language, so they think it is delirium. That is how we were able to tell Morning Sky about the two humans who had been captured and brought to the prison. After talking it over with him, we decided to risk liberating you.'
'Why?' asked Caramon thoughtfully.
'For one thing, I saw how you behaved toward my brother,' answered Cloudreaver.
'You saw me?'
'I was in the tunnel. That close to my brother, I could see through his eyes, through the walls of stone. My heart beats with the same rhythm as his. My head shares his thoughts.
I listened to your words and saw and believed you to be a good and compassionate human.'
Caramon was silent. He was thinking about his own brother, Raistlin. Wasn't it that way between him and Raist? That they could see with each other's eyes sometimes? That their hearts also beat as one?
'We do not have much experience with humans,' interjected Sun Feather diplomatically. 'I myself have never before been face-to-face with one in my three hundred years of life on this earth.'
'Three hundred years!' exclaimed Caramon. The young warrior knew that dwarves and elves were long-lived, but already Sun Feather had lived more than three times the span that Caramon would in his time.
'Yes,' admitted Sun Feather, chuckling. 'I am old and past my prime. When I am gone, it will be up to Cloudreaver-'
'Father!' cried Cloudreaver, bringing up his arm and making an angry gesture.
The female kyrie looked upset. Three Far-Eyes dropped his glance. Sun Feather looked chastened.
'Cloudreaver is right,' the leader of the kyrie said in a low voice. 'It is not right to speak of Morning Sky as if he is already dead. Morning Sky is the firstborn and blood heir to the leadership. But-' His voice broke.
Three Far-Eyes hastened to change the subject. 'Most of the humans we know of,' said Three Far-Eyes softly, 'are brigands or slaves. But our legends tell us that humans can be intelligent and sensitive and loyal. Besides, we felt that it was worth the risk to bring shame down on the bull-men. They will be greatly dishonored by news of an escape from their prison at Atossa.'
'Won't they punish Morning Sky?' worried Caramon.
'They will never execute my brother,' said Cloudreaver grimly. 'They will keep him alive as long as they can.'
After the meal was over, the female kyrie brought out pipes, chewing tobacco, and a bowl with thick, cut-up pieces of some kind of gummy root. Cloudreaver chose a long-stemmed pipe, filled it with some substance from a pouch, and puffed on it contemplatively. Three Far-Eyes chewed on tobacco. Sun Feather reached for the root, and Caramon politely followed suit.
Outside, darkness had fallen and quiet reigned. Inside the cave, the elder female moved about the room, reaching for a half-dozen small spheres set into the wall, which by her touch were magically lit and cast a pale blue light.
Caramon chewed on the root meditatively. It had a mild, pleasant taste. The day had been a long and arduous one. His body ached, and his mind as well.
As he chewed, a tingling sensation flowed through his body. Caramon felt his muscles relax. His mind floated free. No longer did he feel weary and sad.
His thoughts flitted to Raistlin. He wondered where his twin brother was, and whether Raist had any inkling of where Caramon was.
He worried about his brother. Kitiara had pounded it into his head that it was his job to worry about his twin brother, although Caramon knew that at this moment, Raistlin was probably worrying just as much about him. Caramon sincerely hoped he was a good representative of the human race for those kyrie who, like Sun Feather, had never met a human before. Surely Raistlin would have better understood the situation and been a more impressive representative of humankind.
Caramon wondered about Tasslehoff. Poor Tas. Likely the kender was dead. What could the minotaurs have wanted with him? Something obscure and unpleasant, Caramon felt sure. Tas wasn't in the prison, nor was he in Atossa, or surely the kyrie would have taken note of him, Caramon thought. Kender do not tend to blend in to the background.
The young warrior looked around at the kyrie in the cave, nodding at him. He wondered if they could read his thoughts. At that moment, he felt almost as if he could read theirs. He sensed their profound despondency over Morning Sky, and at the same time, their stubborn resiliency as a people. They were a remarkable race. He felt proud to be in the company of the ancient kyrie.
Caramon's mind wandered to Sturm. Sturm wouldn't be so comfortable here, high up in the mountains, eating a fine repast and chewing this agreeable after-supper root-not if his friend Caramon was the one who had been left behind in prison.
The minotaurs might not take out their frustration on Morning Sky, Caramon realized with a jolt. But they might-probably would-torture Sturm.
'I must go back,' declared the human from Solace suddenly, startling the kyrie by breaking the harmonious silence that had prevailed in the cave. Caramon set his jaw. 'I must go back and rescue my friend Sturm.'
The faces around him were disapproving. 'That would not be wise,' said Sun Feather.
'Foolish,' said Cloudreaver, putting down his pipe.
'I–I-' Caramon faltered. He didn't possess the eloquence of his twin. 'I must go back,' Caramon repeated. 'Sturm Brightblade would surely try to rescue me. No risk would deter him, not a hundred, a thousand, minotaurs. He'd consider it his honor-bound duty. I can only try to do what he would, under opposite circumstances.'
'But how can you get inside the prison?' asked Three Far-Eyes sympathetically. 'And, what is more important, how would you get out?'
Caramon had no ready reply. He addressed Cloudreaver. 'You say you keep a sentinel in the tunnel at all times?'
'Yes,' responded Cloudreaver. 'Day and night.'
'Then I will hear his reports, watch, and wait. I will seek my opportunity. Even if nothing changes, I must still try something.'
Everyone kept silent. Caramon looked at Sun Feather, waiting for the leader of the kyrie to speak. The elder's face was unreadable.
'I will go with the human!' said Cloudreaver unexpectedly.
Sun Feather appeared shocked. 'You cannot, my son! Already you have taken too many risks. You have not only your own future but also the future of the entire race to consider.'
Cloudreaver's eyes were hard, stubborn. 'I will not take any risk that you wouldn't take yourself-if you were not old bones.' Although Cloudreaver's words struck his father with the force of blows, Sun Feather's eyes shone with unmistakable pride. 'I admire this Caramon,' said Cloudreaver. 'I should like to help his friend as I helped him.'
Caramon reached over and clasped Cloudreaver's hand. This time the kyrie put his other hand on top of Caramon's in a gesture of solidarity.
Three Far-Eyes spoke up. 'If Cloudreaver goes, others with the appetite for fighting the minotaurs should have the opportunity to go with him. The human should be brought to the Warrior Society.'
Cloudreaver looked grateful for the words. Although Caramon didn't know what the Warrior Society was, the fervor in the old bird-man's voice surprised him.
For long minutes, Sun Feather stared at Cloudreaver as father to son. 'You must do what you feel you must do,' Sun Feather said heavily at last. The leader of the kyrie sighed. 'But you must do nothing rash-and you will not be doing anything tonight. Agreed? So, it is time to sleep, and in our sleep to dream the things we hope to do.'
Taking the signal from Sun Feather, Three Far-Eyes and the young female kyrie left the cave. Cloudreaver hesitated and gave Caramon a friendly nod, then he, too, left. Sun Feather placed a winged arm on Caramon's shoulder as the Majere twin rose to leave.
'You will sleep here,' said Sun Feather. He gestured toward the corner, where the older female kyrie had lingered and was setting up a thick pile of furs.
'But this is your dwelling,' protested Caramon, 'and I have brought you nothing but heartache.'
Sun Feather shook his head. 'You have brought nothing that was not here before you arrived,' said the elder kyrie, 'and as long as you stay among us, I wish that you would take this cave as your place to eat and sleep. It is
