“I am a Knight of Solamnia,” Sturm said. “My word is my honor and my honor is my life. I gave my word, back in the Inn, that I would protect you and your lady. If you choose to dispute my word, you dispute my honor and therefore you insult me. I cannot allow that insult to remain between us.”
“Sturm!” Tanis was on his feet.
Never taking his eyes from the Plainsman, the knight raised his hand. “Don’t interfere, Tanis,” Sturm said. “Well, what will it be-swords, knives? How do you barbarians fight?”
Riverwind’s stoic expression did not change. He regarded the knight with intense, dark eyes. Then he spoke, choosing his words carefully. “I did not mean to question your honor. I do not know men and their cities, and I tell you plainly-I am afraid. It is my fear that makes me speak thus. I have been afraid ever since the blue crystal staff was given to me. Most of all, I am afraid for Goldmoon.” The Plainsman looked over at the woman, his eyes reflecting the glowing fire. “Without her, I die. How could I trust-” His voice failed. The stoic mask cracked and crumbled from pain and weariness. His knees buckled and he pitched forward. Sturm caught him.
“You couldn’t,” the knight said. “I understand. You are tired, and you have been sick.” He helped Tanis lay the Plainsman at the back of the cave. “Rest now. I will stand watch.” The knight shoved aside the brush, and without saying another word, stepped outside into the rain.
Goldmoon had listened to the altercation in silence. Now she moved their meagre possessions to the back of the cave and knelt down by Riverwind’s side. He put his arm around her and held her close, burying his face in her silver-gold hair. The two settled in the shadows of the cave. Wrapped in Riverwind’s fur cape, they were soon asleep, Goldmoon’s head resting on her warrior’s chest.
Tanis breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to Raistlin. The mage had fallen into a fitful sleep. Sometimes he murmured strange words in the language of magic, his hand reaching out to touch his staff. Tanis glanced around at the others. Tasslehoff was sitting near the fire, sorting through his “acquired” objects. He sat cross-legged, the treasures on the cave floor in front of him. Tanis could make out glittering rings, a few unusual coins, a feather from the goatsucker bird, pieces of twine, a bead necklace, a soap doll, and a whistle. One of the rings looked familiar. It was a ring of elven make, given Tanis a long time ago by someone he kept on the borders of his mind. It was a finely carved, delicate ring of golden, clinging ivy leaves.
Tanis crept over to the kender, walking softly to keep from waking the others. “Tas …” He tapped the kender on the shoulder and pointed. “My ring . . .”
“Is it?” asked Tasslehoff with wide-eyed innocence. “Is this yours? I’m glad I found it. You must have dropped it at the Inn.”
Tanis took the ring with a wry smile, then settled down next to the kender. “Have you got a map of this area, Tas?”
The kender’s eyes shone. “A map? Yes, Tanis. Of course.” He swept up all his valuables, dumped them back into a pouch, and pulled a handcarved, wooden scroll case from another pouch. He drew forth a sheaf of maps. Tanis had seen the kender’s collection before, but it never failed to astonish him. There must have been a hundred, drawn on everything from fine parchment to soft kid leather to a huge palmetto leaf.
“I thought you knew every tree personally around these parts, Tanis.” Tasslehoff sorted through his maps, his eyes occasionally lingering on a favorite.
The half-elf shook his head. “I’ve lived here many years,” he said. “But, let’s face it, I don’t know any of the dark and secret paths.”
“You won’t find many to Haven.” Tas pulled a map from his pile and smoothed it out on the cave floor. “The Haven Road through Solace Vale is quickest, that’s for certain.”
Tanis studied the map by the light of the dying campfire. “You’re right,” he said. “The road is not only quickest -it seems to be the only passable route for several miles ahead. Both south and north of us lie the Kharolis Mountains-no passes there.” Frowning, Tanis rolled up the map and handed it back. “Which is exactly what the Theocrat will figure.”