Dragons of Winter Noght by Weis, Margaret

Sturm’s brown eyes flashed- Alhana, standing close, could feel his body tremble. Once more she nearly lost her resolve.

“I know where you are staying,” she said, swallowing. “The Red Dragon Inn. Perhaps-if I find my friends-we could offer you help-”

“Do not concern yourself.” Sturm’s voice echoed her coldness. “And do not thank me. I did nothing more than my Code required of me. Farewell,” he said, and started to walk away.

Then, remembering, he turned back. Drawing the sparkling diamond pin from his belt, he placed it in Alhana’s hand. “Here” he said. Looking into her dark eyes, the suddenly saw the pain she tried to hide. His voice softened, though he could not understand. “I am pleased you trusted me with this gem,” he said gently, “even for a few moments.”

The elfmaid stared at the jewel for an instant, then she began to shake. Her eyes lifted to Sturm’s eyes and she saw in them not scorn, as she expected, but compassion. Once more, she wondered at humans. Alhana dropped her head, unable to meet his gaze, and took his hand in hers. Then she laid the jewel in has palm and closed his fingers over it.

“Keep this,” she said softly. “When you look at it, think of Alhana Starbreeze and know that, somewhere, she thinks of you.”

Sudden tears flooded the knight’s eyes. He bowed his head, unable to speak. Then, kissing the gem, he placed it carefully back into his belt and he reached out his hands, but Alhana drew back into the doorway, her pale face averted.

“Please go.” she said. Sturm stood for a moment, irresolute, but he could not-in honor-refuse to obey her request. The knight turned and plunged back into the nightmarish street.

Alhana watched him from the doorway for a moment, a protective shell hardening around her. “Forgive me, Sturm.” she whispered to herself. Then she stopped. “No, do not forgive me.” she said harshly. “Thank me.”

Closing her eyes, she conjured up an image in her mind and sent a message speeding to the outskirts of the city where her friends waited to carry her from this world of humans. Receiving their telepathic answer in reply Alhana sighed and began anxiously to scan the smoke-tilled skies, waiting.

“Ah;” said Raistlin calmly as the first horn calls shattered the stillness of the afternoon, “I told you so.”

Riverwind cast an irritated glance at the mage, even as he tried to think what to do. It was all very well for Tanis to say protect the group from the town guards, but to protect them from armies of draconians, from dragons! Riverwind’s dark eyes went aver the group. Tika rose to her feet, her hand on her sword. The young girl was brave and steady, but unskilled. The Plainsman could still see the scars on her hand where she had cut herself.

“What is it?” Elistan asked, looking bewildered.

“The Dragon Highlord, attacking the city.” Riverwind answered harshly, trying to think.

He heard a clanking sound. Caramon was getting up, the big warrior appearing calm and unperturbed. Thank goodness for that. Even though Riverwind detested Raistlin, he had to admit that the mage and his warrior brother combined steel and magic effectively. Laurana, too, he saw, appeared cool and resolute, but then she was an elf-Riverwind had never really learned to trust elves.

“Get out of the city, if we don’t return,” Tanis had told him. But Tanis hadn’t foreseen this! They would get out of the city only to meet the armies of the Dragon Highlords on the Plains. Riverwind now had an excellent idea who had been watching them as they traveled to this doomed place. He swore to himself in his own language, then-even as the first dragons swept down over the city-he felt Goldmoon’s arm around him. Looking down, he saw her smile-the smile of Chieftain’s Daughter-and he saw the faith in her eyes. Faith in the gods, and faith in him. He relaxed, his brief moment of panic gone.

A shock wave hit the building. They could hear the screams in the streets below, the roaring whoosh of the fires.

“We’ve got to get off this floor, back to ground level,” Riverwind said. “Caramon, bring the knight’s sword and the other weapons. If Tanis and the others are-” he stepped. He had been about to say, “still alive,” then saw Laurana’s Face. “if Tanis and the others escape, they’ll return here. Well wait for them.”