chair. Porthios, his face twisted inpain, stumbled back to his seat with the help of his warriors.

Slowly the assembled elves and knights sat down, murmuring among themselves-all casting dark looks at the shattered dragon orb that lay beneath the Whitestone.

Fizban settled the Speaker in his seat, glowered at Lord Quinath, who thought he had something to say but quickly decided he didn't. Satisfied, the old wage carne back to the front of the Whitestone where Tas stood, shaken and confused.

"You;" Fizban looked at the kender as if he'd never seen him before, "'go and attend to that poor chap:' He Kaved a hand at the gnome, who was still out cold.

Feeling his knees tremble, Tasslehoff walked slowly aver to Gnosh and knelt down beside nice, glad to lank at something other than the angel, fear-filled faces.

`Gnash; he whispered miserably, patting the gnome on the cheek, "I'm sorry. I truly am, I mean about your Life Quest and your fat_Wer's soul and everything. But there just didn't wean to be anything else to do:"

Fizban turned around slowly and faced the assembled group, pushing his hat back on his head. "Yes, I'm going to lecture you. You deserve it, every one of you-so don't sit there looking self-righteous. That kender'"-he pointed at Tasslehoff, who cringed-"has more brains beneath that ridiculous topknot of his than the lot of you have put together. Do you know what would have happened to you if the kender hadn't had the guts to do what he did? Do you? "ell, III tell you. Just let me find a seat here. . . :' Fizban peered around vaguely. "Ah, yes, there. . :' Nodding in satisfaction, the old mage toddled over and sat down on the ground, leaning his back against the sacred Whitestone!

The assembled knights gasped in horror. Gunthar leaped to his feet, appalled at this sacrilege.

"No mortal can touch the Whitestone!" he yelled, striding forward.

Fizban slowly turned his head to regard the furious knight. "One more word;' the old mage said solemnly, "and I'll make, your moustaches fall off. Now sit down and shut up!"

Sputtering, Gunthar was brought up short by an imperious; gesture from the old man. The knight could do nothing bu

return to his seat.

'Where was I before I was interrupted?" Fizban scowled, Glancing around, his gaze fell on the broken pieces of the orb' "Oh, yes. I was about to tell you a story. One of you would have won the orb, of course. And you would have taken it either to keep it 'safe' or to 'save the world: And, ye, it is cap ble of saving the world, but only if you know how to use'*, Who of you has this knowledge? Who has true strength? orb was created by the greatest, most powerful mages of of All the most powerful-do you understand? It was created b those of the White Robes and these of the Black Robes. It h the essence of both evil and good. The Red Robes brought bo essences together and bound them with their force. Few th are now with the power and strength to understand the orb, fathom its secrets, and to gain mastery over it. Few indeed" Fizban's eyes gleamed-".and none who sit here!"

Silence had fallen now, a profound silence as they llis.tened the old mage, whose voice was strong and carried above rising wind that was blowing the storm clouds from, the sky,

"One of you would have taken the orb and used it, and you would have found that you had hurled yourself upon disaster. You would have been broken as surely as the kender broke the orb. As for hope being shattered, I tell you that hope was lost for a time, but now it has been new born-"

A sudden gust of wind caught the old mage's hat, blowing it

off his head and tossing it playfully away from him. Snarling in irritation, Fizban crawled forward to pick it up.

Just as the mage leaned over, the sun broke through the clouds. There was a blazing flash of silver, followed by a splin-

tering, deafening crack as though the land itself had split apart. Half-blinded by the flaring light, people blinked and gazed in fear and awe at the terrifying sight before their eyes.

The Whitestone had been split asunder.

The old magician lay sprawled at its base, his hat clutched in his hand, his other arm flung over his head in terror. Above him, piercing the rock where he had been sitting, was a iong

weapon made of gleaming silver. It had been thrown by the silver arm of a black man, who walked over to stand beside it. Accompanying him were three people: an elven woman dressed in leather armor, an old, white-bearded dwarf, and Elistan.

Amid the stunned silence of the crowd, !he black man reached out and lifted the weapon from the splintered remains of the rock. He held it high above his head, and the silver barbed point glittered brightly in the rays of the midday sun.

"I am Theros Ironfeld ," the man called out in a deep voice,

"and for the last month I have been forging these!" He shook the weapon in his hand. "I have taken molten silver from the well hidden deep within the heart of the Monument of the Silver Dragon. With the .silver arm given me by the gods,, I have

forged the weapon as legend foretold. And this I -bring to youto all the people of Krynn-that we may join together and defeat the great evil that threatens to engulf us in darkness forever.

"I bring you-the Dragonlance!"

With that, Theros thrust the weapon deep into the ground. It

stood, straight and shining, amid 6e broken pieces of the dragon orb.

 

 

An unexpected journey.

fished;' Laurana said. "I am free to leave" "Yes;" Elistan said slowly; "and

ll,tknd now my task is fig

I know why you leave"Laurana flushed and lowered her eyes-"but where will

9n?„ ,

"Silvanesti," she replied. "The last place I saw him..' "Only in a dream-" "No, that was more than a dream;' Laurana replied, shw dering. "It was real. He was there. He is alive and I must fin him:"

"Surely, my dear, you should stay here, then;" Elistan suggested. "You say that in the dream he had found a dragon orb. If he has it, he will come to Sancrist :"

Laurana did not answer. Unhappy and irresolute, she stared out the window of Lard Gunthar's castle where she, Elistan, Flint, and Tasslehoff were staying as his guests.

She should have been with the elves. Before they left TvNhitestone Glade, her father had asked her to come back with them to Southern Ergoth . But Laurana refused. Although she did not say it, she knew she would never live among her people again.

Her father had not pressed her, and-in his eyes-she saw that he heard her unspoken words. Elves aged by years, not by days, as did humans. For her father, it seemed as if tune had accelerated and he was changing even as she watched. She feet as though she were seeing him through Raistlin's hourglass eyes, and the thought was terrifying. Yet the news she brought him only increased his bitter unhappiness.

Gilthanas had not returned. Nor could Laurana tell her father where his beloved son had gone, for the journey he and Silvara made was dark and fraught with peril. Laurana bold her father only that Gilthanas was not dead.

"You know where he is?" the Speaker asked after a pause.

"I do," Laurana answered, "or rather-I know where he goes:'

"Acrd you cannot speak of this, even to me-his father?"

Laurana shook her head steadfastly. "No, Speaker, I cannot. Forgive me, but we agreed when the decision was made to undertake this desperate action that those of us who knew would tell no one. No one,." she repeated.

"So you do not trust me-"

Laurana sighed. Her eyes went to the shattered Whitestone. "Father,.' she said, "you nearly went to war . . . with the only People who pan help save us . . . .

Her father had not replied, but-in his cool farewell arid in the way he leaned upon the arm of his elder .child-he made it clear to Laurana that he now had cn7y one child.

Theras went with the elves. Following his dramatic presentation of the dragonlance, the Council of Whitestone had voted unanirai.ously to make more of these weapons. and unite all races in the fight against the dragonarmies.

3I7

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

"At present;" Theros announced, "we have only those few lances I was able to forge by myself within a month's time, and I bring several ancient lances the Silver Dragons hid at the time the dragons were banished from the world. But we'll need more-many more. I need men to help me!"

The elves agreed to provide men to help make the dragonlances, but whether or not they would help fight-

"That remains a matter we must discuss;" the Speaker said.

"Don't discuss it too long," Flint Fireforge snapped, "or you might find yourself discussing it with a Dragon Highlord:'

"The elves keep their own counsel and ask far no advice from, dwarves;' the Speaker replied coldly. "Besides, we do not even, know if these lances work! The legend said they were to be forged by one of the Silver Arm, that is certain. But it also says that the Hammer of Kharas .vas needed in the forging. Where ' the Hammer now?" he asked Theros.

"The Hammer could not be brought here in time, even if ' could be kept from the dragonarmies. The Hammer of Khar

was required in days of old, because man's skill v.~as not,

'

cient by itself to produce the lances. Mine is;' he added proudl "You saw what the lance did to that rock:"

"We shall see what it does to dragons;" the Speaker said, the Second Council of Whitestone drew to a close. Gunth proposed at the last that the lances Theros had brought w' him be sent to the knights in Palanthas.

These thoughts passed through Laurana's mind as she st out across the bleak winter landscape. It would've snowing the valley soon, Lord Gunthar said.

I cannot stay here, Laurana thought, pressing her f against the chill glass. I shall go mad.

"I've studied Gunthar's maps;' she murmured, almost s ing to herself, "and I've seen the location of the dragona ' Tanis will never reach Sancrist, And if he does have the orb, may not know the danger' it Poses. I must warn him."

"My dear, you're not talking sensibly," Elistan said mildly. Tanis cannot reach Sancrist safely, how will you reach hl Think logically, Laurana-"

"I don't want to think logically!" Laurana cried, stoxrq her foot and glaring angrily at the cleric, "I'm sick of being sible! I'm tired of this whale war. I've done my part-°~

THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT

than my part. I just want to find Tanis!"

Seeing Elistan's sympathetic face, Laurana sighed. "I'm sorry, my dear friend. I know what you say is true;" she said, ashamed. "But I can't stay here and do nothing!"

Though Laurana didn't mention it, she had another concern. That human woman, that Kitiara. Where was she? Were they together as she had seen in the dream? Laurana realized now, suddenly, that the remembered image of Kitiara standing with Tanis's arm around her was more disturbing than the image she had see of her own death.

At that moment, Lord Gunthar suddenly entered the room.

"Ohl" he said, startled, seeing Elistan and Laurana. "I'm sorry, I hope I am not disturbing-"

"Please, no, come in;' Laurana said quickly.

"Thank you;" Gunthar said, stepping inside .and carefully shutting the door-first glancing down the hallway to make certain no one was near. He joined them at the window. "Actually I needed to talk to you both, anyway. I sent Wills looking far you. This is best, however. No one knows we're speaking."

More intrigue, Laurana thought wearily. Throughout their journey to Gunthar's castle, she had heard about nothing but the political infighting that was destroying the Knighthood.

Shocked and outraged at Gunthar's story of Sturm's trial, i.aurana had gone before a Council of Knights to speak in Sturm's defense. Although the appearance of a woman at a Caunci: was unheard of, the knights were impressed by this vibrant, beautiful young woman's eloquent speech on Sturm's behalf. The tact that Laurana was a member of the royal elven household, and that she had brought the dragonlances,, also spoke highly in her favor.

Even Derek's faction-those that remained-were hardpressed to fault her. But the knights had been unable to reach a decision. The man appointed to stand in Lord Alfred's place eras strongly in Derek's kept-as the phrase went-and Lard Michael hoc vacillated to such a degree that Gunthar had been forced to throw the matter to an open vote. The knights demanded a period of reflection and the meeting was adjourned. They had reconvened this afternoon. Apparently, Cunthar had just came from this meeting.

Laurana knew, from the look on Gunthar's face, that things

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

had gone favorably. But if so, why the maneuvering? "Sturm's been pardoned?" she asked. Gunthar grinned and rubbed his hands together. "Not parcIoned, my dear. That would have implied his guilt. No. He has been completely vindicated! I pushed for that. Pardon would not have suited us at all. His knighthood is granted. He has his command officially bestowed upon him. And Derek is in serious trouble!" "I am happy, f StUrm's sake;' Laurana said coolly, exchanging worried looks with Elistan. Although she liked what she had seen of Lord Gunthar, she had been brought up in a royal household and knew Sturm was being made a game piece. Gunthar caught the edge of ice in her voice, and his face became grave. "Lady Laurana;' he said, speaking more somberly, "I know what you are thanking that I am dangling Sturm from puppet strings. Let us be brutally frank" lady. The Knights are divided, split into two factions-Derek's and my own. And we both know what happens to a tree split in two:' both si des w ither and die. This b atkle between us must end, or will have tragic consequences. Now, lady and Elistan, for have come to trust and rely on your judgment, I leave this it your hands. You have met me and you have met Lard Derelip" Crownguard, Who would you choose to head the Knights?" -

"You, of course, Lord Gunthar," Elistan said sincerely.

Laurana nodded her head. "I agree. This feud is ruinous the Knightood. I saw that myself, in the Council meeti And-from what I've heard of the reports coming fr Palanthas-it is hurting our cause there as well. My first c tern. must be for my friend, however:"

"I quite understand, and I am glad to hear you say so;" G thar said approvingly, "because it makes the verve great favo am about to ask of you easier' Gunthar tack Laurana's arm. want you to go to Palanthas:'

"tNhat? Why? I don't. understand!"

"Of course not. Let me explain. Please sit down. You, t Elistan. I'll pour some wine-`

I think not," Laurana sand, sitting near the window.

"Very well" Gunthar's face became grave. He laid his over Laurana's. "We knew pulitics,you and I, lady. 5o I going to arrange all my game pieces bedore you. You will be traveling to Palanthas to teach the knights to use the dragonlances. It is a legitimate reason. Without Theros, you and the dwarf are the only ones who understand their usage. And--let's face it-the dwarf is too short to handle one:'

Gunthar cleared his throat. "You will take the lances to Palanthas. But more importantly, you will carry with you a Writ of Vindication from the Council fully restoring Sturm's honor. That will strike the death's blow to Derek's ambition. The moment Sturm puts on his armor, all will know I have the Council's full support. I shouldn't wonder if Derek won't go on trial when he returns'

"But why me?" Laurana asked bluntly. "I can teach anyoneLord Michael, for example-to use a dragonlance. He can take them to Palanthas. He can carry the Writ to Sturm-"

"Lady-" Lard Gunthar gripped her hand hard" drawing near and speaking barely above a whisper- "you still do not understand! I cannot trust Lord Michael! I cannot- I dare not

trust any one of the knights with this! Derek has been knocked from his horse-so to speak-but he hasn't lost the tourney yet. I need someone I can trust implicitly! Someone who knows

Derek for what he is, who has Sturm's best interests at heart!" "I do have Sturm's interests at heart;' Laurana said coldly. "I put them above the interests of the Knighthood:'

"Ah, but remember, Lady Laurana," Gunthar said, rising to his feet and bowing as he kissed her hand, "Sturm's only inter-

est is the Knighthood. What would happen to him, do you think, if the Knighthood should fall? What will happen to him if Derek seizes control?"

In the end of course Laurana agreed to go to Palanthas, as Gunthar had known she must. As the time of her departure drew nearer, she began to dream almost nightly of Tanis arriv-

ing on the island just hour; after she left. More than once she was on the verge of refusing to go, but then site thought of facing Tanis, of having to tell him she had refrused to go to Sturm to warn him of this peril. This kept her from changing her mind. This - and her regard for Storm I t was during the lonely nights, when her heart arid her arms ached for Tanis, and she had visions of him holding that human Woman -withthedark, curl y hair, Hashing brawneyes, and the charming, crooked smile, that her soul was in turmoil.

Her friends could give her little comfort. One of them, Elistan, left when a messenger arrived from the elves, requesting the cleric's presence, and asking that an emissary from the knights accompany him. There was little time for farewells. Within a day of the arrival of the elven messenger, Elistan and Lord Alfred's son-a solemn, serious young man named Douglas-began their journey back to Southern Ergoth. Laurana had newer felt so alone as she bid her mentor goodbye.

Tasslehoff faced a sad parting as well.

In the midst of the excitement over the dragonlance, everyone forgot poor Gnosh and his Life Quest, which lay in a thousand sparkling pieces on the grass. Everyone but Fizban, The aid magician rose from where he lay cowering on the ground before the shattered Whitestone and went to the stricken gnome, who was staring woefully at the shattered dragon orb. t

"There, there, my boy;" said Fizban, "this isn't the end of everything"

"It isri t?" asked Gnosh, so miserable he finished a sentence, l

"No, of course not I You've got to look at this from the proper-

7

perspective. Why, now you've got a chance to study a drago

orb from the inside outs"

Gnosh's eyes brightened. "You're right;" he said after a short pause, "and, in fact, I bet I could glue-"

"Yes, yes;' Fizban said hurriedly, but Gnash lunged forward, his speech growing faster and Easter.

"We could tag the pieces,don'tyousee,andthendrawadia gram ofwhereeachpiece waslyingontheground,which-'

"Quite, quite;' Fizban muttered.

"Step aside, sleep aside;" Gnosh said importantly, shoo'nj people away from the orb. "Mind where you walk, Lord Guy than and, yes, we're going to study it from the inside out nosn~, and I should have a report in a matter of weeks-"

Gnosh and Fizban cordoned off the area and set to work. Fq the next two days, Fizban stood on the broken Whitestari making diagrams, supposedly marking the exact location d each piece before it was picked up. (One of Fizban's diagraru accidentally ended up in the kender's pouch, Tas, discoverd later that it was actually a game known as "x's and zeroes" which the mage had been playing against himself andapparently•-lost. )

Gnosh, meanwhile, crawled happily around on the grass, sticking bits of parchment adorned with numbers on pieces of glass smaller than the bits of parchment. He and Fizban finally collected the 2, 687 pieces of dragon orb in a basket and transported them back to Mount Nevermind.

Tasslehoff had been offered the choice of staying with Fizban or going to Palanthas with Laurana and Flint. The choice was simple. The kender knew two such innocents as the elfmaid and the dwarf could not survive without him. But it was hard leaving his old friend. Two days before the ship sailed, he paid a final visit to the .gnomes and to Fizban.

After an exhilarating ride in the catapult, he found Gnosh in the Examination Roam. The pieces of the broken dragon orbtagged and numbered-were spread out across two tables.

"Absolutelyfascinaking,;' Gnosh spoke so fast he stuttered, "because wehaveandyzedtheglass, curiousmaterial, unlikenothingwe've everseen, greatestdiscovery, thiscentury-"

"So your Life Quest is aver?" Tas interrupted. "Your father's soul-"

Restingcomfartably!" Gnosh beamed, then returned to, his work. ".4ndsogladyaueauldstopby andify.ou'reeverinthe neighborhoodcomebyandseeusagain-"

"I will;' Tas said, smiling.

Tas found Fizban two levels down. (A fascinating journeyhe simply yelled out the name -of his level, then Leaped into the void. Nets flapped and fluttered, bells went off, gongs sounded and whistles blew. Tas was finally caught one level above the ground, just as the area was being inundated with sponges.)

Fizban was in Weapons Development, surrounded by gnomes, all gazing at him with unabashed admiration.

"Ah, my boy!" he said, peering vaguely at Tasslehofe. "You re just in time to see the testing of our new ;weapon. Revolutionize warfare. Make the dragonlance obsolete."'

'Really ?" Tas asked in excitement.

"A fact!" Fizban confirmed. "Now, you stand over here-' He an.otioned to a ,gnome who leaped to do his bidding, running

to stand in the middle of the cluttered room.

Fizban picked up what looked, to the kender's confused mind, like a crossbow that had been attacked by an enraged fisherman. It was a crossbow all right. But instead of an arrow, a huge net dangled from a hook on the end. Fizban, grumbling and muttering, ordered the gnomes to stand behind him and give him room.

"Now, you are the enemy;' Fizban told the gnome in the center of the room. The gnome immediately assumed a fierce, warlike expression. The other gnomes nodded appreciatively.

Fizban .aimed, then let fly. The net sailed out into the air, got snagged on the hook at the end of crossbow, and snappedback like a collapsing sail to engulf the magician.

"Confounded hook!" Fizban muttered.

Between the gnomes and Tas, they got him disentangled.

"I guess this is good-bye," Tas said, slowly extending hid small hand.

"It is?" Fizban looked amazed" "Am I going somewhere? I one told rne". I'm not packed-'

"I'm going somewhere;' Tas said patiently, "with Laur We're taking the lances and-oh, I don't think I'm supposed tbe telling anyone;' he added, embarrassed.

"Don't worry. Mum's the word.' Fizban said in a ho. whisper that carried clearly through the crowded room. "You love Palanthas. Beautiful city. Give Sturm my regards. and Tasslehoff"-the old magician looked at him shrewdly, "'you did the right thing, my boy!"

"I did?" Tas said hopefully. "I'm glad:" He hesitated. ", w dered . . . about what you said-the dark path. Did I-?"

Fizban's face grew grave as he gripped Tas firmly an shoulder. 'I'm afraid so. But you have the courage to wailk'

"I hope so;'Tas said with a small sigh. "Well, good- bge. be back. Just as soon as the mar's over."

"Oh, I probably won't be there;' Fizban said, shaking I-~s so violenay his hat slid off. "Soon as the new weapon"s

fected, I'll be leaving for-" he paused. "Where was that I

supposed to gc? I can't seem to recall. But don't worry.

meet again. At least you're not leaving me buried under a

of chicken feathers!" he muttered, searching for his hat,. '

Tas picked it up and handed it to him.

"Good-bye;' the kender said, a choke in his voice.

"Good-bye, good-bye!" Fizban waved cheerfully. Thengiving the gnomes a hunted glance-he pulled Tas over to him. "Uh, I seem to have forgotten something. What was my name again?"

Someone else said good-bye to the old magician, too, although not under quite the same circumstances.

Elistan was pacing the shore of Sancrist, waiting for the boat that would take him back to Southern Ergoth. The young man, Douglas, walked along beside him. The two were deep in conversation, Elistan explaining the ways of the ancient gods to a rapt and attentive listener.

Suddenly Elistan looked up to see the old, befuddled magician he had seen at the Council meeting. Elistan had tried for days to meet the old mage, but Fizban always avoided him. Thus it was with astonishment Elistan saw the old man come walking toward them now along the shoreline. His head was bowed, he was muttering to himself. For a moment, Elistan thought he would pass by without noticing them, when suddenly the old mage raised his head.

"Oh, I say! Haven't we met?" he asked, blinking.

For a moment Elistan could not speak. The cleric's face turned deathly white beneath its weathered tan. He was finally able to answer the old mage, his voice was husky. "Indeed we have, sir. I did not realize it before mow. And though we were

but lately introduced, I feel that I have known you a long, long time."

"Indeed?" The old man scowled suspiciously. "You're not making some sort of comment on my age, are you?"

"No, certainly not!" Elistan smiled.

The old man's face cleared,

"I'Vell, have a pleasant journey. And a safe one. Farewell:'

Leaning on a bent and battered staff, the old man toddled an past them. Suddenly he stopped and turned around. "Oh, by the way, the name's Fizban."

"I'll remember;" Elistan said gravely, bowing, "Fizban."

Pleased, the old magician nodded and continued on his way along the shoreline while Elistan, suddenly thoughtful and quiet, resur-,eG his walk with a sigh.

 

The Perechan.

 

Memories o, f long ago.

his is crazy, I hope

realize that!" Caramon hissed.

,-We wouldn't be here it we were sane, would we?" I'a~ responded, gritting his teeth.

"No," Cararnon muttered., "I suppose you're right:'

The two men stood an the shadows of a dark alleyway, '~ town where generally the only things ever found in alley wre rats drunks and dead bodies.

e ,

The name of the wretched town was Flotsam, and it well-named, far :it lay upon the shores of the Blood Sea of

THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT

like the wreckage of a broken vessel tossed upon the rocks. Peopled by the dregs of most of the races of Krynn, Flotsam was, in addition, an occupied town now, overrun with draconians, goblins, and mercenaries of all races, attracted to the Highlords by high wages and the spoils of war.

And so, "like the other scum;' as Raistlin observed, the companions floated along upon the tides of war and were deposited in Flotsam. Here they hoped to find a ship that would take them on the long, treacherous journey around the northern part of Ansalon to Sancrist-or wherever-

Where they were going was a point that had been much in contention lately-ever since Raistlin's recovery from his illness. The companions had anxiously watched him following his use of the dragon orb, their concern not completely centered on his health. What had happened when he used the orb? What harm might he have brought upon them?

"You need not fear," Raistlin told them in his whispering voice. "I am not weak and foolish like the elven king. I gained control of the orb. It did not gain control off me:'

"Then what does it do? How can we use it?" Tanis asked, alarmed by the frozen expression on the mages metallic face.

"It took all my strength to ,gain control of the orb; Raistlin replied, his eyes on the ceiling above his bed. "It will require much mare study before I learn how to use it."

"Study . . :' Tanis repeated. "Study of the orb?"

Raistlin flicked him a glance, then resumed staring at the ceiling. 'No," he replied. "The study of books,, written by the ancient ones who created the orb. We must go to Palanthas, to

the library of one Astinus, who resides there:'

Tanis was silent for a moment. He could hear the mage's ''breath rattle in his lungs as he struggled to draw breath.

What keeps him clinging to this life? Tanis wondered sillentlv.

It had snowed that morning, but now the snow had charged to rain. Tanis could hear it drumming on the wooden roof of the wagon. Heavy clouds drifted across the sky. Perhaps it was

the gloom of the day, but as he looked at Raistlin, Tanis felt a chill creep through his body until the cold seemed to freeze his heart.

"4Vas this what you meant, when you spoke of ancient spells?" Tanis asked.

"Of course. What else?" Raistlin paused, coughing, then asked, "When did I speak of . . .ancient spells?" ;

"When we first found you;" Tanis answered, watching the mage closely. He noticed a crease in Raistlitis forehead and heard tension in his shattered voice.

"What did I say?"

"Nothing much;" Tanis replied warily. "Just something about ancient spells, spells that would soon be yours:"

"That was all?"

Tanis did not reply immediately. Raistlin's strange, hourglass . eyes focused on him coldly. The half-elf shivered and nodded. Raistlin turned his head away. His eyes closed. "I will sleep` now;" he said softly. "Remember, Tanis. Palanthas."

Tanis was forced to admit he wanted to go to Sancrist for~ purely selfish reasons. He hoped against hope that Laurana and Sturm and the others would be there. And it was where he hadi promised he would take the dragons orb. But against this, 'n had to weigh Raistlin's steady insistence that they must go to' the library of this Astinus to discover how to use the orb.

His mind was still in a quandary when they reached Flotsam Finally, he decided they would set about getting passage on ship going north first and decide where to land later.

But when they reached Flotsam, they had a nasty shack's There were more draconians in that city than they had seen o their entire journey from Port B'alifor north. The streets werI~, crawling with heavily armed patrols, taking an intense interest in strangers. Fortunately, the companions had sold their wag before entering the town, so they were able to mingle with, crowds on the streets. But they hadn't been inside one -city gat, five minutes before they saw a draconian patrol arrest a 6umals for "questioning:'

This alarmed them, so they took rooms in the first inn they came to-a run-down place at the edge of town.

"How are we going to even get to the harbor, much less bwJ passage on a ship?" Caramon asked as they settled into they shabby rooms. "What's going on?"

"The innkeeper says a Dragon Highlord is in town. The dra,

Ionians are searching far spies or something;" Tanis muttere

uncomfortably. The companions exchanged glances.

"Maybe they're searching fcr us;" Caramon said.

"That's ridiculous!" Tanis answered quickly-too quickly.

"We're getting spooked. How could anyone know we're here? Or know what we carry2"

"I wonder-" Riverwind said grimly, glancing at Raistlin,

The mage returned his glance coolly, not deigning to answer.

"Hot water For my drink;" he instructed Caramon.

"There's only one way I can think of;"

Tanis said, as Caramon brought his brother the water as ordered. "Caramon and I will go out tonight and waylay two of the draganarmy soldiers.

We'll steal their uniforms. Not the draconians-" he said hastily, as Caramon's brow wrinkled in disgust. "The human mercenaries. Then we can move around Flotsam freely:"

After same discussion, everyone agreed it was the only plan that seemed likely to work. The companions ate dinner without much appetite-dining in their rooms rather than risk going into the common room.

"You'll be all right?" Caramon asked Raistlin uneasily when the two were alone in the room they shared.

"I am quite capable of taking care of myself;' Raistlin replied. Rising to his feet, he hadpicked up a spellboak to study, when a fit of coughing doubled him over.

Caramon reached out his hated, but Raistlin flinched away-

"Be gone!" the mage gasped. "Leave me be!"

Cararnon hesitated, then he sighed. "Sure,. Raist;' he said, and left the roam, shutting the door gently behind him.

Raistlin stood far a moment, trying to catch his breath. Then

he moved slowly across the room, setting dawn the spellbook. W_th a trembling hand, he picked up one of the many sacks that Caramon had placed on the table beside his bed. Opening it, Raistlin carefully withdrew the dragon orb.

Tanis and Cararnon-the half-elf keeping his hood pulled

lo,,v aver his face and ears-walked the streets of Flotsam, watching far two guards whose uniforms might fit them. This

would have been relatively easy :Ear Tanis, but finding a guard whose armor fit the giant Cararnon was more difficult.

Whey both knew they had better find something .quickly. More than once, draconians looked them over suspiciously. Two draconians even flopped them, insisting roughly an knowing their business. Caramon replied in the crude mercenary dialect that they were seeking employment in the Dragon Highlord's army, and the draconians let them go. But both men knew it was only a matter of time before a patrol caught them.

"I wonder what's going on?" Tanis muttered worriedly.

"Maybe the war's heating up for the Highlords:' Caramon began. "There, look, Tanis. Going into that bar-"

"I see. Yeah, he's about your size. Duck into that alley. Well wait until they come out, then-"The half-elf made a motion of wringing a neck. Caramon nodded. The two slipped through the filthy streets and vanished into the alley, hiding where they could keep on eye on the front door of the bar.

It was nearly, midnight. The moons would not rise tonight_'' The rain had ceased, but clouds still obscured the sky. The two men crouched in the alley were soon shivering, despite theiPl'' heavy cloaks. Rats skittered across their feet, making the~q cringe in the darkness. A drunken hobgoblin took a wrong t and lurched past them, falling headfirst into a pile of garbage, The hobgoblin did not get back up again and the sternch near ' made Tanis and Caramon sick, but they dared not leave t vantage point.

Then they heard welcome sounds-drunken laughter human voices speaking Common. The two guards they been waiting for lurched out of the bar and staggered) tow them.

A tall iron brazier stood on the sidewalk, lighting the '

The mercenaries lurched into its light, giving Tanis a dose I

at them. Both were officers in the dragonarmy, he sawn.

promoted, he guessed, which may have been what they

celebrating. Their armor was shining new, relatively cleaQl, '

undented. It was good armor, too, he saw with satisfac'

Wade of blue steel, it was fashioned after the style of

I-lighlords' ow-n dragon-scale armor.  -:

"Ready?" Caramon whispered. Tanis nodded.  x

Cararnon drew his sword. "Elven scum!" he roared ht deep, barrel-chested bass. "I've found you out, and now y come with me to the Dragon Highlord, spy!"

`You'll never take me alive!" Tanis drew his own sword; x

At the sound of their voices, the two officers staggered-,

stop, peering bleary-eyed into the dark alley.  .-

The officers watched with growing interest as. Caraman.

Tanis made a few passes at each other, maneuvering themselves into position. When Caramon's back was to the officers and Tanis was facing them, the half-elf made a sudden move. Disarming Cararnon, he sent the warriors sword flying.

"Quick! Help me take him!" Caramon bellowed. "There's a reward out for him-dead or alive!"

The officers never hesitated. Fumbling drunkenly for their

weapons, they headed for Tanis, their faces twisted into expressions of cruel pleasure.

"That's it! Nail 'im!" Caramon urged, waiting until they were

past him. Then-just as they raised their swords -Caramon"s huge hands encircled their necks. He slammed their heads toget)-er, and the bodies slumped to the ground.

"I-furry!" Tanis grunted. He dragged one body by the feet away from the light. Caramon followed with the other. Quickly they began to strip off the armor.

"Phew! This one must have been half-troll;'

Cararnon said, waning his hand to clear the air of the foul smell.

"Quit complaining !" Tanis snapped, trying to figure out how

the complex sgstem of buckles and straps worked. "At least you're used to wearing this stuff. Give me a hand with this, wiII our."

'Sure:' Caramon, grinning, helped to buckle Tanis into the armor "An elf in plate armor. What's the world coming to?"

"Sad times:' Tanis mutterer). "When are we supposed to meet that ship captain GrliLiam told you about?" "He said we could find her on board around daybreak:'

"The name's Maquesta Kar-thon;" said the woman, her expression co.3i and businesslike. "And-iet me guess-you're not officers in the dragonarmy, Not unless they're hiring elves these lows'

Tanis flushed, slowly drawing off the helm of the officer. "ls it that a"oviaus?'•

beard is very shrugged. "Probably not to anyone else. The ery good-perhaps I should say half-elf, of course. And the helm hides your ears. But unless you get a mask, those pretty, almond shaped eyes of yours are a dead give-away. But

tern' na°. many draconians are apt to look into your pretty eyes, are they.?^ Leaning back in her chair, she put a booted foot on a table, and regarded him coolly.

Tanis heard Caramon chuckle, and felt his skin burn.

They were on board the Perechon, sitting in the captain's cabin, across from the captain herself. Maquesta Kar-thon was one of the dark-skinned race living in Northern Ergoth. Her people had been sailors for centuries and, it was popularly believed, could speak the languages of seabirds and dolphins. Tanis found himself thinking of Theros Ironfeld as he looked at Maquesta. The woman's skin was shining black, her hair tightly curled and bound with a gold band around her forehead. Her eyes were brown and shining as her skin. But there was the glint of steel from the dagger at her belt, and the glint of steel in her eyes.

"We're here to discuss business, Captain Maque-" Tanis stumbled over the strange name.

"Sure you are;" the woman said. "And call me Maq. Easier for both of us. It's well you have this letter from Pig-faced William, or I wouldn't have even talked to you. But he says you're square and your money's good, so I'll listen. Nor, where're. you bound?" '

Tanis exchanged glances with Caramon. That was the ques-' tion. Besides, he wasn't certain he wanted either of their desti» nations known. Palanthas was the capital city of Solamnla,~ while Sancrist was a well-known haven of the Knights.

'Oh, for the love of-" Maq snapped, seeing them hesitate. Her eyes flared. Removing her foot from the table, she stared a them grimly. "You either trust me or you don't!"

"Should we?" Tanis asked bluntly.

Maq raised an eyebrow. "How much money do you have

"Enough;" Tanis said. "Let's just say that we want to north, around the Cape of Nordmaar. If, at that point, we s ' find each other's company agreeable, we'll go on. If not, we pay you off, and you put us in a safe harbor:

"Kalaman;' said Maq, settling back. She seemed amu "That's a safe harbor As safe as any these days. Half money now. Half at Kalaman. Any farther is negotiable:"

"Safe delivery to Kalaman" Tanis amended.

"Who can promise?"' Maq shrugged. `Ys a rough time year to travel by sea." She rose languidly, stretchinrz like a Caramon, :standing up quickly, stared at E.er .admiringly:

"It's a deal;" she said. "Come on. I'll show you the ship:'

hlaq led them onto the deck. The ship seemed fit and trim as far as Tanis, who knew nothing about ships, could tell. Her voice and manner had been cold when they first talked to her, but when she showed them around her ship, she seemed to warm up. Tanis had seen the same expression, heard the same warm tones Maq used in talking about her ship that Tika used when talking about Caramon. The Perechon was obviously Maq's only love.

The ship was quiet, empty. Her crew was ashore, along with her first mate, Maq explained. The only other person Tanis saw on board was a man sitting by himself, mending a sail. The man looked up as they passed, and Tanis saw his eyes widen in alarm at the sight of the dragon armor.

"Nocesta, Berem;' Maq said to him soothingly as they passed. She made a slashing motion with her hand, gesturing to Tanis and Caramon. "Nocesta. Customers. Money."

The man nodded and went back to his work.

"Who is he?" Tanis asked Maq in a low voice as they walked toward her cabin once more to conclude their business.

"Who? Berem?" she asked, glancing around. "He's the helmsman. Don't know much about him, He came around a few months back, looking for work. Took him on as a deckswab. Then my helmsman was killed in a small altercation with-

well, never mind. But this fellow turned out to be a d'amngood hand at the wheel, better than the first, in fact. He's an odd one, though. A mute. Never .speaks. Never goes ashore, if he can help it. Wrote his name down for me in the ship's book, or I wouldr't have known that much about him. Why?" she asked,

noticing Tanis studying the man intently.

Berem was tall, well-built. At first sight, one might guess him to be middle-aged, by human terms. His hair was gray; his face was clean-shaven, deeply tanned, and weathered from months

spent on board ship. But his eyes were youthful, clear, and bright. The hands that held the needle were smooth andstrong, the hands of a young man. Elven blood, perhaps, Tanis thought, but if so at wasn't apparent in any of his features.

"I've seen him somewhere," Tanis murmured. "How about you: Cararnon? Do you remember him?"

"lash, come on;" sand the big warrior. "We've seen hundreds of people this past month, Tanis. He was probably in the audience at one of our shows."

"No." Tanis shook his head. "When I first saw him, I thought of Pax Tharkas and Sturm . . . ."

"Hey I got a lot of work to do, half-elf;' Maquesta said. "You coming or you gonna gawk at a guy stitching a sail?"  3

She climbed down the hatch. Caramon followed clumsily,' III5 Sword and armor clanking. Reluctantly, Tanis went after them. But he tamed for one final look at the man-and caught the man regarding him with a strange, penetrating gaze.

"All right, you go back to the Inn with the others. I'll buy the..., supplies. We sail when the ship's ready. Maquesta says about four days:"

I wish it was sooner;' muttered Caramon.

"So do I;" said Tanis grimly. "There's too damn many dray ' ions around here. But we've got to wait far the tide or such thing. Go back to the inn and keep everyone inside. T your brother tolay in a store of that herb stuff he drinksbe at sea a long time. I'll be back in a few hours, after I get ',' supplies:'

Tanis walked down the crowded streets of Flotsam, no giving him a second glance in his dragon armor. He would glad to, take it off. It was hot, heavy and itchy. And he trouble remembering to return the salutes of draconians goblins. It was beginning to occur to him-as he saw respect his uniform commanded-that the humans they the uniforms from must have held a high rank. The tho was net comforting. Any moment now, someone might nize his armor.

But he couldn't do without it, he knew. There were draconians in the streets than ever today. The air of ternsi Flotsam was high. Most of the town's citizens were sta borne, and most of the shops were closed-with the ex

of the taverns. In fact, as he passed one closed shop another, Tanis began to worry about where he was

buy supplies far the long, ocean voyage.

Tanis was musing on this problem as he stared into a

shop window, when a hand suddenly wrapped around W.,

and yanked himn to the ground.

The fall knocked the breath from the half-elf's body. He struck his head heavily on the cobblestones and-for a moment-was groggy with pain. Instinctively he kicked out at whatever had him by the feet, but the hands that grasped him were strong. He felt himself being dragged into a dark alley.

Shaking his head to clear it, he strained to look at his captor. It was an elf! His clothes filthy and torn, his elven features distorted by grief and hatred, the elf stood above him, a spear in

his hand.

"Dragon man!" the elf snarled in Common. "Your foul kind slaughtered my family-my wife and my children! Murdered

them in their beds, ignoring their pleas far mercy. This is for them!" The elf raised his spear.

"Steak! It mo dracosali! Tanis cried desperately in elven, struggling to gull off his helmet. But the elf, driven insane by

grief, was beyond hearing or understanding. His spear plunged downward. Suddenly the elf's eyes grew wide, riveted in shock.

The spear fell from his nerveless fingers as a sword punctured him from behind. The dying elf fell with a shriek, landing heavily upon the pavement. .

Tanis looked up in astonishment to see who had saved his life. A Dragon Highlord stood over the elf's body.

"T heard you shouting and saw one of my officers in trouble. I guessed you needed some help;' said the Highlord, reaching out a gloved hand to help Tanis up.

Confused, dizzy with pain and knowing only that he mustn't give himself away; Tanis accepted the Highlord's hand and

struggled to his feet. Ducking his face, thankful for the dark shadows in the alley Tanis mumbled words of thanks in a harsh voice, Then he saw the Highlord's eyes behind the mask widen. "Tanis?"

The half-elf felt a shudder run through his body, a pain as swift and sharp as the elven spear. He could not speak, he could

only stare as the Highlord swiftly removed. the blue and gold dragon nook.

'Tanis! It is you!" the Highlord cried, grasping him by the arms,

Tanis saw bright brown eyes, a crooked, charming smile. "Kitiara . .

 

 

Tanis captured.

 

"So, Tanis! An officer, and in my own command. I should review my troops more often!" Kitiara laughed, sliding her arm through his. "You're shaking. You took a nasty fall. Come on. My rooms aren't Far from here. We'll have a drink, patch up that wound, then . . . talk."

Dazed-but not from the head wound-Tanis let Kit lead him out of the alley onto the sidewalk. Too much had happaned too fast. One minute he had been buying supplies now he was walking arm in arm with a Dragon Highlord ~ had just saved his life and who was also the woman he loved for so many years. He could not help but stare at her, and Kitiara-knowing his eyes were on her-returned his gaze from beneath her long, sooty-black eyelashes.

The gleaming, night-blue dragon-scale armor of the Highlords suited her well, Tanis caught himself thinking. It was tight-fitting, emphasizing the curves of her long legs.

Draconians swarmed around them, hoping for even a brief nod from the Highlord. But Kitiara ignored them, chatting breezily with Tanis as if it were only an afternoon since they had parted, instead of five years. He could not absorb her words, his brain was still fumbling to make sense of this, while his body was reacting-once again-to her nearness.

The mask had left her hair somewhat damp, the curls clung to heir face and forehead. Casually she ran her gloved hand through her hair, shaking it out. It was an old habit of hers and that small gesture brought back memories-

Tanis shook his head, struggling desperately to pull his shattered world together and! attend to her words. The lives of his friends depended on what he did now.

"It's hot beneath that dragonhelm!" she was saying. "I don't need the frightful thing to keep my men in line. Do I?" :she asked, winking.

"n-no;' Tanis stammered, feeling himself flush.

"Same old Tanis," she murmured, pressing her body against his. "You still blush like a schoolboy. But you warn never like the others, never . . :` she added softly. Pulling him close, she put her arms around him. Closing her eyes, her moist lips brushed his ....

"Kit-" Tanis said in a strangled voice, wrenching backwards. "Not here! Not in the street,' he added lamely

Far a moment Kitiara regarded him angrily, thenshrugging, she dropped her hand down to clasp his arm again. Together they continued along the street, the draconians leering and joking,

"Same Tanis," she said again, this time with a little, breathless sigh. "I don't know why I let you get away with it. Any other man -ha refused me like that would have died on my sword. Ah, here we are:"

She entered the best inn in Flotsam, the Saltbreeze. Built high on a cliff, it overlooked the Blood Sea of Istar, whose waves broke on the rocks below'. The innkeeper hurried forward. Is my room made up? Kit asked coolly. Yes Highlord, the innkeeper said, bowing again and again. They ascended the stair, the innkeeper hustled ahead them to make certain that all was in order. Kit glanced around. Finding everything satisfactory, she caaually tossed the Dragonheim on a table and began pulling off her gloves. Sitting down in a chair, she raised her leg with sensual and deliberate abandon.

"My boots" she said to Tanis, smiling.

Swallowing, giving her a week smile in return, Tanis gripped her leg in his hands. This had been an old game of theirs -him ~~taking off her boots. It had always led to- Tanis tried to keep ~himself from thinking about that!

 "Bring us a bottle of your finest wine;' Kitiara told the hovering innkeeper, and two glasses:' She raised her other leg, her brown eyes on Tanis. "Then leave us alone:'

 "But-my lord- the innkeeper said hesitantly, "there have been messages from Dragon Highlord Ariakus. .

  If you show your face in this room -after you bring the wine--I'll cut off your ears;' Kitiara said pleasantly. But, as she spoke, she drew a gleaming dagger from her belt.

 The innkeeper turned pale, nodded, and left hurriedly.

 Kit laughed. 'There!" she said, wiggling her toes in their silken hose. "Now. I'll take off your boots-"

"I-I really must go;' Tanis said, sweating beneath his armour, mt c company commander will be missing me . . "

But I'm commander of your company!' Kit said gaily. " tomorrow You'll be commander of your company. Or higher if you like. Now. sit down:'

Tanis could do nothing but obey, knowing, however, that his heart he wanted to do nothing but obey.

"It's so good to see you;" Kit said, kneeling before him tugging at his boot. "I m sorry I missed the reunion in Solace. How is everyone? How is Sturm? Probably fighting with Knights, I suppose. I'm not surprised you two separated. It was was one friendship I never could understand-'

Kitiara talked on, but Tanis ceased to listen. He couldn't look at her. He had forgotten how lovely she was, how sensual, inviting. Desperately he concentrated on his own danger. But all he could think of were nights of bliss spent with Kitiara.

At that moment, Kit looked up into his eyes. Caught and held by the passion she saw in them, she let his boot slip from her hands. Involuntarily, Tanis reached out and drew her near. Kitiara slid her hand around his neck and pressed her lips against his.

At her touch, the desires and longings that had tormented Tanis for five years surged through his body. Her fragrance, warm and womanly-mingled with the smell of steel. Her kiss was like flame. The pain was unbearable. Tanis knew only one way to end it.

When the innkeeper knocked on the door, he recieved no answer. Shaking his head in admiration-this was the third man in as many days-he set the wine upon the floor and left.

"And now;" Kitiara murmured sleepily, lying in Tanis's arms "Tell me about my little brothers. Are they with you?

Th last I saw them, you were escaping from Tarsis with that elf woman"

 "That was you!" Tanis said, remembering the blue dragons.