back to Palanthas, 111 find some Knights -”
For the first time, Tanis saw a pale stain of color touch Crysa-
nia’s marble cheeks. Her dark brows contracted as she seemed
to be thinking. Then her face cleared. Looking up at Tanis, she
smiled.
“There is no danger,” she said. “I am in Paladine’s hands. The
dark creatures may have been sent by Raistlin, but they have
no power to harm me! They have merely strengthened my
resolve.” Seeing Tanis’s face grow even grimmer, she sighed. “I
promise this much. I will think about it. Perhaps you are right.
Perhaps the journey is too dangerous -”
“And a waste of time!” Tanis muttered, sorrow and exhaus-
tion making him speak bluntly what he had felt all along about
this woman’s crazy scheme. “If Par-Salian could have
destroyed Raistlin, he would have done it long before -”
“Destroy!” Crysania regarded Tanis in shock, her gray eyes
cold. “I do not seek his destruction.”
Tanis stared at her in amazement.
“I seek to reclaim him,” Crysania continued. “I will go to my
rooms now, if someone will be so kind as to guide me to them.”
Dezra hurried forward. Crysania calmly bade them all good-
night, then followed Dezra from the room. Tanis gazed after
her, totally at a loss for words. He heard Riverwind mutter
something in Que-shu. Then Caramon groaned again. River-
wind nudged Tanis. Together they bent over the slumbering
Caramon and – with an effort – hauled the big man to his feet.
“Name of the Abyss, he’s heavy!” Tanis gasped, staggering
under the man’s dead weight as Caramon’s flacid arms flopped
over his shoulders. The putrid smell of the dwarf spirit made
him gag.
“How can he drink that stuff?” Tanis said to Riverwind as the
two dragged the drunken man to the door, Tika following
along anxiously behind.
“I saw a warrior fall victim to that curse once,” Riverwind
grunted. “He perished leaping over a cliff, being chased by
creatures that were there only in his mind.”
“I should stay -” Tanis murmured.
“You cannot fight another’s battle, my friend,” Riverwind
said firmly. “Especially when it is between a man and his own
soul.”
It was past midnight when Tanis and Riverwind had Cara-
mon safely at home and dumped – unceremoniously – into his
bed. Tanis had never been so tired in his life. His shoulders
ached from carrying the dead weight of the giant warrior. He
was worn out and felt drained, his memories of the past – once
pleasant – were now like old wounds, open and bleeding. And
he still had hours to ride before morning.
“I wish I could stay,” he repeated again to Tika as they stood
together with Riverwind outside her door, gazing out over the
sleeping, peaceful town of Solace. “I feel responsible -”
“No, Tanis,” Tika said quietly. “Riverwind’s right. You can’t
fight this war. You have your own life to live, now. Besides,
there’s nothing you can do. You might only make things worse.”
“I suppose.” Tanis frowned. “At any rate, I’ll be back in about
a week. I’ll talk to Caramon then.”
“That would be nice.” Tika sighed, then, after a pause,
changed the subject. “By the way, what did Lady Crysania
mean about a kender coming here? Tasslehoff’?”
“Yes,” Tanis said, scratching his beard. “It has something to
do with Raistlin, though I’m not sure what. We ran into Tas in
Palanthas. He started in on some of his stories – I warned her
that only about half of what he says is true and even that half’s
nonsense, but he probably convinced her to send him after
some person she thinks can help her reclaim Raistlin!”
“The woman may be a holy cleric of Paladine,” Riverwind
said sternly, “and may the gods forgive me if I speak ill of one of
their chosen. But I think she’s mad.” Having made this pro-
nouncement, he slung his bow over his shoulder and prepared
to depart.
Tanis shook his head. Putting his arm around Tika, he kissed
her. “I’m afraid Riverwind’s right,” he said to her softly. “Keep
an eye on Lady Crysania while she’s here. I’ll have a talk with