She was telling him to wait.
Raistlin understood. She knew what he intended and she was telling him it wasn’t necessary. She had been chosen. She was the one who was going to make the sacrifice.
He watched Goldmoon with his strange golden eyes as she drew nearer and nearer, her own eyes on the dragon. He saw Sturm moving solemnly beside her, looking as ancient and noble as old Huma himself. What a perfect cat’s paw Sturm made, the ideal participant in Goldmoon’s sacrifice. But why had Riverwind allowed her to go? Couldn’t he see this coming? Raistlin glanced quickly at Riverwind. Ah, of course! The half-elf stood by his side, looking pained and grieved, dropping words of wisdom like blood, no doubt. The barbarian was becoming as gullible as Caramon. Raistlin flicked his eyes back to Goldmoon.
She stood before the dragon now, her face pale with resolve. Next to her, Sturm appeared grave and tortured, gnawed by inner conflict. Goldmoon had probably extracted some vow of strict obedience which the knight was honor-bound to fulfill. Raistlin’s lip curled in a sneer.
The dragon spoke and the mage tensed, ready for action. “Lay the staff down with the other remnants of mankind’s folly,” the dragon commanded Goldmoon, inclining her shining, scaled head toward the pile of treasure below the altar.
Goldmoon, overcome with dragonfear, did not move. She could do nothing but stare at the monstrous creature, trembling. Sturm, next to her, searched the treasure trove with his eyes, looking for the Disks of Mishakal, fighting to control his fear of the dragon. Sturm had not known he could be this frightened of anything. He repeated the code, “Honor is Life,” over and over, and he knew it was pride alone that kept him from running away.
Goldmoon saw Sturm’s hand shake, she saw the knight’s face glistening with sweat. Dear goddess, she cried in her soul, grant me courage! Then Sturm nudged her. She had to say something, she realized. She had been silent too long.
“What will you give us in return for the miraculous staff?” Goldmoon asked, forcing herself to speak calmly, though her throat was parched and her tongue felt swollen.
The dragon laughed-shrill, ugly laughter. “What will I give you?” The dragon snaked her head to stare at Goldmoon. “Nothing! Nothing at all. I do not deal with thieves. Still-” The dragon reared its head back, its red eyes closed to slits. Playfully she dug her claw into Raistlin’s flesh; the mage flinched, but he bore the pain without a murmur. The dragon removed the claw and held it just high enough so that they could all see the blood drip from it. “It is not inconceivable that Lord Verminaard-the Dragon Highmaster -may view favorably the fact that you surrender the staff. He may even be inclined to mercy-he is a cleric and they have strange values. But know this, Lady of Que-shu, Lord Verminaard does not need your friends. Give up the staff now and they will be spared. Force me to take it-and they will die. The mage first of Goldmoon, her spirit seemingly broken, slumped in defeat.
Sturm moved close to her, appearing to console her.
“I have found the Disks,” he whispered harshly. He grasped her arm, feeling her shivering with fear. “Are you resolved on this course of action, my lady?” he asked softly.
Goldmoon bowed her head. She was deathly pale but composed and calm. Tendrils of her fine silver-golden hair had escaped from the binding and fell around her face, hiding her expression from the dragon. Though she appeared defeated she looked up at Sturm and smiled. There was both peace and sorrow in her smile, much like the smile on the marble goddess.
She did not speak but Sturm had his answer. He bowed in submission.
“May my courage be equal to yours, lady” he said. “I will not fail you.”
“Farewell, knight. Tell Riverwind-” Goldmoon faltered, blinking her eyes as tears filled them. Fearing her resolve might yet break, she swallowed her words and turned to face the dragon as the voice of Mishakal filled her being, answering her prayer. Present the staff boldly! Goldmoon, imbued with an inner strength, raised the blue crystal staff.