It must be a four-hundred-foot drop, Tanis calculated. The trail they stood on hugged the side of the mountain, with sheer cliff on one side and nothing but air on the other. There was only one way across the gorge.
“And that bridge,” said Flint-the first words he had spoken in hours, “is older than I am . . . and in worse shape.”
“That bridge has stood for years!” Fizban said indignantly. “Why, it survived the Cataclysm!”
“I believe it,” Caramon said sincerely.
“At least it’s not too long,” Tika tried to sound hopeful, though her voice faltered.
The bridge across the narrow gorge was of a unique construction. Huge vallenwood limbs were driven into the sides of the mountain on either side of the gorge. These limbs formed an X-shape that supported the wooden plank platform. Long ago, the structure must have been an architectural marvel. But now the wooden planks were rotted and splitting. If there had been a railing, it had long since fallen down into the chasm below. Even as they watched, the timbers creaked and shuddered in the chill wind of evening.
Then, behind them, they heard the sound of guttural voices and the clash of steel on rock.
“So much for going back,” Caramon muttered. “We should cross over one by one.”
“No time,” Tanis said, rising to his feet. “We can only hope the gods are with us. And-I hate to admit it-but Fizban’s right. Once we get across, we can stop the draconians easily. They’ll be excellent targets, stuck out there on that bridge. I’ll go first. Keep behind me, single-file. Caramon, you’re rear guard. Berem, stay behind me.”
Moving as swiftly as he dared, Tanis set foot on the bridge. He could feel the planks quiver and shake. Far below, the river flowed swiftly between the canyon walls; sharp rocks jutted up from its white, foaming surface. Tanis caught his breath and looked away quickly.
“Don’t look down,” he said to the others, feeling a chill emptiness where his stomach had been. For an instant he couldn’t move, then, getting a grip on himself, he edged his way forward. Berem came right behind him, fear of the dragonmen completely obliterating any other terrors the Everman might have experienced.
After Berem came Tasslehoff, walking lightly with kender skill, peering over the edge in wonder. Then the terrified Flint, supported by Fizban. Finally Tika and Caramon set foot on the shivering planks, keeping nervous watch behind them.
Tanis was nearly halfway across when part of the platform gave way, the rotten wood splintering beneath his feet.
Acting instinctively, in a paroxysm of terror, he clutched desperately at the planking and caught hold of the edge. But the rotten wood crumbled in his grasp. His fingers slipped and-
-a hand closed over his wrist.
“Berem!” Tanis gasped. “Hold on!” He forced himself to hang limply, knowing that any movement on his part would only make Berem’s hold on him harder to maintain.
“Pull him up!” he heard Caramon roar, then, “Don’t anybody move! The whole thing’s liable to give way!”
His face tight with the strain, sweat beading on his forehead, Berem pulled. Tanis saw the muscles on the man’s arm bulge, the veins nearly burst from the skin. With what seemed like agonizing slowness, Berem dragged the half-elf up over the edge of the broken bridge. Here Tanis collapsed. Shaking with fright, he lay clinging to the wood, shivering.
Then he heard Tika cry out. Raising his head, he realized with grim amusement that he had probably just gained his life only to lose it. About thirty draconians appeared on the trail behind them. Tanis turned to look across the gaping hole in the center of the bridge. The other side of the platform was still standing. He might jump across the huge hole to safety, and so might Berem and Caramon-but not Tas, not Flint, not Tika, or the old mage.
“Excellent targets, you said,” Caramon murmured, drawing his sword.
“Cast a spell. Old One!” Tasslehoff said suddenly.
“What?” Fizban blinked.
“A spell!” Tas cried, pointing at the draconians, who-seeing the companions trapped on the bridge-hurried up to finish them off.
“Tas, we’re in enough trouble,” Tanis began, the bridge creaking beneath his feet. Moving warily, Caramon stationed himself squarely in front of them, facing the draconians.
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