The hands stopped. Fair a moment, the two wills vied
THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT
together, locked in a life-or-death contest, Raistlin felt the strength ebb from his body, his hands weakened, the palms began to sweat. He felt the hands of the orb begin to pull him again; ever so slightly. In agony, Raistlin summoned every drop of blood, focused every nerve, sacrificed every muscle in his frail body to regaining control.
Slowly . . . slowly . . , just when he thought his pounding heart would burst from his chest or his brain explode in fireRaistlin felt the hands cease their tug. They still maintained their firm grip on him-as he maintained his firm grip on them. But the two were no longer in contest. His hands and the hands of the dragon orb remained locked together, each conceding respect, neither seeking dominance.
The ecstasy of the victory; the ecstasy of the magic flowed through Raistlin and burst forth, wrapping him in a warm,
golden light. His body relaxed. Trembling, he felt the hands hold him gently, support him, lend him strength.
What are you' he questioned silently. Are you good? Evil?
I am neither. I am nothing. I am everything. The essence of dragons captured long ago is what I am.
How do you work? Raistlin asked. How do you control the dragons?
At your command, I will call them to me. They cannot resist my call. They -fill obey.
Will they turn upon their masters? Will they fall under my c command?
That depends on the strength of the master and the bond
between the two. In some instances, this is so strong that the master can maintain control of the dragon. But most will do what you ask of them. They cannot help themselves.
I rust study this, Raistlin murmured, feeling himself growing weaker. I d•5 not understand . . . .
,Be easy. I will aid you. Now that we have joined, you may
seek my help often. I knows.. of many secrets long forgotten. They can be yours.
What secrets' . . . Raistlin felt himself losing consciousness. The strain had been too much. He struggled to keep his hold on the hands, but he felt his grip slipping.
The hands held onto him gently, as a mother holds a child. relax: I will not let you fall. Sleep. You are weary.
DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES
Tell me! I must know! Raistlin cried silently.
This only I will tell you, then you must rest. In the library of Astinus of Palanthas are books, hundreds of books, taken there by the mages of old in the days of the Lost Battle. To aI! who look at these books, they seem nothing more than encyclopedias of magic, dull histories of mages who died in the taverns of time.
Raistlin saw darkness creeping toward him. He clutched at the hands.
What do the books really contain? he whispered.
Then he knew, and with the knowledge, darkness crashed over him like the wave of an ocean.
In a cave near the wagon, hidden by shadows, warmed by the heat of their passion, 'Tika and Caramon lay in each other's arms.. Tika's red hair clung around her face and forehead in tight curls, her eyes were closed, her full lips parted. Her raft r body clad in her gaily-colored skirt and puffy-sleeved white ' blouse pressed against Caramon. Her legs twined around his, her hand caressed his face, her lips brushed his.
"Please, Caramon;' she whispered. "This is torture. We want each other. I'm not afraid. Please love me!"
Caramon closed his eyes. His face shone with sweat. Thepain of his love seemed impossible to bear. He could end it, end
it
all in sweet ecstasy. For a moment he hesitated. Tika's fro . grant hair was in his nostrils, her soft lips on his neck. It would; be so easy. . . so wonderful….
Caramon sighed. Firmly he closed his strong hands around: Tika's wrists. Firmly he drew them away from his face
pushed the girl from him.
"No;" he said, his passion choking him. (?oiling over, he stood up. "No;' he repeated. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to . . , t
let things get this far:"
"Well, I did!" Tika cried. "I'm not frightened! Not anymore.:
No, he thought, pressing his hands against his poun ' head. I feel you trembling in my hands like a snared rabbit.
Tika began to tie the string an her white blouse. Unable see it through her tears, she jerked at the drawstring viciously it snapped.
"Now! See there!" She hurled the broken silken twine act
THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT
the cave. "I've ruined my blouse! I'll have to mend it. They'll all know what happened, of course! Or think they know! I-I . . . Oh, what's the use!" Weeping in frustration, Tika covered her face with her hands, rocking back and forth.
"I don't care what they think!" Caramon said, his voice echoing in the cave. He did not comfort her. He knew if he touched her again, he would yield to his passion. "Besides, they don't think anything at all. They are our friends. They care for us-"
I know!" Tika cried brokenly. "It's Raistlin, isn't it? He doesn't approve of me. He hates me!"
"Don't say that, Tika." Caramon's voice was firm. "If he did and if he were stronger, it wouldn't matter. I wouldn't care what anyone said or thought. The others want us to be happy. They don't understand why we-we don't become-erlovers. Tanis even told me to my face I was a fool-'
"He's right:" Tika's voice was muffled by tear-damp hair.
"Maybe. Maybe not:'
Something in Caramon's voice made the girl quit crying. She looked up at him as Caramon turned around to .face her.
"You don't know what happened to Raist in the Towers of High Sorcery. None of you know. None of you ever will. But I know. I was there. I saw. They made me see!" Caramon shuddered, putting his hands over his face. Tika held very still. Then, looking at :vet again he drew a deep breath. "They said, 'his strength, will save the world.' What strength? Inner strength? I'm his outer strength! I-I don't understand, but Raist said to me in the dream that we were one whole person, cursed by the gads and put into two bodies. 4"k need each otherright now at least." The big man's face darkened. "Maybe some day that will change. Maybe some day he'll fend the outer strength-"
Caravan fell silent. Tika swallowed and wiped her hand across her face. ''T-' she began, but Caramon cut her off.
"Wait a minute;" he sand. "Let me finish. I love you, Tika, as truly as any mar, loves any woman in this world. I want to make love to you. If we weren't involved in this stupid war, I'd make you mine today. This minute. But I .can't. Because if I dud, it ~Yculd be a commitment to you that I would dedicate my life to keeping. You must come first in all my thoughts. You deserve no less than that. Bud I can't make that commitment, Tika. My First commitment is to my brother." Tika's tears flowed againthis time not for herself, but for him. "I musk leave you free to find someone who can-"
"Caramon!" A call split the afternoon's sweet silence. "Cararnon, come quickly!" It was Tanis.