“You all right?” he asked.
“Y-yes.” Laurana answered, only half-hearing him.
“You look pale. Did you see something?”
“No. I’m fine,” Laurana said hurriedly, and she started up the rocky cliff again, slipping in the snow. What a fool she’d been!
What fools they’d all been!
Once again, she could see clearly in her mind’s eye Silvara rising to her feet, dropping her cloak over the dragon orb. The dragon orb that was shining with a strange light!
She started to ask Silvara about the orb when suddenly her thoughts were scattered. An arrow zinged through the air and thudded into a tree near Derek’s head.
“Elves! Brightblade, attack!” the knight cried; drawing his sword.
“No!” Laurana ran forward, grabbing his swordsman. “We will not fight! There will be no killing!”
“You’re mad!” Derek shouted. Angrily breaking loose of Laurana’s grip, he shoved her backwards into Sturm.
Another arrow flew by.
“She’s right!” Silvara pleaded, hurrying back. “We cannot fight them. We must reach the pass! There we can stop them.”
Another arrow, nearly spent, struck the chain-snail vest Derek wore over his leather tunic. He brushed it away irritably.
“They’re not aiming to kill.” Laurana added. ‘If they were, you would be dead by now. We must run for it. We can’t fight here, anyhow.” She gestured at the thick woods. “We can defend the pass better.”
“Put your sword away Derek,” Sturm said, drawing his blade. “Or you’ll fight me first.”
“You’re a coward, Brightblade!” Derek shouted, his voice shaking with fury. “You’re running from the enemy!”
“No.” Sturm answered coolly, “I’m running from my friends.” The knight kept his sword drawn. “Get moving, Crownguard, or the elves will find they have arrived too late to take you prisoner.”
Another arrow flew past, lodging in a tree near Derek. The knight, his face splotched with fury, sheathed his sword and, turning, plunged ahead up the trail. But not before he had cast Sturm a look of such intense enmity that Laurana shuddered.
“Sturm-” she began, but he only grabbed her by the elbow and hustled her forward too fast to talk. They climbed rapidly. Behind her, she could hear Theros crashing through the snow, occasionally stopping to send a boulder bouncing down after them. Soon it sounded like the entire side of the mountain was sliding down the steep trail, and the arrows ceased.
“But it’s only temporary.” the smith puffed, catching up with Sturm and Laurana. “That won’t stop them for long.”
Laurana couldn’t answer. Her lungs were on fire. Blue and gold stars burst before her eyes. She was not the only one suffering. Sturm’s breath rasped in his throat. His grasp on her arm was weak and his hand shook. Even the strong smith was blowing like a winded horse. Rounding a boulder, they found the dwarf on his knees, Tasslehoff trying vainly to lift him.
“Must . . . rest . . .” Laurana said, her throat aching. She started to sit down, but strong hands grabbed her.
“Not” Silvara said urgently. “Not here! Just a few more feet! Come on! Keep going!”
The Wilder elf dragged Laurana forward. Dimly she was aware of Sturm helping Flint to his feet, the dwarf groaning and swearing. Between them, Theros and Sturm dragged the dwarf up the trail. Tasslehoff stumbled behind, too tired even to talk.
Finally they came to the top of the pass. Laurana slumped into the snow, past caring what happened to her. The rest sank down beside her, all except Silvara who was staring below them.
Where does she get the strength? Laurana thought through a bleak haze of pain. But she was too exhausted to question. At the moment, she was too tired to care whether the elves found her or not. Silvara turned to face them.
“We must split up,” she said decisively.
Laurana stared at her, uncomprehending.
“No,” Gilthanas began, trying without success to get to his feet.
“Listen to me!” Silvara said urgently, kneeling down. “The elves are too close. They will catch us for certain, then we must either fight or surrender.”
“Fight,” Derek muttered savagely.
“There is a better way,” Silvara hissed. “You, knight, must take the dragon orb to Sancrist alone! We will draw off the pursuit.”
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