the Inn faded.
'We'll hide at Tika's for the night,' Tanis whispered to Sturm as they plunged through the underbrush. 'Just in case someone recognized us and decides to search our homes. Everyone will have forgotten about this by morning. We'll take the Plainsmen to my house and let them rest a few days. Then we can send the barbarians on to Haven where the Council of High Seekers can talk with them. I think I might even go along — I'm curious about this staff.'
Sturm nodded. Then he looked at Tanis and smiled his rare, melancholy smile. 'Welcome home,' the knight said.
'Same to you.' The half-elf grinned.
They both came to a sudden halt, bumping into Caramon in the dark.
'We're here, I think,' Caramon said.
In the light of the street lamps that hung in the tree limbs, they could see Tasslehoff climbing tree branches like a gully dwarf. The rest followed more slowly, Caramon assisting his brother. Tanis, gritting his teeth from the pain in his hands, climbed up slowly through the rapidly thinning autumn foliage. Tas pulled himself up over the porch railing with the skill of a burglar. The kender slipped over to the door and peered up and down the bridge- walk. Seeing no one on it, he motioned to the others. Then he studied the lock and smiled to himself in satisfaction. The kender slid something out of one of his pouches. Within seconds, the door of Tika's house swung open.
'Come in,' he said, playing host.
They crowded inside the little house, the tall barbarian being forced to duck his head to avoid hitting the ceiling. Tas pulled the curtains shut. Sturm found a chair for the lady, and the tall barbarian went to stand behind her. Raistlin stirred up the fire.
'Keep watch,' Tanis said. Caramon nodded. The warrior had already posted himself at a window, staring out into the darkness. The light from a street lamp gleamed through the curtains into the room, casting dark shadows on the walls. For long moments no one spoke, each staring at the others.
Tanis sat down. His eyes turned to the woman. 'The blue crystal staff,' he said quietly. 'It healed that man. How?'
'I do not know.' She faltered. 'I–I haven't had it very long.'
Tanis looked down at his hands. They were bleeding from where the rope had peeled off his skin. He held them out to her. Slowly, her face pale, the woman touched him with the staff. It began to glow blue. Tanis felt a slight shock tingle through his body. Even as he watched, the blood on his palms vanished, the skin became smooth and unscarred, the pain eased and soon left him completely.
'True healing!' he said in awe.
4
The open door. Flight into darkness
Raistlin sat down on the hearth, rubbing his thin hands in the warmth of the small fire. His golden eyes seemed brighter than the flames as he stared intently at the blue crystal staff resting across the woman's lap.
'What do you think?' asked Tanis.
'If she's a charlatan, she's a good one,' Raistlin commented thoughtfully.
'Worm! You dare to call the Chieftain's Daughter charlatan!' The tall barbarian stepped toward Raistlin, his dark, brows contracted in a vicious scowl. Caramon made a low, rumbling sound in his throat and moved from the window to stand behind his brother.
'Riverwind…' The woman laid her hand on the man's arm as he drew near her chair. 'Please. He meant no harm. It is right that they do not trust us. They do not know us.'
'And we do not know them,' the man growled.
'If I might examine it?' Raistlin said.
Goldmoon nodded and held out the staff. The mage stretched out his long, bony arm, his thin hands grasping for it eagerly. As Raistlin touched the staff, however, there was a bright flash of blue light and a crackling sound. The mage jerked his hand back, crying out in pain and shock. Caramon jumped forward, but his brother stopped him.
'No, Caramon,' Raistlin whispered hoarsely, wringing his injured hand. 'The lady had nothing to do with that.'
The woman, indeed, was staring at the staff in amazement.
'What is it then?' Tanis asked in exasperation. 'A staff that heals and injures at the same time?'
'It merely knows its own.' Raistlin licked his lips, his eyes glittering. 'Watch. Caramon, take the staff.'
'Not me!' The warrior drew back as if from a snake.
'Take the staff!' Raistlin demanded.
Reluctantly, Caramon stretched out a trembling hand. His arm twitched as his fingers came closer and closer. Closing his eyes and gritting his teeth in anticipation of pain, he touched the staff. Nothing happened. Caramon opened his eyes wide, startled. He gripped the staff, lifted it in his huge hand, and grinned.
'See there.' Raistlin gestured like an illusionist showing off a trick to the crowd. 'Only those of simple goodness, pure in heart'-his sarcasm was biting-'may touch the staff. It is truly a sacred staff of healing, blessed by some god. It is not magic. No magic objects that I have ever heard about have healing powers.'
'Hush!' ordered Tasslehoff, who had taken Caramon's place by the window. 'The Theocrat's guards!' he warned softly.
No one spoke. Now they could all hear goblin footsteps flapping on the bridge-walks that ran among the branches of the vallenwood trees.
'They're conducting a house-to-house search!' Tanis whispered increduously, listening to fists banging on a neighboring door.
'The Seekers demand right of entry!' croaked a voice. There was a pause, then the same voice said, 'No one home, do we kick the door in?'
'Naw,' said another voice. 'We better just report to the Theocrat, let him kick the door down. Now if it was unlocked, that'd be different — we're allowed to enter then.'
Tanis looked at the door opposite him. He felt the hair rise on the back of his neck. He could have sworn they had shut and bolted the door… now it stood slightly open!
'The door!' he whispered. 'Caramon-'
But the warrior had already moved over to stand behind the door, his back to the wall, his giant hands flexing.
The footsteps flapped to a stop outside. 'The Seekers demand right of entry.' The goblins began to bang on the door, then stopped in surprise as it swung open.
'This place is empty,' said one. 'Let's move on.'
'You got no imagination, Grum,' said the other. 'Here's our chance to pick up a few pieces of silver.'
A goblin head appeared around the open door. Its eyes focused on Raistlin, sitting calmly, his staff on his shoulder. The goblin grunted in alarm, then began to laugh.
'Oh, ho! Look what we've found! A staff!' The goblin's eyes gleamed. It took a step toward Raistlin, its partner crowding close behind. 'Hand me that staff!'
'Certainly,' the mage whispered. He held his own staff forth. «Shirak» he said. The crystal ball flared into light. The goblins shrieked and shut their eyes, fumbling for their swords. At that moment, Caramon jumped from behind the door, grabbed the goblins around their necks, and swept their heads together with a sickening thud. The goblin bodies crumpled into a stinking heap.
'Dead?' asked Tanis as Caramon bent over them, examining them by the light of Raistlin's staff.
'I'm afraid so.' The big man sighed. 'I hit them too hard.'
'Well, that's torn it,' Tanis said grimly. 'We've murdered two more of the Theocrat's guards. He'll have the town up in arms. Now we can't just lie low for a few days-we've got to get out of here! And you two'-he turned to the barbarians-'had better come with us.'
