'None taken,' said the dark elf. 'I know Porthios. And now-'
'We're ready,' interrupted Palin, an eager look on his face as he turned to Dalamar. 'I've read about this spell you're going to cast, of course, but I've never seen it done. What components do you use? And do you inflect the first syllable of the first word, or the second? My Master says-'
Dalamar coughed gently. 'You are giving away our secrets, young one,' he said in smooth tones. 'Come, speak your questions to me in private.' Placing his delicate hand upon Palin's arm, the dark elf drew the young man away from his father and brothers.
'Secrets?' said Palin, mystified. 'What do you mean? It doesn't matter if they hear-'
'That was an excuse,' Dalamar said coldly. Standing in front of the young man, he looked at Palin intently, his eyes dark and serious. 'Palin, don't do this. Return home with your father and brothers.'
'What do you mean?' Palin said, staring at Dalamar in confusion. 'I can't do that. You heard Justarius. They won't let me take my Test or even keep on studying until we know for certain that Raistlin is… is…'
'Don't take the Test,' Dalamar said swiftly. 'Give up your studies. Go home. Be content with what you are.'
'No!' Palin said angrily. 'What do you take me for? Do you think I'd be happy entertaining at country fairs, pulling rabbits out of hats and golden coins out of fat men's ears? I want more than that!'
'The price of such ambition is great, as your uncle discovered.'
'And so are the rewards!' Palin returned. 'I have made up my mind…'
'Young one'-Dalamar leaned close to the young man, placing his cold hand upon Palin's arm. His voice dropped to a whisper so soft that Palin wasn't certain he heard its words spoken or in his mind- 'why do you think they are sending you-truly?' His gaze went to Justarius and Dunbar, who were standing apart, conferring together. 'To somehow enter the Portal and find your uncle-or what's left of him? No'-Dalamar shook his head-'that is impossible. The room is locked, one of the Guardians stands constant watch with instructions to let no one in, to kill any who tries. They know that, just as they know Raistlin lives! They are sending you to the Tower-his Tower-for one reason. Do you know the old legend about using a young goat to net a dragon?'
Staring at Dalamar in disbelief, Palin's face suddenly drained of all color.
'I see you understand,' Dalamar said coolly, folding his hands in the sleeves of his black robes. 'The hunter tethers the young goat in front of the dragon's lair. While the dragon devours the goat, the hunters sneak up on him with their nets and their spears. They catch the dragon. Unfortunately, it is a bit late for the goat… Do you still insist on going?'
Palin had a sudden vision of his uncle as he had heard of him in the legends-facing the evil Fistandan-tilus, feeling the touch of the bloodstone upon his chest as it sought to draw out his soul, suck out his life. The young man shivered, his body drenched in chill sweat. 'I am strong,' he said, his voice cracking. 'I can fight as He fought-'
'Fight him? The greatest wizard who ever lived? The archmage who challenged the Queen of Darkness herself and nearly won?' Dalamar laughed mirthlessly. 'Bah! You are doomed, young man. You haven't a prayer. And you know what I will be forced to do if Raistlin succeeds!' Dalamar's hooded head darted so near Palin that the young man could feel the touch of his breath upon his cheek. 'I must destroy him-I WILL destroy him. I don't care whose body he inhabits. That's why they're giving you to me. THEY don't have the stomach for it.'
Unnerved, Palin took a step back from the dark elf. Then he caught himself, and stood still.
'I… understand,' he said, his voice growing firmer as he continued. 'I told you that once. Besides, I don't believe my uncle would harm me in… the way you say.'
'You don't?' Dalamar appeared amused. His hand moved to his chest. 'Would you like to see what harm your uncle is capable of doing?'
'No!' Palin averted his eyes, then, flushing, he added lamely, 'I know about it. I've heard the story. You betrayed him-'
'And this was my punishment.' The dark elf shrugged. 'Very well. If you are determined-'
'I am.'
'— then I suggest you bid farewell to your brothers-a final farewell, if you take my meaning. For I deem it unlikely that you will meet again in this world.'
The dark elf was matter-of-fact. His eyes held no pity, no remorse. Palin's hands twitched, his nails dug into his flesh, but he managed to nod firmly.
'You must be careful what you say.' Dalamar glanced meaningfully at Caramon, who was walking over to Justarius. 'Your brothers mustn't suspect. HE mustn't suspect. If he knew, he would prevent your going. Wait'- Dalamar caught hold of the young man-'pull yourself together.'
Swallowing, trying to moisten a throat that was parched and aching, Palin pinched his cheeks to bring the color back and wiped the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his robe. Then, biting his lips to keep them steady, he turned from Dalamar and walked over to his brothers.
His white robes rustled around his ankles as he approached them. 'Well, brothers,' he began, forcing himself to smile as his brothers turned to face him, 'I'm always standing on the porch of the Inn, waving good-bye to you two, going off to fight something or other. Looks like it's my turn now.'
Palin saw Tanin and Sturm exchange swift, alarmed glances and he choked. The three were close, they knew each other inside out. How can I fool them? he thought bitterly. Seeing their faces, he knew he hadn't.
'My brothers,' Palin said softly, reaching out his hands. Clasping hold of both of them, he drew them near. 'Don't say anything,' he whispered. 'Just let me go! Father wouldn't understand. It's going to be hard enough for him as it is.'
'I'm not sure I understand,' Tanin began severely.
'Oh, shut up!' Sturm muttered. 'So we don't understand. Does it matter? Did our little brother blubber when you went off to your first battle?' Putting his big arms around Palin, he hugged him tightly. 'Good-bye, kid,' he said. 'Take care of yourself and… and
.. don't be gone… long…' Shaking his head, Sturm turned and
walked hurriedly away, wiping his eye and muttering something about 'those damn spell components make me sneeze!'
But Tanin, the oldest, remained standing beside his brother, staring at him sternly. Palin looked up at him pleadingly, but Tanin's face grew grim. 'No, little brother,' he said. 'You're going to listen.'
Dalamar, watching the two closely, saw the young warrior put his hand on Palin's shoulder. He could guess what was being said. The dark elf saw Palin drawn away, shaking his head stubbornly, the young man's features hardening into an impassive mask that Dalamar knew well. The wizard's hand went to the wounds in his chest. How like Raistlin the young man was! Like, yet different, as Caramon said. Different as the white moon and the black… The dark elf's thoughts were interrupted when he noticed that Caramon had observed the conversation between his two sons, and was taking a step toward them. Quickly, Dalamar interceded. Walking over to Caramon, he placed his slender hand on the big man's arm.
'You have not told your children the truth about their uncle,' Dalamar said as Caramon glanced at him.
'I've told them,' Caramon retorted, his face flushing, 'as much as I thought they should know. I tried to make them see both sides of him…'
'You have done them a disservice, particularly one of them,' Dalamar replied coldly, his glance going to Palin.
'What could I do?' Caramon asked angrily. 'When the legends started about him-sacrificing himself for the sake of the world, daring to go into the Abyss to rescue Lady Crysania from the clutches of the Dark Queen-what could I say? I told them how it was, I told them the true story. I told them that he lied to Crysania. That he seduced her in spirit, if not in body, and led her into the Abyss. And I told them that, at the end, when she was of no more use to him, he abandoned her to let her die alone. I told them. My friend Tanis has told them. But they believe what they want to believe… We all do, I guess,' Caramon added with an accusing glance at Dalamar. 'I notice you mages don't go out of your way to refute those stories!'
'They've done us good,' Dalamar said, shrugging his slender shoulders. 'Because of the legends about Raistlin and his 'sacrifice,' magic is no longer feared, we wizards no longer reviled. Our schools are flour ishing, our services are in demand. The city of Kala-man has actually invited us to build a new Tower of High Sorcery there.' The dark elf smiled bitterly. 'Ironic, isn't it?'
'What?'
