The War Of The Lance by Michael Williams, Richard A. Knaak, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman Read Free Book Online Page A

my eyes,” said Raistlin,
     with a sidelong glance at the knight. Sir Gawain flushed and bowed his head. The mage,
     smiling slightly, added, “But it would be more truthful to say that it was mostly due to
     the curiosity of a kender.”
    “Me!” gasped Earwig, struck by this revelation. “That's me he's talking about! I did it! I
     lifted the curse! I TOLD you it had to be a knight, a mage, AND a kender!”
    The young woman's image began to fade. “Farewell,” said Raistlin. “May your rest be
     undisturbed.” “Fare you well, young mage. I leave you with a warning. Very nearly you
     succumbed. Your wits and your will saved you. But unless you change, I foresee a time when
     this doom you have now avoided will drag you down at last.” The blue eyes closed, and were
     seen no more. “Don't go!” wailed Earwig, rushing around and grabbing at the empty air with
     his hands. “I've got so many questions! Have you been to the Abyss? What's it like being
     dead? Oh, please . . .”
    Caramon came forward cautiously, his eyes on the place where the spirit had been, fearful
     that she might suddenly burst back to life. His big hand rested on his brother's shoulder.
    “Raist,” he said worriedly, “what did she mean by that?” “How should I know?” Raistlin
     snapped, pulling himself free of his brother's touch. He began to cough violently. “Go
     find wood to build a fire! Can't you see I'm freezing to death!”
    “Sure, Raist,” said Caramon gently. “C'mon, Earmite.”
    “Earwig,” said the kender automatically, trudging after the big warrior. “Wait until
     Cousin Tas hears about this! Not even Uncle Trapspringer - the most famous kender of all
     time - ever ended a curse!”
    Gawain remained standing in silence until Caramon and the kender had left the keep. Then,
     slowly, sword in hand, he approached the mage.
    “I owe you my life,” he said grudgingly, awkwardly. “By the Oath and the Measure, I owe
     you my allegiance.” He held the sword - hilt first - out to the mage. “What would you have
     me do?”
    Raistlin drew a shuddering breath. He glanced at the sword and his thin lip twisted. “What
     would I have you do? Break your Oath. Burn your Measure. As the maiden said, live for
     those you love. A time of darkness is coming to the world, Sir Knight, and love could well
     be the only thing that will save us.”
    The knight's lips tightened, his face flushed. Raistlin stared at him, unmoving, and the
     expression on Gawain's face altered from anger to one of thoughtful consideration.
     Abruptly, he slid his sword back into its sheath.
    “Oh, and Sir Knight,” said Raistlin coolly, “don't forget to give us our share of the
     reward.”
    Gawain unbuckled his sword belt and removed it from around his waist. “Take it all,” he
     said, tossing sword and belt at the mage's feet. “I've found something of far greater
     value.” Bowing stiffly, he turned and walked from the keep.
    The red moon rose in the sky. Its eerie glow filtered through the crumbling walls of the
     ancient fortress, lighting the path. The mage remained standing in the empty hall. He
     could still feel, soft and silky beneath his fingers, the child's hair.
    “Yes, Sir Knight, you have,” said Raistlin. He stood a moment, thinking of the spirit's
     words. Then, shrugging, he tightened his grip on the magical staff. “DULAK”, he said, and
     the light went out, leaving him to stand in darkness lit only by the rays of the red moon.

Dragonlance - Tales 2 3 - The War of The Lance
    Dead on Target
    Roger E. Moore
    “There'd goes!” called a hobgoblin drunkenly in the last red light of evening. “There'd
     goes! S'goin' away!”
    No cloud remained in the darkening sky. The wind picked up around me, the low roar almost
     drowning out the laughter of the hobgoblin sentries forty feet up the steep hillside at my
     back. From the sound of things, the two of them had long ago broken into one