The War of the Lance

CHAPTER TWO

"I asked you not to bring the kender," said Lord Gunthar.

He thought he was talking in a low voice, but I heard him. I looked around, wondering where this other kender was that they were talking about.

I knew it couldn't be me, because I'm one of the Heroes of the Lance.

We were standing in the Upper Gallery that is inside the Silver Dragon Mountain. It is a large room with dragonlances all around one end and it is meant for formal celebrations like this one. We were all of us dressed in our very best clothes because, as Tanis said, this was a reverent and solemn occasion. (I was wearing my new purple leggings with the red fringe that Tika sewed for me and my buckskin shirt with the yellow and orange and green bead work that was a gift from Goldmoon.)

There were lots of knights in their shining armor and Caramon (Tika was home with the babies) and Laurana were there and some other people I didn't know. Lady Crysania was expected any minute. It was very exciting, and I wasn't the least bored, or I wouldn't have been if I could have walked around, talking to people. But Tanis said I was to stay close to him or to Caramon or Laurana.

I thought it was sweet that they wanted me close by them that much, and so I did what Tanis said, though I pointed out that it would be more polite if I were to mingle with the other guests.

Tanis said that on no account was I to mingle.

"I didn't bring him," Tanis was telling Lord Gunthar. "Somehow or other he got hold of an invitation. Besides, he has a right to be here. He's just as much as hero as any of us. Maybe more."

Again I wondered who Tanis was talking about. This person sounded like an interesting fellow to me. Tanis was going to say more except he sneezed. He must have caught a really nasty cold out there in Foghaven Vale. (I've often wondered why we say "you've caught a cold." I mean, no one I ever knew went out after a cold. And I never heard of anyone going cold-chasing. It seems to me that it would make more sense to say the cold's caught you.)

"Bless you," Lord Gunthar said, then he sighed. "I suppose there's no help for it. You'll keep an eye on him, won't you?"

Tanis promised he would. I gave him his handkerchief. Odd, the way he kept losing it. Lord Gunthar turned to me.

"Burrfoot, my old friend," he said, putting his hands behind his back. A lot of people have a habit of doing that when we're introduced. "So glad to see you again. I hope the roads you travel have been sunny and straight." (That is a polite form of greeting to a kender and I thought it very fine of the knight to use it. Not many people are that considerate.)

"Thank you, Sir Gunthar," I said, holding out my hand.

He sighed and shook hands. I noticed he was wearing a very nice set of silver bracers and a most elegant dagger.

"I hope your lady wife is well?" I asked, not to be outdone in politeness. This was, after all, a Formal Occasion.

"Yes, thank you," said Gunthar. "She… um… appreciated the Yule gift."

"Did she?" I was excited. "I'm really glad she liked it. I always think of the time Fizban and I spent Yule at your castle, right after

… er… after…"

Well, I almost told the story I wasn't supposed to tell, right there! Which would have been terrible 1 I caught myself in time.

"I–I mean right before the Council of Whitestone. When I broke the dragon orb. And Theros smashed the rock with the dragonlance. Has she used it yet?"

"The lance?" Gunthar seemed somewhat confused.

"No, no, the Yule present," I corrected him.

"Well… that is…" Gunthar looked embarrassed. "The wizard Dalamar advised us that we shouldn't…"

"Ah, so it WAS magical." I nodded. "I had a feeling it might be. I wanted to try it myself, but I've had a couple of experiences with magic rings and while they've certainly been interesting experiences, I didn't feel like being turned into a mouse or being magicked into the castle of an evil wizard just at that particular time. It wasn't convenient, if you know what I mean."

"Yes," said Lord Gunthar, tugging on his moustaches. "I understand."

"Plus, I think we should share experiences like that. It's selfish to keep them all to ourselves. Not that I'd want your lady wife to be magicked into the castle of an evil wizard. Unless she really felt inclined for the trip, that is. It does make a nice change of pace. For example, did I ever tell you about the time that I was — "

"Excuse me," said Lord Gunthar. "I must go welcome our other guests."

He bowed, checked to see that he was still wearing his bracers, and left.

"A very polite man," I said.

"Give me the dagger," Tanis said, sighing.

"What dagger? I'm not carrying a dagger."

Then I noticed I WAS carrying a dagger. An elegant dagger decorated with roses on the hilt. Imagine my surprise!

"Is this yours?" I asked wistfully, because it was such a truly elegant dagger.

"No, it belongs to Lord Gunthar. Hand it over."

"I guess he must have dropped it," I said, and gave it to Tanis. After all, I have my own dagger, which I call Rabbitslayer, but that's another story.

Tanis turned to Caramon, saying something about tying someone's hands and head up in a sack. That sounded extremely interesting, but I didn't hear who it was they were talking about because I suddenly saw someone I wasn't expecting to see.

Someone I didn't want to see.

Someone I wasn't supposed to see.

I felt very strange for a moment, kind of like you feel right after you've been clunked in the head and right before you see all the stars and bright lights, then everything goes dark.

I looked at him very closely. And then I realized it couldn't have been him because he was too young. I mean, I hadn't seen this knight for ten years and I guess he must have aged during that time. So I was feeling a little better, when I saw the other knight. He was standing a little ways behind the first man I'd seen. Then I realized that the younger man must be his son. I still hoped I might be wrong. It had been ten years, after all.

I tugged on Tanis's sleeve.

"Is that Owen Glendower over there?" I asked, pointing.

Tanis looked. "No, that's Owen's son, Gwynfor. Owen Glendower is the one standing in back, over by the lances." Then he looked at me and he frowned. "How do you know Owen Glendower? I didn't meet him until after the war was over."

"I don't know him," I said, feeling sicker than ever.

"But you just said his name and asked me if that was him."

Tanis is thick-headed, sometimes.

"Whose name?" I asked, truly miserable.

"Owen Glendower's!"

I didn't think Tanis should shout on a Formal Occasion and I told him so.

"Never heard of him," I added. And then, to make matters worse, in walked Theros Ironfeld!

Do you know who Theros Ironfeld is? I'm sure you do, but I think I should mention it, in case you've forgotten. Theros is the blacksmith with the silver arm who forged the dragonlances from the magical pool of dragonmetal that some people think is under the Silver Dragon Mountain.

"Theros, tool" I was having trouble breathing.

"Yes, of course," Tanis said. "It is the tenth anniversary of the Forging of the Lance. Didn't you know that? It says so right on your invitation. We're meeting here to honor Sir Owen Glendower, the first knight who ever used the dragonlance against a dragon."

It didn't say that on MY invitation! I fished it out of my pouch and looked at it again. My invitation said we were honoring SIR (Splot)OWER.

Well, let me tell you it was a wonder I didn't fall down on the spot in a state of nervous prostration. (I'm not certain what that is, but it describes the way I felt.)

"I'm not feeling very good, Tanis," I said, putting one hand to my forehead and the other to my stomach, for they both were acting very queer. "I think I'll go lie down."

I meant to leave, truly. I was going to get as far from that Silver Dragon Mountain as possible. Only I didn't tell Tanis that, because he and Laurana and Caramon had all been so glad to see me and were so nice about wanting me around. I didn't want to hurt their feelings.

But Tanis took hold of my arm and said, "No, you're staying with me, at least until after the ceremony."

That was awfully good of him, if inconvenient and uncomfortable for me. I decided maybe I could get through the ceremony, especially if Owen Glendower didn't talk to me, and I suspected that he wouldn't want to talk to me anymore than I wanted to talk to him. Tanis said all I would have to do was go up with him when my name was called out by Lord Gunthar as one of the Heroes of the Lance. I wasn't to say anything, just bow and look honored.

Then the knights would sing and go off to pray at Huma's Tomb and, since I wasn't permitted to go there (which I don't know why since I was there several times before, as you'll hear), I could leave and maybe we'd go have dinner.

I didn't feel at all hungry, but I told Tanis that would be fine with me. And I hid behind Caramon (six kender could hide behind him), so that Owen wouldn't see me, and I hoped it would all be over soon. I was so nervous I'd forgotten to ask Lord Gunthar about Fizban, who hadn't come anyhow.

The ceremony started. Lord Gunthar and all the dignitaries lined up in front of the dragonlances that stand all around the front end Upper Gallery. I heard the beginning of Lord Gunthar's speech. This was it:

"We knights come to rededicate ourselves to continue the fight against the evil that exists still in the world.

"For the Queen of Darkness wages unceasing eternal war against the powers of good. Though her dragons have retreated to hidden places, they continue to ravage the land. Her armies of goblins and draconians and ogres and other wicked creatures rise up from dark places to slaughter and burn and plunder."

This was interesting and I began to breathe easier, but right then he started going on about the magic of the dragonlances that had been blessed by Paladine himself and how the magic dragonlances had been responsible for defeating the Dark Queen's dragons. The more Lord Gunthar talked like this, the worse the queer feeling in my stomach grew.

Then I was hot and cold, both at the same time, which might sound entertaining to you, but I can assure you it isn't. Take my word. It's very uncomfortable. Then the room began to bulge in and out.

Lord Gunthar introduced Theros Ironfeld and talked about how he forged the magical lance. Then Lord Gunthar brought forth Sir Owen Glendower.

"The first knight ever to use the dragonlance in battle."

And someone gave a kind of strangled choke and tumbled down on the floor in what Tanis said was a fit, but which I think was a state of nervous prostration. At first I thought it was me, but I realized it wasn't, because I was on my feet.

It was Sir Owen Glendower.

That put an end to the ceremony real quick.

I could have left then, because Tanis let loose of me and ran over to Owen. Everyone was running over to Owen — to see him having his fit, I suppose. I'm sure it must have been exciting, to judge by the sounds he was making — gurgling and thrashing about on the floor — and I would have liked to have seen it myself, except I wasn't certain that I wouldn't be having a fit of my own any minute.

"Stand back!" cried Caramon. "Give him air."

Poor Caramon. As if he thought we'd suck up all the air in that big chamber and not leave any for Owen to have his fit with. But everyone did what Caramon said (they generally do, I've noticed, especially when he flexes his arm muscles) and they all backed up, except for Owen's son, who was kneeling beside his father and looking terribly worried and anxious.

Lady Crysania… (Did I mention she was there now?) Anyway, Lady Crysania (she was there) knelt down and put her hands on the knight's head and she prayed to Paladine and Owen Glendower quit flopping around. But I couldn't see that he'd improved much. He was lying still as death and his breathing sounded real funny — when he remembered to breathe at all.

"He needs rest and quiet," said Lady Crysania. "No, it would be better not to move him. We must keep him warm. Make a pallet for him here."

They all piled up cloaks and furs and Theros and Caramon lifted the knight very, very gently and laid him on the pallet. Laurana covered him up with her own fur cape. Gwynfor sat down beside his father and held his hand.

Tanis said something in a low voice to Lord Gunthar. Lord Gunthar nodded his head and announced that this might be a convenient time for the knights to all go down to the tomb and pray and rededicate themselves to fighting evil. The knights thought so, too, and off they went. That cleared a lot of people out of the room.

Lord Gunthar next said that he thought all the other guests should go to dinner, and Caramon saw to it that the other guests did, whether they wanted to or not. That cleared out about everyone else. I couldn't go to the Tomb and I wasn't hungry and my legs felt wobbly, so I stayed.

"Will my father be all right?" Gwynfor was asking Lady Crysania. Theros Ironfeld was standing over Owen, looking down at the knight with the grimmest expression I'd ever seen Theros wear.

"Yes, my lord," Crysania said, turning in the direction of Gwynfor's voice. (Lady Crysania is blind. That is another interesting story, only kind of sad, so I won't tell it here.) "He is in Paladine's hands."

"Perhaps we should leave," suggested Tanis.

But Lady Crysania shook her head. "No. I would like you all to stay. There is something very wrong here."

I could have told her that!

"I've done what I could to heal him, but Sir Glendower's affliction isn't in his body. It's in his mind. Paladine has given me to know that there is a secret locked inside the knight, a secret he's been carrying by himself for a long, long time. Unless we can discover the secret and free him of it, I'm afraid he will not recover."

"If Paladine's given you to know the knight has a secret, why doesn't Paladine just tell you what the damn secret is?" Tanis asked, and he sounded a bit testy. He gets put out at the gods sometimes.

Laurana cleared her throat and gave him one of Those Looks that married people give each other sometimes. One reason I've never been married myself.

"Paladine has done so," said Lady Crysania with a smile.

And you may believe this or not, but she turned her head and looked straight at me, even though she couldn't see me and she couldn't have had any idea that I was in the room for I was being as quiet as the time I accidentally turned myself into a mouse.

"Tasslehoff!" Tanis said, and he didn't sound at all pleased. "Do you know anything about this?"

"Me?" I asked, looking around. I didn't think it likely he could have been talking to any other Tasslehoff, but I could always hope.

He meant me, however.

"Yeeessss," I said, drawing out the word a long time, as long as possible, and not looking at him. I don't like it when he looks so stern. "But I promised not to tell."

Tanis sighed. "All right, Tas. You promised not to tell. Now I'm certain you must have told this story a dozen times since then so it won't hurt if you tell it — "

"No, Tanis." I interrupted him, which was not very po lite, but he truly had it all wrong. I looked up at him and I was extremely solemn and serious. "I haven't told. Not ever. Not anyone. I promised, you see."

He stared at me real hard. Then his eyes crinkled. He looked worried. Kneeling down, he put his hand on my shoulder. "You haven't told anyone?"

"No, Tanis," I said, and for some reason a tear slid out of my eye. "I never have. I promised him I wouldn't."

"Promised who?"

"Fizban," I said.

Tanis groaned. (I told you, he always groans when I mention FB.)

"I, too, know," said a voice unexpectedly.

And at this we all turned to look at Theros. And he was as grim and dour and stern as I've ever seen Theros, who is usually quite nice, even if he does pick me up by the topknot sometimes, which isn't at all dignified.

"Sir Owen Glendower and I have discussed it between ourselves, often, each looking for his own truth. I have found mine. And I thought he had found his. Perhaps I was wrong. It- is not for me to tell his tale, however. If he had wanted it told, he would have done so before now."

"But surely," Tanis said, growing more irritated than ever, "if the man's life is at stake…"

"I can tell you nothing," Theros said. "I wasn't there." He turned and stalked out of the Upper Gallery.

Which left me. You see, I was there.

"C'mon, Tas," said Caramon in that wheedling way of his that makes me feel like I'd like to hit him sometimes. "You can tell me."

"I promised not to tell anyone," I said. They were all standing around me now, and I had never in my life felt more miserable, except maybe when I was in the Abyss. "I promised Fizban I wouldn't."

Tanis started to get red in the face and he would have yelled at me for sure but two things — a sneeze and Laurana digging her elbow into his ribs — put a stop to it. I didn't even remember to give him his handkerchief, I was so unhappy.

Lady Crysania came over to me and put out her hand and touched me. Her touch was soft and gentle. I wanted to run into her arms and cry like a big baby. I didn't, because that wouldn't have been dignified for a kender my age and a hero, to boot, but I wanted to, most desperately.

"Tas," she said to me, "how did you happen to come here?"

I thought that was a strange question, since I was invited, so I told her about the sausages and the jail and the message and the invitation from Fizban.

Tanis groaned and sneezed again.

"Don't you see, Tasslehoff?" asked Lady Crysania. "It was Fizban who sent you here. You know who Fizban really is, don't you?"

"I know who he thinks he is," I said, because Raistlin told me once that he wasn't really certain himself if the wacky old wizard was telling the truth or not. "Fizban thinks he's the god Paladine."

"Whether he is or he isn't" — Lady Crysania smiled again — "he sent you here for a reason, you may be sure. I think he wants you to tell us the story."

"Do you?" I asked hopefully. "I'd like to, because it's been weighing on my mind."

I handed Tanis his handkerchief and gave the matter some thought. "But you don't know that for sure, Lady Crysania," I said, starting to feel miserable again. "I'm always NOT doing the right thing. I wouldn't want to not do the right thing now."

I thought some more. "But I wouldn't want Sir Owen to die either."

I had an idea. "I know! I'll tell you all the secret, then you can tell me whether or not I should tell anyone. And if you say I shouldn't, then I won't."

"But Tas, if you tell us — " Caramon began.

At which point Laurana gave him a nudge on one side and Tanis gave him a nudge on the other, so that Caramon coughed and was all sort of nudged out, I guess, because he didn't say anymore.

"I think that is very wise," said Lady Crysania, and she said she wanted to keep near Owen Glendower, so we all followed her. There weren't any chairs. We sat down on the floor in a circle, with Lady Crysania keeping beside Owen and everyone else around her and me opposite.

And it was there, sitting on the floor next to Owen Glendower, stretched out in his armor on the fur cloaks, that I told the story I had sworn by my topknot I would never, ever, ever tell.

I took hold of my topknot and held it fast, because I thought this might be the last time I'd ever see it.