“What was that?” Sturm prompted softly.
“I fell in love with a shepherd,” Goldmoon answered, looking at Riverwind. She sighed and walked toward the boat.
Sturm watched Riverwind wade into the water to drag the boat closer to shore as Raistlin and Caramon reached the water’s edge. Raistlin clutched his robes around him, shivering.
“I can’t get my feet wet,” he whispered hoarsely. Caramon did not reply. He simply put his huge arms around his brother, lifted him as easily as he would have lifted a child, and set Raistlin in the boat. The mage huddled in the aft part of the boat, not saying a word of thanks.
“I’ll hold her steady,” Caramon told Riverwind. “You get in.” Riverwind hesitated a moment, then climbed quickly over the side. Caramon helped Goldmoon into the boat. Riverwind caught hold of her and steadied her as the boat rocked gently. The Plainsmen moved to sit in the stern, behind Tasslehoff.
Caramon turned to Sturm as the knight drew near. “What’s happening back there?”
“Flint says he’ll burn before he’ll get in a boat-at least then he’ll die warm instead of wet and cold.”
“I’ll go up and haul him down here,” Caramon said.
“You’d only make things worse. You were the one that nearly drowned him, remember? Let Tanis handle it-he’s the diplomat.”
Caramon nodded. Both men stood, waiting in silence. Sturm saw Goldmoon look at Riverwind in mute appeal, but the Plainsman did not heed her glance. Tasslehoff, fidgeting on his seat, started to call out a shrill question, but a stern look from the knight silenced him. Raistlin huddled in his robes, trying to suppress an uncontrollable cough.
“I’m going up there,” Sturm said finally. “Those whistles are getting closer. We don’t dare take any more time.” But at that moment, he saw Tanis shake hands with the dwarf, and begin to run toward the boat alone. Flint stayed where he was, near the edge of the woods. Sturm shook his head. “I told Tanis the dwarf wouldn’t come.”
“Stubborn as a dwarf, so the old saying goes,” Caramon grunted. “And that one’s had one hundred and forty-eight years to grow stubborner.” The big man shook his head sadly.
“Well, we’ll miss him, that’s for certain. He’s saved my life more than once. Let me go get him. One punch on the jaw and he won’t know whether he’s in a boat or his own bed.”
Tanis ran up, panting, and heard the last comment. “No, Caramon,” he said. “Flint would never forgive us. Don’t worry about him. He’s going back to the hills. Get in the boat. There are more lights coming this way. We left a trail through the forest a blind gully dwarf could follow.”
“No sense all of us getting wet,” Caramon said, holding the side of the boat. “You and Sturm get in. I’ll shove off.”
Sturm was already over the side. Tanis patted Caramon on the back, then climbed in. The warrior pushed the boat out into the lake. He was up to his knees in water when they heard a call from the shore.
“Hold it!” It was Flint, running down from the trees, a vague moving shape of blackness against the moonlit shoreline. “Hang on! I’m coming!”
“Stop!” Tanis cried. “Caramon! Wait for Flint!”
“Look!” Sturm half-rose, pointing. Lights had appeared in the trees, smoking torches held by goblin guards.
“Goblins, Flint!” Tanis yelled. “Behind you! Run!” The dwarf, never questioning, put his head down and pumped for the shore, one hand on his helm to keep it from flying off.
“I’ll cover him,” Tanis said, unslinging his bow. With his elvensight, he was the only one who could see the goblins behind the torches. Fitting an arrow to his bow, Tanis stood as Caramon held the big boat steady. Tanis fired at the outline of the lead goblin. The arrow struck it in the chest and it pitched forward on its face. The other goblins slowed slightly, reaching for their own bows. Tanis fitted another arrow to his bow as Flint reached the shoreline.
“Wait! I’m coming!” the dwarf gasped and he plunged into the water and sank like a rock.
“Grab him!” Sturm yelled. “Tas, row back. There he is! See? The bubbles-” Caramon was splashing frantically in the water, hunting for the dwarf. Tas tried to row back, but the weight in the boat was too much for the kender. Tanis fired again, missed his mark, and swore beneath his breath. He reached for another arrow. The goblins were swarming down the hillside.