This was not just mere politeness. I knew that Harald wanted to question the strangers further and he felt more comfortable back on his own ground. And, if he did not like their answers… they would never leave our village alive.
The sour-faced dwarf stepped forward and hitched up his gear. 'Well, I certainly could use some warm food and clothing,' he grumbled. 'This wild-goose chase the kender has us on for some silly dragon orb we know nothing about is enough to freeze a man's bones!'
The knight, Derek, could hold himself in check no longer. 'We can't waste time in revelry! Besides, how do we know we can trust these barbarians? I say we leave immediately!' Reaching out, _Derek grabbed hold of Laurana, intending perhaps to emphasize his point by forcing her to look him in the eyes.
It didn't work.
The huge white bear had been standing calmly next to Laurana. When Derek caught hold of the elf maid, the bear roared in anger and suddenly stood up on its hind legs. Its massive frame stretched to a height that dwarfed even Harald, and it swayed menacingly over the knight, snarling and growling as if daring him to move again. All color drained from Derek's face; he hastily dropped the maiden's arm. The Ice Folk around me fell back slightly, knowing the bear's sharp, protruding claws had the power to rip out Derek's throat in a second. The frigid air fairly crackled with tension, broken only by Derek's ragged breathing.
'D-d-down, bear,' the elf maiden finally managed to stammer. But the creature remained suspended over Derek. Realizing that she alone had the power to persuade it, Laurana bravely reachedup a slender hand to pat the beast reassuringly. 'Down!' she com manded more firmly. The bear hesitated for a moment, then, reluctantly, it dropped back to all fours, eyeing Derek and giving one last snarl. Though obviously relieved that the bear no longer threatened him, Derek's face burned red with humiliation.
So THAT'S why this slender young female is a leader of men, I thought to myself. The bear has chosen her. I saw Harald take note of this, too.
At that moment, a bearded man whose presence I had overlooked stepped gingerly past the bear. I judged him to be older than most of his companions but younger than myself. He spoke to the elf maid in mild, firm tones and I could tell, from her respectful attitude, that he had long been her counselor. 'Derek is right about one thing, Laurana, my dear: we have no time to waste. Tanis may already be waiting for us in Sancrist.'
'I have not forgotten, Elistan,' Laurana said softly, a strange, almost wistful look in her eyes.
She turned to Harald slowly. 'We regretfully decline your kind offer of hospitality,' she began. 'My… that is… friends wait for us.' Coughing, she cleared her throat. There was a note of pain in her voice. 'And we have an important mission to fulfill before we can join them,' she explained.
'I'm afraid you misunderstood me, princess,' Harald said, his friendly tone gone. 'It was not an offer, but a demand. You see, we Ice Folk are at war-we cannot afford to trust anyone.' He gave a tight-lipped smile. 'You will return with us.' Accustomed to being obeyed, Harald turned to leave. He did not, therefore, see Derek draw his sword or Laurana grip the knight's arm, forcing him to put the sword back to its sheath.
'What can I do to convince you we mean you no harm, that we are not spies?' she demanded of Harald's back. 'Our mission is vital-it cannot wait!'
Harald swung around slowly, irritation turning his face even redder than its normal shade. He did not like complications-and this maiden was proving stubborn. Suddenly, his expression brightened as an idea struck him.
'You have my leave to go on this 'mission' of yours, then,' he said. 'But leave several of your number here as-'
'As hostages?' Laurana finished for him coolly.
'No, I prefer to think of them as a sign of good faith.' Harald smiled slightly. 'And as a sign of our good faith, I vow to spare their lives for the seven days I give you to return, as long as we meet with no harm during that time. That is fair, I think?
'I would, of course, prefer that you leave your fighters,' he added, his eyes going to the well-armed knights, 'and the bear, as a token of luck.'
Laurana's mouth twisted in shock and outrage. Her thin frame shook as she struggled for control. 'Without knowledge of the glacier, it is impossible for us to know how long it will take us to reach Icewall Castle. And without fighters, what chance have we of retrieving that which we seek?'
Harald shrugged. 'I did not say I wanted a77of your fighters. These two will do,' he said, pointing to Aran and Brian. 'And the ones called Flint and Gilthanas must stay behind. You will be more inclined to return for your brother and your friend.' He eyed Derek. 'You may keep the sulky one.'
'This is an outrage!' Derek snarled, once again putting his hand on the hilt of his sword. 'There are only twelve of them. I say we take our chances and-'
But Laurana cut his words off, her voice clipped. 'When it comes to retrieving the orb, I will take no chances. If you insist on fighting, Derek, then you will fight alone.' The knight called Sturm moved nearer to her, nodding in support. 'I suggest you instruct your men to join Harald,' Laurana added, her voice breaking, 'as I will my friends and my brother.'
The dwarf glowered at this. 'No, Laurana,' he said stubbornly. 'I won't allow you to traipse across this frozen wasteland looking for Reorx-knows-what without me! It's too dangerous!' Realizing his voice had risen, Flint eyed the bear warily and dropped his tone. 'Tanis would never forgive me!'
'Nor would our father,' Laurana's brother added grimly. 'I'd rather we turned around and forgot that orb than to let you go off unprotected!'
With a sad smile, Laurana placed her hands in theirs. 'You both know retrieving the dragon orb may be Krynn's only hope, and everyone is counting on us. Besides, I won't be alone-Sturm, Elistan, and Derek will be with me. If there were any other way,' she added, 'I'd take it. But we have no choice but to accept their terms, it seems. Please don't make this more difficult for me than it is already.'
Flint searched her eyes, sighing heavily. 'Very well,' he said gruffly. 'Besides, you don't want a grumpy old dwarf slowing you down.'
Gilthanas nodded slowly, but I could tell he wasn't happy. He started to argue, but she continued to look at him intently, pleadingly, until he shrugged angrily. 'I'll stay, if that's what you want,' he said.
Sighing, Laurana turned back to Harald.
'What proof have we that you'll keep your end of the bargain and will not harm them?' she asked.
Scratching his bearded chin, Harald thought about that for a moment. Propped up against my staff, I watched absently as the old man called Elistan came over to stand beside Laurana.
It was then that I noticed the medallion around the old man's neck. My breath caught in my throat, though this time in fear-the hazy winter sun glistened off a golden medallion in the shape of a platinum dragon, the symbol of the true god, Paladine. I could not believe my eyes. Long ago, right before the Cataclysm, all clerics of the true gods had vanished from the world, my own great-great-great grandfather among them. With them vanished the ability of the clerics to work the will of the gods in the world, to perform healing and other magical spells. Many said that this was because the true gods themselves had forsaken Krynn, but my family did not believe this. Since that day, we had pledged ourselves to wait for some sign of the return of the true gods. None had lived to see that day. Nervously, I rubbed at my eyes with grubby fists, hoping to erase the image.
But when I looked up again, the medallion still hung from Elistan's neck. A sickness grew in my stomach. I had always prayed that I would be the one to discover a true cleric-one who could perform miracles-as a sign that the true gods had returned. But in my heart of hearts, I never really believed I would. Face to face with the symbol heralding that discovery, I still did not-could not-believe it! He must be a charlatan, and I wanted nothing more than to escape someone who would try to trick us.
'You drive a hard bargain, elf woman ' Harald finally said to Laurana. 'I like you-I don't trust you entirely-but I like you.' His laughter pounded against the frozen glacier. 'As a sign of our good faith, and to aid you in returning within seven days, we will send with you a guide.' He clapped me on the back. 'Our cleric is the best one among us. He will accompany you to the castle.'
Harald's words echoed in my aching head, echoed across the glacier. Could the fates be so cruel? Had I heard right? Harald's beefy hand on my shoulder assured me that I had. My words came to my ears as if spoken by another.
'I cannot-I mean, I don't want to guide them,' I mumbled, avoiding Harald's eyes. 'I don't trust them.'
Harald's huge face turned as red as his hair. 'Just sol' he bellowed. 'They will not attack us without their
