Dragonlance 12 - Raistlin Chronicles - Soulforge by Margaret Weis Read Free Book Online Page A

considered old-fashioned in my father's day. In the end, I agreed to trade for spell components; they grow some quite lovely and unusual plants in Silvanesti, and their jewelry is exquisite. They traded and left, and I haven't seen them since. I wonder if they're not facing some threat in Silvanesti or if they've divined that some threat is approaching.
    Their king, Lorac, is a powerful mage and something of a seer."
    "If they are, we'll never know about it," Antimodes said. "They would rather see their people wiped out before they would lower themselves to ask any of us for help."
    He sniffed. He hadn't any use at all for the Silvanesti, whose white-robed wizards were part of the Conclave of Wizards, but who made it clear that they considered this a tremendous condescension on their part. They did not like humans and indicated their dislike in various ways, such as pretending they could not speak Common, the language of all races on Krynn, or turning away in contempt when any human dared to desecrate the elven language by speaking it. Incredibly long-lived, the elves saw change as something to be feared. The humans, with their shorter life spans, more frenetic lives, and constant need to "improve," represented everything the elves abhorred. The Silvanesti elves hadn't had a creative idea in their heads in the last two thousand years.
    "The Qualinesti elves, on the other hand, keep a close watch on their borders, but they do permit people of other races to enter, provided they have permission from the Speaker of the Sun and Stars," Antimodes went on. "Dwarven and human metalsmiths are highly regarded and encouraged to visit— though not to stay—and their own elven artisans do occasionally travel to other lands.
    Unfortunately, they frequently meet with much prejudice and hatred."
    Antimodes knew and liked many of the Qualinesti and was sorry to see them misused. "Several of their young people, particularly the eldest son of the speaker—what's his name?"

    "The speaker? Solostaran."
    "No, the eldest son."
    "Ah, you must mean Porthios."
    "Yes, Porthios. He's said to be thinking that the Silvanesti have the right idea and that no human should enter Qualinesti land."
    "You can't really blame him, considering the terrible things that happened when the humans entered Qualinesti land after the Cataclysm. But I don't think we need worry. They'll bicker over this for the next century unless something pushes them one way or the other."
    "Indeed." Antimodes had noted a subtle change in Par-Salian's voice. "You think something is likely to push them?"
    "I've heard rumblings," said Par-Salian. "Distant thunder."
    "I haven't heard thunder," Antimodes said. "The few Black Robes I meet these days are a little too smooth. They act as if bat guano wouldn't ignite in their hands."
    "A few of the more powerful have quietly dropped out of sight," said Par-Salian.
    "Who's that?"
    "Well, Dracart, for one. He used to stop by on a regular basis to see what new artifacts had come in and to check on possible apprentices. But the only wizards of the Black who have come by lately have been those of low ranking, who wouldn't be invited to share the secrets of their elders. And even they seem a bit edgy."
    "I take it, then, you have not seen the fair Ladonna," Anti-modes said with a sly wink.
    Par-Salian smiled faintly and shrugged. That fire had died years ago, and he was too old and too absorbed in his work to be either pleased or annoyed by his friend's teasing.
    "No, I have not spoken to Ladonna this past year, and what is more, I believe that whatever she is doing she is deliberately hiding from me. She refused to attend a meeting of the heads of the orders, something which she's never done before. She sent a representative in her name—a man who said exactly three words the entire time and those were 'pass the salt.' " Par-Salian shook his head.
    "Queen Takhisis has been quiet too long. Something's up."
    "All we can do is watch and wait, my