Headed Dragon.
“You’re awfully far away up there,” Tas said to the Platinum
Dragon. “And you’ve got a whole world to watch, not just us.
I’m sure you won’t mind if I guard our rest tonight, too. No dis-
repect intended, of course. It’s just that I have the feeling Some-
one Else up there is watching us tonight, too, if you take my
meaning.” The kender shivered. “I don’t know why I feel so
queer all of a sudden. Maybe it’s just being so close to Darken
Wood and – well, I’m responsible for everyone apparently!”
It was an uncomfortable thought for a kender. Tas was
accustomed to being responsible for himself, but when he’d
traveled with Tanis and the others, there had always been
someone else responsible for the group. There had been strong,
skilled warriors –
What was that? He’d definitely heard something that time!
Jumping up, Tas stood quietly, staring into the darkness. There
was silence, then a rustle, then –
A squirrel. Tas heaved a sigh that came from his toes.
“While I’m up, I’ll just go put another log on the fire,” he said
to himself. Hurrying over, he glanced at Caramon and felt.a
pang. It would have been much easier standing watch in the
darkness if he knew he could count on Caramon’s strong arm.
Instead, the warrior had fallen over on his back, his eyes
closed, his mouth open, snoring in drunken contentment.
Curled about Caramon’s boot, her head on his foot, Bupu’s
snores mingled with his. Across from them, as far away as pos-
sible, Lady Crysania slept peacefully, her smooth cheek resting
on her folded hands.
With a trembling sigh, Tas cast the logs on the fire. Watching
it blaze up, he settled himself down to watch, staring intently
into the night-shrouded trees whose whispering words now
had an ominous tone. Then, there it was again.
“Squirrel!” Tas whispered resolutely.
Was that something moving in the shadows? There was a dis-
tinct crack – like a twig snapping in two. No squirrel did that!
Tas fumbled about in his pouch until his hand closed over a
small knife.
The forest was moving! The trees were closing in!
Tas tried to scream a warning, but a thin-limbed branch
grabbed hold of his arm….
“Aiiii,” Tas shouted, twisting free and stabbing at the branch
with his knife.
There was a curse and yelp of pain. The branch let loose its
hold, and Tas breathed a sigh. No tree he had ever met yelped
in pain. Whatever they were facing was living, breathing….
“Attack!” the kender yelled, stumbling backward. “Cara-
mon! Help! Caramon -”
Two years before, the big warrior would have been on his
feet instantly, his hand closing over the hilt of his sword, alert
and ready for battle. But Tas, scrambling to get his back to the
fire, his small knife the only thing keeping whatever it was at
bay, saw Caramon’s head loll to one side in drunken content-
ment.
“Lady Crysania!” Tas screamed wildly, seeing more dark
shapes creep from the woods. “Wake up! Please, wake up!”
He could feel the heat of the fire now. Keeping an eye on the
menacing shadows, Tas reached down and grabbed a smolder-
ing log by one end – he hoped it was the cool end. Lifting it up,
he thrust the firebrand out before him.
There was movement as one of the creatures made a dive for
him. Tas swiped out with his knife, driving it back. But in that
instant, as it came into the light of his brand, he’d caught a
glimpse of it.
“Caramon!” he shrieked. “Draconians!”
Lady Crysania was awake now; Tas saw her sit up, staring
around in sleepy confusion.
“The fire!” Tas shouted to her desperately. “Get near the fire!”
Stumbling over Bupu, the kender kicked Caramon. “Dracon-
ians!” he yelled again.
One of Caramon’s eyes opened, then the other, glaring
around muzzily.
“Caramon! Thank the gods!” Tas gasped in relief.
Caramon sat up. Peering around the camp, completely dis-
oriented and confused, he was still warrior enough to be hazily
aware of danger. Rising unsteadily to his feet, he gripped the
hilt of his sword and belched.