Chronicles 1 Dragons of Autum Dragonlance

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.Remember- quick and deadly.No noise!"According to Gilthanas's map, the playroom was separated from the children's sleeping quarters bytwo rooms.The first was a storeroom which Maritta reported was lined with shelves containing toysand clothing and other items.A tunnel ran through this room to the second-the room that housed thedragon, Flamestrike."Poor thing," Maritta had said when discussing the plan with Tanis."She is as much a prisoner as we are.The Dragon Highlord never allows her out.I think they're afraid she'll wander off.They'veeven built a tunnel through the storeroom, too small for her to fit through.Not that she wants to get out, but I think she might like to watch the children play."Tanis regarded Maritta dubiously, wondering if they might encounter a dragon very different fromthe mad, feeble creature she described.Beyond the dragon's lair was the room where the children slept.This was the room they would haveto enter, to wake the children and lead them outdoors.The playroom connected directly with thecourtyard through a huge door locked with a great oaken beam."More to keep the dragon in than us," Maritta stated.It must be just about dawning, Tanis thought, as they emerged from the stairwell and turned towardthe playroom.The torchlight cast their shadows ahead of them.Pax Tharkas was quiet, deathlyquiet.Too quiet-for a fortress preparing for war.Four draconian guards stood huddled togethertalking at the doorway to the playroom.Their conversation broke off as they saw the womenapproach.Goldmoon and Maritta walked in front, Goldmoon's hoodwas drawn back, her hair glimmering inthe torchlight.Directly behind Goldmoon came Riverwind.Bent over a staff, the Plainsman waspractically walking on his knees.Caramon and Raistlin followed, the mage staying close to hisbrother, then Eben and Gilthanas.All the traitors together, as Raistlin had sarcastically observed.Flint brought up the rear, turning occasionally to glower at the panic-stricken gully dwarves."You're early this morning," a draconian growled.The women clustered like chickens in a half-circle around the guards and stood, waiting patiently tobe allowed inside."It smells of thunder," Maritta said sharply."I want the children to have their exercise before the storm hits.And what are you doing here? This door is never guarded.You'll frighten the children."One of the draconians made some comment in their harsh language and two of the others grinned,showing rows of pointed teeth.The spokesman only snarled."Lord Verminaard's command.He and Ember are gone this morning to finish the elves.We'reordered to search you before you enter." The draconian's eyes fastened onto Goldmoon hungrily."That's going to be a pleasure, I'd say.""For you maybe," muttered another guard, staring at Sturm in disgust."I've never seen an uglier female in my life than ugh-" The creature slumped over, a dagger thrust deep into its ribs.The other three draconians died within seconds.Caramon wrapped his hands around the neck of one.Eben hithis in the stomach and Flint lobbed off its head with an axe as it fell.Tanis stabbed the leaderthrough the heart with his sword.He started to let go of the weapon, expecting it to remain stuck in the creature's stony corpse.To his amazement, his new sword slid out of the stone carcass as easilyas if it had been nothing more than goblin flesh.He had no time to ponder this strange occurrence.The gully dwarves, catching sight of the flash ofsteel, dropped their pots and ran wildly down the corridor."Never mind them!" Tanis snapped at Flint."Into the playroom.Hurry!" Stepping over the bodies, he flung the door open."If anyone finds these bodies, it'll be all over," Caramon said."It was over before we began!" Sturm muttered angrily."We've been betrayed, so it's just a matter of time.""Keep moving!" Tanis said sharply, shutting the door behind them."Be very quiet," Maritta whispered."Flamestrike generally sleeps soundly.If she does waken, act like women.She'll never recognize you.She's blind in one eye."The chill dawn light filtered in through tiny windows high above the floor, shining on a grim,cheerless playroom.A few well-used toys lay scattered about.There was no furniture.Caramonwalked over to inspect the huge wooden beam barring the double doors that led to the courtyardoutside."I can manage," he said.The big man appeared to lift the beam effortlessly, then set it against the wall and shoved on the door."Not locked from the outside," he reported."I guess they didn't expect us to get this far."Or perhaps Lord Verminaard wants us out there, Tanis thought.He wondered if what the draconiansaid was true.Had the Dragon Highlord and the dragon really gone? Or were they-angrily hewrenched his mind back.It doesn't matter, he told himself.We have no choice.We must go on."Flint, stay here," he said."If anyone comes, warn us first, then fight."Flint nodded and took a position just inside the door leading to the corridor, first opening it a crack to see.The draconian bodies had turned to dust on the floor.Maritta took a torch from the wall.Lighting it, she led the companions through a dark archway intothe tunnel leading to the dragon's lair."Fizban! Your hat!" Tas risked whispering.Too late.The old magician made a grab for it but missed."Spies!" yelled Verminaard in a rage, pointing up to the balcony."Capture them.Ember! I want them alive!"Alive? the dragon repeated to himself.No, that could not be! Pyros recalled the strange sound hehad heard last night and he knew without a doubt that these spies had overheard him talking aboutthe Green Gemstone Man! Only a privileged few knew that dread secret, the great secret, the secretthat would conquer the world for the Queen of Darkness.These spies must die, and the secret diewith them.Pyros spread his wings and launched himself into the air, using his powerful back legs to propelhimself from the floor with tremendous speed.This is it! thought Tasslehoff.Now we've done it.There's no escape this time [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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