Weis, Margaret - Dragonlance - Chronicles 02 - Dragons of Winter Night by Weis Margaret

Author:Weis, Margaret
Language: eng
Format: epub

"We'll not accept charity," the tall, fur-cloaked man said.

"We wolf t?" asked the big man wistfully, staring at the smoked meat with longing eyes.

"Riverwind;' the woman remonstrated, putting a gentle hand on his arm.

The half-elf, too, seemed about to interpose when the red-robed man, who had ordered the hot water, reached out and picked up a coin from the table.

Balancing the coin on the back of his bony, metallic-colored hand, the man suddenly and effortlessly sent it dancing along his knuckles.

William's eyes opened wide. His two friends at the bar came closer to see better. The coin flickered in and out of the red-robed marls fingers, spinning and jumping. It vanished high in the air, only to reappear above the mage's head in the form of six coins, spinning around his hood. With a gesture, he sent them to spin around William's head. The sailors watched in open-mouthed wonder.

"Take one for your trouble;' said the mage in a whisper.

Hesitantly, William tried to grab the coins that whirled past his eyes,

but his hand went right through them! Suddenly all six coins disappeared. One only remained now, resting in the palm of the red-robed wage.

"I give you this in payment;' the mage said with a sly smile, 'but be careful. It may burn a hole in your pocket:'

William accepted the coin gingerly. Holding it between two fingers, he gazed at it suspiciously, Then the coin burst into flame! With a startled yelp, William dropped it to the floor, stomping one it with his foot. His two friends burst out laughing. Picking up the coin, William discovered it to be perfectly cold and undamaged.

'That's worth the meat!" the innkeeper said, grinning.

"And a night's lodgings;" added his friend, the sailor, slapping down a handful of coins.

"I believe;" said Raistlin softly, glancing around at the others, "that we have solved our problems."

Thus was born The Red Wizard and His Wonderful Illusions, a traveling road show that is still talked of today as far south as Port Balifor and as par north as the Ruins.

The very next night the red-robed mage began to perform his tricks to an admiring audience of William's friends. The word spread rapidly.

After the mage had performed in the Pig and Whistle for about a week, Riverwind-at first opposed to the whale idea-was forced to admit that Raistlin's act seemed likely to solve not only their financial problems but other, more pressing problems as well. The shortage of money was the .mast urgent. The companions might have been able to live off the land-even in the winter, both Riverwind and Tanis being skilled hunters. But they needed money to buy passage on a ship to take them to Sancrist. Once they had the money, they needed to be able to travel freely through enemy-occupied lands.

In his youth, Raistlin had often used his considerable talents at sleight of hand to earn bread far himself and his brother. Although this was frowned on by his master, who threatened to expell the young mage from his school, Raistlin had become quite successful.

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