Dragons of Winter Noght by Weis, Margaret

The tomb was silent, only the sputtering of the flaming torch made any sound. Silvara’s shadow sprang into life on the cold stone wall behind lever. The companions stared at it and-for an instant-none of them could say a word.

The shadow Silvara cast upon the wall was not the shadow of a young elfmaid.

It was the shadow of a dragon.

“You’re a dragon!”‘ Laurana said in shocked disbelief. She laid her hand on lever sword, but Theros stopped her.

“No!” he said suddenly. “I remember. That old man-” he looked at his arm. “Now I remember. He used to come intro the Inn of the Last Home! He was dressed differently. He wasn’t a mage, but it was him! I’ll swear it! He told stories to the children. Stories about good dragons. Gold dragons and-”

“Silver dragons,” Silvara said, looking at Theros. “I am a silver dragon. My sister was the Silver Dragon who loved Huma and fought the final great battle with him-”

“No!” Gilthanas flung the torch to the ground. It lag flickering for a moment at his feet, them he stamped on it angrily, putting out its light. Silvara, watching him with sad eyes, reached out her hand to comfort him.

Gilthanas shrank from her touch, staring at her in horror.

Silvara lowered her hand slowly. Sighing gently, she nodded. “I understand.” she murmured. “I’m sorry.”

Gilthanas began to shake, then doubled over in agony. Putting his strong arms around him, Theros led Gilthanas to a bench and covered him with his cloak.

“I’ll be all right,” Gilthanas mumbled. “Just leave me alone, let me think. This is madness! It’s all a nightmare. A dragon!” He closed his eyes tightly as if he could blot out their sight forever, “A dragon. . .” he whispered brokenly. Theros patted him gently, then returned to the others.

“Where are the rest of the good dragons?” Theros asked. “The old man said there were many. Silver dragons, gold dragons-”

“There are many of us.” Silvara answered reluctantly.

“Like the silver dragon we saw in Ice Wall!” Laurana said. “It was a good dragon. If there are many of you, bind together! Help us fight the evil dragons!”

“No!” Silvara cried fiercely. Her blue eyes flared, and Laurana fell back a pace before her anger.

“Why not?”

“I cannot tell you.” Silvara’s hands clenched nervously.

“It has something to do with that oath!” Laurana persisted. “Doesn’t it? The oath you’ve broken. And the punishment you asked Fizban about-”

“I cannot tell you!” Silvara spoke in a low, passionate voice. “What I have done is bad enough. But I had to do something! I could no longer live in this world and see the suffering of innocent people! I thought perhaps I could help, so I took elven form- and I did what I could I worked tang, trying to get the elves to join together. I kept them from war, but matters were growing worse. Then you came, and I saw that we were in great peril, greater than any of us lead ever imagined. For you brought with you-” Her voice faltered.

“The dragon orb!” Laurana said suddenly.

“Yes.” Silvara’s fists clenched in misery. “I knew then I had to make a decision. You had the orb, but you also had the lance. The lance and the orb coming to me! Both, together! It was a sign. I thought, but I didn’t know what to do. I decided to bring the orb here and keep it safe forever. Then, as we traveled, I realized the knights would never allow it to remain here. There would be trouble. So, when I saw my chance, I sent it away.” Her shoulders sagged. “That was apparently the wrong decision. But how was I to know?”

‘Why?” Theros asked severely. “What does the orb do? Is it evil? Have you sent those knights to their doom?”

“Great evil.” Silvara murmured. “Great good. Who can say? Even I do not understand the dragon orbs. They were forged long ago by the most powerful of magic-users.”

“But the book Tas read said they could be used to control dragons?” Flint staked. “He read it with some kind of glasses. Glasses of true seeing, he called ’em. He said they don’t lie-“