Dragons of Spring Dawning - Margaret Weis [157]
Tanis kept walking, and soon he and Lord Soth reached the bottom of the stairs leading up to the platform shaped like the head of the hooded snake. At the top stood Kitiara, beautiful in triumph. Tanis climbed the spurlike stairs alone, leaving Soth standing at the bottom, his orange eyes burning in their hollow sockets. As Tanis reached the top of the platform, the top of the snake’s head, he could see Laurana, standing behind Kitiara. Laurana’s face was pale, cool, composed. She glanced at him—and at the blood-stained Crown—then turned her head away. He had no idea what she was thinking or feeling. It didn’t matter. He would explain.…
Running over to him, Kitiara grasped him in her arms. Cheers resounded in the Hall.
“Tanis!” she breathed. “Truly you and I were meant to rule together! You were wonderful, magnificent! I will give you anything … anything—”
“Laurana?” Tanis asked coldly, under the cover of the noise. His slightly slanted eyes, the eyes that gave away his heritage, stared down into Kitiara’s brown eyes.
Kit flicked a glance at the elfwoman, whose gaze was so fixed, whose skin was so pale she might have been a corpse.
“If you want her.” Kitiara shrugged, then drew closer, her voice for him alone. “But you will have me, Tanis. By day we will command armies, rule the world. The nights, Tanis! They will be ours alone, yours and mine.” Her breath came fast, her hands reached up to stroke his bearded face. “Place the Crown on my head, beloved.”
Tanis stared down into the brown eyes, he saw them filled with warmth and passion and excitement. He could feel Kitiara’s body pressed against his, trembling, eager. Around him, the troops were shouting madly, the noise swelling like a wave. Slowly Tanis raised the hand that held the Crown of Power, slowly he lifted it—not to Kitiara’s head, but to his own.
“No, Kitiara,” he shouted so that all could hear. “One of us will rule by day and by night—me.”
There was laughter in the Hall, mixed with angry rumblings. Kitiara’s eyes widened in shock, then swiftly narrowed.
“Don’t try it,” Tanis said, catching her hand as she reached for the knife at her belt. Holding her fast, he looked down at her. “I’m going to leave the Hall now,” he said softly, speaking for her ears alone, “with Laurana. You and your troops will escort us out of here. When we are safely outside this evil place, I will give you the Crown. Betray me, and you will never hold it. Do you understand?”
Kitiara’s lips twisted in a sneer. “So she is truly all you care about?” she whispered caustically.
“Truly,” Tanis replied. Gripping her arm harder, he saw pain in her eyes. “I swear this on the souls of two I loved dearly—Sturm Brightblade and Flint Fireforge. Do you believe me?”
“I believe you,” Kitiara said in bitter anger. Looking up at him, reluctant admiration flared once more in her eyes. “You could have had so much …”
Tanis released her without a word. Turning, he walked over to Laurana, who was standing with her back to them, gazing sightlessly above the crowd. Tanis gripped her arm. “Come with me,” he commanded coldly. The noise of the crowd rose up around him, while above him, he was aware of the dark shadowy figure of the Queen, watching the flux of power intently, waiting to see who would emerge strongest.
Laurana did not flinch at his touch. She did not react at all. Moving her head slowly, the honey-blonde hair falling in a tangled mass around her shoulders, she looked at him. The green eyes were without recognition, expressionless. He saw nothing in them, not fear, not anger.
It will be all right, he told her silently, his heart aching. I will explain—
There was a flash of silver, a blur of golden hair. Something struck Tanis hard in the chest. He staggered backward, grasping for Laurana as he stumbled. But he could not hold her.
Shoving him aside, Laurana sprang at Kitiara, her hand grabbing for the sword Kit wore at her side. Her move caught the human woman completely by surprise. Kit struggled briefly, fiercely, but Laurana already