Dwarven Nations - Hammer And Axe Part 9

"Thank you for searching, n.o.ble knight;" Alhana said softly, staring intently into Sturm's eyes. "As I said, it was a trifle. Please rise. I am very weary and, since it seems we are going to the same place, you could do me a great favor by giving me your a.s.sistance:'

"I am yours to command," Sturm said fervently, and he rose to his feet, swiftly tucking the jewel inside his belt. He held out his arm, and Alhana put her slender, white band on his forearm. His arm trembled at her touch.

It seemed to the knight .as if a cloud had covered the light of the stars when she veiled her face again. Sturm saw Tanis fall into line behind them, but so enraptured was the knight with the beautiful face burning in his memory that he stared straight at the half-elf without a flicker of recognition.

Tanis had seen Alhana's face and felt his own heart stir with her beauty. But he had seen Sturm's face as well. He had seen that beauty enter the knight's heart, doing more damage than a goblin's poisoned arrowtip. For this love must turn to poison, he knew. The Silvanesti were a proud and haughty race. Fearing contamination and the la.s.s of their way of life, they refused to have even the slightest contact with humans. Thus the Kinslayer wars had been fought.

No, thought Tanis sadly; the silver moon itself was riot higher or farther out of Sturm's reach. The half -elf sighed. This was all they needed.

Chapter 6.

Knights of Solamnia.

Ta.s.slehoffs gla.s.ses of true seeing.

As the guards led the prisoners from the F-loll of justice they pa.s.sed two figures standing outside in [he-shadows Both were so swathed in clothing it was difficult '.a tell to what race they belonged- Hoods covered their heads. their faces were wrapped in cloth. Long robes shrouded their bodies. Even their hands were wrapped in strips of white, like bandages. They spoke together in low tones.

'See!" one said in great excitement. "'-there they are. They match the descriptions:

"Not all of them," said the other dubiously.

But the half-elf, the dwarf, the knight! I tell you, it is them! And I know where the others are;" the figure added smugly. "I questioned one of the guards:"

The other, taller figure considered, watching the group being led off down the street. "You are right. We should report this to the Highlord at once." The shrouded figure turned, then stopped as it saw the other hesitate. "What are you waiting for?"

"But shouldn't one of us follow? Look at those puny guards. You know the prisoners will try and escape."

The other laughed unpleasantly. "Of course they'll escape. And we know where they'll go-to rejoin their friends:" The shrouded figure squinted up at the afternoon sun. "Besides, in a few hours it won't make any difference:" The tall figure strode away, the shorter hurrying after.

It was snowing when the companions left the Hall of Justice. This time, the constable knew better than to march his prisoners through the main city streets.

He led them into a dark and gloomy alleyway that ran behind the Hall of Justice.

Tanis and Sturm were just exchanging glances, and Gilthanas and Flint were just tensing to attack when the half-elf saw the shadows in the alley begin to moue.

Three hooded and cloaked figures leaped out in front of the guards, their steel blades gleaming in the bright sunlight.

The constable put his whistle to his lips, but he never made a sound. One of the figures knocked him unconscious with the hilt of his sword, while the other two rushed the guards, who immediately fled. The hooded figures faced the companions.

"Who are you?" Tanis asked, astounded at his sudden freedom. The hooded and cloaked figures reminded him of the hooded draconians they had fought outside of Solace. Sturm pulled Alhana behind him.

"Have we escaped one danger only to find a worse?" Tanis demanded. "Unmask yourselves["'

But one of the hooded men turned to Sturm, his hands raised in the air. "Oth Tsarthon a Paran;' he said.

Sturm gasped. "Est Tsarthai en Paranaith" he replied, then he turned to Tanis.

"Knights of Solamnia;' he said, gesturing at the three men.

"Knights?" Tanis asked in astonishment. "Why-"

"There is no time for explanation, Sturm Brightblade;" one of the knights said in Common, his accent thick. "The guards will return soon. Come with us:'

"Not so fast!" Flint growled, his feet planted firmly in the street, his hands breaking off the handle of a hauberk so that it suited his short stature.

"You'll find time for explanations or I'm not going! How'd you know the knight's name and how came you to be waiting for us

"Oh, just run him through!" sang a shrill voice out of the shadows. "Leave his body to feed the crows. Not that they'll bother; there's few in this world who can stomach dwarf-"

"Satisfied?" Tanis turned to Flint, who was red-faced with rage.

"Someday," vowed the dwarf, "I'll kill that kender:'

Whistles sounded from the street behind them. With no more hesitation, the companions followed the knights through twisting, rat-infested alleys. Saying he had business to attend to, Tas disappeared before Tanis could catch hold of him. The half-elf noticed that the knights didn't seem at all surprised by this, nor did they try to stop Tas. They refused, however, to answer any questions, just kept hurrying the group along until they entered the ruins-the old city of Tarsus the Beautiful.

Here the knights stopped. They had brought the companions to a part of the city where no one ever came now. The streets were broken and empty, reminding Tanis strongly of the ancient city of Xak Tsaroth. Taking Sturm by the arm, the knights led him a short distance from his friends and began to confer in Solamnic, leaving the others to rest.

Tanis, leaning against a building, looked around with interest. What remained standing of the buildings on this street was impressive, much more beautiful than the modern city. He saw that Tarsis the Beautiful must have deserved its name before the Cataclysm. Now nothing but huge blocks of granite lay tumbled about. Vast courtyards were choked and overgrown with weeds turned brown by the biting winter wands.

He walked over to sit down on a bench with Gilthanas, who was talking to Alhana.

The elfford introduced him.

".Alhana ;Starbreeze, Tanis Half-Elven;" Gilthanas said. "Tanis lived among the Qualinesti for many years. He is the son of my uncle's wife:'

Alhana drew back the veil from her face and regarded Tanis coldly. Son of my uncle's wife, was a polite way of saying Tanis was illegitimate, otherwise Gilthanas world have introduced him as the "son of my uncle:'The half-elf flushed, the old pain returning forcibly, hurting as much now as it had fifty years before. He wondered if he would ever be free of it.

Scratching his beard, Tanis said harshly, "My mother was raped by human warriors during years of darkness following the Cataclysm. The Speaker kindly took me in following her death and raised me as his own."

Alhana's dark eyes grew darker until they were pools of night. She raised her eyebrows. "Do you see a need to apologize for your heritage?" she asked in a chill voice.

"N-no . . :" Tanis stammered, his face burning. "I-'

"Then do not;' she said, and she turned away from him to Gilthanas. "You asked why I came to Tarsis'! I came seeking aid. I must return to Silvanesti to search far my father:'

"Return to Silvanesti?" Gilthanas repeated. "We-my people did not know the Silvanesti elves had left their ancient homeland. No wonder we lost contact-"

"Yes;" Alhana's voice grew sad. "The evil that forced you, our cousins, to leave Qualinesti came to us as. well." She bowed her head, then looked up, her own voice soft and low. "Long we fought this evil. But in the end ewe were forced to flee or perish utterly. My father sent the people, under my leaders.h.i.+p, to Southern Ergoth. He stayed in Silvanesti to fight the evil alone. I opposed this decision, but he said he had the power to prevent the evil from destroying our homeland With a heavy heart., l led my people to safety and there they remain.

But I came back to seek my father, for the days have been long and we have heard no word of him:"

"But had you no warriors, lady, to accompany you on such .a dangerous journey?"

Tanis asked.

Alhana, turning, glanced at Tanis as if amazed that he had intruded upon their conversation. At first she seemed .about to refuse to answer him, then-looking - longer at his face-she changed her mind. "There were many warriors who offered to escort me," she said proudly. "But when I said I led my people to safety, I spoke rashly. Safety no longer exists in this world. The warriors stayed behind to guard the people. I came to Tarsis hoping to find warriors to travel into Silvanesti with me. I presented myself to the Lord and the Council, as protocol demands-"

Tanis shook his head, frowning darkly. "That was stupid;' he said bluntly. "You should have known how they feel about elves-even before the draconians came! You were d.a.m.n lucky they only ordered you tossed out of the city."

Alhana's pale face became-if possible-paler. Her dark eyes glittered. "I did as protocol demands;" she replied, too well bred to show her anger beyond the cool tones of her voice. "To do otherwise would have been to come as a barbarian.

When the Lord refused to aid me, I told him I intended to seek help on my own.

To do less would have not been honorable:"

Flint, who had been able to follow only bits and pieces of the conversation in elven, nudged Tanis. "She and the knight will get on perfectly:" He snorted.

"Unless their honor gets them killed first:' Before Tanis could reply, Sturm rejoined the group.

"Tanis;' Sturm said in excitement, "the knights have found the ancient library!

That's why they're here. They discovered records in Palantllas saying that in ancient times knowledge of dragons was kept in the library here, at Tarsis. The Knights Council sent them to see if the library still survived."