Tanis looked over at Stunn, who proudly wore the coat of arms of a knighthood that had fallen into disgrace three hundred years before. Although Sturm was only four years older than Caramon, the knight’s strict, disciplined life, hardships brought on by poverty, and his melancholy search for his beloved father had aged the knight beyond his years. Only twenty-nine, he looked forty. Tanis thought, I don’t think I’d trust us either.
“What’s the plan?” Sturm asked.
“We’re going by boat,” Tanis answered.
“Oh, ho!” Caramon chuckled. “Told Flint yet?”
“No. Leave that to me.”
“Where are we getting the boat?” Sturm asked suspiciously.
“You’ll be happier not knowing,” the half-elf said.
The knight frowned. His eyes followed the kender, who was far ahead of them, flitting from one shadow to another. “I don’t like this, Tanis. First we’re murderers, now we’re about to become thieves.”
“I don’t consider myself a murderer.” Caramon snorted. “Goblins don’t count.”
Tanis saw the knight glare at Caramon. “I don’t like any of this, Sturm,” he said hastily, hoping to avoid an argument. “But it’s a matter of necessity. Look at the Plainsmen-pride’s the only thing keeping them on their feet. Look at Raistlin . . .” Their eyes went to the mage, who was shuffling through the dry leaves, keeping always in the shadows. He leaned heavily upon his staff. Occasionally, a dry cough racked his frail body.
Caramon’s face darkened. “Tanis is right,” he said softly. “Raist can’t take much more of this. I must go to him.” Leaving the knight and the half-elf, he hurried forward to catch up with the robed, bent figure of his twin.
“Let me help you, Raist,” they heard Caramon whisper.
Raistlin shook his hooded head and flinched away from his brother’s touch. Caramon shrugged and dropped his arm. But the big warrior stayed close to his frail brother, ready to help him if necessary.
“Why does he put up with that?” Tanis asked softly.
“Family. Ties of blood.” Sturm sounded wistful. He seemed about to say more, then his eyes went to Tanis’s elven face with its growth of human hair and he fell silent. Tanis saw the look, knew what the knight was thinking. Family, ties of blood-they were things the orphaned half-elf wouldn’t know about.
“Come on,” Tanis said abruptly. “We’re dropping behind.”
They soon left the vallenwood trees of Solace and entered the pine forest surrounding Crystalmir Lake. Tanis could faintly hear muffled shouts far behind them. “They’ve found the bodies,” he guessed. Sturm nodded gloomily. Suddenly Tasslehoff seemed to materialize out of the darkness right beneath the half-elf’s nose.
“The trail runs a little over a mile to the lake,” Tas said. “I’ll meet you where it comes out.” He gestured vaguely, then disappeared before Tanis could say a word. The half-elf looked back at Solace. There seemed to be more lights, and they were moving in this direction. The roads were probably already blocked.
“Where’s the kender?” Flint grumbled as they plunged through the forest.
“Tas is meeting us at the lake,” Tanis replied.
“Lake?” Flint’s eyes grew wide in alarm. “What lake?”
“There’s only one lake around here, Flint,” Tanis said, trying hard not to smile at Sturm. “Come on. We better keep going.”
His elvensight showed him the broad red outline of Caramon and the slighter red shape of his brother disappearing into the thick woods ahead.
“I thought we were just going to lie low in the woods for awhile.” Flint shoved his way past Sturm to complain to Tanis.
“We’re going by boat.” Tanis moved forward.
“Nope!” Flint growled. “I’m not getting in any boat!”
“That accident happened ten years ago!” Tanis said, exasperated. “Look, I’ll make Caramon sit still.”
“Absolutely not!” the dwarf said flatly. “No boats. I took a vow.”
“Tanis,” Sturm’s voice whispered behind him. “Lights.”
“Blast!” The half-elf stopped and turned. He had to wait a moment before catching sight of lights glittering through the trees. The search had spread beyond Solace. He hurried to catch up with Caramon, Raistlin, and the Plainsmen.
“Lights!” he called out in a piercing whisper. Caramon looked back and swore. Riverwind raised his hand in acknowledgement. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to move faster, Caramon-” Tanis began.