Tanis sighed again. More problems. If the ancient gods had returned, what were they trying to do to them? See how heavy the burden could get before they collapsed beneath it? Did they find this amusing? Trapped beneath the sea … Why not just give up? Why not just stay down here? Why bother searching for a way out? Stay down here and forget everything. Forget the dragons . . . forget Raistlin . . . forget Laurana . . . Kitiara. . . .
“Tanis…” Goldmoon shook him gently.
They were all standing around him now. Waiting for him to tell them what to do.
Clearing his throat, he started to speak. His voice cracked and he coughed. “You needn’t look at me!” he said finally, harshly. “I don’t have any answers. We’re trapped, apparently. There’s no way out.”
Still they watched him, with no dimming of the faith and trust in their eyes. Tanis glared at them angrily. “Quit looking at me to lead you! I betrayed you! Don’t you realize that! It’s my fault. Everything’s my fault! Find someone else-”
Turning to hide tears he could not stop, Tanis stared out across the dark water, wrestling with himself to regain control. He did not realize, until she spoke, that Apoletta had been watching him.
“Perhaps I can help you, after all,” the sea elf said slowly.
“Apoletta, what are you saying?” Zebulah said fearfully, hurrying to the edge of the water. “Consider-”
“I have considered,” Apoletta replied. “The half-elf said we should be concerned about what happens in the world. He is right. The same thing could happen to us that happened to our Silvanesti cousins. They renounced the world and allowed dark and evil things to creep into their land. We have been warned in time. We can still fight the evil. Your coming here may have saved us, Half-Elf,” she said earnestly. “We owe you something in return.”
“Help us get back to our world,” Tanis said.
Apoletta nodded gravely. “I will do so. Where would you go?”
Sighing, Tanis shook his head. He couldn’t think. “I suppose one place is as good as another,” he said wearily.
“Palanthas,” Caramon said suddenly. His deep voice echoed across the still water.
The others glanced at him in uncomfortable silence. Riverwind frowned darkly.
“No,” said Apoletta, swimming to the edge once more, “I cannot take you to Palanthas. Our borders extend only as far as Kalaman. Beyond that, we dare not venture. Especially if what you say is true, for beyond Kalaman lies the ancient home of the sea dragons.”
Tanis wiped his eyes and nose, then turned back around to face his friends. “Well? Any more suggestions?”
They were silent, watching him. Then Goldmoon stepped forward.
“Shall I tell you a story, Half-Elf?” she said, resting her gentle hand upon his arm. “A story of a woman and man, lost and alone and frightened. Bearing a great burden, they came to an inn. The woman sang a song, a blue crystal staff performed a miracle, and a mob attacked them. One man stood up. One man took charge. One man-a stranger-said, ‘We’ll go out through the kitchen.’ ” She smiled. “Do you remember, Tanis?”
“I remember,” he whispered, caught and held by her beautiful, sweet expression.
“We’re waiting, Tanis,” she said simply.
Tears dimmed his vision again. Tanis blinked rapidly, then glanced around. Riverwind’s stern face was relaxed. Smiling a half-smile, he laid his hand on Tanis’s arm. Caramon hesitated a moment, then-striding forward-embraced Tanis in one of his bear-like hugs.
“Take us to Kalaman,” Tanis told Apoletta when he could breathe again. “It’s where we were headed anyway.”
The companions slept at the edge of the water, getting what rest they could before the journey, which Apoletta told them would be long and strenuous.
“How will we travel? By boat?” Tanis asked, watching as Zebulah stripped off his red robes and dove into the water.
Apoletta glanced at her husband, treading water easily beside her. “You will swim,” she said. “Didn’t you wonder how we brought you down here? Our magic arts, and those of my husband, will give you the ability to breathe water as easily as you now breathe air.”
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