I wish it was sooner;' muttered Caramon.
"So do I;" said Tanis grimly. "There's too damn many dray ' ions around here. But we've got to wait far the tide or such thing. Go back to the inn and keep everyone inside. T your brother tolay in a store of that herb stuff he drinksbe at sea a long time. I'll be back in a few hours, after I get ',' supplies:'
Tanis walked down the crowded streets of Flotsam, no giving him a second glance in his dragon armor. He would glad to, take it off. It was hot, heavy and itchy. And he trouble remembering to return the salutes of draconians goblins. It was beginning to occur to him-as he saw respect his uniform commanded-that the humans they the uniforms from must have held a high rank. The tho was net comforting. Any moment now, someone might nize his armor.
But he couldn't do without it, he knew. There were draconians in the streets than ever today. The air of ternsi Flotsam was high. Most of the town's citizens were sta borne, and most of the shops were closed-with the ex
of the taverns. In fact, as he passed one closed shop another, Tanis began to worry about where he was
buy supplies far the long, ocean voyage.
Tanis was musing on this problem as he stared into a
shop window, when a hand suddenly wrapped around W.,
and yanked himn to the ground.
The fall knocked the breath from the half-elf's body. He struck his head heavily on the cobblestones and-for a moment-was groggy with pain. Instinctively he kicked out at whatever had him by the feet, but the hands that grasped him were strong. He felt himself being dragged into a dark alley.
Shaking his head to clear it, he strained to look at his captor. It was an elf! His clothes filthy and torn, his elven features distorted by grief and hatred, the elf stood above him, a spear in
his hand.
"Dragon man!" the elf snarled in Common. "Your foul kind slaughtered my family-my wife and my children! Murdered
them in their beds, ignoring their pleas far mercy. This is for them!" The elf raised his spear.
"Steak! It mo dracosali! Tanis cried desperately in elven, struggling to gull off his helmet. But the elf, driven insane by
grief, was beyond hearing or understanding. His spear plunged downward. Suddenly the elf's eyes grew wide, riveted in shock.
The spear fell from his nerveless fingers as a sword punctured him from behind. The dying elf fell with a shriek, landing heavily upon the pavement. .
Tanis looked up in astonishment to see who had saved his life. A Dragon Highlord stood over the elf's body.
"T heard you shouting and saw one of my officers in trouble. I guessed you needed some help;' said the Highlord, reaching out a gloved hand to help Tanis up.
Confused, dizzy with pain and knowing only that he mustn't give himself away; Tanis accepted the Highlord's hand and
struggled to his feet. Ducking his face, thankful for the dark shadows in the alley Tanis mumbled words of thanks in a harsh voice, Then he saw the Highlord's eyes behind the mask widen. "Tanis?"
The half-elf felt a shudder run through his body, a pain as swift and sharp as the elven spear. He could not speak, he could
only stare as the Highlord swiftly removed. the blue and gold dragon nook.
'Tanis! It is you!" the Highlord cried, grasping him by the arms,
Tanis saw bright brown eyes, a crooked, charming smile. "Kitiara . .
Tanis captured.
"So, Tanis! An officer, and in my own command. I should review my troops more often!" Kitiara laughed, sliding her arm through his. "You're shaking. You took a nasty fall. Come on. My rooms aren't Far from here. We'll have a drink, patch up that wound, then . . . talk."
Dazed-but not from the head wound-Tanis let Kit lead him out of the alley onto the sidewalk. Too much had happaned too fast. One minute he had been buying supplies now he was walking arm in arm with a Dragon Highlord ~ had just saved his life and who was also the woman he loved for so many years. He could not help but stare at her, and Kitiara-knowing his eyes were on her-returned his gaze from beneath her long, sooty-black eyelashes.
The gleaming, night-blue dragon-scale armor of the Highlords suited her well, Tanis caught himself thinking. It was tight-fitting, emphasizing the curves of her long legs.
Draconians swarmed around them, hoping for even a brief nod from the Highlord. But Kitiara ignored them, chatting breezily with Tanis as if it were only an afternoon since they had parted, instead of five years. He could not absorb her words, his brain was still fumbling to make sense of this, while his body was reacting-once again-to her nearness.
The mask had left her hair somewhat damp, the curls clung to heir face and forehead. Casually she ran her gloved hand through her hair, shaking it out. It was an old habit of hers and that small gesture brought back memories-
Tanis shook his head, struggling desperately to pull his shattered world together and! attend to her words. The lives of his friends depended on what he did now.
"It's hot beneath that dragonhelm!" she was saying. "I don't need the frightful thing to keep my men in line. Do I?" :she asked, winking.
"n-no;' Tanis stammered, feeling himself flush.
"Same old Tanis," she murmured, pressing her body against his. "You still blush like a schoolboy. But you warn never like the others, never . . :` she added softly. Pulling him close, she put her arms around him. Closing her eyes, her moist lips brushed his ….
"Kit-" Tanis said in a strangled voice, wrenching backwards. "Not here! Not in the street,' he added lamely
Far a moment Kitiara regarded him angrily, thenshrugging, she dropped her hand down to clasp his arm again. Together they continued along the street, the draconians leering and joking,
"Same Tanis," she said again, this time with a little, breathless sigh. "I don't know why I let you get away with it. Any other man -ha refused me like that would have died on my sword. Ah, here we are:"
She entered the best inn in Flotsam, the Saltbreeze. Built high on a cliff, it overlooked the Blood Sea of Istar, whose waves broke on the rocks below'. The innkeeper hurried forward. Is my room made up? Kit asked coolly. Yes Highlord, the innkeeper said, bowing again and again. They ascended the stair, the innkeeper hustled ahead them to make certain that all was in order. Kit glanced around. Finding everything satisfactory, she caaually tossed the Dragonheim on a table and began pulling off her gloves. Sitting down in a chair, she raised her leg with sensual and deliberate abandon.
"My boots" she said to Tanis, smiling.
Swallowing, giving her a week smile in return, Tanis gripped her leg in his hands. This had been an old game of theirs -him ~~taking off her boots. It had always led to- Tanis tried to keep ~himself from thinking about that!
"Bring us a bottle of your finest wine;' Kitiara told the hovering innkeeper, and two glasses:' She raised her other leg, her brown eyes on Tanis. "Then leave us alone:'
"But-my lord- the innkeeper said hesitantly, "there have been messages from Dragon Highlord Ariakus. .
If you show your face in this room -after you bring the wine--I'll cut off your ears;' Kitiara said pleasantly. But, as she spoke, she drew a gleaming dagger from her belt.
The innkeeper turned pale, nodded, and left hurriedly.
Kit laughed. 'There!" she said, wiggling her toes in their silken hose. "Now. I'll take off your boots-"
"I-I really must go;' Tanis said, sweating beneath his armour, mt c company commander will be missing me . . "
But I'm commander of your company!' Kit said gaily. " tomorrow You'll be commander of your company. Or higher if you like. Now. sit down:'
Tanis could do nothing but obey, knowing, however, that his heart he wanted to do nothing but obey.