Dragonlance Tales, Vol. 3 – Love and War

seated at his father’s table, did not accept defeat graciously,

and did not bother to hide his scowl. Goldmoon was

suddenly very pleased that Riverwind had defeated him.

“We had best keep it from harm by storing it in your

lodge right away,” her father suggested, and he abruptly

whisked the book out of her possession.

“Perhaps she would prefer to leave it on display or to

look at it further,” Loreman argued.

“Forgive my haste, Loreman, but it may rain, and we

would not want it damaged,” Arrowthorn replied in a tight,

sharp voice.

The two men stared at each other in an obvious contest

of wills, but a moment later the historian deferred with a

bow and returned to his own table.

Arrowthorn summoned some of his own men to convey

the book to his daughter’s lodge.

Goldmoon, anxious to cover the moment’s strain, called

for the musicians to play. Her father, too, recognized the

need for distraction and bid them, “Play a merry tune, to

whet the people’s appetite for dancing so that they might not

overeat.”

Laughing at the chieftain’s joke, the people began to

feast in earnest. Goldmoon noted that Riverwind had a

hearty appetite, if not the most dainty table manners.

Hollow-sky, on the other hand, though well-trained in what

passed for courtly graces among the Que-shu, picked sulkily

at his meal.

Less than half an hour into the meal, young people

began to rise from their tables to dance. Goldmoon felt a

momentary twinge of envy at their freedom and knew that

the emotion had shown on her face when Riverwind asked,

“Would you like to dance?” Once again he gave her that

warm smile.

Hollow-sky quickly interjected, “Chieftain’s Daughter

does not dance. But then an infidel shepherd could not be

expected to know her as well as a longtime family friend.

Perhaps a short walk would suit better,” he added, holding

out his arm for her to take.

Goldmoon gritted her teeth. It was true that she did not

dance. If she were to grow winded, it would be another

reminder to her subjects of her mortality, something her

father objected to. But Arrowthorn had left the meal early to

throw the bones with his generals, and since he was free to

indulge in the vice of gambling, Goldmoon could not see

what harm there could be in one little dance. There was

another reason, as well. She was determined to show

Hollow-sky that he could not make her decisions for her.

“Chieftain’s Daughter does dance, she just does not

always choose to do so,” Goldmoon replied coldly. “She

chooses to dance now with Riverwind. Later she chooses to

walk with Hollow-sky, for she has a few things to say to

him.”

“Alas, lady, but I must rest early tonight if I’m to be a

good guardian in the morning,” Hollow-sky objected.

“Then rest well, Hollow-sky,” Goldmoon remarked,

shrugging. Abruptly, she took Riverwind’s arm and moved

toward the dancers.

Actually, Goldmoon had NEVER danced in public

before. Humming the music, she had practiced in the

privacy of her lodge, doing as many of the steps as she

could recall seeing. But REALLY dancing was quite

different. As Riverwind led her away from the tables, she

began to stiffen.

A calloused but gentle finger ran down the inside of her

forearm, startling her into looking up at her partner. “The

musicians want to know what dance you choose,”

Riverwind said softly.

“Please, choose for me,” Goldmoon whispered back

urgently.

“Something simple enough for my great, clumsy feet,”

he joked.

Goldmoon looked up into his blue eyes. He knows, she

thought, that at this I am not infallible, yet he is kind

enough to cover for me.

Riverwind untied the long, burgundy sash at his waist

and held it above his head with a great flourish. “The

princess chooses ‘Tiger-hunt,'” he announced loudly.

Goldmoon relaxed. Tiger-hunt was a reel. Very simple.

She noted Hollow-sky’s sister, Ravenhair, smiling weakly at

her, obviously vexed. But for Goldmoon, Ravenhair had the

highest standing among the women of the tribe. She would

have led the dance if the princess had remembered her place

and stayed off the dance ground.