Otik Sandeth stood by the door, thanking everyone for com-
ing and assuring each that the Inn would be open again tomor-
row night. When everyone else had gone, Tanis stepped up to
the retired proprietor, feeling awkward and embarrassed. But
Otik stopped him before he could speak.
Gripping Tanis’s hand in his, the elderly man whispered, “I’m
glad you’ve come back. Lock up when you’re finished.” He
glanced at Tika, then motioned the half-elf forward conspira-
torially. “Tanis,” he said in a whisper, “if you happen to see
Tika take a little out of the money box, pay it no mind. She’ll
pay it back someday. I just pretend not to notice.” His gaze went
to Caramon, and he shook his head sadly. “I know you’ll be
able to help,” he murmured, then he nodded and stumped off
into the night, leaning on his cane.
Help! Tanis thought wildly. We came seeking his help. Cara-
mon snored particularly loudly, half-woke himself up, belched
up great fumes of dwarf spirits, then settled back down to
sleep. Tanis looked bleakly at Riverwind, then shook his head
in despair.
Crysania stared down at Caramon in pity mingled with dis-
gust. “Poor man,” she said softly. The medallion of Paladine
shone in the candlelight. “Perhaps I -”
“There’s nothing you can do for him,” Tika cried bitterly. “He
doesn’t need healing. He’s drunk, can’t you see that? Dead
drunk!”
Crysania’s gaze turned to Tika in astonishment, but before
the cleric could say anything, Tanis hurried back to Caramon.
“Help me, Riverwind,” he said, bending down. “Let’s get him
hom -”
“Oh, leave him!” Tika snapped, wiping her eyes with the cor-
ner of her apron. “He’s spent enough nights on the barroom
floor. Another won’t matter.” She turned to Tanis. “I wanted to
tell you. I really did. But I thought… I kept hoping… He was
excited when your letter arrived. He was… well, more like
himself than I’ve seen him in a long time. I thought maybe this
might do it. He might change. So I let you come.” She hung her
head. “I’m sorry….”
Tanis stood beside the big warrior, irresolute. “I don’t under-
stand. How long -”
“It’s why we couldn’t come to your wedding, Tanis,” Tika
said, twisting her apron into knots. “I wanted to, so much!
But -” She began to cry again. Dezra put her arms around her.
“Sit down, Tika,” Dezra murmured, helping her to a seat in a
high-backed, wooden booth.
Tika sank down, her legs suddenly giving out beneath her,
then she hid her head in her arms.
“Let’s all sit down,” Tanis said firmly, “and get our wits about
us. You there” – the half-elf beckoned to the gully dwarf, who
was peering out at them from beneath the wooden bar. “Bring
us a pitcher of ale and some mugs, wine for Lady Crysania,
some spiced potatoes -”
Tanis paused. The confused gully dwarf was staring at him,
round-eyed, his mouth hanging open in confusion.
“Better let me get it for you, Tanis,” Dezra offered, smiling.
“You’d probably end up with a pitcher of potatoes if Raf went
after it.”
“Me help!” Raf protested indignantly.
“You take out the garbage!” Dezra snapped.
“Me big help….” Raf mumbled disconsolately as he shuffled
out, kicking at the table legs to relieve his hurt feelings.
“Your rooms are in the new part of the Inn,” Tika mumbled.
“I’ll show you….”
“We’ll find them later,” Riverwind said sternly, but as he
looked at Tika, his eyes were filled with gentle sympathy. “Sit
and talk to Tanis. He has to leave soon.”
“Damn! My horse!” Tanis said, starting up suddenly. “I asked
the boy to bring it around -”
“I will go have them wait,” Riverwind offered.
“No, I’ll go. It’ll just take a moment -”
“My friend,” Riverwind said softly as he went past him, “I
need to be outdoors! I’ll come back to help with -” He nodded
his head toward the snoring Caramon.
Tanis sat back down, relieved. The Plainsman left. Crysania
sat down beside Tanis on the opposite side of the table, staring
at Caramon in perplexity. Tanis kept talking to Tika about
small, inconsequential matters until she was able to sit up and