Part 50 (1/2)

Raistlin stalked off. Encountering his brother, he snapped at him. ”Caramon, make me my tea! I feel nauseated.”

Caramon looked from Sturm to Flint-hunched up on the bed-to his twin, who was as furious as he had ever seen him.

”Uh, sure, Raist,” said Caramon unhappily, and he hurried to do as he was told.

Sturm rested his hand on Flint's shoulder. ”You did right,” he said. ”I am proud of you and deeply ashamed of myself.”

Sturm cast Raistlin a dark glance, then went to confess his sins and ask forgiveness in prayer.

Ta.s.slehoff and Tanis came back inside to find the room silent, except for Sturm's whispered words to Paladine. Tas felt so much better, now that he'd unburdened himself, that he dumped out the contents of his pouches and sorted through all his treasure, finally falling asleep in the midst of the mess.

Flint was exhausted, but he could find no solace in sleep, for sleep would not come. He lay in his bed in the darkness, sometimes drifting off, only to jerk fearfully to wakefulness, thinking that the aurak again had hold of his boot and was dragging him into the pit. At last Flint could stand it no longer. He rose from his bed, slipped out the door, and sat down upon the door stoop.

He gazed into the night. Lights sparked, but they were not the sharp, cold crystalline glitter of the stars, whose beauty never failed to pierce his heart. They were the lights of Thorbardin-larvae trapped inside lanterns until they grew old enough to chew through solid rock.

Flint heard the door open and he jumped to his feet, fearing it might be Sturm or Raistlin come to plague him. Seeing it was Tanis, Flint sat back down.

The half-elf sat beside him in silence that was comfortable between the two of them.

Flint said at last, ”I had the Hammer, Tanis, the true Hammer.” He paused a moment, then added gruffly, ”I switched them. I let Arman think he'd found the real one, when, in truth, he found the false.

”I guessed as much,” said Tanis quietly after a moment. ”But in the end, you did what was right.”

”I don't know. If Arman had been holding the true Hammer, maybe he wouldn't be dead.”

”The Hammer couldn't have saved him from the aurak's poison. And if you had not not been in possession of the Hammer when you fought the draconian, the Hammer of Kharas would now be in the hands of the Dark Queen,” said Tanis. been in possession of the Hammer when you fought the draconian, the Hammer of Kharas would now be in the hands of the Dark Queen,” said Tanis.

Flint thought this over. Perhaps his friend was right. That didn't make what he'd done any better, but maybe, in time, he could forgive himself.