Khalkists, even if they did ally with the dwarves. The rest
of Solamnia would be left defenseless, which is probably
just exactly what these goblins raids are trying to
accomplish; But these fools don’t want to listen to
reason.”
“Then why are we – ”
” – here? That’s why,” Tanis answered. “The knights
are turning this into a public spectacle in order to remind
everyone how truly great and wonderful we are. Are you
sure we’re going the right direction?”
I could see them now from where I was hiding.
(Caution, not snooping.) Tanis and Caramon and Laurana
were riding on horses, and an escort of knights was riding
behind – a long way behind. Tanis had reigned in his
horse and was looking around like he thought he was lost,
and Caramon was looking, too.
“I think – ” Caramon began.
“Yes, dear,” said Laurana patiently. “This is the trail.
I came this way before, remember?”
“Ten years ago,” Tanis reminded her, turning to look
at her with a smile.
“Yes, ten years,” she said. “But I’m not likely to ever
forget it. I was with Silvara and Gilthanas . . . and Flint.
Dear old Flint.” She sighed and brushed her hand across
her cheek.
I felt a snuffle coming on, so I kept behind the tree
until I could choke it back down. I heard Tanis clear his
throat. He shifted uncomfortably in his saddle and moved
closer to Caramon. Their horses were nose to nose and
almost nose to nose with me.
“I was afraid this would happen,” Tanis said quietly. “I
tried to talk her out of coming, but she insisted. Damn
knights. Polishing up their armor and their memories of
glory from ten years ago, hoping that people will
remember the battle of the High Clerist’s Tower and forget
the Sacking of Throtl.”
Caramon blinked. “Was Throtl really? – ”
“Don’t exaggerate, Tanis,” said Laurana briskly,
riding up to join them. “And don’t worry about me. It’s
good to be reminded of those who have gone before us,
who wait for us at the end of our long journey. My
memories of my dear friends aren’t bitter. They don’t make
me unhappy, only sad. It is our loss, not theirs.” Her eyes
went to Caramon as she spoke.
The big man smiled, nodded his head in silent
understanding. He was thinking of Raistlin. I know
because I was thinking of Raistlin, too, and some fog got
into my eyes and made them go all watery. I thought about
what Caramon had put on the little stone marker he set up
in Solace in Raistlin’s honor.
ONE GRANTED PEACE FOR HIS SACRIFICE. ONE WHO
SLEEPS, AT REST. IN ETERNAL NIGHT.
Tanis scratched his beard. (His beard has little streaks
of gray in it now. It looks quite distinguished.) He looked
frustrated.
“You’ll see what I mean when we get there. The
knights have gone to all this trouble and expense, and I
don’t think it’s going to help matters. People don’t live in
the past. They live in the present. That’s what counts now.
The knights need to do something to bolster our faith in
them now, not remind us of what they were ten years ago.
Some are beginning to say it was all wizard’s work back
then anyway. Gods and magic.” He shook his head. “I
wish we could forget the past and get on with the future.”
“But we should remember the past, honor it,” said
Caramon, actually managing to finish a complete
sentence. He wouldn’t have managed that – Tanis was so
worked up – only Tanis had been forced to stop talking by
a sneeze. “If people are divided now, then it seems that we
should remind them of a time they came together.”
“If it would do that, it might be of some worth,” Tanis
muttered, sniffing. He was searching through his pockets,
probably for a handkerchief. He’s quite careless about
losing things. I know because I was holding onto his pack
at the time.
Here’s how it happened that I had his pack. I had
stepped out from behind the tree, ready to surprise him. I
caught hold of the pack, which had been tied (not very