"Fizban!" whispered Laurana in disbelief.
There was a dunk and a thud. Flint toppled over in a dead faint. No one even looked at him. They simply stared at the old mage in awe. Then, with a shrill shriek, Silvara flung herself flat on the cold stone floor, shivering and whimpering softly.
Ignoring the stares of the others, Fizban walked across the floor of the tomb, past the bier, past the comatose dwarf, to come to Silvara. Behind him, Tasslehoff scrambled up out of the hole.
"Look who I found" the kender said proudly. "Fizban! And I flew, Laurana, I jumped into the hole and just flew straight up into the air. And there's a pain ting up there with gold dragons, and then Fizban sat up and yelled at me and-I must admit I felt really queer there for a while. My voice was gone and . . . what happened to Flint?"
"Hush, Tas;' Laurana said weakly, her eyes on Fizban. Kneeling down, he shook the Wilder elfmaid.
"Silvara,. what have you done?" Fizban asked sternly.
Laurana thought then that perhaps she had made a mistake-this must be some other old man dressed in the old magician's clothes. This stern-faced, powerful man was certainly not the befuddled old mage she remembered. But no, she'd recognize that face anywhere, to say nothing of the hat!
Watching the two of them-Silvara and Fizban-before her, Laurana felt great and awesome power like silent thunder surging between the two. She had a terrible longing to run out of this place and keep running until she dropped with exhaustion. But she couldn't move. She could only stare.
"What have you done, Silvara?" Fizban demanded. "You have broken your oath!"
"No!" The girl moaned, writhing on the ground at the old mage's feet. "No, I haven't. Not yet-"
"You have walked the world in another body, meddling in the affairs of men. That alone would be sufficient. But you brought them here!'
Silvara's tear-stained face was twisted in anguish. Laurana felt her own tears sliding unchecked down her cheeks.
"All right then!" Silvara cried defiantly. "I broke my oath, or at least I intended to. I brought them here. I had to! I've seen the misery and the suffering. Besides"-her voice fell, her eyes stared far away-"they had an orb . . ."
"Yes;" said Fizban softly. "A dragon orb. Taken from Ice Wall Castle. It fell into your possession. What have you done with it, Silvara? Where is it now?"
"I sent it away . . :' Silvara said almost inaudibly.
Fizban seemed to age. His face grew weary. Sighing deeply, he leaned heavily upon his staff. "Where did you send it, Silvara? Where is the dragon orb now?"
"St-Sturm has it;" Laurana interrupted ?eorfcIly. "He took it to Sancrist. What does this mean? Is Sturm in danger?"
"Who?" Fizban peered around over his shoulder. "Oh, hullo there, my dear:' He beamed at her. "So nice to see you again.. How's your father?"
"My father-" Laurana shook her head, confused. "Look, old man, never mind my father! 'Who -'
"And your brother:" Fizban extended a hand to Gilthanas. "Good to see you, son. And you, sir:' He bowed to am astonished Theros. "Silver arm? My, my"-he stole a look back art Silvara"what a coincidence. Theros Ironfeld, isn't it! Heard a lot about you. And my name is. . :"
The old magician paused, his brow furrowed.
"My name is . .
"Fizban:' supplied Tasslehoff helpfully.
"Fizban ." The old man nodded, smiling.
Laurana thought she saw the old magician cast a warning glance at Silvara. The girl lowered her head as if to acknowledge some silent, secret signal passed between them.
But before Laurana could sort out her whirling thoughts, Fizban turned back to her again. "And now, Laurana, you wonder who Silvara is? It is up to Silvara to tell you. For I must leave you now. I have a long journey ahead of me:'
"Must I tell them?" Silvara asked softly. She was still on her knees and, as she spoke, her eyes went to Gilthanas. Fizban followed her gaze. Seeing the elflord's stricken face, his own face softened. Then he shook his head sadly.
Silvara raised her hands to him in a pleading gesture. Fizban walked over to her. Taking her hands, he raised her to her feet. She threw her arms around him, and he held her close.
"No, Silvara," he said, his voice kind .and gentle, "you do not have to tell them. The choice is yours that was your sister's. You can make them forget they were ever here:"
Suddenly the only color left in Silvara's face was the deep blue of her eyes. "But, that will mean-"
"Yes, Silvara;' he said. "It is up to you." He kissed the girl on the forehead. "Farewell, Silvara."
Turning, he looked back at the rest. "Good-bye, good-bye. Nice seeing you again. I'm a bit miffed aback the chicken feathers, but-no hard feelings." He waited impatiently a minute, glaring at Tasslehoff. "Are you coming? I haven't got all night!"
"-Coming? With you?" Tas, cried, dropping Flint's head back onto the stone floor with a Chunk. The kender stood up. "Of course, let me get my pack . . :" Then he stopped, glancing down at the unconscious dwarf. 'lint=
"He'll be fine;' Fizban promised, "you won't be parted from your friends long. We'll see them""-he frowned, muttering to himself-"seven days, add three, carry the one, what's seven tunes four? Oh well, around Famine Time. That's when they'll hold the Council meeting. Now, come along. I've got work to do. 'lour friends are in good hands. Silvara will take care of them, won't you, my dear?" He turned to the Wilder elf.
"I will tell them;" she promised sadly, eyes on Gilthanas,
The elflord was staring at her and at Fizban, his face pale, fear spreading through his soul.
Silvara sighed. "You are right. I broke the oath long ago. I
must finish what I set out to do:' '
"As you think best:' Fizban laid his hand upon Silvara's
head, stroking her silver hair. Then he turned away.
"Will I be punished?" she asked, just as the old man stepped
into the shadows.
Fizban stopped. Shaking his head, he looked back aver his
shoulder. "Same would say you are being punished right now,
Silvara;' he said softly. "But what you do, you do out of love.
As the choice was up to you, so is your punishment:'
The old man stepped into the darkness. Tasslehoff ran after
him, his pouches bouncing behind him. "Good-bye, Laurana!
Good-bye, Theros! Take care of Flint,!" In the silence that fol