turning to face the big warrior, who had barricaded himself
behind the bed. “Is this something you two do regularly? I’ve
heard married couples do some strange things, but this seems
kind of weird -”
“Tasslehoff Burrfoot!” Tika recovered her power of speech.
“What in the name of the gods are you doing here?”
“Why, I’m sure Tanis must have told you I was coming,” Tas
said, hurling the chain mail at Caramon. “Hey – this is fun! I
found the front door locked.” Tas gave her a reproachful
glance. “In fact, I had to come in a window, Tika,” he said
severely. “I think you might have more consideration. Any-
way, I’m supposed to meet Lady Crysania here and -”
To Tas’s amazement, Tika dropped the breastplate, burst
into tears, and collapsed onto the floor. The kender looked
over at Caramon, who was rising up from behind the back-
board like a spectre rising from the grave. Caramon stood
looking at Tika with a lost and wistful expression. Then he
picked his way through pieces of armor that lay scattered
about on the floor and knelt down beside her.
“Tika,” he whispered pathetically, patting her shoulder. “I’m
sorry. I didn’t mean all those things I said, you know that. I
love you! I’ve always loved you. It’s just… I don’t know what
to do!”
“You know what to do!” Tika shouted. Pulling away from
him, she sprang to her feet. “I just told you! Lady Crysania’s in
danger. You’ve got to go to her!”
“Who is this Lady Crysania?” Caramon yelled back. “Why
should I give a damn whether she’s in danger or not?”
“Listen to me for once in your life,” Tika hissed through
clenched teeth, her anger drying her tears. “Lady Crysania is a
powerful cleric of Paladine, one of the most powerful in the
world, next to Elistan. She was warned in a dream that Raist-
lin’s evil could destroy the world. She is going to the Tower of
High Sorcery in Wayreth to talk to Par-Salian to -”
“To get help destroying him, isn’t that it?” Caramon snarled.
“And what if they did?” Tika flared. “Does he deserve to
live? He’d kill you without a second thought!”
Caramon’s eyes flashed dangerously, his face flushed. Tas
gulped, seeing the big man’s fist clench, but Tika walked right
up to stand in front of him. Though her head barely came to his
chin, Tas thought the big man cowered at her anger. His hand
opened weakly.
“But, no, Caramon,” Tika said grimly, “she doesn’t want to
destroy him. She’s just as big a fool as you are. She loves your
brother, may the gods help her. She wants to save him, to turn
him from evil.”
Caramon stared at Tika in wonder. His expression softened.
“Truly?” he said.
“Yes, Caramon,” Tika said wearily. “That’s why she came
here, to see you. She thought you might be able to help. Then,
when she saw you last night -”
Caramon’s head drooped. His eyes filled with tears. “A
woman, a stranger, wants to help Raist. And risks her life to do
it.” He began to blubber again.
Tika stared at him in exasperation. “Oh, for the love of – Go
after her, Caramon!” she cried, stamping her foot on the floor.
“She’ll never reach the Tower alone. You know that! You’ve
been through the Forest of Wayreth.”
“Yes,” Caramon said, sniffing. “I went with Raist. I took him
there, so he could find the Tower and take the Test. That evil
Test! I guarded him. He needed me… then.”
“And Crysania needs you now!” Tika said grimly. Caramon
was still standing, irresolute, and Tas saw Tika’s face settle in
firm, hard lines. “You don’t have much time to lose, if you’re
going to catch up with her. Do you remember the way?”
“I do!” shouted Tas in excitement. “That is, I have a map.”
Tika and Caramon turned around to stare at the kender in
astonishment, both having forgotten his existence.
“I dunno,” Caramon said, regarding Tas darkly. “I remember
your maps. One of them took us to a seaport that didn’t have
any sea!”
“That wasn’t my fault!” Tas cried indignantly. “Even Tanis