Part 7 (1/2)
”That's impossible!” Laurana gave the comb a sharper tug than usual. ”Tanis doesn't love me. He's made that extremely clear. He's in love with that human woman.”
”That b.i.t.c.h Kitiara!” Tika sniffed. ”Pardon my language. As for Tanis, he doesn't know his heart from his... well, I won't say what what, but you understand. It's the same with all men.”
Laurana was silent, and Tika twisted her head to glance up at her, to see if she was angry.
Laurana's face was mantled with a delicate flush, her eyes lowered. She kept combing, but she wasn't paying attention to what she was doing.
Maybe she doesn't doesn't understand, Tika realized suddenly. It seemed very odd to her that a woman who was a hundred years old knew less about the world and the ways of men than one who was only nineteen. Still, Laurana had lived all those years pampered and protected in her father's palace in the middle of a forest. Small wonder she was naive. understand, Tika realized suddenly. It seemed very odd to her that a woman who was a hundred years old knew less about the world and the ways of men than one who was only nineteen. Still, Laurana had lived all those years pampered and protected in her father's palace in the middle of a forest. Small wonder she was naive.
”Do you really think Tanis is jealous?” Laurana asked, her blush deepening.
”Watch him sometime. He's goes green as a goblin whenever he sees you and Elistan together.”
”He has no reason to think there is anything between us,” said Laurana. ”I'll speak to him.”
”You will do no such thing!” Tika turned so fast the comb caught in her hair and jerked out of Laurana's hands. ”Let him stew for awhile. Maybe it'll put that wildcat Kit out of his mind.”
”But that would be lying, in a way,” Laurana protested, retrieving the comb.
”No, it isn't,” Tika said. ”Besides, what if it is? All's fair in love and war, and the G.o.ds know that for us women, love is is war. I wish there was someone around to make Caramon jealous.” war. I wish there was someone around to make Caramon jealous.”
”Caramon loves you dearly, Tika,” said Laurana, smiling. ”Anyone can see it by the way he looks at you.”
”I don't want him to just stand there making great cow eyes at me! I want him to do something about it!”
”There's Raistlin-” Laurana began.
”Don't mention Raistlin to me!” Tika snapped. ”Caramon's more a slave than a brother, and one day he'll wake up and find that out. Only by that time, it may be too late.” She held her head high. ”Some of us may have moved on with our lives.”
There was no more conversation. Laurana was thinking over this new and unexpected revelation that Tanis might be jealous of her relations.h.i.+p with Elistan. That would certainly explain that remark he'd made to her today.
Tika sat on the stool Caramon had made for her and blinked back her tears-tears caused by the comb yanking on her hair...
Caramon lagged behind his brother as they made their way to their small cave. Caramon knew the signs, knew that Raistlin was plotting. His brother generally moved slowly, taking cautious steps, leaning on his staff or on his brother's arm. Raistlin walked rapidly now, the crystal held by the gold dragon claw atop his staff casting a magical light to guide his way. His red robes swished around his ankles. He did not look around to see if Caramon was following. Raistlin knew he would be.
Arriving at the cave, Raistlin shoved aside the wooden screen and ducked inside. Caramon entered more slowly, pausing to adjust the screen in place for the night. Raistlin stopped him.
”No need,” he said. ”You're going out again.”
”Do you want me to fetch hot water for your tea?” Caramon asked.
”Am I coughing myself to death?” Raistlin demanded.
”No,” Caramon said.
”Then I do not need my tea.” Raistlin began to search among their belongings. He picked up a water skin and held it out to his brother.
”Go to the stream and fill this.”
”There's water in the bucket-” Caramon began.
”If you want to carry water in a bucket with us on our journey, brother, then do so, by all means,” Raistlin said coldly. ”Most people find a water skin to be more convenient.”
”What journey?” Caramon asked.
”The one we are undertaking in the morning,” Raistlin returned. He thrust the water skin at Caramon. ”Here, take this!”
”Where are we going?” Caramon kept his hands at his sides.
”Oh, come, now, Caramon! Even you can't be that stupid!” Raistlin flung the water skin at his brother's feet. ”Do as I say. We will make an early start, and I want to study my spells before I sleep. We'll need food, too.”
Raistlin sat down in the only chair in the cave. He picked up his spellbook and opened it. After a moment, however, he shut that book and, reaching deep into his pouch, drew out another-the spellbook with the night-blue binding. He did not open it but held it in his hand.
”We're going to Skullcap, aren't we?” said Caramon.
Raistlin didn't answer. He kept his hand on the closed book.
”You don't even know where it is!” Caramon said.
Raistlin looked up at his brother. His golden eyes gleamed strangely in the staff's magical light.
”That's just it, Caramon,” he said softly. ”I do know where it is. I know the location and I know how to reach it. I don't know why...” His voice trailed off.
”Why what?” Caramon demanded, bewildered.
”Why I know... or how I know. It's strange, as if I've been there before.”
Caramon was unhappy. ”Put that book away, Raist, and forget about this. The trip will be too hard for you. We can't climb the mountain-”
”We don't have to,” said Raistlin.
”Even if the snow ends,” Caramon continued, ”the trip will be cold, wet, and dangerous. What if that Verminaard comes again and catches us out in open?”
”He won't, because we won't be in the open.” Raistlin glared at his twin. ”Quit arguing and go fill the water skin!”
Caramon shook his head. ”No,” he said. ”I won't.”
Raistlin drew in a seething breath, then, suddenly, he let it out.
”My brother,” said Raistlin gently, ”if we do not make this journey, Tanis and Flint will not find the gate, much less make their way inside the mountain.”
Caramon looked into his twin's face. ”Are you sure about that?”
”As sure as the death that awaits them, that awaits us all if they fail,” said Raistlin, his gaze unwavering.
Caramon heaved a deep sigh. Reaching down, he picked up the water skin and went back out into the snow-filled night.