The gully dwarves stared at the mage dubiously. Friendship-after all-went only so far.
“All you must do,” Raistlin said patiently, “is run over and jump on that chain.” He pointed at the chain attached to the draconians’ pot.
The gully dwarves’ faces brightened. That didn’t sound bad. In fact, it was something they did almost daily when they missed catching hold of the pot.
Raistlin waved his arm. “Go!” he ordered.
The gully dwarves-all except Bupu-glanced at each other, then dashed to the edge of the hole and, yelling wildly, flung themselves onto the chain above the draconians, clinging to it with marvelous dexterity.
The mage ran over to the wheel, Bupu trotting along after him. Grabbing the Staff of Magius, he tugged it free. The wheel shivered and began to move once again, turning more and more rapidly as the weight of the gully dwarves caused the draconian pot to plummet back down into the mists.
Several of the draconians who had been perched on the edge about to jump into the other pot were caught off guard by the sudden jolt. They lost their balance and fell. Though their wings stopped their fall, they shrieked in rage as they drifted to the ground below, their cries contrasting oddly with the gleeful shouts of the gully dwarves.
Riverwind leaned out over the edge of the hole and caught hold of the companions’ pot as it reached the wheel.
“Are you all right?” Goldmoon asked anxiously, leaning over to help Caramon out.
“Tanis is hurt,” Caramon said, supporting the half-elf.
“It’s just a bump,” Tanis protested groggily. He felt a large lump rising on the back of his skull. “I thought I was falling out of that thing.” He shuddered at the memory.
“We can’t get down that way!” Sturm said, climbing out of the pot. “And we can’t stay around up here. It won’t take them long to get this lift back in operation and then they’ll be after us. We’ll have to go back.”
“No! Don’t go!” Bupu clutched at Raistlin. “I know way to Highbulp!” She tugged at his sleeve, pointing north. “Good way! Secret way! No bosses,” she said softly, stroking his hand. “I not let bosses get you. You pretty.”
“We don’t seem to have much choice. We’ve got to get down there,” Tanis said, wincing when Goldmoon’s staff touched him. Then the healing power flowed through his body. He relaxed as the pain eased and sighed. “As you said, they’ve lived here for years.”
Flint growled and shook his head as Bupu started down the corridor, heading north.
“Stop! Listen!” Tasslehoff called softly. They heard the sound of clawed feet coming toward them.
“Draconians!” said Sturm. “We’ve got to get out of here! Head back west.”
“I knew it,” Flint grumbled, scowling. “That gully dwarf’s led us right into those lizards!”
“Wait!” Goldmoon gripped Tanis’s arm. “Look at her!”
The half-elf turned to see Bupu remove something limp and shapeless from the bag she carried over her shoulder. Stepping up to the wall, she waved the thing in front of the stone slab and muttered a few words. The wall shivered, and within seconds, a doorway appeared, leading into darkness.
The companions exchanged uneasy glances.
“No choice,” Tanis muttered. The rattle and clank of armored draconians could be heard clearly, marching down the corridor toward them. “Raistlin, light,” he ordered.
The mage spoke and the crystal on his staff flared. He and Bupu and Tanis quickly passed through the secret door. The rest followed, and the other door slid shut behind them. The mage’s staff revealed a small, square room decorated with wall carvings so covered with green slime that they were impossible to distinguish. They stood in silence as they heard draconians pass in the corridor.
“They must have heard the fight,” Sturm whispered. “It won’t take them long to get the lift in motion, then we’ll have the whole draconian force after us!”
“I know way down.” Bupu waved her hand deprecatingly. “No worry.”
“How did you open the door, little one?” Raistlin asked curiously, kneeling beside Bupu.
“Magic,” she said shyly and she held out her hand. Lying in the gully dwarf’s grubby palm was a dead rat, its teeth fixed in a permanent grimace. Raistlin raised his eyebrows, then Tasslehoff touched his arm.