“How awful!” Laurana murmured, shivering.
Raistlin did not speak for long moments; his strange eyes staring out into the chill, gray winter sky. Then his mouth twisted. “It taught me a valuable lesson-learn to control the power. Never let it control you!”
Laurana did not seem to have heard him. Her hands in her lap twisted nervously. This was the perfect opportunity to ask the questions she longed to ask, but it would mean giving up a part of her inner self to this man she feared and distrusted. But her curiosity-and her love-were ton great. She never realized she was falling into a cunningly baited trap. For Raistlin delighted in discovering the secrets of people’s souls, knowing he might find them useful.
“What did you do then”she asked, swallowing. “Did Kitiara…” Trying to appear natural, she stumbled aver the name and flushed in embarrassment.
Raistlin watched Laurana’s inner struggle with interest. “Kitiara was gone by then.” he answered. “She left home when she was fifteen, earning her living by her sword. She is an expert-so Caramon tells me-and had no trouble finding mercenary work. Oh, she returned every so often, to see how we were getting along. When we were older, and more skilled, she took us with her. That was where Caramon and I learned to fight together-I using my magic, my brother his sword. Then; after she met Tanis”- Raistlin’s eyes glittered at Laurana’s discomfiture-“she traveled with us more often.”
“Traveled with whom? Where did you go?”
“There was Sturm Brightblade, already dreaming of knighthood, the kender, Tanis, Caramon, and I. We traveled with Flint, before he retired from metalsmithing. The roads grew so dangerous that Flint gave up traveling. And, by this time, we had all learned as much as we could from our friends. We were growing restless. It was time to separate, Tanis said”
“And you did as he said? He was your leader, even then?” She looked back to remember him as she had known him before he left Qualinost, beardless and lacking the lines of care and worry she saw now on his face. But even then he was withdrawn and brooding, tormented by his feelings of belonging to lath races-and to neither. She hadn’t understood him then. Only now, after living in a world of humans, was she beginning to.
“He has the qualities we are told are essential for leadership, He is quick-thinking, intelligent, creative. But most of us possess these-in greater or lesser degree. Why do the others follow Tanis? Sturm is off noble blood, member of an order whose rants go back to ancient times. Why does he obey a bastard half-elf? And Riverwind? He distrusts all who are not human and half who are. Yet he and Goldmoon both would follow Tanis to the Abyss and back. Why?”
“I have wondered,” Laurana began, “and I think-‘
But Raistlin, ignoring her, answered his own question. “Tanis listens to his feelings. He does not suppress them, as does the knight, or hide them, as does the Plainsman. Tanis realizes that sometimes a leather must think with his heart and not his head.” Raistlin glanced at her- “Remember that.”
Laurana blinked, confused for a moment, then, sensing a tone of superiority in the mage which irritated her, she said loftily, ‘I native you leave out yourself. If you are as intelligent and powerful as you claim, why do you follow Tanis?”
Raistlin’s hourglass eyes were dark and hooded. He stopped talking as Caramon brought this twin a cup and carefully poured water from the kettle. The warrior glanced at Laurana, his face dark, embarrassed and uncomfortable as always whenever his brother went on like this.
Raistlin did not seem to notice. Pulling a pouch from his pack, he sprinkled some green leaves into the hot water. A pungent, acrid smell filled the room. “I do not follow him.” The young mage looked up at Laurana. “For the time being, Tanis and I simply happen to be traveling in the same direction.”
“The Knights of Solamnia are not welcome in our city.” The Lord said sternly, his face serious. His dark gaze swept the rest of the company. “Nor are elves, kender, or dwarves, or those who travel in their company. I understand you also have a magic-user with you, one who wears the red robes. You wear armor. Your weapons are blood-stained and come quickly and readily to your hands. Obviously you are skilled warriors.”
Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127