of the Lance. I wasn’t to say anything, just bow and look
honored.
Then the knights would sing and go off to pray at
Huma’s Tomb and, since I wasn’t permitted to go there
(which I don’t know why since I was there several times
before, as you’ll hear), I could leave and maybe we’d go
have dinner.
I didn’t feel at all hungry, but I told Tanis that would be
fine with me. And I hid behind Caramon (six kender could
hide behind him), so that Owen wouldn’t see me, and I
hoped it would all be over soon. I was so nervous I’d
forgotten to ask Lord Gunthar about Fizban, who hadn’t
come anyhow.
The ceremony started. Lord Gunthar and all the
dignitaries lined up in front of the dragonlances that stand
all around the front end Upper Gallery. I heard the
beginning of Lord Gunthar’s speech. This was it:
“We knights come to rededicate ourselves to continue
the fight against the evil that exists still in the world.
“For the Queen of Darkness wages unceasing eternal
war against the powers of good. Though her dragons have
retreated to hidden places, they continue to ravage the
land. Her armies of goblins and draconians and ogres and
other wicked creatures rise up from dark places to
slaughter and burn and plunder.”
This was interesting and I began to breathe easier, but
right then he started going on about the magic of the
dragonlances that had been blessed by Paladine himself
and how the magic dragonlances had been responsible for
defeating the Dark Queen’s dragons. The more Lord
Gunthar talked like this, the worse the queer feeling in my
stomach grew.
Then I was hot and cold, both at the same time, which
might sound entertaining to you, but I can assure you it
isn’t. Take my word. It’s very uncomfortable. Then the
room began to bulge in and out.
Lord Gunthar introduced Theros Ironfeld and talked
about how he forged the magical lance. Then Lord
Gunthar brought forth Sir Owen Glendower.
“The first knight ever to use the dragonlance in
battle.”
And someone gave a kind of strangled choke and
tumbled down on the floor in what Tanis said was a fit,
but which I think was a state of nervous prostration. At
first I thought it was me, but I realized it wasn’t, because I
was on my feet.
It was Sir Owen Glendower.
That put an end to the ceremony real quick.
I could have left then, because Tanis let loose of me and
ran over to Owen. Everyone was running over to Owen –
to see him having his fit, I suppose. I’m sure it must have
been exciting, to judge by the sounds he was making –
gurgling and thrashing about on the floor – and I would
have liked to have seen it myself, except I wasn’t certain
that I wouldn’t be having a fit of my own any minute.
“Stand back!” cried Caramon. “Give him air.”
Poor Caramon. As if he thought we’d suck up all the
air in that big chamber and not leave any for Owen to have
his fit with. But everyone did what Caramon said (they
generally do, I’ve noticed, especially when he flexes his
arm muscles) and they all backed up, except for Owen’s
son, who was kneeling beside his father and looking
terribly worried and anxious.
Lady Crysania . . . (Did I mention she was there
now?) Anyway, Lady Crysania (she was there) knelt down
and put her hands on the knight’s head and she prayed to
Paladine and Owen Glendower quit flopping around. But I
couldn’t see that he’d improved much. He was lying still as
death and his breathing sounded real funny – when he
remembered to breathe at all.
“He needs rest and quiet,” said Lady Crysania. “No, it
would be better not to move him. We must keep him
warm. Make a pallet for him here.”
They all piled up cloaks and furs and Theros and
Caramon lifted the knight very, very gently and laid him
on the pallet. Laurana covered him up with her own fur
cape. Gwynfor sat down beside his father and held his