Dragons of Spring Dawning by Weis, Margaret

“Thank you again for your help,” Tanis said gratefully.

“Glad to be there,” the man said gruffly. “Just be wary. Next time you go out in one of them small boats, head for shore the first sign of a storm.”

“Err, yes, I’ll-we’ll do that,” Tanis said in some confusion. “Now, if you could just tell us where we are…”

“Yer north of the city,” the fisherman said, waving a hand. “About two-three miles. Davey can give ye a lift in the cart.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Tanis said, hesitating and glancing at the others. They returned his look, Caramon shrugging. “Uh, I know this sounds strange, but we-we were blown off course. What city are we north of?”

“Why, Kalaman, to be sure,” the fisherman said, eyeing them suspiciously.

“Oh!” said Tanis. Laughing weakly, he turned to Caramon. What did I tell you? We-uh-weren’t blown as far off course as you thought.”

“We weren’t?” Caramon said, his eyes open wide. “Oh, we weren’t,” he amended hastily as Tika dug her elbow into his ribs. “Yeah, I guess I was wrong, as usual. You know me, Tanis, never could get my bearings-”

“Don’t overdo it!” Riverwind muttered, and Caramon fell silent.

The fisherman gave them all a dark look. “Yer a strange bunch, no doubt,” he said. “You can’t remember how you came to smash up. Now you don’t even know where you are. I reckon you was all drunk, but that’s not my concern. If you’ll take my advice, you’ll none of you set foot in a boat again, drunk or sober. Davey, bring round the cart.”

Giving them a final, disgusted glance, the fisherman lifted his small son on his shoulder and went back to work. His older son disappeared, presumably going to fetch the cart.

Tanis sighed, looking around at his friends.

“Do any of you know how we got here?” he asked quietly. “Or why we’re dressed like this?”

One by one, they all shook their heads.

“I remember the Blood Sea and the maelstrom,” Goldmoon said. “But then the rest seems like something I dreamed.”

“I remember Raist…” Caramon said softly, his face grave. Then, feeling Tika’s hand slip through his, he looked down at her. His expression softened. “And I remember-”

“Hush,” Tika said, blushing, laying her cheek against his arm. Caramon kissed her red curls. “It wasn’t a dream,” she murmured.

“I remember a few things, too,” Tanis said grimly, looking at Berem. “But it’s disjointed, fragmented. None of it seems to go together right in my mind. Well, it’s no good looking back. We’ve got to look forward. We’ll go to Kalaman and find out what’s been happening. I don’t even know what day it is! Or month for that matter. Then-”

“Palanthas,” Caramon said. “We’ll go to Palanthas.”

“We’ll see,” Tanis said, sighing. Davey was returning with the cart, drawn by a bony horse. The half-elf looked at Caramon. “Are you really certain you want to find that brother of yours?” he asked quietly.

Caramon did not answer.

The companions arrived in Kalaman about mid-morning.

“What’s going on?” Tanis asked Davey as the young man drove the cart through the city streets. “Is there a festival?”

The streets were crowded with people. Most of the shops were closed and shuttered. Everyone stood around in small clumps, talking together in excited tones.

“It looks more like a funeral,” Caramon said. “Someone important must have died.”

“That-or war,” Tanis muttered. Women were weeping, men looked sorrowful or angry, children stood about, staring fearfully at their parents.

“Can’t be war, sir,” Davey said, “and Spring Dawning festival was two days ago. Don’t know what’s the matter. Just a minute. I can find out if you want,” he said, pulling the horse to a stop.

“Go ahead,” Tanis said. “Just a minute, though. Why can’t it be war?”

“Why, we’ve won the war!” Davey said, staring at Tanis in astonishment. “By the gods, sir, you musta been drunk if you don’t remember. The Golden General and the good dragons-”

“Oh, yes,” Tanis said hastily.

“I’ll stop in here, at the fish market,” Davey said, hopping down. “They’ll know.”

“We’ll come with you.” Tanis motioned the others.