Dwarven Nations - Hammer And Axe Part 8

Laurana did not seem to have heard him. Her hands in her lap twisted nervously..

This was the perfect opportunity to ask the questions she longed to ask, but it would mean giving up a part of her inner self to this man she feared and distrusted. But her curiosity-and her love-were ton great. She never realized she was falling into a cunningly baited trap. For Raistlin delighted nn discovering the secrets of people's souls, knowing he might find them useful.

"What did you do then^"she asked, swallowing. "Did I Kitiara . . :" Trying to appear natural, she stumbled aver 'he name and flushed in embarra.s.sment.

Raistlin watched Laurana's inner straggle with interest. "Kitiara was gone by then;" he answered. "She left home when she was fifteen, earning her living by her sword. She is an expert-so Caramon tells me-and hall no trouble finding mercenary work. Ch, she returned every so often, to see how we were getting along. When we were olden, and more skilled" she took us with her. That was where Caramon and a learned to fight together-I using my magic, my brother his sword. Then; after she met Tanis"- Raistlin's eyes glittered at Laurana's discomfiture-"she traveled with us more often:'

"Traveled with whom? Where did you go?"

"There was Sturm Brightblade, already dreaming of knighthood, the kender, Tanis, Caramon, and I. We traveled with Flint, before he retired from metalsmithing.

The roads grew so dangerous that Flint gave up traveling. And, by this time, we had all learned as much as we could from our friends. We were growing restless.

It was time to separate, Tanis said:"

"And you did as he said? He was your leader, even then?" She looked back to remember him as she had known him before he left Qualinost, beardless and lacking the lines of care and worry she saw now on his face. But even then he was withdrawn and brooding, tormented by his feelings of belonging to lath races-and to neither. She hadn't understood him then. Only now, after living in a world of humans, was she beginning to.

"He has the qualities we are told are essential for leadership, He is quick- thinking, intelligent, creative. But most of us possess these-in greater or lesser degree. Why do the others follow Tanis? Sturm is off n.o.ble blood, member of an order whose rants go back to ancient times. Why does he obey a b.a.s.t.a.r.d half-elf? And Riverwind? He distrusts all who are not human and half who are.

Yet he and Goldmoon both would follow Tanis to the Abyss and back. Why?"

"I have wondered;" Laurana began, "and I think-'

But Raistlin, ignoring her, answered his own question. "'Tanis listens to his feelings. He does, not suppress them, as does the knight, or hide them, as does the Plainsman. Tanis realizes that sometimes a leather must think with leis heart and not his head:" Raistlin glanced at her- "Remember that:"

Laurana blinked, confused for a moment, then, sensing a tone of superiority in the mage which irritated her, she said loftily, 'I native you leave out yourself. If you are as intelligent and powerful as you claim, why do you follow Tanis?"

Raistlin's hourgla.s.s ewes were dark and hooded. He stopped talking as Caramon brought this twin .a cup and carefully poured water from tile kettle. The warrior glanced at Laurana, his face dark, embarra.s.sed and uncomfortable as always whenever his brother went on like this.

Raistlin did not seem to notice. Pulling a pouch from his pack, he sprinkled some green leaves into the hot water. A pungent, acrid smell filled the room. "I do not follow him:' The young mage looked up at Laurana. "Far the time being, Tanis and I simply happen to be traveling in the same direction:"

"The Knights of Solamnia are not welcome in our city;" the Lord said sternly, his face serious. His dark gaze swept the rest of the company. "Nor are elves, kender, or dwarves, or those who travel in their company. I understand you also have a magic-user with you, one who wears the red robes. You wear armor. Your weapons are blood-stained and come quickly and readily to your hands. Obviously you are skilled warriors:"

"Mercenaries, undoubtedly, milord;' the constable said.

"We are not mercenaries;' Sturm said, coming to stand before the bench, his bearing proud and n.o.ble. "We come out of the northern Plains of Abanasinia. We freed eight hundred men, women, and children from the Dragon Highlord, Verminaard, in Pax Tharkas. Fleeing the wrath of the dragonarmies, we left the people hidden in a valley in the mountains and traveled south, hoping to find ships in the legendary city of Tarsis. We did not know it was landlocked, or we would not have bothered:"

The Lard frowned. "You say you came from the north? That is impossible. No one has ever come safely through the mountain kingdom of the dwarves in Thorbardin."

"If you know ought of the Knights of Solamnia, you know we would die sooner than tell a lie-even to our enemies;" Sturm said. "We entered the dwarven kingdom and won safe pa.s.sage by finding and restoring to them the lost Hammer of Kharas:'

The Lord shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the draconian who sat behind him. "I do know somewhat of the knights," he said reluctantly. "And therefore I rnust believe your story, though it sounds more a child's bedtime tale than-"

Suddenly the doors banged open and two guards strode in, roughly dragging a prisoner between them. They thrust the companions, aside as they flung their prisoner to the floor. The prisoner was a woman. Heavily veiled, she was dressed in long skirts and a heavy cape. She lay for a moment on the floor, as if too tired or defeated to rise. Then, seeming to make a supreme effort of will, she started to push herself up. Obviously no one was going to a.s.sist her. The Lord stared at her, his face grim and scowling. The draconian behind him had risen to its feet and was looking down at her with interest. The woman struggled, entangled in her cape and her long, flowing skirts.

Then Sturm was at her side.

The knight had watched in horror, appalled at this calloustreatment of a woman.

He glanced at Tanis, saw the evercautious half-elf shake his head, but the sight of the woman making a gallant effort to rise proved too much for the knight. He took a step forward, and found a hauberk thrust in front of him.

"Kill me if you will;' the knight said to the guard, "but, I am going to the aid of the lady:"

The guard blinked and stepped back, his eyes looking up at the Lord for orders.

The Lord shook his head slightly. Tanis, watching closely, held his breath. Then he thought he saw the Lord smile, quickly covering it with his hand.

"My lady, allow me to a.s.sist you;' Sturm said with the courtly, old-fashioned politeness long lost in the world. His strong hands gently raised her to her feet.

"You had better leave me, sir knight,"' the woman said, her words barely audible from behind her veil. But at the sound of her voice, Tanis. and Gilthanas gasped softly; glancing at each other. "You do not know what you do;" she said. "You risk your life-"

'It is my privilege to do so;' Sturm said, bowing. Then he stood near her protectively, his eyes on the guards.

"She is Silvanesti elven!" Gilthanas whispered to Tanis. 'Does Sturm know?"

"Of course not;" Tanis said softly. "How could he? I barely recognised her accent myself."

"What could she be doing here? Silvanesti is far away-"

A-" Tanis began, but one of the guards shoved him in the back. He fell silent just as the Lard started to speak.

"Lady Alhana;' he said in a cold voice, "you were warned to leave thus city. I was. merciful last time you came before me because you were on a diplomatic mission from your people, and protocol is still honored in Tarsis. I told you then, however, you could expect no help from us and gave you twentyfour hours to depart. Now I find you still here:' He looked over at the guards. "What is the charge?"

"Trying to buy mercenaries, milord;' the constable replied. "She was picked up in an inn along the Old Waterfront, milord:' The constable gave Sturm a scathing glance. "It was a good thing she didn't meet up with this lot. Of course, no one in Tarsis would aid an elf:"

"Alhana;" Tanis muttered to himself. He edged over to Gilthanas. "Why is that name familiar?"

"Have you been gone from your people so long you do not recognize the name?" the elf answered softly in elven. "There was only one among our Silvanesti cousins railed Alhana, Alhana Starbreeze, daughter of the Speaker of the Stars, princess of her people, ruler when her father dies, far she has no brothers:'

"Alhana!" Tanis said, memories coming back to him. The elven people were split hundreds of years before, when KithKanan led many of the elves to the land of Qualinesti following the bitter Kinslayer wars. But the elven leaders still kept in contact in the mysterious manner of the elflords who, it is said, can read messages in the wind and speak the language of the silver moon. Now he remembered Alhana-of all elf maidens reputed to be the most beautiful, and distant as the silver moon that shone on her birth.

The draconian leaned down to confer with the Lard. Tanis saw the man's face darken, and it seemed as if he was about to disagree, then he bit his lip and, sighing, nodded his head. The draconian melted back into the shadows once more.

"You are under arrest, Lady Alhana;" the Lord' said heavily. Sturm took a step nearer the woman as the guards closed in around her. Sturm threw back his head and cast them all a warning glance. So confident and n.o.ble did he appear, even unarmed, that the guards hesitated. Still, their Lord had given them an order.

"You better do something;" Flint growled.. "I'm all for chivalry, but there's a time and a place and this isn't either!"

"Have you got any suggestions?" Tanis snapped.

Flint didn't answer. There warn"t a d.a.m.n thing any of them could do and they knew it. Sturm would die; before one of those guards laid a hand on the woman again, even though he had no idea who this woman was. It didn't matter. Feeling himself torn with frustration and admiration for his friend, Tanis gauged the distance between himself and the nearest guard, knowing he could put at least one out of action. He saw Gilthanas close his eyes, his lips moving. The elf was a magic-user, though he rarely treated it seriously. Seeing the look on Tanis's face, Flint heaved a sigh and turned toward another guard, lowering his helmeted head like a battering ram.

Then suddenly the Lard spoke, his voice grating. "Hold, knight!" he said with the authority that had been bred in him for generations. Sturm, recognizing thus, relaxed, and Tanis breathed a sigh of relief. "I will not have blood shed in this Council chamber. The lady has disobeyed a law of the land, laws which, in days gone by, you, sir knight, were sworn to uphold. But, I agree, there is no reason to treat her disrespectfully. Guards, you will escort the lady to prison but with the same courtesy you show me. And you, sir knight, will accompany her, since you are so interested in her welfare:'

Tanis nudged Gilthanas who came out of his trance with a start. "Truly, as Sturm said, this Lord comes from a n.o.ble and honorable line;' Tanis whispered.

"I don't see what you"re so pleased about, Half-elf:" Flint grunted, overhearing them. "First the kender gets us charged with inciting a riot, then he disappears. Now the knight gets us thrown into prison. Next time, remind me to stick with the mage.. I know he's crazed!"'

As the guards started to herd their prisoners away from the bench, Alhana appeared to be hunting for something within the falls of her long skirt.

"I beg a favor, sir knight;' she said to Sturm. "I seem to have dropped something. A trifle but precious. Could you look-"

Sturm knelt swiftly and immediately saw the object where it lay, sparkling, on the floor, hidden by the folds of her dress. It was a pin, shaped like a star, glittering with diamonds. He drew in his breath. A trifle! Its value must be incalculable. No wonder she did not want it found by these worthless guards.

Quickly he wrapped his. fingers around it, then feigned to look about. Finally, still kneeling, he looked up at the woman.

Sturm caught his breath as the woman removed the hood of her cloak and drew the veil from her face. For the first time,human eyes looked upon the face of Alhana Starbreeze.

Muralasa, the elves called her-Princess of the Night. Her hair, black and soft as the night wind, was held in place by a net as fine as cobweb, twinkling with tiny jewels like stars. Her skin was the pale hue of the silver moon, her eyes the deep, dark purple of the night sky and her lips the color of the red moon's shadows.

The knight's first thought was to give thanks to Paladine that he was already on his knees. His second was that death would be a paltry price to pay to serve her, and his third that he musk say something, but he seemed to have forgotten the words of any known language.