Dragons of Winter Night - Margaret Weis [18]
“That’s them!” the guard cried, pointing. “There’s the knight, like I told you. And the bearded elf, the dwarf, and the kender, and an elflord.”
“Right,” the constable said briskly. “Now, where are the others?” At his gesture, his guards leveled their hauberks, pointing them at the companions.
“I don’t understand what all this is about,” Tanis said mildly. “We are strangers in Tarsis, simply passing through on our way south. Is this how you welcome strangers to your city?”
“We don’t welcome strangers to our city,” the constable replied. His gaze shifted to Sturm and he sneered. “Especially a Knight of Solamnia. If you’re innocent as you say you are, you won’t mind answering some questions from the Lord and his council. Where’s the rest of your party?”
“My friends are tired and have gone to their rooms to rest. Our journey has been long and tiring. But we do not want to cause trouble. The four of us will come with you and answer your questions. (‘Five,’ said Tasslehoff indignantly, but everyone ignored him.) There is no need to disturb our companions.”
“Go get the others,” the constable ordered his men.
Two guards headed for the stairs, which suddenly burst into flame! Smoke billowed into the room, driving the guards back. Everyone ran for the door. Tanis grabbed Tasslehoff, who was staring with wide-eyed interest, and dragged him outside.
The constable was frantically blowing on his whistle, while several of his men prepared to dash off through the streets, raising the alarm. But the flames died as quickly as they had been born.
“Eeep—” The constable choked off his whistle. His face pale, he stepped warily back inside the inn. Tanis, peering over his shoulder, shook his head in awe. There was not a whisper of smoke, not a bit of varnish had so much as peeled. From the top of the stairs, he could hear faintly the sound of Raistlin’s voice. As the constable glanced apprehensively up the stairs, the chanting stopped. Tanis swallowed, then drew a deep breath. He knew he must be as pale as the constable, and he glanced at Sturm and Flint. Raistlin’s power was growing.…
“The magician must be up there,” the constable muttered.
“Very good, Birdwhistle, and how long’d it take you to figure that one out—” Tas began in a tone of voice Tanis knew meant trouble. He trod upon the kender’s foot, and Tas subsided into silence with a reproachful glance.
Fortunately, the constable didn’t appear to have heard. He glared at Sturm. “You’ll come with us peacefully?”
“Yes,” answered Sturm. “You have my word of honor,” the knight added, “and no matter what you may think of the Knights, you know that my honor is my life.”
The constable’s eyes went to the dark stairway. “Very well,” he said finally. “Two of you guards stay here at the stair. The rest cover the other exits. Check anyone coming in and out. You all have the descriptions of the strangers?” The guards nodded, exchanging uneasy glances. The two slated for guard duty inside the inn gave the staircase a frightened look and stood as far from it as possible. Tanis smiled grimly to himself.
The five companions, the kender grinning with excitement, followed the constable out of the building. As they walked into the street, Tanis caught sight of movement at an upstairs window. Looking up, he saw Laurana watching, her face drawn with fear. She raised her hand, he saw her lips form the words, “I’m sorry,” in elven. Raistlin’s words came to his mind and he felt chilled. His heart ached. The thought that he might never see her again made the world seem suddenly bleak and empty and desolate. He realized what Laurana had come to mean to him in these last few dark months when even hope had died as he saw the evil armies of the Dragon Highlords overrun the land. Her steadfast faith, her courage, her unfailing, undying hope! How different from Kitiara!
The guard poked Tanis in the back. “Face forward! Quit signaling to those friends of yourn!” he snarled. The half-elf’s thoughts