Dragonlance Tales, Vol. 3 – Love and War

moment, looking much like a tired man, for the dead who

may not rest know more weariness than any of us. “Tell me,

did you see anyone this night?”

“You know I did. A knight, a mage, a half-elf, assorted

two-legged shortlings. They are important to you?”

“They are important, I think.” The king said absently,

“You seem curious. I had thought you indifferent to

everything.”

“To everything beneath me, which is much of the

world. And you, great and loyal Peris?”

“Much the same. Of course, more is beneath a dead

king”

The stag said drily, “Long though we have endured, our

standards are still better preserved than we are. May they

last forever. What is their importance?”

“The standards?”

“Their importance is self-evident, or it is none. I mean

the strangers; how are they important?” “To the future of

our wood and world.”

“Ah. Politics.” The stag nodded wisely. “I try to avoid

politics.”

“I understand completely,” the king said casually. “I

tried to avoid politics – once.”

“A question of permission to enter, and of forced

entry, wasn’t it?”

“It was.” He added with uncustomary frankness, “A

question of entry by evil, and into these woods – which at

that time were not called Darken. Perhaps you remember

the stanzas – ”

“I do.” The stag sang, a little too eagerly for the king’s

liking:

BUT ONE LONE GUARD FOREWARNED THE KING:

“THIS HUNT IS EVIL-STARRED;

FOR THOSE WITH ARMS AND POTENT CHARMS

AGAINST WHOM WE MUST GUARD

NO MORE WILL WAIT WITH EYES OF HATE

AND SOULS AND HEARTS OF GALL,

BUT PURGE THE WOOD OF LIGHT AND GOOD,

AND GODS FORGIVE US ALL.”

He looked expectantly at King Peris, who sighed

hollowly and sang with as full a voice as a spirit could

muster:

STILL PERIS BOASTS, “STEP DOWN, MY HOSTS,

AND HEAR THE HUNTING-HORN,

LET MEN INVADE BOTH WOOD AND GLADE,

WE HUNT THE UNICORN.”

He lowered his sword, which he had raised for emphasis.

“It wasn’t that way at all, of course. And it wasn’t rebellion,

or wilful treason, or any of those things. My men were

bored; I was bored. A hint or two from their commanding

officer – ” he made a mock bow” – was all it took.” He

looked around himself. “Imagine thinking anything in a

short life and a merry one could be boring. I threw away a

kingdom for a day’s amusement and an afterlife of painful

tedium.”

“I am surprised to hear you admit it.”

“I am surprised also. Perhaps something is troubling

me. Let us change the subject.”

“I shall. Did you speak to any of the strangers?” As the

king shook his head, the stag nodded, “For I thought I saw

one address you.”

“Ah. That one was a mage. He spoke first.” The king

looked as though he had never even tried to evade

answering.

“What did he say to you? I could not hear.”

King Peris said with difficulty, “He knew that we were

the spirits of men who had failed a pledge, that we were

doomed to perform that same task endlessly until we

somehow earned final peace.”

“Knowledgeable man.”

“Mages often are. I think he meant to remind me that I

could earn final peace.”

“And what did you say to him of your present state, 0

King? For if I may be truthful, you do not appear in full

majesty. Empty majesty is more like it.”

“I told him that we were called to fulfill our oath, one

day.”

“When you say we,” the stag said carefully, “I assume

that you meant ‘my men and I.’ ”

“I was not specific. I did not mention you by name, but

that does not mean he did not know you also were called to

fulfill your oath.”

“Did you tell him,” the stag inquired, “How long it

has been since we first heard that call?”

The king shifted, a move of discomfort in the living.

“Discussing these things is not easy. Have you no

understanding of how shameful it feels to rehearse a

long-broken pledge?”

“I have more feelings than I commonly show. Let us

change the subject.”

“I shall. Something troubles you.”