Dragons of Spring Dawning - Margaret Weis [92]
“I suppose not,” Apoletta admitted. “It’s hard to believe, though from what you say, that she has grown so powerful. What have the good dragons been doing all this time?”
“Good dragons!” Tanis repeated, astounded. “What good dragons?”
Now it was Apoletta’s turn to look amazed. “Why, the good dragons. The silver dragons and gold dragons. Bronze dragons. And the dragonlances. Surely the silver dragons gave you those that were in their keeping.…”
“I never heard of silver dragons,” Tanis replied, “except in some old song about Huma. The same with dragonlances. We’ve been searching for them so long without a trace, I was beginning to believe they didn’t exist except in children’s stories.”
“I don’t like this.” Apoletta rested her chin on her hands, her face drawn and pale. Something’s wrong. Where are the good dragons? Why aren’t they fighting? At first I discounted rumors of the sea dragons’ return, for I knew the good dragons would never permit it. But if the good dragons have disappeared, as I must believe from talking with you, Half-Elf, then I fear my people truly are in danger.” She lifted her head, listening. “Ah, good, here comes my husband with the rest of your friends.” She pushed away from the edge. “He and I can go back to my people and discuss what we must do—”
“Wait!” Tanis said, hearing footsteps coming down the marble stairs. “You’ve got to show us the way out! We can’t stay here!”
“But I don’t know the way out,” Apoletta said, her hands making circles in the water as she kept herself afloat. “Neither does Zebulah. It was never our concern.”
“We could wander through these ruins for weeks!” Tanis cried. “Or maybe forever! You’re not certain people do escape from this place, are you? Maybe they just die!”
“As I said,” Apoletta repeated coldly, “it was never our concern.”
“Well, make it your concern!” Tanis shouted. His voice echoed back eerily across the water. Berem looked up at him and shrank away in alarm. Apoletta’s eyes narrowed in anger. Tanis drew in a deep breath, then bit his lip, suddenly ashamed.
“I’m sorry,” he began, but then Goldmoon came up to him, placing her hand on his arm.
“Tanis? What is it?” she asked.
“Nothing that can be helped.” Sighing, he glanced past her. “Did you find Caramon and Tika? Are they all right?”
“Yes, we found them,” Goldmoon answered, her gaze following Tanis’s. Together they watched the two come slowly down the stairs behind Riverwind and Zebulah. Tika was staring around in wonder. Caramon, Tanis noticed, kept his eyes focused straight ahead. Seeing the man’s face, Tanis looked back at Goldmoon.
“You didn’t answer my second question?” he said softly.
“Tika’s all right,” Goldmoon answered. “As for Caramon,” She shook her head.
Tanis looked back at Caramon and could barely restrain an exclamation of dismay. He would not have recognized the jovial, good-natured warrior in this man with the grim, tear-streaked face, the haunted, shadowed eyes.
Seeing Tanis’s shocked look, Tika drew near Caramon and slipped her hand through his arm. At her touch, the warrior seemed to awaken from his dark thoughts. He smiled down at her. But there was something in Caramon’s smile—a gentleness, a sorrow—that had never been there before.
Tanis sighed again. More problems. If the ancient gods had returned, what were they trying to do to them? See how heavy the burden could get before they collapsed beneath it? Did they find this amusing? Trapped beneath the sea … Why not just give up? Why not just stay down here? Why bother searching for a way out? Stay down here and forget everything. Forget the dragons … forget Raistlin … forget Laurana … Kitiara.…
“Tanis …” Goldmoon shook him gently.
They were all standing around him now. Waiting for him to tell them what to do.
Clearing his throat, he started to speak. His voice cracked and he coughed. “You needn