Hammer and Axe dn-2
Page 39
Holding his torch aloft, he found himself in a great, wide, circular room. Tas sighed. The great room was empty except for a dust-covered object that resembled .an ancient fountain
standing squarely in the center. This was the end of the corridor, too, for though there were tyro more sets of double doors leading out of the room, it was obvious to the kender that they
.
only led back up the other two giant hallways. This was the heart of the Tower. This was the sacred place. Ths was *,vhat all the fuss was about.
Nothing.
Tas walked around a bit, shining his t.orchlight here and there. Finally the disgruntled kender went to examine the fountain in the center of the room before leaving.
As Tas drew closer, he saw it wasn't a fountain at all, bu t the
dust was so thick, he couldn't figure it out, it was about as tall as the kender, standing four feet off the ground. 'I 'he round tap was supported on a slender three-legged) Stand..
Tas inspected the object closely, the he took a deep breath and blew as hard as he could. Dust flew up his nose and hHe sneezed violently, nearly dropping the torch. For a moment he couldn't see a thing. Then the dust settled and he could see the object. His heart leaped into his throat.
"Oh, no!" Tas groaned. Diving into another pouch, he pulled out a handkerchief and rubbed the object. The dust came off easily, and he knew now what it was. "Drat!" he said in despair. "L was right. Now what do I do?"
The sun rose red the next morning, glimmering through a haze of smoke hovering above the dragonarmies. In the court-.. yard of the Tower of the High Clerist, the shadows of night hats; not yet lifted before activity began. One hundred knight mounted their horses, adjusted the girths, called for shields, buckled on armor, while a thousand footmen milled aroun searching for their proper places in line.
Sturm, Laurana, and Lord Alfred stood in a dark doorw watching in silence as Lord Derek, laughing and calling jokes to his men, rode into the courtyard. The knight resplendent in his armor, the rose glistening on his breas in the first rays of the sun. His men were in good spirits, thought of battle making them forget their hunger.
"You've got to stop this, my lord;" Sturm said quietly.
"I can't!" Lord Alfred said, pulling on his gloves. His ` was haggard in the morning light. He had not slept since St awakened him in the waning hours of the night. "The I5I gives him the right to make this decision:"
In vain had Alfred argued with Derek, trying to co him to wait just a few more days! Already the wind was ffig to shift, bringing warm breezes from the north.
But Derek had been adamant. He would ride out and lienge the dragonarmies 4n the field. As for being outrvum he laughed in scorn. Since when do goblins fight lilee ' Solamnia? The Knights had been outnumbered fifty toV nhe Goblin and Ogre wars. of the Vingaard Keep one h years. ago, and they'd routed the creatures with ease!
"But you'll be fighting draconians;' Sturm warned. mot like goblins. They are intelligent and skilled. They have magic-users among their ranks, and their weapons are the best in Krynn. Even in death they have the power to kill"
"I believe we can deal with them, Brightblade;" Derek interrupted harshly, "And now I suggest you ,make your men and tell them to make ready."
"I'm not going;" Sturm said steadily. "And I'm not ordering my men to go, either:'
Derek paled with fury. For a moment he could not speak, he
was so angry. Even Lord Alfred appeared shocked.
"Sturm," Alfred began slowly, "do you know what you are doing?"
"Yes, my lord;' Sturm answered. 'We are the only thing
standing between the dragonarmies' and Palanthas. We dare not leave this garrison unmanned. I'm keeping my command here: '
"Disobeying a direct order," Derek said, breathing heavily, "You are a witness, Lord Alfred. I'll have his headthis time!" He stalked out- Lord Alfred, his fate grim, Sturm alone, frollowed, leaving. In the end, Sturm had given his men a choice. They could stay with him at no risk to themselves--since they were simply obeying tile orders of their commanding officer-or they could accompany Derek. It was, he mentioned, the same choice Vinas 5olamnus had given his men long ago, when the Knights rebelled against the corrupt Emperor of Ergoth. The men did not need to be reminded of this legend. They saw ;,t as a sign
and, as with Solamnus, most of them, chose to stay with the commander they had come to respect and admire,
n'ow they stood' watching, their faces grim as their friend's
Prepared to ridb out. It was the firs.*, open break in the long history of the Knighthood, and tike moment was grievous,
Reconsider, St;lrm; " Load Alfred said as the knigFtt helped him mount his horse. "Lord Derek is right. The dragonarmies
obi trot been trained, natLike the,Y,„~r,ights. There`s everypaob-
y we'll routes them with barely a blow beingstruck' ,I pray that is trice, my lorc],•, Stu. said steadily.
Alfred regarded him sadly. "If et iatrue, Brightblade, Derek
x''"'IIlee You trie-d and executed for this, There'll benoth-ing urlthar can do to stop him:"
"I would willi•LgPyP die that death zI-ey lord; if it would' s'ap what I fear wili hopper,;' Stem repli,E~. .,Damn at, man!" Lord Alfred exploded. "If we are defeated, what will you gain by staying here? You couldn't hold off an army of gully dwarves with your small contingent of menl Suppose the roads do open up? You won't be able to hold the Tower long enough far Palanthas to send reinforcements:'
"At the least we can buy Palanthas time to evacuate her citizens, if-"
Card Derek Crownguard edged his horse between those of his men. Glaring down at Sturm, his eyes glittering from behind the slits in his helm, Lord Derek raised his hand for silence.
"According to the Measure, Sturm Brightblade," Derek began formally, "I hereby charge you with conspiracy and-"
'To the Abyss with the Measure!" Sturm snarled, his patience snagging. "Where has the Measure gotten us? Divided, jealous, crazed! Even our own people prefer to treat with the armies of oar enemies! Tine Measure has failed!"
A deathly hush settled over the knights in the courtyard, brakes only by the restless pawing of a horse or the jingle of armor as here and there a man shifted in his saddle.
"Pray for my death, Sturm Brightblade;" Derek said softly, "ar by the gods I'll slit your throat at your execution myself!" Without another word, he wheeled his horse around and cantered to the head of the column.
"Open t=Ie gates!" he called.
The morning sun climbed above the smoke, rising into the blue sky. The windsb:ew from the north, fluttering the flag flying bravely from the bog of the Tower. Armor flashed. There e was a clatter of swords against shields and the sound of a trumpet call as men rushed to open the thick wooden gates.
Derek raised his sword high in. the air.. Lifting his voice in the knight's sa:ute to the enemy, he galloped forward. The knights' behind him picked up his ringing challenge and rode forth out:;l onto the fields where-long age-Huma had ridden to glorious victor-y. The footmen marched, their footsteps beating a tattoo, upon the stone pavement. For a moment, lord Alfred seemed' about to speak to St-arm and the young krnights who stood, watching. But he on] y shook lvs head and r.oxle away..
The gates swung shut behind him. The heavy iron bar was dropped down to lock them securely. The men in Sturm's command ran to 6e battlements to watch.
Sturm stood silently in the center of the courtyard, his gaunt face expressionless.
The young and handsome commander of the dragonarmies in the Dark Lady's absence was just waking to breakfast and the start of another boring day when a scout galloped into camp.
Commander Bakaris glared at the scout in disgust. The man was riding through camp wildly, his horse scattering cooking pots and goblins. Draconian guards leaped to their feet, shaking their fists and cursing. But the scout ignored them.
"The Highlord!" he called, sliding off his horse in front of the tent. "I must see the Highlord''
; "The Highlord's gone;' said the commander's aide.
"I'm in charge;' snapped Bakaris. "What's your business?"
The ranger looked around quickly, not wanting to make a mistake. But there was no sign of the dread Dark Lady or the big blue dragon she rode.
"The Knights have taken the field!"
"What I"' The commander's jaw sagged. "Are you certain?"
"Yes!" The scout was practically incoherent. "Saw them! Hundreds on horseback! Javelins, swords. A thousand foot:'
"She was right!" Bakaris swore softly to himself in admiration. "The fools have made their mistake!"
Calling for his servants, he hurried back to his tent. "Sound the alaam;" he ordered, rattling off instructions. "Have the captains here in five minutes for final orders:' His hands shook in eagerness as he strapped on his armor. "And send the wyvern to Flotsam with word for the Highlord :'
Goblin servants ran off in all directions, and soon blaring horn calls were echoing throughout the camp. The commander cast one last, quirk glance at the map on his table, then left to meet vr'th his officers
"Tao bad," he reflected coolly as he walked away. "The fight will probably be over by the time she gets the news. A pity. She would have wanted to be present at the fall of the High Clerist's Tower. Still;" he reflected, "perhaps tomorrow night we'll sleep in Palaruthas-she and I:"
Chapter I2
Death on the plains. Tasslehofs discovery.
The sun climbed high in the sky, The knights stood upon the battlements of the Tower, staring out across the plains until their eyes ached. All they could; see wan a great tide of black, crawling, figures swarming aver= the fields, .really to engulf tl~e slender spear of gleaming silver that advanr:ed steadily to meet it.
The a-rrnies met. The knights strained to see, but a misty gra veil crept across the land. The air became tainted with a foot smell, like hot iron. The must grew thicker, almost totally obscurihg, the sun.
Now they could see nothing. The Tower seemed afloat on a sea of fag. The heavy mist even deadened sound, for at first they heard the clash of weapons and the cries of the dying, But even that faded, and all was silent.
The day wore on. Laurana, pacing restlessly in her darkening chamber, lit candles that sputtered and flickered in the foul air. The kender sat with her. Looking down from her tower window, Laurana could see Sturm and Flint, standing on the battlements below her, reflected in ghostly torchlight.
A servant brought her the bit of maggoty bread and dried meat that was her ration far the day. It must be only midafternoan, she realized. Then movement down on the battlements caught her attention. She saw a man dressed in mud-splattered leather approach Sturm. A messenger, she thought. Hurriedly, she began to strap on her armor.
"Coming?" she asked Tas, thinking suddenly that the kender had been awfully quiet. "A messenger's arrived from Palanthas!"
"I guess;" Tas said without interest.
Laurana frowned, hoping he wasn't growing weak from lack of food. But Tas shook his head at her concern.
"I'm all right," he mumbled. "Just this stupid gray air:'
Laurana (argot about him as she hurried down the stairs.,
"News?" she asked Sturm, who peered over the walls in a vain effort to see out onto the field of battle. "I saw the messenger-
"~'Jh, yes:" He smiled wearily. "Good news, I suppose. The road to Palarlthas is open. The snow melted enough to get through. I have a rider standing 6y to take a message to Palanth.as in case we are def-" He stopped abruptly, then drew a deep breath. "I want you to be ready to go back to Palanthas with him."
Laurana had been expecting this and her answer was pTepared.. But noun that the time had come for her speech, she could now give it. The bitten air dried her mouth, her tongue seemed swollen, No, that wasn't it, she chided herself. She was frightened. Admit it. She wanted to go back to Palanthas! She wanted to get out of this gripe place where death lurked in the shadows. Clenching her fist, she beat her gloved hand nerz`nusly on the stone, gathering her courage.
"I'm staying here, Sturm;" she said. After pausing to get her voice under control, she continued, "I know what you're going. to say, so listen to me first. You're going to need all the skilled fighters you can get. You know my worth:'
Sturm nodded. What she said was true. There were few in his command more accurate with a bow. She was a trained swordsman, as well. She was battle-tested-something he couldn't say about many of the young knights under his command. So he nodded in agreement. He meant to send her away anyhow.
'I am the only one trained to use the dragonlance-"
"Flint's been trained;' Sturm interrupted quietly.
Laurana fixed the dwarf with a penetrating stare. Caught between two people he laved and admired, Flint flushed and cleared his throat. "That's true;" he said huskily, "but-I-uh- f must admit-er, Sturm, that I am a bit short:'
"Webs seen no sign of dragons, anyhow;' Sturm said as, Laurana flashed him a triumphant glance. "The reports say.:' they're south of -us, lighting for control of Thelgaard.
"But you believe the dragons are on the way" don't you2°` Laurana returned.
Sturm appeared uncomfortable. 'Perhaps;' he muttered,
"You can't lie Sturm, so don't start now. I'm staying. li what Tanis would do-'
'I)amn it, Laurana!" Sturm said, his face flushed. "Live y own life'. Ibu can't be Tans! f can"t be Tanis! He isn't he We've got to face that!" The knight turned away suddenly. ' isn't here," he repeated harshly.
Flint sighed, glancing sorrowfully at Laurana. No-one noticed Tasslehoff, who sat huddled miserably in a comer.
Laurana. put her arm around Sturm. "I knave I'm not.
friend Tanis is to you, Storm. I can never take his place. But do my best to help you. That's what I meant. You don't
treat me any differently from your knights='
"I know, Laurana," Sturm said. Putting his arms around her he held her close. "I'm sorry I snapped at you:" Sturm '
"And you know why I must send you away. Tanis would forgive me if anything happened to you:'
""Yes, he would;' Laurana answered softly. "He woraId up
stand. He told me anae that there comes a time when you've
THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT
to risk your life for something that means more than life itself. Don't you see, Sturm? If I fled to safety, leaving my friends behind, he would say he understood. But, deep inside, he wouldn't. Because it is so far from what he would do himself. Besides"-she smiled-"even if there were no Tanis in this world, I still could not leave my friends:"
Sturm looked into her eyes and saw that no words of his would make any difference. Silently, he held her close. His other arm went around Flint's shoulder and drew the dwarf near.
Tasslehoff.. bursting into tears, stood up and flung himself on them, sobbing wildly. They stared at him in astonishment.
"Tas, what is it7" Laurana asked, alarmed.
"It's atl my fault! I broke one! Am I doomed to go around the
world breaking these things?" Tas wailed incoherently.
"Calm down;" Sturm said, his voice stern, He gave the ken-
der a shake. 'What are you talking about?"
"I found another one," Tas blubbered. "Down below, in a big empty chamber:'
"Another what, you doorknob?" Flint said in exasperation.
"Another dragon orb!" Tas wailed.
iVight settled over the Tower like a thicker, heavier fog. The knights Iigluted torches, but the flame only peopled the dark-
ness with ghosts. The knights kept silent watch from the battlements, straining to hear or see something--anything. , .
Then, 'When it was nearly midnight, they were startled to hear, not the victorious shouts of their comrades or the flat, blaring horns of the enemy, but the jingle of harness, the soft
whinny of horses approaching the fortress.
Rushing to the edge of the battlements the knights shone Larches down into the fog. They heard the hootbeats slowly
Sturm stood above the gate. yo rides to the Tower of the High Clerist?' he call,ed.
A .single torch flared below. Laurana, staring dawn into the
Misty darkness, felt her knees gaow weak and grabbed the stone wall to support herself. The knights cried out in horror.
The rider who held the flaming torch was dressed in the shin
ing arnlar of an officer in the draganarrrly 4tLlreg ~mf~cnr…,.
HefC
Was blonde, III5 cold, and cruel. H~e.led a .second! horse across which were thrown two bodies-one of them headless, both bloody, mutilated.
"I have brought back your officers;' the man said" his voice harsh and blaring. "One is quite dead, as you can see. The other, I believe, still lives. Or he did when I started on my journey. I hope he is still living, so that he can recount for you what took place upon the field of battle today. If you could even call it a battle:"
Bathed in the glare of his own torch, the officer dismounted. He began to untie the bodies, using one hand to strip away the ropes binding them to the saddle. Then he glanced up.
"Yes, you could kill me now. I am a fine target, even in this fog. But you want. You're Knights of Solamn!a'"-his sarcasm was sharp-"your honor is your life. You wouldn't shoot an unarmed man returning the bodies of your leaders:' He gave the ropes a yank. The headless body slid to the ground. The officer dragged the other body off the saddle. He tossed the torch down into the snow next to the bodies. It sizzled, then went out, and the darkness swallowed him.
"You have a surfeit of honor out thereon the field," he called. The knights could hear the leather creak, his armor clang as he remounted his horse. "I'll give you until morning to surrender. , When the sun rises, lower your flag. The Dragon Highlord will.; deal with you mercifully-"
Suddenly there was the twang ©f a bow, the thwnk of an arrow striking into flesh, and the sound of startled swea.ring4' from below them. The knights turned around to stare in aston-. ishment at a lone figure standing an the wall, a bow in its hand.