Dragonlance - Meetings 01 - Kindred Spirits by Mark Anthony & Ellen Porath

Dragonlance - Meetings 01 - Kindred Spirits by Mark Anthony & Ellen Porath

Author:Mark Anthony & Ellen Porath
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00


Chapter 15

Late-Night Visits

Tanis, looking as somber as the deepening night had no sooner arrived

at Flint’s shop than the dwarf hustled him back out the door and slammed

it behind them.

“Where—?” Tanis protested, tripping on the fieldstone path that

connected shop and street. His sword, which he had refused to be without

ever since Flint had presented it to him, slapped in its sheath at his side.

“Never mind,” the dwarf snapped, hurtling along ahead of him. “Come

on.”

The spring night was chilly, and few elves were out, but the two or

three who were on the streets stared as the dwarf towed the half-elf down

the lane before Flint’s shop, then across the mosaic of the Hall of the Sky

and into a tree-lined path beyond. The scents of spring—earth, vegetation,

and blossoms—filled Tanis’s nostrils, but he paid little attention to

anything other than the dwarf’s head bobbing before him.

Finally, Tanis set his moccasined feet, grabbed a branch with his free

hand, and refused to move until Flint told him their destination.

“We’re going to visit a lady,” the dwarf explained testily.

Tanis grimaced. “A lady got me into this mess, Flint. Are you sure this

is such a good idea?”

Flint crossed his arms before his chest and looked as stubborn as his

friend. “This lady knew your mother. I want you to meet her.”

Tanis, mouth agape, beheld the dwarf in confusion. “A lot of people at

the palace knew my mother. What’s so special about this one?” he

demanded, beginning to grow angry. “Is she a wizard? Can she bring my

mother back from the dead? What’s the point, Flint?”

“Oh, leave that,” the dwarf replied irritably. “Would you rather sit in

your quarters and mope? Or in my shop and mope?” Flint tugged at his

arm. “Just come on, son.”

“No.”

Tanis’s voice was mulish, and the dwarf knew there would be no

strong-arming him now. “All right,” Flint said. “The lady was with your

mother when she died.”

Tanis felt a quiver go through him. “She told you that?”

“No,” Flint replied. “I put two and two together. Now come on.”

Tanis reluctantly let the dwarf lead him again, albeit at a slower pace

and without the arm-tugging that had accompanied the first leg of their

journey. “Who is she?”

“A midwife. Retired, anyway.”

“Where does she live?”

“I don’t know.”

Tanis dug in his feet again. “Then how will we know when we get

there?”

“Trust me.” The dwarf’s voice was curt. Flint resumed walking, and

Tanis had to keep going or be left behind.

Minutes later, they emerged from the trees into the western portion of

Qualinost, overlooking the site of the Grand Market. At this time of night,

the open space was nearly deserted, of course. But on the other side of the

park more rose quartz homes had sprouted, gleaming with a purplish hue

in the blue evening light.

Flint accosted a middle-aged elf. “Can you tell me where I can find the

midwife Ailea?” he asked, panting from the effort he’d expended so far.

“Eld Ailea?” the man repeated, looking from Flint to Tanis with a

befuddled look. “Down that way.” He pointed. “Don’t waste your time.

Hurry!”

“Come on, Tanis!” Flint said, thanking the man and trotting in the

direction the man had indicated.



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