Dragons of Eternity: Dragonlance Destinies: Volume 3 by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Author:Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman [Weis, Margaret & Hickman, Tracy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic, Action & Adventure, Dragons & Mythical Creatures
ISBN: 9781984819437
Google: _jrgEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Random House Worlds
Published: 2024-08-05T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

TWENTY-THREE

Night had also fallen on Raistlin and those centuries away from Kairn and Destina. Yet the two were in his thoughts.

He and the others had spent the morning hiding in the woods and watching the Bozaks search for them. The draconians had fanned out, entering the house, searching the cellar, and poking around the outbuildings. They investigated the grounds around the house, then came together to discuss their findings.

“The house is empty, but people were staying there,” said one. “And someone was down in the cellar.”

“Bakaris,” said another who appeared to be the commander. “Hiding from danger. As usual.”

The Bozaks all chuckled.

“The stink of elves is still in the air,” the commander continued. “Elf footprints are all over the ground and there’s evidence they made camp. And it looks like a dragon landed there. Probably that copper we heard about.”

“Judging by the traces, the elves went off in that direction, sir,” said one, pointing to the west. “We couldn’t tell for certain, but it’s likely the half-elf and his friends went with them.”

“Should we go after them, sir?”

The Bozak snorted. “I’m not tangling with a copper. Our orders were to search for the half-elf and apprehend him and the others if we found them. We didn’t find them. So now we go back to camp and make our report.”

The Bozaks departed, taking the road back toward Solace. After they left, Tanis and the others returned to the house to make preparations to leave. Tanis started to approach Raistlin, but he made an impatient gesture, waving him away.

The words to the magic remained dark and kept slipping away. He swore softly. The spell had come to him so easily yesterday and today, but when he most needed it, the magic perversely eluded him. He tried to remember the sound of Magius’s voice, his intonation, where he placed the emphasis on each syllable, the flow of the words, the rhythm. Raistlin tried and failed and tried again until the words muddled together and he had to clear his head.

He was thinking of Magius and remembered a conversation. The two had been talking about the Test in the Tower of High Sorcery. Mages risked their lives to take it, for failure meant death.

“Have you ever asked yourself why we take the risk?” Magius had asked.

“Most believe we do it for the power,” Raistlin had replied.

“I made the same mistake when I was young,” Magius had said. “Before I had taken the Test, I reveled in the thought of the power magic would give me. Afterward, I was wiser. Consider what the magic requires of us. We must spend hours every day studying and memorizing spells. When we cast them, they drain our bodies and our minds to the point of collapse. And the next day, we must do this all again. And what power do we gain? The power to cast a spell over a handful of goblins that does nothing more than provide them a restful night’s sleep.”

Raistlin had smiled. “Then why do you do it?”

“The same reason you do.

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