Dwarven Nations - Hammer And Axe Part 51

"I know how;" Tas said in a broken whisper.

"IhJllat7" Laurana asked. "You know! Why didn't you-"

"I didn't know I knew-so to speak;' Tas stammered. "It just came to me. Gnosh- the gnome-told me that he discovered writing inside the orb, letters that swirled around in the mist. He couldn't read them, he said, because they were written in some sort of strange language-"

"The language of magic:'

"Yes, that's what t said and-"

"But that want help us! We can't either of us speak it. If only Raistlin-"

'We don't need Raistlin;' Tas interrupted- "I can't speak it, but I can read it.

You see, I have these gla.s.ses-gla.s.ses of true seeing, Raistlin called there.

They let me read languages-even the language of magic. I know because he said if he caught me reading any of his scrolls he'd turn me into a cricket and swallow me whole."

"And you think you can read the orb?"

"7.cantry,"Tashedged" "but, Laurana, Sturm said there probably wouldn't be any dragons. Why should we risk even bath-: sting with the arb7 Fizbam said only the most powerful: magic-users dared use it,"

"Listen to me, Ta.s.slehoff BuxeEaot;" Laurana said softly"] kneeling down beside the kender and staring him straight in the eye. 'If they bring even one dragon here, we're finished. That's why they gave us time to surrender instead of just storming the place They're using the extra time to bring im dragons. 4 ~ mruust take this chance!"

.r'I dark path and a light path. Ta.s.slehoff remembered T~ ban's. words and hung his head. Death of those you ,love, be yon have .t'5e covrage.

Slowly Tanis reached into the post of his fleecy vest, pulls ovn the gla.s.ses, and fit the wire frames over his pointed ears, I3.

EJ'he sun rises. Darkness descends.

- _~e fog lifted with the coming of morning. The day dawned bright and clear-so clear that Sturm, walking Che battlements, could see the snow-covered gra.s.slands of his birthplace near Vingaard Keep-lands now cc~mp]etely contrl led by the dragonarmies. The sun's first rays struck the flag ef the Knights-kingfisher beneath a golden cr.:)',vn, holding a sword decorated with a rose in his claws. The golden emblem glittered in the morning light. Then Sturm herd the harsh, blaring horns.

The dragonarmies marched upon the Tower at dawn, DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES.

The young knights-the hundred or so that were left-stood silently on the battlements watching as the vast army crawled across the land with the inexorability of devouring insects. At first Sturm had wondered about the knight's dying words. "They ran before us!" Why had the draganarmy run? Then it became clear to him-the dragonmen had used the knights :: own vainglory against them in an ancient, yet sample, maneuver. Fall back before your enemy . . . not too fast, just let the front lines show enough fear and terror to be believable.

Let them seem to break in panic, Then let your enemy charge after you, overextending his lines. And let your armies close in, surround him, and cut hire to shreds.

It didn't need the sight of the bodies-barely visible in the-# distant trampled, b.l.o.o.d.y snow-to tell Sturm he had judged= correctly. They lay where they had tried desperately to regroup for a final stand. Not that it mattered how they died. He wo ,' dered who would) look an his body when it was all over. Flint peered out from a crack in the wall. "At least I'll die dry land.," the dwarf muttered.

Sturm smiled slightly, stroking his moustaches. His eyes went to the east. As he thought about dying, he looked up the land where he'd been born -a home he had barely known, a father he barely remembered, a country that had driven his family into exile. He was about to give his life to defend that country^. Why?

Why didn't he just leave and go back to Palanthas?

All of his life he had followed the Code and the Measure.

Code: Est Suiax'us oth Mithas-My Honor Is My Life. The Code was all he had left.

The Measure was gone. It was Rigld, inflexible, the Measure had encased the Knights in heavier than their armor. The Knights, isolated, Eigl-.tingta_ vive, had dung to the Measure in despair-not realizing twas dal anchor, weighing them down..

Why was I different? Sturm wondered. But he knew the answer, even as he listened to the dwarf grumble. It' because of the dwarf, the kender, the mage~, the half- elf.

They had taught .him ko see the world. through other ,slanted eyes, smaller eyes, even hourgla.s.s eyes. I~nig~t~ Derek saw the world in stark black and white.. Sturm had: the world in all its radiant colors, in all its bleak grays.

"It's time;' he said to Flint. The two descended from the high lookout point just as the first of the enemy's poison-tipped arrows arched over the walls.

With shrieks and yells the blaring of horns, and clashing of shield and sword, the dragonarmies struck the Tower of the High Clerist as the sun's brittle light filled the sky.

By nightfall, the flag still flew. The Tower stood.

But half its defenders were dead.

The living had no time during the day to shut the staring eyes or compose the contorted, agonised limbs, The living had all they could do to stay alive. Peace came at last with the night, as the dragonarmies withdrew to rest and wait for the morrow.

Sturm paced the battlements, his body aching with weariness. Yet every time he tried to rest taut muscles twitched and danced, his brain seemed an fire. And so he was driven to pace again-back and forth, back and forth with slow, measured tread. He could not know that his steady pace drove the day's ?lorrors from the thoughts of the young knights who listened.

:nights in the courtyard, laying out the bodies of friends and comrades, thinking that tomorrow someone might be doing this for them, heard Sturm's steady pacing and felt their fears for tomorrow eased.

The ringing sound of the knight's footfalls brought comfort to even-one, in fact; except to the knight himself. Sturm's thoughts were dark and tormented: thoughts of defeat; thoughts of dying ign.o.bly; without honor; tortured memories of the dream, seeing his body harked and mutilated by the foul creatures camped beyond. Would the dream came true? he wondered, shivering. 'A'ou]dhe falter at the end, unable to con- quer fear? Would the -Code tail him, as had the h9easure7 Step. . . ste p . . step . . . step, .

Stop this! Sturm told himself angrily. You'll soon be mad as pour Derek.

Spinning abruptly on his heel to break .his stride, the knight turned to find Laurana behind him. His eyes met hers, and the black thoughts "",ere brightened by her light. As lnq as such peace and beauty as hers existed in this world there was h~ape, p-fe smiled at her and she smiled back.-a strained sn'"le-but it erased lines of )fatigue surd wogry in her face.

"Rest;' he told her. "You look exhausted." "I tried to sleep;' she murmured, "but I had terrible dreamshands encased in crystal, huge dragons flying through stone hallways' She shook her head, then sat down, exhausted, in a corner sheltered from the chill wind.

Sturm's gaze moved to Ta.s.slehoff, who lay beside her. The kender was fast asleep, curled into a ball. Sturm looked at him with a smile. Nothing bothered Tas. The kendei d had a truly glorious day-one that would live in his memory forever.

"I've never been at a siege before;' Sturm had heard Tas confide to Flint just seconds before the dwarf's battle-axe swept off a goblin"s head.

"You know were all going to die;' Flint growled, wiping black blood from his axe blade.

"That"s what you said when we faced that black dragon in, Xak Tsaaoth;' Tas replied. "Then you said the same thing '

Tharbardin; and then there was the boat-'

"This time we're .going to die!" Flint roared in a rage. '"lf have to kill you myself!'

But their hadn't died-at least not today. There's alwa tomorrow, Sturm thought, his gaze resting on the dwarf leaned against a stone wall, carving at a block of wood.

Flint looked up. 'When will it start?" he asked.

Sturm sighed, has gaze shifting out to the eastern 'Dawn," he replied. "A few hours yet."

The dwarf nodded. "Can we hold?" His voice was matter fact, the hand that held the wood firm and steady.

"4~,'e must;' Sturm replied. "The messenger will read& Pa thas tonight. If they act at once, a*s still a two-day march reach u:;.- a must give them two. days-"

"If they act at oncefi" Flint grunted.

"I know . . ;' Sturrcv said softly, sighing. "You should les he turned to Laurana, who carne out of her reverie witha s! "Go to f 'al.anthas.

Convince them of the danger."

"Your messenger must .da that" Laurana said tiredly. "If no words of mine will sway them:'

"Laurana:" he began.

"Do. grow geed me" she asked abruptly. "Am I of use "You know you are," Sturm answered. He had the elfmaid's unflagging strength, Ih~er courage, and her with the bar.

"Then I'm staying;' Laurana said simply. Drawing the blanround her, she closed her eyes. "I can't sleep, she whispered. But within a few momentskender's.

Sturm shook his head, swallowing a choking thickness in his throat. His glance met Flint's. The dwarf sighed and went back to his carving, Neither spoke, both men thinking the same thing. Their deaths would be bad if the draconians overran the Tower. Laurana's death could be a thing of nightmares.

The eastern sky was brightening, foretelling the sun's approach, when the knights were roused from their fitful slumber by the blaring of horns. Hastily they rose, grabbed their weapons, and stood to the walls, peering out across the dark land- The campfires of the dragonarmies burred low, allowed to go out as daylight neared. They could hear the sounds of life returning to the horrible body. The knights gripped their weap- ons, wading, Then they turned to each other, bewildered.

The dragonarmies were retreating! Although only dimly seen in the faint &alflight, it was obvious that the black tide was slowly withdrawing. Stucrn Tnratched puzzled. The armies moved back, just over the horizon. But they were still out there, Sturm knew, He sensed them.

Some of the Younger knights began to cheer.

"Keep quiet!" Sturrn commanded harshly, Their shouts grated an his raw nerves. Laurana came to stand beside him and glanced at him in astonishment. His face was gray and hag- gard in the flickering torchlight. His gloved Fists, resting atop the battle=rents, clenched and unclenched nervously. His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward staring eastward, La'srana, sensing the rising fear within IIirn, fell her own body grov, chill.

She remembered what she had told Tas. "Is it what we feared" she asked, her hand an his arm. "P ay we are wrong!'' he spoke softl*r,. in a broker; voice. Minutes pa.s.sed. Nothing happened. Flint came to join them, cla.mLeI.2.,g up on a huge slab of broken stone to see over the edge of !he L%~all. 'Tas woke, yawning. "When.'s breakfast?" the kender inquired' cheerfully, but no one Paid any attention to, him.

Still they watched and waited. Now all the knights, each of them feeling the same rising fear, lined the walls, staring eastward without any clear idea why.

"What is it?" Tas whispered. Climbing up to stand beside Flint, he saw the small red sliver of sun burning on the horizon, its orange fire turning the night sky purple, dimming the stars. "What are we looking at?" Tas whispered, nudging Flint. "Nothing" Flint grumbled. "Then why are we looking-" The kender caught his breath with a sharp gulp. "Sturm- he quavered. "Mat is it?" the knight demanded, turning in alarm. Tas kept staring. The rest followed his gaze, but their eyes were no match for the kender's. "Dragons . . :' Ta.s.slehoff replied.

"Blue dragons." 'I thought as much; Sturm said softly. "The draganfear. That's why they pulled the armies back.. The humans fighting among them could not withstand it. How many dragonsd" 'Three,"' answered Laurana. "I can see them now:' "Three," Sturm repeated, his voice empty, expressionless. "Listen, Sturm-"

Laurana dragged him back away from the wall. I-we-weren't going to say anything.

It might not have mattered, but it does now. Ta.s.slehoff and I know haw to usethe dragon orb!"

'Dragon orb?'4 Sturm muttered, not really listening, D 'The orb here, Stux^rnl" Laurana persisted, her hands clutching him eagerly.

'The one below the Tower. in the very center. Tay shared it to me. Three long, wide hallways lead to it and-I and-' Her voice died. Suddenly she saw vividly, as her subconscioushad seen during the night, dragons flying down sion halls . .

"Sturrrt!" she shouted, shaking him in her excitement. know how the orb worksl I know how to kill the drago Now, if we dust have the time-"

Sturm, caught, held of her, his strong hands grasping her the shoulders. In all the months he flail known her, Hle could recall seeing her more beautiful. Her fac pale with wearing was alight with excitement.

"Tell me, quickly,"' he ordered.

Laurana explain, her words falling over themselves as she painted a picture to him that became clearer as her as talked. Flint and Tas watched from behind Sturm, the dwarf's face aghast, the kender's face filled with consternation.

"Who'll use the orb?" Sturm asked slowly.

"I will," Laurana replied.

"But, Laurana;' Ta.s.slehoff cried, "Fizban said-'

"Tas, shut up!" Laurana said through clenched teeth. "Please, Sturm!" she urged.

"It's our only hope. We have the dragonlances-and the dragon arbl"

The knight looked at her, then toward the dragons speeding out of the ever- brightening east.

"Very well;" he said finally. "Flint, you and Tas go down and gather the men together in the center courtyard. Hurry!"

Ta.s.slehoff, giving Laurana a last, troubled glance, jumped down from the rock where he and the dwarf had been standing. Flirt came after him more slowly, his face somber and thoughtful. Reaching the ground, he walked up to Sturm.

Must you? Flint asked Sturm silently, as their eyes met. Sturm nodded once. Glancing at Laurana, he smiled sadly. "I'll tell her," he said softly. "Take cam of the kender. Good-bye, my friend:"

Flint swallowed, shaking his old head. Then, his face a mask of sorrow, the dwarf brushed his gnarled hand across his eyes and gave Tas a shove in the back.

"Get moving!" the dwarf snapped.

Tas turned to look at him do astonishment, then shrugged and ran skipping along the tap of the battlements, his shrill voice shouting out to the startled knights.

Laurana's face glowed. "You come, too, Sturml" she said, tugging at him like a child eager to show a parent a new toy. "I'll explain this to the men if you want. Then you can give the orders and ,arrange the battle disposition-"

"You're in command, Laurana," Sturm said.

"What?" Laurana stopped, fear replacing the hope in her heart so suddenly the pain made her gasp.

"You said you needed time;" Sturm said, adjusting his swordbelt, avoiding her eyes. "You're right. You must get the men in Position. You must have tune to use the orb. I will gain you that time." Re picked up a bow and aquiver of .arrows.

"No! Sturm! " Laurana shivered with terror. 'You can't mean this! I can't command! I need you! Sturm, don't -do this to yourself!" Her voice died to a whisper, "Don't do this to me!"

"You can command, Laurana," Sturm said, taking her head in his hands. Leaning forward, he kissed her gently. "Farewell, elEmaid;' he said softly. "Your light will shine in this world. It is time for mine to darken. Don't grieve, dear one.

Don't cry:" He held her close. "The Forestmaster said to us, in Darken Wood, that we should not mourn those who have fulfilled their destiny. Mine is fulfilled. Now, hurry, Laurana. You'll need every second:'

"At least take the dragonlance with you;' she begged.

Sturm shook his head, his hand on the antique sword of his father. "I don't know how to use it. Good-bye, Laurana. Tell Tanis-" He stopped, then he sighed. "No;"

he said with a slight smile. "He will know what was in my heart."

"Sturm , . :" Laurana's tears choked her into silence. She could only stare at hire in mute appeal.

"Go;' he said.

Stumbling blindly, Laurana turned around and somehow made her way dawn the stairs to the courtyard below. Here she felt a strong, hand grasp hers.

"Flint;" she began, sobbing painfully, "he, Sturm . . :'