Tears of the Night Sky by Linda P. Baker & Nancy Varian Berberick

Author:Linda P. Baker & Nancy Varian Berberick [Baker, Linda P.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7869-1185-1
Publisher: Fanversion Publishing
Published: 2015-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

The Revered Daughter of Paladine, her white tiger at her side, followed the young knight through the winding corridors of the tower. Here the air was blessedly cool, for the walls were of thick stone. Not even the heat of this terrible summer could penetrate them. It was a balm, the coolness, like a tender hand upon a feverish forehead.

The knight led her past a ward room, past barracks from which flowed the sounds and smells of men preparing for battle. Whetstones sang on the edges of blades, and the scent of leather polish hung in the air. And there were many voices. Men young and old, warriors all, spoke of their readiness for battle, some of them with certainty that victory would be theirs.

"Well, it must be so," said a very young, very assured voice.

Oh, Crysania thought, had that boy's voice only lately broken? Had he only lately kissed his sweetheart farewell and gone laughing to his barracks to prepare for battle?

"Victory must be ours, you see, because we are Solamnics. Our god is Paladine, and he is all that is good and right. How can you lose when you are on the side of good and right?"

If anyone answered the boy, Crysania didn't hear it. Her knight led her past those rooms and into other corridors. Up the stairs they went, winding and high, and at last the knight halted. Sounds of dispute rang out from a corridor to their left. Among the angry voices, Crysania recognized one as that of Tanis Half-Elven. She recognized the snap of anger in his tone, and that didn't surprise her. Her old friend had no trouble expressing his feelings. What surprised her was to hear that anger rise in defense of the Lord of the Tower of High Sorcery.

"Lord Dalamar comes in good faith," Tanis was saying. "I swear it. I will answer for him with my life if need be."

Crysania put her hand on Tandar's shoulder, urging him forward, obliging the knight to follow.

"My lords," she said, "I will swear as my friend Tanis swears."

In the corridor, the knights dropped to their knees, swords rattling, armor clanking. A great welling of affection rose in her for these proud men who humbled themselves before Paladine's cleric. The words of the young knight so assured of victory returned to her, and she wondered how men such as these could be defeated.

"Please," she said, "gentlemen, rise." Crysania smiled and turned in the direction from which she'd heard Tanis's voice.

She turned her head slightly, picking out Dalamar by his scent and the shimmer of magic. With a touch, she asked Tandar to guide her to the dark mage. She heard the knights mutter in surprise to see the Revered Daughter guided by this great white tiger. Their muttering changed to silence as, his voice only slightly edged with sarcasm, Dalamar took her hand and bowed over it, saying, "I thank you for your affirmation, Revered Daughter." His lips brushed her hand lightly.

Crysania inclined her

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