Lorac drew a shivering breath, then screamed-a thin, wailing scream horrible to hear. His hands-little more than laving skeletal claws-twisted and writhed. His eyes were tightly closed. In vain, Tanis tried to calm him. Lorac screamed until he was out of breath, and then he screamed silently.
“Father!” Tanis heard Alhana cry. She reappeared in the doorway of the audience chamber and pushed Caramon aside. Running to her father, she grasped his bony hand in hers. Kissing his hands, she wept, pleading for him to be silent.
“Rest, Father.” she repeated over and over. “The nightmare is ended. The dragon is gone. You can sleep, Father!”
But the man’s screaming continued.
“In the name of the gods!” Caramon said as he came up to them, his face pale. “I can’t take much of this.”
“Father!” Alhana pleaded, calling to him again and again. Slowly her beloved voice penetrated the twisted dreams that lingered on in Lorac’s tortured mind. Slowly his screams died to little more than horrified whimpers. Then, as if fearing what he might see, he opened his eyes.
“Alhana, my child. Alive!” He lifted a shaking hand to touch her cheek. “It cannot be! I saw you die, Alhana. I saw you die a hundred times, each time more horrifying than the last. He killed you, Alhana. He wanted me to kill you. But I could not. Though I know not why, as I have killed so many.” Then he caught sight of Tanis. His eyes flared open, shining with hatred.
“You!” Lorac snarled, rising from his chair, his gnarled hands clutching the sides of the throne. “You, half-elf! I killed you-or tried to. I must protect Silvanesti! I killed you! I killed those with you.” Then his eyes went to Raistlin. The look of hatred was replaced by one of fear. Trembling, he shrank away from the mage. “But you, you I could not kill!”
Lorac’s look of terror changed to confusion. “No.” he cried. “You are not he! Your robes are not black! Who are you?” His eyes went back to Tanis. “And you? You are not a threat? What have I done?” He moaned.
“Don’t, Father.” Alhana pleaded, soothing him, stroking his fevered face. “You must rest now. The nightmare is ended. Silvanesti is safe.”
Caramon lifted Lorac in his strong arms and carried him to his chambers. Alhana walked next to him, her father’s hand held fast in her own.
Safe, Tanis thought, glancing out the windows at the tormented trees. Although the undead elven warriors no longer stalked the woods, the tortured shapes Lorac had created in his nightmare still lived. The trees, contorted in agony, still wept blood. Who will live here now? Tanis wondered sadly. The elves will not return. Evil things will enter this dark forest and Lorac’s nightmare will become reality.
Thinking of the nightmarish forest, Tanis suddenly wondered where his other friends were. Were they all right? What if they had believed the nightmare-as Raistlin said? Would they have truly died? His heart sinking, he knew he would have to go back into that demented forest and search for them.
Just as the half-elf began to try and force his weary body to action, his friends entered the Tower room.
“I killed him!” Tika cried, catching sight of Tanis. Her eyes were wide with grief and terror. “No! Don’t touch me, Tanis. You don’t know what I’ve done. I killed Flint! I didn’t mean to, Tanis, I swear!”
As Caramon entered the room, Tika turned to him, sobbing. “I killed Flint, Caramon. Don’t come near me!”
“Hush.” Caramon said, gently enfolding her in his big arms. “It was a dream, Tika. That’s what Raist says. The dwarf was never here. Shhh.” Stroking Tika’s red curls, he kissed her. Tika clung to him, Caramon clung to her, each finding comfort with the other. Gradually Tika’s sobs lessened.
“My friend.” Goldmoon said, reaching out to embrace Tanis.
Seeing the grave, somber expression on her face, the half-elf held her tightly, glancing questioningly at Riverwind. What had each of them dreamed? But the Plainsman only shook his head, his own face pale and grieved.
Then it occurred to Tanis that each must have lived through his or her own dream, and he suddenly remembered Kitiara! How real she had been! And Laurana, dying. Closing his eyes, Tanis laid his head against Goldmoon’s. He felt Riverwind’s strong arms surround them both. Their love blessed him. The horror of the dream began to recede.
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