Hammer and Axe dn-2

by Dan Parkinson

  But Tarsis had been a trade center far so long that those people in the outlying countryside who could still reach Tarsis continued to do so. The outer hub of the city was rebuilt. The inner part-the temples, the schools, the great library-was left in ruins. The bazaar was reopened, only now it was a market for farmers and a forum for false clerics preaching new religions. Peace settled over the town like a blanket. Farmer days of glory were as a dream and might not have even been believed, but f or the evidence in the center of town.

  Now, of course, Tarsis heard rumors of war, but these were generally discounted, although the lard did send his army out to guard the plains to the south. If anyone asked why, he said it was a field exercise, nothing mare. These rumors, after all, had come out of the north, and all knew the Knights of Solamnia were trying desperately to reestablish their power. It was, amazing what lengths the traitorous Knights would go to spreading stories of the return of dragons!

  This was Tarsis the Beautiful, the city the companions entered that morning, just a short time after sunrise.

  Chapter 4

  Arrested! The heroes are separated. An ominous farewell.

  The few sleepy guards upon the city walls that morning woke up at the sight of the swordbearing, travel=worn group seeking entry. They did not deny them. They did not even question them-much. A redbearded, soft-Woken half-elf, the like of which had not been seen in Tarsis in decades, said they had traveled far and sought shelter. His companions stood quietly behind him, making no threatening gestures. Yawning, the guards directed them to the Red Dragon Inn.

  This might have ended the matter. Tarsis, after all, wasbeginning to see more and more strange characters as rumors of war spread. But the cloak of one of the humans blew aside as he stepped through the gate, and a guard caught a flash of bright armor in the morning sun. The guard saw the hated and reviled symbol of the Knights of Solamnia on the antique breastplate. Scowling, the guard melted into the shadows, slinking after the group as it walked through the streets of the waking town.

  The guard watched them enter the Red Dragon. He waited outside in the cold until he was sure they must be in their rooms. Then, slipping inside, he spoke a few words to the innkeeper. The guard peeped inside the common room and, seeing the group seated and apparently settled for some time, ran off to make his report.

  "This is what comes of trusting a kender's map!" said the dwarf irritably, shoving away his empty plate and wiping his hand across his mouth. "Takes us to a seaport city with no sea!"

  "It's not my fault;" Tas protested. "I told Tanis when I gave him the map that it dated before the Cataclysm. 'Tas; Tanis said before we left, 'do you have a map that shows us haw to get to Tarsis?' I said I did and I gave him this one. It shows Thorbardin, the dwarven kingdom under the mountain, and Southgate, and here it shows Tarsis, and everything else was right where the map said it was supposed to be. I can't help it if something happened to the ocean! I-"

  "That's enough, Tas:' Tanis sighed. "Nobody's blaming you. It isn't anybody's fault. We just let our hopes get too high:'

  The kender, his feelings mollified, retrieved his map, rolled it up, and slid it into his mapcase with all his other precious maps of Krynn. Then he put his small chin in his hands and sat staring around the table at his gloomy companions. They ?began to discuss what to do next, talking half-heartedly.

  Tas grew bored. He wanted to explore this city. There were all kinds of unusual sights and sounds-Flint had been forced to practically drag him along as they entered Tarsis. There was a fabulous marketplace with wonderful things just lying around, waiting to be admired. He had even spotted some other kenders, too, and he wanted to talk to them. He was worried about his homeland. Flint kicked him under the table.

  Sighing Tas turned his attention back to Tanis.

  "We'll spend the night here, rest, and learn what we can, then send word back to Southgate:' Tanis was saying. "Perhaps there is another portcity farther south. Some of us might go on and investigate. What do you think, Elistan?"

  The cleric pushed away a plate of uneaten food. "I suppose it is our only choice;' he said sadly. "But I will return to Southgate. I cannot be away from the people long. You should come with me, too, my dear," He laid his hand over Laurana's. "I cannot dispense with your help:'

  Laurana smiled at Elistan. Then, her gaze moving to Tanis, tile smile vanished as she saw the half-elf scowl.

  "Riverwind and I have discussed this already. We will return with Elistan;' Goldmoon said. Her silver-gold hair gleamed in tile sunlight streaming through the window. "The people need my healing skills:'

  "Besides which the bridal couple misses the privacy of their tent;" Caramon said in an audible undertone. Goldmoon flushed a dusky rose color as her husband smiled.

  Sturm glanced at Caramon in disgust and turned to Tan-is, "I will go with you, my friend;" he offered.

  "Us, tom, of course;" said Caramon promptly.

  Sturm frowned, looking at Raistlin, who sat huddled in his red robes near the fire, drinking the strange herbal concoction that eased his cough. "I do not think your brother is fit to travel, Caramon-" Sturm began.

  "You are suddenly very solicitous of my health, knight;" Raistlin whispered sarcastically. "But, then, it is not my health that concerns you, is it, Sturm Brightblade? It is my growing power. You fear me-"

  That's enough!" said Tanis as Sturm's face darkened.

  "The mage goes back, or I do," Sturm said coldly.

  "Sturm-" Tanis began..

  Tasslehoff took this opportunity to leave the table very quietly. Everyone was focused an the argument between the knight, the half-elf, and the magic-user. Tasslehoff skipped out the front door of the Red Dragon; a name he thought particularly funny. But Tanis had .not laughed.

  Tas thought about that as he walked along, looking at the new sights ire delight. Tanis didn't laugh at anything anymore.

  The half-elf was certainly carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, it seemed. Tasslehoff suspected he knew what was wrong with Tanis. The kender took a ring out of one of his pouches and studied it. The ring was golden, of elven make, carved in the form of clinging ivy leaves. He had picked it up in Qualinesti. This time, the ring was not something the kender had "acquired: It had been thrown at his feet by a heartbroken Laurana after Tanis had returned it to her.

  The kender considered all this and decided that splitting up and going off after new adventure was just what everyone needed. He, of course, would go with Tanis and Flint-the kender firmly believed neither could get along without him. But first, he'd get a glimpse of this interesting city.

  Tasslehoff reached the end of the street. Glancing back, he could see the Red Dragon Inn. Good. No one was out looking for him yet. He was just about to ask a passing street peddler how to get to the marketplace when he saw something that promised to make this interesting city a whole lot mare interesting ….

  Tanis settled the argument between Sturm and Raistlin, for the time being at least. The mage decided to stay in Tarsis to hunt for the remains of the old library. Caramon and Tika offered to stay with him, while Tanis, Sturm, and Flint (and Tas) would push southward, picking up the brothers on their way back. The rest of the group would take the disappointing news back to Southgate.

  That being settled, Tanis went to the innkeeper to pay far their night's lodging. He was counting out silver coins when he felt a hand touch his arm.

  "I want you to ask to have my room changed to one near Elistan's;' Laurana said.

  Tanis glanced at her sharply. "Why is that?" he asked, trying to keep the harshness out of his voice.

  Laurana sighed. "We're not going to go through this again" are we? "

  "I have no idea what you mean;' Tanis said coldly, turning away from the grinning innkeeper.

  "For the first time in my life, I'm doing something meaningful and useful;" Laurana said, catching hold of his arm. "And you want me to quit because of same jealous notion you have about me and Elistan-"

 
"I am not jealous," Tanis retorted, flushing. "I told you in Qualinesti that what was between us when we were younger is over now. I-" He paused, wandering if that were true. Even as he spoke, his soul trembled at her beauty. Yes, that youthful infatuation was gone, but was it being replaced by something else, something stronger and more enduring? And was he losing it? Had he already lost it" through his own indecisiveness and stubbornness? He was acting typically human, the half-elf thought. Refusing that which was in easy reach, only to cry for it when it was gone. He shook his head in confusion.

  "If you're not jealous, then why don't you leave me alone and Let me continue my work for Elistan in peace?" Laurana asked coldly. "You-"

  "shush!" Tanis held up his hand. Laurana, annoyed, started to talk, but Tanis glared at her so fiercely she fell silent.

  Tanis listened. Yes, he"d been right. He could hear clearly now the shrulc• high-pitched" screaming whine of the leather sling on the end of Tas.'s hoopak staff. It was a peculiar sound, produced by the kender swinging the sling in a circle over his head" and it raised the hair on the back of the neck. It was also a kender signal for danger.

  "Trouble;" Tanis said softly. "Get tire others:' Taking one look at his grim face, Lau-Tana obeyed without question. Tanis turned abruptly to face the innkeeper" who eras sidling around the desk. "Where are you going?" he asked sharply.

  "Just Leaving tai check your rooms, sir;` the innkeeper said smoothly; and he vanished precipitously into the kitchen. Just then, Tasslehoff burst through the roar of the inn.

  "Guards, Tanis! Guards^. Corning this way!"

  "Surely they can't be here because of us;' Tanis said. He stopped; eyeing the light-fingered kender, struck by a sudden thought. "Tas-"

  "It wasn't me, honest! " Tas protested„ ":I never even reached the marketplace! I Just got to the bottom of the street when I saw a whole troop of guards coming this direction."

  "What's this about guards?" Sturm asked as he entered from the common ram. "Is this am of the kender's stories?"

  "No. Listen;" Tanis said. Every one hushed. They could hearhe tramp of booted feet coming their direction and glanced at each other in apprehension and concern. "The innkeeper's disappeared. I thought we got into the city a bit too easily. I should have expected trouble." Tanis scratched his beard, well aware that everyone was looking to him for orders.

  "Laurana, you and Elistan go upstairs. Sturm, you and Gilthanas remain with me. The rest of you go to your rooms. Riverwind, you're in command. You, Caramon, and Raistlin protect them. Use your magic, Raistlin, if necessary. Flint-"

  "I'm staying with you;' the dwarf stated firmly.

  Tanis smiled and put his hand on Flint's shoulder. "Of course, old friend. I didn't even think you needed telling:"

  Grinning, Flint pulled his battle-axe out of its holder on his back. "Take this;' he said to Caramon. "Better you have it than any scurvy, lice-ridden city guards:'

  "That's a good idea;` Tanis said. Unbuckling his swordbelt, he handed Caramon Wyrmslayer, the magical sword given to him by the skeleton of Kith-Kanan, the Elven King.

  Gilthanas silently handed over his sword and his elven bow.

  "Yours, too, knight;' Caramon said" holding out his hand.

  Sturm frowned. Isis antique, two-handed sword and its scabbard were the only legacy he had left of his father" a great Knight of Solamnia, who had vanished after sending his wife and young ran into exile. Slowly Sturm unbuckled his swordbelt and handed it to Caramon.

  The jovial warrior, seeing the knight's obvious concern, grew serious. "I'll guard it carefully, you know that, Sturm.''

  "I know;" Sturm said, smiling sadly. He glanced up at Raistlin, who was standing on the stairs. "Besides, there is always the great worm, Catyrpelius, to protect it, isn't there, mage?"

  Raistlin started at this unexpected reminder of a time in the burned-out city of Solace when he had tricked some hobgoblins into believing Sturm's sword was cursed. It was the closest to an expression of gratitude that the knight had ever made to the mage. Raistlin smiled. briefly.

  "Yes;" he whispered. "There is always the Worm. Do not fear, knight. Your weapon is safe, as are the lives of those you leave in our care . . . if any are safe . . . . Farewell, my friends," he hissed, his strange" hourglass eyes gleaming. "And a long farewell it gill be. Same of us are not destined to meet again in this world"." With that, he bowed and, gathering his red robes around him, began to climb the stairs.

  Trust Raistlin to exit with a flourish, Tanis thought irritably, hearing boated feet near the door.

  "Go on!" he ordered. "If he's right, there's nothing we can do about it now:'

  After a hesitant look at Tans, the others did as he ordered, climbing the stairs quickly. Only Laurana .cast a fearful glance back at Tanis as Elistan took her arm. Caramon, sword drawn, waited behind until the last was past.

  "Don't worry," the big warrior said uneasily. "We'll be all right. If you're not back by nightfall-"

  I) on't come looking for us!" Tanis said, guessing Caramon's intention. The half-elf was more disturbed than he cared to admit by Raistlin's ominous statement. He had known the wage many years and had seen his power grow, even as the shadows seemed to gather more thickly around him. "If we're not back, get Elistan, Goldmoon, and the others back to Southgate :'

  Caramon nodded reluctantly, then he walked ponderously up the stairs, his weapons clanking around him.

  "It's probably just a routine check," Sturm said hurriedly in a low voice as the guards could be seen through the window now. "They'll ask us a few questions, then release us. But, they've undoubtedly got a description of ally of us!"

  "I have a feeling it isn't routine. Not the way everyone's vanished. .find they're going to have to Settle for some

  said softly ' ~ --• or us,' Tanis Softly a5 the guards entered the door, led by the constable and accompanied by the guard from the wall.

  "That's them!" the guard cried, pointing. "There's the knight, like I told you. And the bearded elf, the dwarf, and the kender, and an elflord:'

  "Right,:` the constable said briskly. ":Vow, where are the others?" At his gesture, his guards leveled their hauberks, pointing there at the companions.

  "7 don't understand what all this is about;" Tanis sasid mildly. "We are strangers in Tarsis, simply passing through on our way south. Is this how you welcome strangers to your city?"

  "We don't welcome strangers to our city," the constable replied. His gaze shifted to Sturm and he sneered. "Especially a Knight of Solanmia. If you're innocent as you say you are, you won't mind answering some questions from the Lord and his council. Where's the rest of your party?"

  "My friends are tired and have gone to their rooms to rest. Our journey leas been long and tiring. But we do not want to cause trouble. The four of us will come with you and answer your questions. ('Five; said Tasslehoff indignantly, but everyone ignored him.) There is no need to disturb our companions:'

  "Go get the others;' the constable ordered his men.

  Two guards headed for the stairs, which suddenly burst into flame! Smoke billowed into the roam, driving the guards back. Everyone ran for the door. Tanis grabbed Tasslehoff, who was staring with wide-eyed interest, and dragged him outside.

  The constable was frantically blowing on his whistle, while several of his men prepared to dash off through the streets, raising the alarm. But the flames died as quickly as they had been born.

  "Eeep-"The constable choked off his whistle. His face pale, he stepped warily back inside the inn. Tanis, peering aver his shoulder, shook his head in .awe. There was not a whisper of smoke, not a bit of varnish had so much as peeled. From the top of the stairs, IIe could hear faintly the sound of Raistlin's voice. As the constable glanced apprehensively up the stairs, the chanting stopped.

  Tanis swallowed, then drew a deep breath. He knew he must he as pale as the constable, and he glanced at Sturm and Flint. Raistlin's power was growing . . .

  "The magician must be up there," the constable mut
tered.

  "Very goad, Birdwhistle,and haw long'd it take you to figure that one out" Tas began in a tone of voice Tanis knew meant trouble. He trod upon the Kender's foot, and Tas subsided into silence with a reproachful dance.

  Fortunately the constable didn't appear to have heard. He glared at Sturm. "You'll come with us peacefully'."'

  "Yes," answered Sturm. "You love my word of honor;" the knight added "and no matter what you may think of the Knights, you know that my honor is my life."

  The constable's eyes went to the dark stairway "Very well," he said finally. "Two of you guards stay here at the stair The rest cover the other exits. Check anyone coming in and out. You all have the descriptions of the strangers?"