Chronicles 2 Dragons of Winte Dragonlance

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.'When I entered the Tower, the dragon caught me.He brought me here, to my father, thinking to make Loracmurder me.But not even in his nightmare could my father harm his own child.So Cyan torturedhim with visions-of what he would do to me.""And you? You saw them, too?" Tanis whispered, stroking the woman's long, dark hair with asoothing hand.After a moment, Alhana spoke."It wasn't so bad.I knew it was nothing but a dream.But to my poor father it was reality-" She began to sob.The half-elf motioned to Caramon."Take Alhana to a room where she can lie down.We'll do whatwe can for her father.""I will be all right, my brother." Raistlin said in answer to Caramon's look of concern."Do as Tanis says.""Come, Alhana." Tanis urged her, helping her stand.She staggered with weariness."Is there a place you can rest? You'll need your strength."At first she started to argue, then she realized how weak she was."Take me to my father's room."she said."I'll show you the way." Caramon put his arm around her, and slowly they began to walk from the chamber.Tanis turned back to Lorac.Raistlin stood before the elfking.Tanis heard the mage speaking softlyto himself."What is it" the half-elf said quietly."Is he dead?""Who?" Raistlin started, blinking.He saw Tanis looking at Lorac."Oh, Lorac7 No, I do not believe so.Not yet."Tanis realized the mage had been staring at the dragon orb."Is the orb still in control?" Tanis asked nervously, his eyes on the object they had gone through so much to find.The dragon orb was a huge globe of crystal, at least twentyfour inches across.It sat upon a stand ofgold that had been carved in hideous, twisted designs, mirroring the twisted, tormented life ofSilvanesti.Though the orb must have been the source of the brilliant green light, there was nowonly a faint, iridescent, pulsing glow at its heart.Raistlin's hands hovered over the globe, but, Tanis noted, he was careful not to touch it as hechanted the spidery words of magic.A faint aura of red began to surround the globe.Tanis backedaway."Do not fear." Raistlin whispered, watching as the aura died."It is my spell.The globe is enchanted-still.Its magic has not died with the passing of the dragon, as I thought possible.It is still in control, however.""Control of Lorac?""Control of itself.It has released Lorac.""Did you do this?" Tanis murmured."Did you defeat it?""The orb is not defeated!" Raistlin said sharply."With help, I was able to defeat the dragon.Realizing Cyan Bloodbane was losing, the orb sent him away.It let go of Lorac because it could nolonger use him.But the orb is still very powerful.""Raistlin, tell me-""I have no more to say Tanis." The young mage coughed."I must conserve my energy."Whose help had Raistlin received? What else did he know of this orb? Tanis opened his mouth topursue the subject, then he saw Raistlin's golden eyes flicker.The half-elf fell silent."We can free Lorac now," Raistlin added.Walking to the elf king, he gently removed Lorac's hand from the dragon orb, then put his slender fingers to Lorac's neck."He lives.For the time being.The lifebeat is weak.You may come closer."But Tanis, his eyes on the dragon orb, held back.Raistlin glanced at the half-elf, amused, thenbeckoned.Reluctantly, Tanis approached."Tell me one more thing can the orb still be of use to us?"For long moments, Raistlin was silent.Then, faintly, he replied."Yes, if we dare."Lorac drew a shivering breath, then screamed-a thin, wailing scream horrible to hear.His hands-little more than laving skeletal claws-twisted and writhed.His eyes were tightly closed.In vain,Tanis tried to calm him.Lorac screamed until he was out of breath, and then he screamed silently."Father!" Tanis heard Alhana cry.She reappeared in the doorway of the audience chamber andpushed Caramon aside.Running to her father, she grasped his bony hand in hers.Kissing his hands,she wept, pleading for him to be silent."Rest, Father." she repeated over and over."The nightmare is ended.The dragon is gone.You can sleep, Father!"But the man's screaming continued."In the name of the gods!" Caramon said as he came up to them, his face pale."I can't take much of this.""Father!" Alhana pleaded, calling to him again and again.Slowly her beloved voice penetrated the twisted dreams that lingered on in Lorac's tortured mind.Slowly his screams died to little more thanhorrified whimpers.Then, as if fearing what he might see, he opened his eyes."Alhana, my child.Alive!" He lifted a shaking hand to touch her cheek."It cannot be! I saw you die, Alhana.I saw you die a hundred times, each time more horrifying than the last.He killed you,Alhana.He wanted me to kill you.But I could not.Though I know not why, as I have killed somany." Then he caught sight of Tanis.His eyes flared open, shining with hatred."You!" Lorac snarled, rising from his chair, his gnarled hands clutching the sides of the throne."You, half-elf! I killed you-or tried to.I must protect Silvanesti! I killed you! I killed those with you." Then his eyes went to Raistlin.The look of hatred was replaced by one of fear.Trembling, he shrank away from the mage."But you, you I could not kill!"Lorac's look of terror changed to confusion."No." he cried."You are not he! Your robes are not black! Who are you?" His eyes went back to Tanis."And you? You are not a threat? What have I done?" He moaned."Don't, Father." Alhana pleaded, soothing him, stroking his fevered face."You must rest now.The nightmare is ended.Silvanesti is safe."Caramon lifted Lorac in his strong arms and carried him to his chambers.Alhana walked next tohim, her father's hand held fast in her own.Safe, Tanis thought, glancing out the windows at the tormented trees.Although the undead elvenwarriors no longer stalked the woods, the tortured shapes Lorac had created in his nightmare stilllived.The trees, contorted in agony, still wept blood.Who will live here now? Tanis wonderedsadly.The elves will not return.Evil things will enter this dark forest and Lorac's nightmare willbecome reality.Thinking of the nightmarish forest, Tanis suddenly wondered where his other friends were.Werethey all right? What if they had believed the nightmare-as Raistlin said? Would they have trulydied? His heart sinking, he knew he would have to go back into that demented forest and search forthem.Just as the half-elf began to try and force his weary body to action, his friends entered the Towerroom."I killed him!" Tika cried, catching sight of Tanis.Her eyes were wide with grief and terror."No!Don't touch me, Tanis.You don't know what I've done.I killed Flint! I didn't mean to, Tanis, Iswear!"As Caramon entered the room, Tika turned to him, sobbing."I killed Flint, Caramon.Don't comenear me!""Hush." Caramon said, gently enfolding her in his big arms."It was a dream, Tika.That's what Raist says.The dwarf was never here.Shhh." Stroking Tika's red curls, he kissed her.Tika clung to him, Caramon clung to her, each finding comfort with the other [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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