Dragonlance - Chronicles Volume 1: Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman & Andrew Dabb & Steve Kurth & Stefano Raffaele

Author:Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman & Andrew Dabb & Steve Kurth & Stefano Raffaele
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781932796704
Publisher: Devil's Due Publishing
Published: 1984-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

BOOK 2

1

Night of the dragons.

Tika wrung the rag out in the pail and watched, dully, as the water turned black. She threw the rag

down on the bar and started to lift the bucket to carry it back to the kitchen to draw more water.

Then she thought, why bother! Picking up the rag, she began to mop the tables again. When she

thought Otik wasn't watching, she wiped her eyes with her apron.

But Otik was watching. His pudgy hands took hold of Tika's shoulders and gently turned her

around. Tika gave a choking sob and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Tika sobbed, "but I can't get this clean!"

Otik knew, of course, that this wasn't the real reason the girl was weeping, but it came close. He

patted her back gently. "I know, I know, child. Don't cry. I understand."

"It's this damn soot!" Tika wailed. "It covers everything with black and every day I scrub it up and the next day it's back. They keep burning and burning!"

"Don't worry about it, Tika," Otik said, stroking her hair. "Be thankful the Inn's in one piece—"

"Be thankful!" Tika pushed away from him, her face flushed. "No! I wish it had burned like everything else in Solace, then they wouldn't come in here! I wish it had burned! I wish it had

burned!" Tika sank down at the table, sobbing uncontrollably. Otik hovered around her.

"I know, my dear, I know," he repeated, smoothing the puffy sleeves of the blouse Tika had taken such pride in keeping clean and white. Now it was dingy and covered with soot, like everything in

the ravaged town.

The attack on Solace had come without warning. Even when the first pitiable refugees began to

trickle into the town from the north, telling horror stories of huge, winged monsters, Hederick, the

High Theocrat, assured the people of Solace that they were safe, their town would be spared. And

the people believed him because they wanted to believe him.

And then came the night of the dragons.

The Inn was crowded that night, one of the few places people could go and not be reminded of the

storm clouds hanging low in the northern skies. The fire burned brightly, the ale was rich, the spiced potatoes were delicious. Yet, even here, the outside world intruded: everyone talked loudly and

fearfully of war.

Hederick's words soothed their fearful hearts.

"We are not like these reckless fools to the north who made the mistake of defying the might of the Dragon Highlords," he called out, standing on a chair to be heard. "Lord Verminaard has personally assured the Council of Highseekers in Haven that he wants only peace. He seeks permission to

move his armies through our town so that he may conquer the elflands to the south. And I say more

power to him!"

Hederick paused for scattered cheering and applause.

"We have tolerated the elves in Qualinesti too long. I say, let this Verminaard drive them back to Silvanost or wherever they came from! In fact"—Hederick warmed to his subject—"some of you

young men might consider joining the armies of this great lord.

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