Part 3 (2/2)

The Plainsmen arrived in a body, for they had not been able to agree on a delegate-a bad sign. Riverwind was grimmer and more morose than usual. Goldmoon stood at his side, her face flushed with anger. Members of the Que-shu tribe stood apart from those of the Que-Kiri. None of the Plainsmen mingled with the other former slaves but regarded the main body of refugees with a suspicion that was whole-heartedly returned.

The refugees were also divided. Elistan came with his group of followers. Hederick arrived with his. Tanis and his friends formed yet another group.

Tanis looked around the a.s.sembly, where people were eying each other askance. Only last night, they were all dancing and singing together. So much for Goldmoon's day of joy.

Tanis looked to Elistan to start the proceedings. A former member of the Theocracy of Seekers himself, Elistan had been one of the few members of that group to actually use his power to help people. He had been the only one of them to stand up against Dragon Highlord Verminaard, warning the others that they were wrong to believe the Highlord's promises-promises that turned out to be lies and eventually landed them in the iron mines of Pax Tharkas. Though a prisoner himself, Elistan had continued to defy Verminaard and had nearly paid for his rebellion with his life. Already suffering from a wasting disease, he had been tortured by Verminaard in an effort to force him to wors.h.i.+p the Dark Queen.

Elistan had been dying when he had met Goldmoon. She had secretly entered Pax Tharkas in company with Tanis and the other companions in a bold endeavor to free the slaves. Seeing Elistan, weak as he was, continue to work tirelessly to help the people, Goldmoon was drawn to him. She was able to heal him through the power of Mishakal, and Elistan knew that at last his life-long search had ended. He had found the true G.o.ds.

Elistan was able to read and translate the cryptic Disks of Mishakal. Elistan used the disks to teach them of the ancient G.o.ds of Krynn who, if they were remembered at all, were remembered only in legend. He told the people of Paladine, G.o.d of Light, and leader of the other G.o.ds of Light. He told them of Takhisis, Queen of Darkness, and of those G.o.ds who dwelt in the shadows. He spoke of Gilean of the Book, the G.o.d of the Scales of Balance, who, with the other G.o.ds of Neutrality, kept the scales from tipping one way or the other, as had happened during the Age of Might, bringing about the catastrophe known as the Cataclysm that had forever changed the face of the world.

Although only in his forties, Elistan appeared older. The white robes of a Revered Son of Paladine hung on this thin frame. His recent illness, though cured, had left its mark on him. So, too, had his new-found faith. He was no longer troubled by doubts, no longer searching. His eyes were bright with intelligence and laughter. Children ran straight to his arms. People admired him and loved him, and more than a few had already accepted his teachings and were now followers of the G.o.ds.

Hederick the High Theocrat was not among them. In the absence of true G.o.ds, Hederick had devised some G.o.ds of his own. These Seeker G.o.ds had done well by Hederick, providing him with a good living, if they had done little for anyone else. Hederick had abandoned his G.o.ds when Verminaard came along, succ.u.mbing to the Highlord's blandishments and lies, ending up in the dungeons of Pax Tharkas.

Hederick had prudently taken no part in the uprising, for he thought it had little chance of success. When, to his amazement, the slaves were victorious, he was quick enough to switch sides and take advantage of the freedom others had won for him. He had always been jealous and mistrustful of Elistan and he was secretly incensed that the man was now able to perform ”miracles.” Hederick did not believe in these miracles. He did not believe in these new G.o.ds. He was biding his time, waiting for Elistan to be exposed as a charlatan. Meanwhile, because Hederick was loud and ingratiating and said what everyone wanted to hear, he'd manage to win over large numbers to his way of thinking.

Tanis hoped Elistan's wise counsel would prevail this day, convincing the refugees that they were not safe here. Unfortunately, before Elistan had a chance to speak, Hederick raised his arms.

”My dear friends,” began the High Theocrat in well-oiled tones, ”we have come together today to discuss issues important to us all.”

Tanis sighed and looked at Elistan, who stood behind the High Theocrat with the rest of the Seekers. Elistan caught Tanis's glance. He shrugged and smiled ruefully. Hederick was still the leader of the people. He had a right to address them first.

”There are those among us who have been talking of leaving this valley,” Hederick was saying. ”This valley-that is safe, teeming with game, sheltered from the winter winds, hidden from our enemies-”

”We are not not hidden,” Tanis muttered, recalling Riverwind's words to himself only that morning. Tanis stood with his friends, apart from the main body, leaning his back against a fir tree. ”Why doesn't Elistan speak up, remind him of that? Elistan should say something, do something-instead of just standing there.” hidden,” Tanis muttered, recalling Riverwind's words to himself only that morning. Tanis stood with his friends, apart from the main body, leaning his back against a fir tree. ”Why doesn't Elistan speak up, remind him of that? Elistan should say something, do something-instead of just standing there.”

”On the contrary,” said Laurana, who was beside him. ”Elistan is doing exactly right. He will allow Hederick to have his say, then Elistan will be able to answer all that Hederick is saying.”

Tanis glanced at her. Laurana was not even listening to Hederick. Her gaze was fixed on Elistan. Her eyes, almond-shaped and bluer than the clear, cobalt sky, glowed with admiration; her voice warmed when she spoke of him. Tanis felt a twinge of jealousy. Some might say that Elistan was old enough to be Laurana's father, but in truth the beautiful elven maiden was far older than the human male. Laurana appeared to be a maid in her early twenties, as young as her friend, Tika Waylan, when, in fact, Laurana could have been Tika's great-grandmother.

I have no right to be jealous, Tanis reminded himself. I'm the one who ended our relations.h.i.+p. I'm in love with another woman myself, or at least, I think I might be in love with her. I should be glad Laurana has found someone else.

All very logical arguments, and yet Tanis found himself saying, ”You and Elistan have certainly been spending a lot of time together.”

Laurana turned to him. Her blue eyes were chill as the water in the stream. ”What do you mean by that remark?” she asked sharply.

”Nothing,” Tanis returned, astonished at her sudden anger. ”I didn't mean anything-”

”Indeed we have been spending time together,” Laurana continued. ”I was a diplomat for many years in my father's court, where, as you well know, every sentence must be carefully considered lest it cause someone offense. A single word given the wrong intonation could bring about a feud that might last for centuries. I offered Elistan advice on one or two small matters, and he was grateful. Now he seeks out my counsel. He He does not consider me a child!” does not consider me a child!”

”Laurana, I didn't mean -”

She walked off, her shoulders stiff. Even angry and offended, she moved with a flowing grace that put the slender branches of willows to shame and caused Tanis's heart to stand still in awe when he looked at her.

Many watched Laurana as she walked past. Daughter of the Speaker of the Suns, ruler of the Qualinesti elves, she was the first elf maiden some of these humans had ever seen, and they never tired of gazing at her. Her beauty was exotic, alien, seemed almost ethereal. Her eyes were luminous blue, her hair a golden shower. Her voice was musical and low, her touch gentle.

This radiant, stunning woman could have been his. Tanis could have been as happy as Riverwind and Goldmoon.

”You must like the taste of shoe leather,” Flint remarked, his voice low. ”Your foot is in your mouth often enough these days.”

”She took it the wrong way,” Tanis said, annoyed.

”You said said it the wrong way,” Flint retorted. ”Laurana's not the little girl who fell in love with a playmate, Tanis. She's grown up. She's a woman with a woman's heart to give, or hadn't you noticed?” it the wrong way,” Flint retorted. ”Laurana's not the little girl who fell in love with a playmate, Tanis. She's grown up. She's a woman with a woman's heart to give, or hadn't you noticed?”

”I noticed,” said Tanis, ”and I still maintain that breaking our engagement was the right thing to do-for her sake, not mine.”

”If you believe that, then let her go.”

”I'm not holding onto her,” Tanis returned heatedly.

He'd spoken too loudly. Eyes turned his way, including the almond-shaped eyes of Laurana's brother, Gilthanas. Hederick heard him too and paused, offended.

”Do you have something to say, Half-Elven?” Hederick asked reproachfully.

”Oh, Tanis, now you're in trouble!” Caramon sn.i.g.g.e.red.

Feeling like an errant school boy who has been called to the front of the cla.s.s, Tanis mumbled something in apology and retreated back into the shadows. Everyone smiled knowingly, then turned back to listen to Hederick's speech, except Gilthanas, who regarded Tanis with stern disapproval.

Once, many years ago, Gilthanas had been Tanis's friend. Then Tanis had made the mistake of falling in love with Laurana, and that had ended his friends.h.i.+p with her brother. To make matters worse, Tanis had recently suspected and even accused Gilthanas of being a spy. Tanis had been proven wrong, and he'd made an apology, but Gilthanas found it hard to forgive the fact that Tanis had suspected him capable of such a crime. Tanis wondered irritably if there were any additional means by which he could make his life more complicated.

Then Sturm Brightblade walked to him, and Tanis smiled and relaxed. Thank goodness for Sturm. The Solamnic knight, intent on the politics of the situation, was oblivious to all else.

”Are you listening to this great idiot?” Sturm demanded. ”The man talks about building houses in this valley. Even a town hall! Apparently he has forgotten that only weeks before we were fleeing for our lives.”

”I'm listening,” said Tanis, ”and so are they, more's the pity.”

Many in the crowd were smiling and murmuring a.s.sent. Hederick's word-picture of a cozy winter spent in this peaceful place was an attractive one. Tanis felt a twinge of remorse. He'd been thinking much the same himself. Perhaps it was his talk with Raistlin last night or his talk with Riverwind this morning, but Tanis was growing increasingly uneasy. The valley seemed no longer a place of peace and beauty. He felt trapped here. Thinking of Raistlin, he looked over at the mage to see his reaction.

Raistlin sat upon a blanket spread for him on the ground by his brother. He cradled his magical staff in his arms. His gaze was abstracted, turned inward. He did not appear to be listening.

Hederick closed by saying that when spring came, the refugees would continue their journey to Tarsis, the city by the sea, where they would find a s.h.i.+p to take them far from this war-torn land.

”Some place where humans humans can reside in peace,” Hederick concluded, laying emphasis on that word. ”Some place far from those sorts of people known to cause trouble and strife in the world.” can reside in peace,” Hederick concluded, laying emphasis on that word. ”Some place far from those sorts of people known to cause trouble and strife in the world.”

”What sorts of people is he talking about?” Tas asked, interested.

”Elves,” said Tanis, scratching his beard.

”Dwarves,” growled Flint.

”And kender,” said Caramon, giving Tas's topknot a playful tweak that made the kender yelp.

Hederick glanced in their direction and pursed his lips in disapproval, then looked out upon the audience as much as to say, ”See what I mean?”

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