Dragonlance - Meetings 03 - Dark Heart by Tina Daniell

Author:Tina Daniell
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Home Again

After several more days, Kitiara reached Solace. It was late summer, and the branches of

the majestic vallenwoods made an emerald canopy overhead. The familiar smells spurred

Cinnamon into a trot. The horse didn't need any help finding the way back to her old stall

in the shed beneath the Majere cottage. Kit fed and watered the mare, then, mindful of

Ursa's warning, took Beck's sword and buried it under an unassuming pile of hay. Later,

she would sneak the weapon up to her room.

With mixed feelings she climbed the spiral stairs to home.

It was almost meal time. Kit knew that her whole family would probably be home. Just

as she was about to enter, the door swung open. Caramon threw himself on her, squealing

with excitement.

"You're really back! Raist was right! He said you'd be standing there if I opened the

door. I bet him a bag of rock candy that you wouldn't be, but I'm happy to pay up."

Caramon grabbed Kit's hand and pulled her into the center of the room. Rosamun's door

was almost entirely closed, and Gilon was absent. Though the late afternoon was warm,

Raistlin was sitting in a chair pulled up close to the hearth. A book lay open in his lap.

Curiosity, admiration, resentment, and a little petulance mingled in the look he gave Kit.

"I didn't expect to see you back so soon. Was your journey a worthwhile one?" Raist

asked her gravely.

Kit grinned. Same old Raist. "Let's say it took some unexpected turns. Judge for yourself

how worthwhile."

Caramon, sensing the imminent handing out of presents, began hopping up and down at

Kit's side. "Oh, she brought us something. It better be good; you've been gone all

summer."

With a flourish, Kit pulled two small packages out of her bag. Despite his desire to

appear cool and collected, Raist hopped off his chair and ran up to Kit. She gave the first

package to Caramon. He tore off the crude wrapping and exclaimed loudly over the

sturdy short sword she had brought him.

"It must have been so expensive!" crowed Caramon, turning it around in his hand

admiringly.

In truth, Kit had taken the sword off the dead Kagonesti, but there was no reason for

Caramon to be told that. "Watch you don't cut yourself," she admonished.

Raist unwrapped his smaller package more slowly, but seemed equally pleased with his

set of leather vials.

"Now, those were expensive," Kit said, winking at Raist. The dead Kagonesti had

contributed those, too.

As each boy was examining his souvenir, Gilon walked in the door carrying herbs and

other foodstuffs, appearing harried. He looked at Kit in surprise, then followed that

reaction quickly with a grin of genuine warmth. Having his arms full, he was able to

avoid the awkwardness that typically passed between them over whether or not to

embrace.

"Well, the adventurer returns! You must have grown two inches in the last couple

months. Welcome back, Kit."

Indeed, she had grown up over the time, physically and otherwise. Gilon could see that

Kit carried herself with, not just adolescent swagger, but true assurance. And while

someone who looked at her fleetingly might still mistake her for a boy, anyone whom she

engaged more closely with her crooked smile and laughing eyes would not.

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