“We know what you mean, kenderken,” Par-Salian said gen-
tly. “Our brethren take no offense at your words. Their anger is
directed elsewhere. Not everyone in the world is as wise as the
great Fizban the Fabulous.”
Tas sighed. “I miss him, sometimes. But, where was I? Oh,
yes, Bupu. That’s when I had my idea. Maybe, if Bupu told her
story, the mages would believe her, I said to Lady Crysania.
She agreed and I offered to go and find Bupu. I hadn’t been to
Xak Tsaroth since Goldmoon killed the black dragon and it
was just a short hop from where we were and Tanis said it
would be fine with him. He seemed quite pleased to see me off,
actually.
“The Highpulp let me take Bupu, after a – uh – small bit of
discussion and some interesting items that I had in my pouch. I-
took Bupu to Solace, but Tanis had already gone and so had
Lady Crysania. Caramon was -” Tas stopped, hearing Cara-
mon clear his throat behind him. “Caramon was – wasn’t feel-
ing too good, but Tika – that’s Caramon’s wife and a great
friend of mine – anyway, Tika said we had to go after Lady
Crysania, because the Forest of Wayreth was a terrible place
and – No offense meant, I’m certain, but did you ever stop to
think that your Forest is really nasty? I mean, it is not
friendly” – Tas glared at the mages sternly – “and I don’t know
why you let it wander around loose! I think it’s irresponsible!”
Par-Salian’s shoulders quivered.
“Well, that’s all I know,” Tas said. “And, there’s Bupu, and
she can -” Tas stopped, looking around. “Where’d she go?”
“Here,” Caramon said grimly, dragging the gully dwarf out
from behind his back where she had been cowering in abject
terror. Seeing the mages staring at her, the gully dwarf gave a
shriek and collapsed onto the floor, a quivering bundle of rag-
ged clothes.
“I think you had better tell us her story,” Par-Salian said to
Tas. “If you can, that is.”
“Yes,” Tas replied, suddenly subdued. “I know what it was
Lady Crysania wanted me to tell. It happened back during the
war, when we were in Xak Tsaroth. The only ones who knew
anything about that city were gully dwarves. But most
wouldn’t help us. Raistlin cast a charm spell on one of them –
Bupu. Charmed wasn’t exactly the word for what it did to her.
She fell in love with him.” Tas paused, sighing, then continued
in a remorseful tone. “Some of us thought it was funny, I guess.
But Raistlin didn’t. He was really kind to her, and he even
saved her life, once, when draconians attacked us. Well, after
we left Xak Tsaroth, Bupu came with us. She couldn’t bear to
leave Raistlin.”
Tas’s voice dropped. “One night, I woke up. I heard Bupu
crying. I started to go to her, but I saw Raistlin had heard her,
too. She was homesick. She wanted to go back to her people,
but she couldn’t leave him. I don’t know what he said, but I saw
him lay his hand on her head. And it seemed that I could see a
light shining all around Bupu. And, then, he sent her home.
She had to travel through a land filled with terrible creatures
but, somehow, I knew she would be safe. And she was,” Tas fin-
ished solemnly.
There was a moment’s silence, then it seemed that all the
mages began to talk at once. Those of the Black Robes shook
their heads. Dalamar sneered.
“The kender was dreaming,” he said scornfully.
“Who believes kender anyway?” said one.
Those of the Red Robes and the White Robes appeared
thoughtful and perplexed.
“If this is true,” said one, “perhaps we have misjudged him.
Perhaps we should take this chance, however slim.”
Finally Par-Salian raised a hand for silence.
“I admit I find this difficult to believe,” he said at last. “I mean
no disparagement to you, Tasslehoff Burrfoot,” he added gen-
tly, smiling at the indignant kender. “But all know your race
has a most lamentable tendency to, uh, exaggerate. It is obvi-