a journey save we are driven by necessity. We did not pass you on the road, so you must be traveling from Solace, Sir Knight.'
Sturm nodded. Several of the clerics standing at the rear of the cart turned their hooded faces toward each other, muttering. The lead cleric spoke to them in a strange, guttural language. Tanis looked at his companions. Tasslehoff shook his head, as did the rest of them; none of them had heard it before. The cleric switched back to Common. 'I am curious to hear these rumors you speak of, knight.'
'There is talk of armies in the north,' Sturm replied. 'I am traveling that way, to my homeland of Solamnia. I would not want to run into a war to which I had not been invited.'
'We have not heard these rumors,' the cleric answered. 'So far as we know, the road to the north is clear.'
'Ah, that's what comes of listening to drunken companions.' Sturm shrugged. 'But what is this necessity you speak of that drives the brethren out into such foul weather?'
'We seek a staff,' the cleric answered readily. 'A blue crystal staff. We heard that it had been sighted in Solace. Do you know aught of it?'
'Yes,' Sturm answered. 'I heard of such a staff in Solace. I heard of the armies to the north from the same companions. Am I to believe these stories or not?'
This appeared to confound the cleric for a moment. He glanced around, as if uncertain how to react.
'Tell me,' said Sturm, lounging back against the fence, 'why do you seek a blue crystal staff? Surely one of plain, sturdy wood would suit you reverend gentlemen better.'
'It is a sacred staff of healing,' the cleric replied gravely. 'One of our brothers is sorely ill; he will die without the blessed touch of this holy relic.'
'Healing?' Sturm raised his eyebrows. 'A sacred staff of healing would be of great value. How did you come to misplace such a rare and wonderful object?'
'We did not misplace it!' the cleric snarled. Tanis saw the man's wrapped hands clench in anger. 'It was stolen from our holy order. We tracked the foul thief to a barbarian village in the Plains, then lost his trail. There are rumors of strange doings in Solace, however, and it is there we go.' He gestured to the back of the cart. 'This dismal journey is but little sacrifice for us compared to the pain and agony our brother endures.'
'I'm afraid I cannot help-' Sturm began.
'I can help you!' called a clear voice from beside Tanis. He reached out, but he was too late. Goldmoon had risen from the brush and was walking determinedly to the road, pushing aside tree branches and brambles. Riverwind jumped to his feet and crashed through the shrubbery after her.
'Goldmoon!' Tanis risked a piercing whisper.
'I must know!' was all she said.
The clerics, hearing Goldmoon's voice, glanced at each other knowingly, nodding their hooded heads. Tanis sensed trouble, but before he could say anything, Caramon jumped to his feet.
'The Plainsmen are not leaving me behind in a ditch while they have all the fun!' Caramon stated, plunging through the thicket after Riverwind.
'Has everyone gone mad?' Tanis growled. He grabbed Tasslehoff by his shirt collar, dragging the kender back as he was about to leap joyfully after Caramon. 'Flint, watch the kender. Raistlin-'
'No need to worry about me, Tanis,' the mage whispered. 'I have no intention of going out there.'
'Right. Well, stay here.' Tanis rose to his feet and slowly started forward, an 'eerie feeling' creeping over him.
8
Search for truth. Unexpected answers
'I can help you.' Goldmoon's clear voice rang out like a pure, silver bell. The Chieftain's Daughter saw Sturm's shocked face; she understood Tanis' warning.
But this was not the act of a foolish, hysterical woman. Goldmoon was far from that. She had ruled her tribe in all but name for ten years, ever since sickness had struck her father like a lightning bolt, leaving him unable to speak clearly or to move his right arm and leg. She had led her people in times of war with neighboring tribes and in times of peace. She had confounded attempts to wrest her power from her. She knew that what she was doing now was dangerous. These strange clerics filled her with loathing. But they obviously knew something about this staff, and she had to know the answer.
'I am the bearer of the blue crystal staff,' Goldmoon said, approaching the leader of the clerics, her head held proudly. 'But we did not steal it; the staff was given to us.'
Riverwind stepped to one side of her, Sturm to the other. Caramon came charging through the brush and stood behind her, his hand on his sword hilt, an eager grin on his face.
'So you say,' the cleric said in a soft, sneering voice. He stared at the plain brown staff in her hand with avid, black, gleaming eyes, then reached out his wrapped hand to take it. Goldmoon swiftly clasped the staff to her body.
'The staff was carried out of a place of great evil,' she said. 'I will do what I can to help your dying brother, but I will not relinquish this staff to you or to anyone else until I am firmly convinced of your rightful claim to it.'
The cleric hesitated, glanced back at his fellows. Tanis saw them make nervous, tentative gestures toward the wide cloth belts they wore tied around their flowing robes. Unusually wide belts, Tanis noticed, with strange bulges beneath them-not, he was sure, made by prayer books. He swore in frustration, wishing Sturm and Caramon were paying attention. But Sturm seemed completely relaxed and Caramon was nudging him as though sharing a private joke. Tanis raised his bow cautiously and put an arrow to the string.
The cleric finally bowed his head in submission, folding his hands in his sleeves. 'We will be grateful for whatever aid you can give our poor brother,' he said, his voice muffled. 'And then I hope you and your companions will return with us to Haven. I promise you that you will be convinced that the staff has come into your possession wrongly.'
'We'll go where we've a mind to, brother,' Caramon growled.
Fool! Tanis thought. The half-elf considered shouting a warning, then decided to remain hidden in case his growing fears were realized.
Goldmoon and the leader of the cloaked men passed the cart, Riverwind next to her. Caramon and Sturm remained near the front of it, watching with interest. As Goldmoon and the cleric reached the back, the cleric put out a wrapped hand and drew Goldmoon toward the cart. She pulled away from his touch and stepped forward by herself. The cleric bowed humbly, then lifted up a cloth covering the back of the cart. Holding the staff in front of her, Goldmoon peered in.
Tanis saw a flurry of movement. Goldmoon screamed.
There was a flash of blue light and a cry. Goldmoon sprang backward as Riverwind jumped in front of her. The cleric lifted a horn to his lips and blew long, wailing notes.
'Caramon! Sturm!' Tanis called, raising his bow. 'It's a tra-'
A great weight dropped on the half-elf from above, knocking him to the ground. Strong hands groped for his throat, shoving his face deep into the wet leaves and mud. The man's fingers found their hold and began squeezing. Tanis fought to breathe, but his nose and mouth were filled with mud. Seeing starbursts, he tore frantically at the hands that were trying to crush his windpipe. The man's grip was incredibly strong. Tanis felt himself losing consciousness. He tensed his muscles for one final, desperate struggle, then he heard a hoarse cry and a bonecrushing thump. The hands relaxed their grip and the heavy weight was dragged off him.
Tanis staggered to his knees, his breath coming in painful gasps. Wiping mud from his face, he looked up to see Flint with a log in his hand. But the dwarf's eyes were not on him. They were on the body at his feet.
Tanis followed the astonished dwarf's gaze, and the half-elf recoiled in horror. It wasn't a man! Leathery wings sprang from its back. It had the scaly flesh of a reptile; its large hands and feet were clawed, but it walked upright in the manner of men. The creature wore sophisticated armor that allowed it the use of its wings. It was the creature's face, however, that made him shudder-it was not the face of any living being he had ever seen
