Part 44 (1/2)
”What happened? Who did this?”
”An ambush,” Riverwind answered, grimacing in pain. He drew breath haltingly. ”Draconians. Waiting for us at the gate. Don't worry. The refugees are safely hidden. I left Elistan in charge...”
”Hush, don't talk. I'll sort this out.”
Riverwind seized hold of him with a b.l.o.o.d.y hand. ”That dwarf, the one in the helm, he tried to make us admit we were here to invade...” Riverwind sank back, breathing hard. Sweat beaded his brow and ran down his face.
Tanis put his hand to Gilthanas's neck, felt for the life beat. The elf lord needed care.
Hornfel managed to shout down the other Thanes and obtain some semblance of order. The dwarf guards started their tale by relating first how the kender had escaped and knocked them out (they glossed over this fairly quickly), then, in mounting rage, they stated that when they'd regained consciousness, they were set upon by four Theiwar. The next thing they knew, the Tall (Tanis) was cutting loose their bonds and insisting on seeing Hornfel.
Hornfel glowered at Realgar. ”What is the meaning of this?”
”I will tell you, Thane,” said Tanis, rising to his feet. ”The Theiwar wanted our guards out of the way so they could poison us.”
”That's a lie,” Realgar snarled. ”If someone tried to poison you, human, it was not me or my people. As for these guards, my men caught them drunk on their watch and decided to teach them a lesson.”
The guards were vehement in denial. One leaped at Realgar, and his companion had to drag him back.
”We have evidence to prove our claim,” said Tanis. ”We have the poisoned mushrooms and the bodies of two Theiwar who came to gloat over their handiwork, and we have further evidence of an even more serious matter than the attempt on our lives, great Thanes.”
”What of our evidence?” Realgar demanded, pointing at Riverwind. ”This human and those with him admit that they are with an army of humans and elves planning to invade our realm.”
”If he or any of those with him said this, they did so to escape the pain of their torment. Look what has been done to them!” Tanis said. ”Is this how men of honor of any race treat their captives?
”I bring you this warning, Thanes of Thorbardin,” Tanis continued grimly, ”there is an army prepared to invade your realm, but it is not an army of humans. It is an army of the Dark Queen's dragonmen.”
”He would have us believe this wild tale to distract us so that he and his humans can take us unaware! I, for one, will not waste my time by staying around to listen to this human's lies. I must go prepare my forces to repel the human army's invasion-”
Realgar started walking toward the door.
”Stop him, Thanes!” Tanis warned. ”He has betrayed you. He is in league with these dragonmen and their evil master, Lord Verminaard. He has opened the gates of Thorbardin to them.”
”Realgar,” said Hornfel sternly, ”you must remain to answer these charges-”
”You are not High King, Hornfel!” Realgar retorted. ”You can't order me about!”
”Guards, detain him!” Hornfel commanded.
Realgar opened his palm, exhibited a ring of black jet, and slipped it on his finger. Foul-smelling smoke billowed out from the ring, driving back the soldiers, who began to gasp and cough. Realgar disappeared.
”The Theiwar is telling the truth, Hornfel,” Rance stated. ”These humans and their friends the elves are the real danger. Don't listen to the lies of this Tall.”
”I have proof!” Tanis countered. ”My friends and I have captured one of the dragonmen. They are bringing the monster here so that you can see for yourselves!”
”I will not wait,” said Hornfel decisively. ”I will go see for myself. You will come with me, Half-Elven.”
”I will come, Thane,” Tanis answered, ”but first I must see to my friends. Their injuries are serious. They need healing care.”
”I have already summoned physicians,” Hornfel said. ”Your friends will be taken to the Houses of Healing, but,” he added in grim tones, ”you will all remain prisoners until I have determined the truth of what is going on.”
He left the Court of the Thanes, and Tanis had no choice but to accompany him. The other Thanes decided to go with them, including Rance, who was starting to think that he, too, had been betrayed by Realgar.
The Highbluph came along, but only because he was under the mistaken impression they were all going to lunch.
Chapter 20.
Flight. A swim. War Beneath The Mountain.
The draconian lay sprawled on the floor. Caramon stood over him, sucking on his bruised knuckles.
”That thing has a hard skull,” he complained. ”What I want to know is why we just don't kill it and show the dwarves the body? It would be a lot easier.”
”I take back everything I said about your intelligence, my brother,” Raistlin said. He was feeling sick and weak, the aftereffects of his spell casting, and that put him in a bad temper.
”Huh?” Caramon was puzzled.
”There wouldn't be a body to show,” Sturm explained patiently. ”You remember what happens if we kill one of these things. They either blow up, turn to dust, or-”
”Oh, yeah, right. I forgot.” Caramon thumped himself good-naturedly on the head.
”We should go now,” Raistlin said. ”Tanis has had time enough to speak to the Thanes.”
”The sight of this beauty should make the Thanes sit up and take notice,” Sturm said. ”Bring over the table, Caramon, and help me hoist him onto it.”
They had tried to lift the draconian, but the monster's wings made carrying the creature awkward. Caramon came up with the idea of knocking the legs off the table and turning the wooden board into a make-s.h.i.+ft litter. He now hauled it over and set it down next to the unconscious draconian.
Grunting at the effort, he shoved the draconian over on his belly, so that the wings would not be an impediment. The draconian had kept his wings close to his body in order to cover them with the robes, but when he'd been hit by the sleep spell, the wings had relaxed and now flopped out on either side. Between Caramon and Sturm, they heaved and wrestled the creature onto the wooden table top.
”This thing weighs as much as a small house!” Sturm gasped.
Caramon, who could probably have picked up a small house had he been inclined to do so, nodded in agreement and wiped sweat from his face. Not only was the draconian heavy, it was wearing armor beneath its robes, as well as a sword. Sturm removed the weapon and tossed it aside.
”We have to haul this demon-sp.a.w.n clear to the top of the Life Tree?” Caramon asked, shaking his head. ”Uh, Raist, I don't suppose you could-”
”No, I could not,” Raistlin snapped. ”I am already weakened from the spells I've cast this day. You must do the best you can.”
”You take the head,” said Sturm to Caramon.
The big man bent down, took hold of the table with the monster on top of it and, with a grunt, lifted it off the floor. Sturm took hold of his end, and they managed to maneuver table and draconian out the door.
”Wait!” Raistlin ordered. ”We should cover it with a blanket. We'll draw enough attention to ourselves as it is, without being seen hauling a monster through the streets.”
”Hurry up!” Sturm gasped.
Raistlin grabbed up two blankets and draped them over the draconian.