Dragons of Winter Night - Margaret Weis [111]
“No!” Turning, she lifted her hand instinctively to ward off the spell, knowing as she did so that it was futile.
Silvara stood beside the altar, crumbling rose petals in her hand, chanting softly.
Laurana fought the enchanted drowsiness that crept over her. She fell to her knees, cursing herself for a fool, clinging to the stone bench for support. But it did no good. Lifting her sleep-glazed eyes, she saw Theros topple over and Gilthanas slump to the ground. Beside her, the dwarf was snoring even before his head hit the bench.
Laurana heard a clattering sound, the sound of a shield crashing to the floor, then the air was filled with the fragrance of roses.
9
The kender’s startling discovery.
Tasslehoff heard Silvara chanting. Recognizing the words of a magic spell, he reacted instinctively, grabbed hold of the shield that lay on the bier, and pulled. The heavy shield fell on top of him, striking the floor with a ringing clang, flattening the kender. The shield covered Tas completely.
He lay still beneath it until he heard Silvara finish her chant. Even then, he waited a few moments to see if he was going to turn into a frog or go up in flames or something interesting like that. He didn’t—rather to his disappointment. He couldn’t even hear Silvara. Finally, growing bored lying in the darkness on the cold stone floor, Tas crept out from beneath the heavy shield with the silence of a falling feather.
All his friends were asleep! So that was the spell she cast. But where was Silvara? Gone somewhere to get a horrible monster to come back and devour them?
Cautiously, Tas raised his head and peered over the bier. To his astonishment, he saw Silvara crouched on the floor, near the tomb entrance. As Tas watched, she rocked back and forth, making small, moaning sounds.
“How can I go through with it?” Tas heard her say to herself. “I’ve brought them here. Isn’t that enough? No!” She shook her head in misery. “No, I’ve sent the orb away. They don’t know how to use it. I must break the oath. It is as you said, sister—the choice is mine. But it is hard! I love him—”
Sobbing, muttering to herself like one possessed, Silvara buried her face in her knees. The tender-hearted kender had never seen such sorrow, and he longed to go comfort her. Then he realized what she was talking about didn’t sound good. “Choice is a hard one, break the oath …”
No, Tas thought, I better find a way out of here before she realizes her spell didn’t work on me.
But Silvara blocked the entrance to the tomb. He might try to sneak past her.… Tas shook his head. Too risky.
The hole! He brightened. He’d wanted to examine it more carefully anyway. He just hoped the lid was still off.
The kender tiptoed around the bier until he came to the altar. There was the hole, still gaping open. Theros lay beside it, sound asleep, his head pillowed upon his silver arm. Glancing back at Silvara, Tas sneaked silently to the edge.
It would certainly be a better place to hide than where he was now. There were no stairs, but he could see handholds on the wall. A deft kender—such as himself—should have no trouble at all climbing down. Perhaps it led outside. Suddenly Tas heard a noise behind him. Silvara sighing and stirring.…
Without another thought, Tas lowered himself silently into the hole and began his descent. The walls were slick with moisture and moss, the handholds were spaced far apart. Built for humans, he thought irritably. No one ever considered little people!
He was so preoccupied that he didn’t notice the gems until he was practically on top of them.
“Reorx’s beard!” he swore. (He was fond of this oath, having borrowed it from Flint.) Six beautiful jewels—each as big around as his hand—were spaced in a horizontal ring around the walls of the shaft. They were covered with moss, but Tas could tell at a glance how valuable they were.
“Now why would anyone put such wonderful jewels down here?” he asked aloud. “I’ll bet it