Dragons of Winter Noght by Weis, Margaret

And then Tanis had a terrifying thought. Lorac’s dream became reality! Would theirs?

Behind him, Tanis heard Raistlin begin to cough. Clutching his chest, the mage sank down onto the steps leading up to Lorac’s throne. Tanis saw Caramon, still holding Tika, glance at his brother in concern. But Raistlin ignored his brother. Gathering his robes around him, the mage lay down on the cold floor and closed his eyes in exhaustion.

Sighing, Caramon pressed Tika closer. Tanis watched her small shadow become part of Caramon’s larger one as they stood together, their bodies outlined in the distorted silver and red beams of the fractured moonlight.

We all must sleep, Tanis thought, feeling his own eyes burn. Yet how can we? How can we ever sleep again?

Chapter I2

Visions shared the death of Lorac.

Yet finally they slept. Huddled on the stone floor of the Tower of the Stars, they kept as near each other as possible. While, as they slept, others in lands cold and hostile, lands far from Silvanesti, wakened.

Laurana woke first. Starting up from a deep sleep with a cry, at first she had no idea where she was. She spoke one word, “Silvanesti!”

Flint, trembling, woke to find that his fingers still moved, the pains in his legs were no worse than usual.

Sturm woke in panic. Shaking with terror, for long moments he could only crouch beneath his blankets, shuddering. Then he heard something outside his tent. Starting up, hand on his sword, he crept forward and threw open the tent flap.

“Oh!” Laurana gasped at the sight of his haggard face.

“I’m sorry.” Sturm said. “I didn’t mean-” Then he saw she was shaking so she could scarcely hold her candle. “What is it?”‘ he asked, alarmed, drawing her out of the cold.

“I-I know this sounds silly,” Laurana said, flushing, “but I had the most frightening dream and I couldn’t sleep.”

Shivering, she allowed Sturm to lead her inside the tent. The flame of her candle cast leaping shadows around the tent. Sturm, afraid she might drop it, took it from her.

“I didn’t mean to wake you, but I heard you call out. And my dream was so real! You were in it-I saw you-”

“What is Silvanesti like?” Sturm interrupted abruptly.

Laurana stared at him. “But that’s where I dreamed we were! Why did you ask? Unless . . . you dreamed of Silvanesti, too!”

Sturm wrapped his cloak around him, nodding. “I-” he began, then heard another noise outside the tent. This time, he just opened the tent flap. “Come in, Flint,” he said wearily.

The dwarf stumped inside, his face flushed. He seemed embarrassed to find Laurana there, however, and stammered and stamped until Laurana smiled at him.

“We know,” she said. “You had a dream. Silvanesti?”

Flint coughed, clearing his throat and wiping his face with his hand. “Apparently I’m not the only one?” he asked, staring narrowly at the other two from beneath his bushy eyebrows. “I suppose you-you want me to tell you what I dreamed?”

“No!” Sturm said hurriedly, his face pale. “No, I do not want to talk about it-ever!”

“Nor I,” Laurana said softly.

Hesitantly, Flint patted her shoulder. “I’m glad.” he said gruffly. “I couldn’t talk about mine either. I just wanted to see if it was a dream. It seemed so real I expected to find you both-” The dwarf stopped. There was a rustling sound outside, then Tasslehoff burst excitedly through the tent flag.

“Did I hear you talking about a dream? I newer dream-at least not that I remember. Kender don’t, much. Oh, I suppose we do. Even animals dream, but-” He caught Flint’s eve and came hurriedly back to the original subject. “Well! I had the most fantastic dream! Trees crying blood. Horrible dead elves going around killing people! Raistlin wearing black robes! It was the most incredible thing! And you were there, Sturm. Laurana and Flint. And everyone died! Well, almost everyone. Raistlin didn’t. And there was a green dragon-‘

Tasslehoff stopped. What was wrong with his friends? Their faces were deathly pale, their eyes wide. “Green dragon,” he stammered. “Raistlin, dressed in black. Did I mention that? Quite becoming, actually. Red always makes him look kind of jaundiced, if you know what I mean. You don’t. Well, I g-guess I’ll go back to bed. If you don’t want to hear anymore?” He looked around hopefully. No one answered.