Dragons Of Winter Night Part 34

"Kalaman," said Maq, settling back. She seemed amused. "That's a safe harbor. As safe as any these days. Half your money now. Half at Kalaman. Any farther is negotiable."

"Safe delivery to Kalaman," Tanis amended. delivery to Kalaman," Tanis amended.

"Who can promise?" Maq shrugged. "It's a rough time of year to travel by sea." She rose languidly, stretching like a cat. Caramon, standing up quickly, stared at her admiringly.

"It's a deal," she said. "Come on. I'll show you the ship."

Maq led them onto the deck. The ship seemed fit and trim as far as Tanis, who knew nothing about ships, could tell. Her voice and manner had been cold when they first talked to her, but when she showed them around her ship, she seemed to warm up. Tanis had seen the same expression, heard the same warm tones Maq used in talking about her ship that Tika used when talking about Caramon. The Perechon Perechon was obviously Maq's only love. was obviously Maq's only love.

The ship was quiet, empty. Her crew was ash.o.r.e, along with her first mate, Maq explained. The only other person Tanis saw on board was a man sitting by himself, mending a sail. The man looked up as they pa.s.sed, and Tanis saw his eyes widen in alarm at the sight of the dragon armor.

"Nocesta, Berem," Maq said to him soothingly as they pa.s.sed. She made a slashing motion with her hand, gesturing to Tanis and Caramon. "Nocesta. Customers. Money."

The man nodded and went back to his work.

"Who is he?" Tanis asked Maq in a low voice as they walked toward her cabin once more to conclude their business.

"Who? Berem?" she asked, glancing around. "He's the helmsman. Don't know much about him. He came around a few months back, looking for work. Took him on as a deck-swab. Then my helmsman was killed in a small altercation with-well, never mind. But this fellow turned out to be a d.a.m.n good hand at the wheel, better than the first, in fact. He's an odd one, though. A mute. Never speaks. Never goes ash.o.r.e, if he can help it. Wrote his name down for me in the ship's book, or I wouldn't have known that much about him. Why?" she asked, noticing Tanis studying the man intently.

Berem was tall, well-built. At first sight, one might guess him to be middle-aged, by human terms. His hair was gray; his face was clean shaven, deeply tanned, and weathered from months spent on board ship. But his eyes were youthful, clear, and bright. The hands that held the needle were smooth and strong, the hands of a young man. Elven blood, perhaps, Tanis thought, but if so it wasn't apparent in any of his features.

"I've seen him somewhere," Tanis murmured. "How about you, Caramon? Do you remember him?"

"Ah, come on," said the big warrior. "We've seen hundreds of people this past month, Tanis. He was probably in the audience at one of our shows.

"No." Tanis shook his head. "When I first saw him, I thought of Pax Tharkas and Sturm...."

"Hey, I got a lot of work to do, half-elf," Maquesta said. "You coming, or you gonna gawk at a guy st.i.tching a sail?"

She climbed down the hatch. Caramon followed clumsily, his sword and armor clanking. Reluctantly, Tanis went after them. But he turned for one final look at the man, and caught the man regarding him with a strange, penetrating gaze.

"All right, you go back to the inn with the others. I'll buy the supplies. We sail when the ship's ready. Maquesta says about four days."

"I wish it was sooner," muttered Caramon.

"So do I," said Tanis grimly. "There's too d.a.m.n many draconians around here. But we've got to wait for the tide or some such thing. Go back to the inn and keep everyone inside. Tell your brother to lay in a store of that herb stuff he drinks-we'll be at sea a long time. I'll be back in a few hours, after I get the supplies."

Tanis walked down the crowded streets of Flotsam, no one giving him a second glance in his dragon armor. He would be glad to take it off. It was hot, heavy and itchy. And he had trouble remembering to return the salutes of draconians and goblins. It was beginning to occur to him-as he saw the respect his uniform commanded-that the humans they stole the uniforms from must have held a high rank. The thought was not comforting. Any moment now, someone might recognize his armor.

But he couldn't do without it, he knew. There were more draconians in the streets than ever today. The air of tension in Flotsam was high. Most of the town's citizens were staying home, and most of the shops were closed-with the exception of the taverns. In fact, as he pa.s.sed one closed shop after another, Tanis began to worry about where he was going to buy supplies for the long ocean voyage.

Tanis was musing on this problem as he stared into a closed shop window, when a hand suddenly wrapped around his boot and yanked him to the ground.

The fall knocked the breath from the half-elf's body. He struck his head heavily on the cobblestones and-for a moment-was groggy with pain. Instinctively he kicked out at whatever had him by the feet, but the hands that grasped him were strong. He felt himself being dragged into a dark alley.

Shaking his head to clear it, he strained to look at his captor. It was an elf! His clothes filthy and torn, his elven features distorted by grief and hatred, the elf stood above him, a spear in his hand.

"Dragon man!" the elf snarled in Common. "Your foul kind slaughtered my family-my wife and my children! Murdered them in their beds, ignoring their pleas for mercy. This is for them!" The elf raised his spear.

"Shak! It mo dracosali!" Tanis cried desperately in elven, struggling to pull off his helmet. But the elf, driven insane by grief, was beyond hearing or understanding. His spear plunged downward. Suddenly the elf's eyes grew wide, riveted in shock. The spear fell from his nerveless fingers as a sword punctured him from behind. The dying elf fell with a shriek, landing heavily upon the pavement. Tanis cried desperately in elven, struggling to pull off his helmet. But the elf, driven insane by grief, was beyond hearing or understanding. His spear plunged downward. Suddenly the elf's eyes grew wide, riveted in shock. The spear fell from his nerveless fingers as a sword punctured him from behind. The dying elf fell with a shriek, landing heavily upon the pavement.

Tanis looked up in astonishment to see who had saved his life. A Dragon Highlord stood over the elf's body.

"I heard you shouting and saw one of my officers in trouble. I guessed you needed some help," said the Highlord, reaching out a gloved hand to help Tanis up.

Confused, dizzy with pain and knowing only that he mustn't give himself away, Tanis accepted the Highlord's hand and struggled to his feet. Ducking his face, thankful for the dark shadows in the alley, Tanis mumbled words of thanks in a harsh voice. Then he saw the Highlord's eyes behind the mask widen.

"Tanis?"

The half-elf felt a shudder run through his body, a pain as swift and sharp as the elven spear. He could not speak, he could only stare as the Highlord swiftly removed the blue and gold dragonmask.

"Tanis! It is is you!" the Highlord cried, grasping him by the arms. Tanis saw bright brown eyes, a crooked, charming smile. you!" the Highlord cried, grasping him by the arms. Tanis saw bright brown eyes, a crooked, charming smile.

"Kitiara..."

9.

Tanis captured.

So, Tanis! An officer, and in my own command. I should review my troops more often!" Kitiara laughed, sliding her arm through his. "You're shaking. You took a nasty fall. Come on. My rooms aren't far from here. We'll have a drink, patch up that wound, then...talk."

Dazed-but not from the head wound-Tanis let Kitiara lead him out of the alley onto the sidewalk. Too much had happened too fast. One minute he had been buying supplies and now he was walking arm in arm with a Dragon Highlord who had just saved his life and who was also the woman he had loved for so many years. He could not help but stare at her, and Kitiara-knowing his eyes were on her-returned his gaze from beneath her long, sooty-black eyelashes.

The gleaming, night-blue dragon-scale armor of the Highlords suited her well, Tanis caught himself thinking. It was tight-fitting, emphasizing the curves of her long legs.

Draconians swarmed around them, hoping for even a brief nod from the Highlord. But Kitiara ignored them, chatting breezily with Tanis as if it were only an afternoon since they had parted, instead of five years. He could not absorb her words, his brain was still fumbling to make sense of this, while his body was reacting-once again-to her nearness.

The mask had left her hair somewhat damp, the curls clung to her face and forehead. Casually she ran her gloved hand through her hair, shaking it out. It was an old habit of hers and that small gesture brought back memories- Tanis shook his head, struggling desperately to pull his shattered world together and attend to her words. The lives of his friends depended on what he did now.

"It's hot beneath that dragon helm!" she was saying. "I don't need the frightful thing to keep my men in line. Do I?" she asked, winking.

"N-no," Tanis stammered, feeling himself flush.

"Same old Tanis," she murmured, pressing her body against his. "You still blush like a schoolboy. But you were never like the others, never..." she added softly. Pulling him close, she put her arms around him. Closing her eyes, her moist lips brushed his....

"Kit-" Tanis said in a strangled voice, wrenching backward. "Not here! Not in the street," he added lamely.

For a moment Kitiara regarded him angrily, then-shrugging, she dropped her hand down to clasp his arm again. Together they continued along the street, the draconians leering and joking.

"Same Tanis," she said again, this time with a little, breathless sigh. "I don't know why I let you get away with it. Any other man who refused me like that would have died on my sword. Ah, here we are."

She entered the best inn in Flotsam, the Saltbreeze. Built high on a cliff, it overlooked the Blood Sea of Istar, whose waves broke on the rocks below. The innkeeper hurried forward.

"Is my room made up?" Kit asked coolly.

"Yes, Highlord," the innkeeper said, bowing again and again. As they ascended the stairs, the innkeeper hustled ahead of them to make certain that all was in order.

Kit glanced around. Finding everything satisfactory, she casually tossed the dragonhelm on a table and began pulling off her gloves. Sitting down in a chair, she raised her leg with sensual and deliberate abandon.

"My boots," she said to Tanis, smiling.

Swallowing, giving her a weak smile in return, Tanis gripped her leg in his hands. This had been an old game of theirs, him taking off her boots. It had always led to-Tanis tried to keep himself from thinking about that!

"Bring us a bottle of your finest wine," Kitiara told the hovering innkeeper, "and two gla.s.ses." She raised her other leg, her brown eyes on Tanis. "Then leave us alone."

"But-my lord-" the innkeeper said hesitantly, "there have been messages from Dragon Highlord Ariakas...."

"If you show your face in this room-after you bring the wine-I'll cut off your ears," Kitiara said pleasantly. But, as she spoke, she drew a gleaming dagger from her belt. you bring the wine-I'll cut off your ears," Kitiara said pleasantly. But, as she spoke, she drew a gleaming dagger from her belt.

The innkeeper turned pale, nodded, and left hurriedly.

Kit laughed. "There!" she said, wiggling her toes in their blue silken hose. "Now, I'll take off your boots-"

"I-I really must go," Tanis said, sweating beneath his armor. "My c-company commander will be missing me..."

"But I'm I'm commander of your company!" Kit said gaily. "And tomorrow y commander of your company!" Kit said gaily. "And tomorrow you'll be commander of your company. Or higher, if you like. Now, sit down." be commander of your company. Or higher, if you like. Now, sit down."

Tanis could do nothing but obey, knowing, however, that in his heart he wanted wanted to do nothing but obey. to do nothing but obey.

"It's so good to see you," Kit said, kneeling before him and tugging at his boot. "I'm sorry I missed the reunion in Solace. How is everyone? How is Sturm? Probably fighting with the Knights, I suppose. I'm not surprised you two separated. That was one friendship I never could understand-"

Kitiara talked on, but Tanis ceased to listen. He could only look at her. He had forgotten how lovely she was, how sensual, inviting. Desperately he concentrated on his own danger. But all he could think of were nights of bliss spent with Kitiara.

At that moment, Kit looked up into his eyes. Caught and held by the pa.s.sion she saw in them, she let his boot slip from her hands. Involuntarily, Tanis reached out and drew her near. Kitiara slid her hand around his neck and pressed her lips against his.

At her touch, the desires and longings that had tormented Tanis for five years surged through his body. Her fragrance, warm and womanly-mingled with the smell of leather and steel. Her kiss was like flame. The pain was unbearable. Tanis knew only one way to end it.

When the innkeeper knocked on the door, he received no answer. Shaking his head in admiration-this was the third man in as many days-he set the wine upon the floor and left.

"And now," Kitiara murmured sleepily, lying in Tanis's arms. "Tell me about my little brothers. Are they with you? The last I saw them, you were escaping from Tarsis with that elf woman."

"That was you!" Tanis said, remembering the blue dragons.

"Of course!" Kit cuddled nearer. "I like the beard," she said, stroking his face. "It hides those weak elvish features. How did you get into the army?"

How indeed? thought Tanis frantically.

"We...were captured in Silvanesti. One of the officers convinced me I was a fool to fight the D-Dark Queen."

"And my little brothers?"

"We-we were separated," Tanis said weakly.

"A pity," Kit said with a sigh. "I'd like to see them again. Caramon must be a giant by now. And Raistlin-I hear he is quite a skilled mage. Still wearing the Red Robes?"

"I-I guess," Tanis muttered. "I haven't seen him-"

"That won't last long," Kit said complacently. "He's like me. Raist always craved power..."

"What about you?" Tanis interrupted quickly. "What are you doing here, so far from the action? The fighting's north-"

"Why, I'm here for the same reason you are," Kit answered, opening her eyes wide. "Searching for the Green Gemstone Man, of course."

"That's where I've seen him before!" Tanis said, memories flooding his mind. The man on the Perechon Perechon! The man in Pax Tharkas, escaping with poor Eben. The man with the green gemstone embedded in the center of his chest.

"You've found him!" Kitiara said, sitting up eagerly. "Where, Tanis? Where?" Her brown eyes glittered.

"I'm not sure," Tanis said, faltering. "I'm not sure it was him. I-we were just given a rough description...."

"He looks about fifty in human years," Kit said in excitement, "but he has strange, young eyes, and his hands are young. And in the flesh of his chest is a green gemstone. We had reports he was sighted in Flotsam. That's why the Dark Queen sent me here. He's the key, Tanis! Find him-and no force on Krynn can stop us!"

"Why?" Tanis made himself ask calmly. "What's he got that's so essential to-uh-our side winning this war?"

"Who knows?" Shrugging her slender shoulders, Kit lay back in Tanis's arms. "You're shivering. Here, this will warm you." She kissed his neck, running her hands over his body. "We were just told the most important thing we could do to end this war in one swift stroke is to find this man."

Tanis swallowed, feeling himself warming to her touch.

"Just think," Kitiara whispered in his ear, her breath hot and moist against his skin, "if we found him-you and I-we would have all of Krynn at our feet! The Dark Queen would reward us beyond anything we ever dreamed! You and I, together always, Tanis. Let's go now!"

Her words echoed in his mind. The two of them, together, forever. Ending the war. Ruling Krynn. No, he thought, feeling his throat constrict. This is madness! Insanity! My people, my friends.... Yet, haven't I done enough? What do I owe any of them, humans or elves? Nothing! They are the ones who have hurt me, derided me! All these years, a cast-out. Why think about them? Me! Me! It's time I thought about It's time I thought about me me for a change! This is the woman I've dreamed of for so long. And she can be mine! Kitiara...so beautiful, so desirable... for a change! This is the woman I've dreamed of for so long. And she can be mine! Kitiara...so beautiful, so desirable...

"No!" Tanis said harshly, then, "No," he said more gently. Reaching out his hand, he pulled her back near him. "Tomorrow will do. If it was him, he isn't going anywhere. I know...."

Kitiara smiled and, with a sigh, lay back down. Tanis, bending over her, kissed her pa.s.sionately. Far away, he could hear the waves of the Blood Sea of Istar crashing on the sh.o.r.e.

10.

The High Clerist's Tower.

The knighting.

By morning, the storm over Solamnia had blown itself out. The sun rose, a disk of pale gold that warmed nothing. The knights who stood watch upon the battlements of the Tower of the High Clerist went thankfully to their beds, talking of the wonders they had seen during the awful night, for such a storm as this had not been known in the lands of Solamnia since the days after the Cataclysm. Those who took over the watch from their fellow knights were nearly as weary; no one had slept.

Now they looked out upon a plain covered with snow and ice. Here and there the landscape was dotted with flickering flames where trees, blasted by the jagged lightning that had streaked out of the sky during the blizzard, burned eerily. But it was not to those strange flames the eyes of the knights turned as they ascended the battlements. It was to the flames that burned upon the horizon-hundreds and hundreds of flames, filling the clear, cold air with their foul smoke.

The campfires of war. The campfires of the dragonarmies.