Dragons of the Autumn Twilight - Margaret Weis [166]
“Tanis,” he said. “The old man was right. We are being followed.”
9
Suspicions grow. The Sla-Mori.
The narrow trail climbed steeply up from the plains into a wooded valley in the foothills. Evening’s shadows gathered close around them as they followed the stream up into the mountain. They had traveled only a short distance, however, when Gilthanas left the trail and disappeared into the brush. The companions stopped, looking at each other doubtfully.
“This is madness,” Eben whispered to Tanis. “Trolls live in this valley—who do you think made that trail?” The dark-haired man took Tanis’s arm with a cool familiarity the halfelf found disconcerting. “Admittedly, I’m the new kid in town, so to speak, and the gods know you don’t have any reason to trust me, but how much do you know about this Gilthanas?”
“I know—” Tanis began, but Eben ignored him.
“There were some of us who didn’t believe that draconian army stumbled onto us by accident, if you take my meaning. My boys and I had been hiding in the hills, fighting the dragonarmies ever since they hit Gateway. Last week, these elves showed up out of nowhere. They told us they were going to raid one of the Dragon Highlord’s fortresses and would we like to come along and help? We said, sure, why not—anything to stick a bone in the Dragon High Man’s craw.
“As we hiked, we began to get really nervous. There were draconian tracks all over the place! But it didn’t bother the elves. Gilthanas said the tracks were old. That night we made camp and posted a watch. It didn’t do us a lot of good, just gave us about twenty seconds warning before the draconians hit. And”—Eben glanced around and moved even closer—“while we were trying to wake up, grab our weapons, and fight those foul creatures, I heard the elves calling out, as if someone was lost. And who do you suppose they were calling for?”
Eben regarded Tanis intently. The half-elf frowned and shook his head, irritated at the dramatics.
“Gilthanas!” Eben hissed. “He was gone! They shouted and shouted for him—their leader!” The man shrugged. “Whether he ever showed up or not, I don’t know. I was captured. They took us to Solace, where I got away. Anyway, I’d think twice about following that elf. He may have had good reason to be gone when the draconians attacked, but—”
“I’ve known Gilthanas a long time,” Tanis interrupted gruffly, more disturbed than he wanted to admit.
“Sure. Just thought you should know,” Eben said, smiling sympathetically. He clapped Tanis on the back and dropped back to stand by Tika.
Tanis didn’t have to look around to know Caramon and Sturm had heard every word. Neither said anything, however, and before Tanis could talk to them, Gilthanas appeared suddenly, slipping out from among the trees.
“It is not much farther,” the elf said. “The brush thins up ahead and the walking is easier.”
“I say we just go in the front gate,” Eben said.
“I agree,” Caramon said. The big man glanced at his brother who sat limply beneath a tree. Goldmoon was pale with fatigue. Even Tasslehoff’s head hung wearily.
“We could camp here tonight and go in by the front gates at dawn,” Sturm suggested.
“We stick to the original plan,” Tanis said sharply. “We make camp once we reach the Sla-Mori.”
Then Flint spoke up. “You can go ring the bell at the gate and ask Lord Verminaard to let you in if you want, Sturm Brightblade. I’m sure he’d oblige. C’mon, Tanis.” The dwarf stumped off down the trail.
“At least,” Tanis said to Sturm in a low voice, “maybe this will throw off our pursuer.”
“Whoever or whatever it is,” Sturm answered. “It’s woods-crafty, I’ll say that for it. Every time I caught a glimpse and started back for a closer look, it vanished. I thought about ambushing it, but there wasn’t time.”
The group emerged from the brush thankfully, arriving at the base of a gigantic granite cliff. Gilthanas walked along the cliff face for several hundred feet, his hand feeling