could have walked around, talking to people. But Tanis
said I was to stay close to him or to Caramon or Laurana.
I thought it was sweet that they wanted me close by
them that much, and so I did what Tanis said, though I
pointed out that it would be more polite if I were to
mingle with the other guests.
Tanis said that on no account was I to mingle.
“I didn’t bring him,” Tanis was telling Lord Gunthar.
“Somehow or other he got hold of an invitation. Besides,
he has a right to be here. He’s just as much as hero as any
of us. Maybe more.”
Again I wondered who Tanis was talking about. This
person sounded like an interesting fellow to me. Tanis
was going to say more except he sneezed. He must have
caught a really nasty cold out there in Foghaven Vale.
(I’ve often wondered why we say “you’ve caught a cold.” I
mean, no one I ever knew went out after a cold. And I
never heard of anyone going cold-chasing. It seems to me
that it would make more sense to say the cold’s caught
you.)
“Bless you,” Lord Gunthar said, then he sighed. “I
suppose there’s no help for it. You’ll keep an eye on him,
won’t you?”
Tanis promised he would. I gave him his
handkerchief. Odd, the way he kept losing it. Lord
Gunthar turned to me.
“Burrfoot, my old friend,” he said, putting his hands
behind his back. A lot of people have a habit of doing that
when we’re introduced. “So glad to see you again. I hope
the roads you travel have been sunny and straight.” (That
is a polite form of greeting to a kender and I thought it
very fine of the knight to use it. Not many people are that
considerate.)
“Thank you, Sir Gunthar,” I said, holding out my
hand.
He sighed and shook hands. I noticed he was wearing
a very nice set of silver bracers and a most elegant dagger.
“I hope your lady wife is well?” I asked, not to be
outdone in politeness. This was, after all, a Formal
Occasion.
“Yes, thank you,” said Gunthar. “She . . . um . . .
appreciated the Yule gift.”
“Did she?” I was excited. “I’m really glad she liked it. I
always think of the time Fizban and I spent Yule at your
castle, right after … er … after . . .”
Well, I almost told the story I wasn’t supposed to tell,
right there! Which would have been terrible 1 I caught
myself in time.
“I – I mean right before the Council of Whitestone.
When I broke the dragon orb. And Theros smashed the
rock with the dragonlance. Has she used it yet?”
“The lance?” Gunthar seemed somewhat confused.
“No, no, the Yule present,” I corrected him.
“Well . . . that is . . .” Gunthar looked embarrassed.
“The wizard Dalamar advised us that we shouldn’t. . .”
“Ah, so it WAS magical.” I nodded. “I had a feeling it
might be. I wanted to try it myself, but I’ve had a couple of
experiences with magic rings and while they’ve certainly
been interesting experiences, I didn’t feel like being turned
into a mouse or being magicked into the castle of an evil
wizard just at that particular time. It wasn’t convenient, if
you know what I mean.”
“Yes,” said Lord Gunthar, tugging on his moustaches.
“I understand.”
“Plus, I think we should share experiences like that.
It’s selfish to keep them all to ourselves. Not that I’d want
your lady wife to be magicked into the castle of an evil
wizard. Unless she really felt inclined for the trip, that is.
It does make a nice change of pace. For example, did I
ever tell you about the time that I was – ”
“Excuse me,” said Lord Gunthar. “I must go welcome
our other guests.”
He bowed, checked to see that he was still wearing his
bracers, and left.
“A very polite man,” I said.
“Give me the dagger,” Tanis said, sighing.
“What dagger? I’m not carrying a dagger.”
Then I noticed I WAS carrying a dagger. An elegant