him, the language went right out of his head. Frantically, he struggled to remember, for Dalamar was standing in front of him, looking at him, grinning.
'Quithain…' Palin repeated to himself. 'Means… congratulations. Congratulations, Magus…'
He gasped, staring at Dalamar in disbelief.
'What does it mean?' demanded Caramon, glaring at the dark elf. 'I don't understand-'
'He is one of us now, Caramon,' said Dalamar quietly, taking hold of Palin's arm and escorting him past his father. 'His trials are over. He has completed the Test.'
'We are sorry to have put you through this again, Caramon,' Dalamar said to the big warrior. Seated opposite the ornately carved desk in the dark elf's luxuriously appointed study, Caramon flushed, his brow still lined with the signs of his concern and fear and anger.
'But,' Dalamar continued, 'it was fast becoming apparent to all of us that you would do your best to prevent your son from taking the Test.'
'Can you blame me?' Caramon asked harshly. Rising to his feet, he walked over to the large window, staring out into the dark shadows of the Shoikan Grove below him.
'No,' said Dalamar. 'We could not blame you. And so we devised this way of tricking you into it.'
Scowling angrily, Caramon turned, jabbing his finger at Dalamar. 'You had no right! He's too young! He might have died!'
'True,' said Dalamar softly, 'but that is a risk we all face. It is a risk you take every time you send your older sons to battle…'
'This is different.' Caramon turned away, his face dark.
Dalamar's gaze went to Palin, who sat in a chair, a glass of untasted wine in his hand. The young mage was staring dazedly around as though he could still not believe what had occurred.
'Because of Raistlin?' Dalamar smiled. 'Palin is truly gifted, Caramon. As gifted as his uncle. For him, as for Raistlin, there could have been only one choice-his magic. But Palin's love for his family is strong. He would have made the choice, and it would have broken his heart.'
Caramon bowed his head, clasping his hands behind him.
Palin, hearing a muffled choke behind him, set his wine glass down and, rising to his feet, walked over to stand beside his father. Reaching out his hand, Caramon drew his son close. 'Dalamar's right,' the big man said huskily. 'I only wanted what was best for you and-and I was afraid… afraid I might lose you to the magic as I lost him… I–I'm sorry, Palin. Forgive me.'
Palin's answer was to embrace his father, who wrapped both his great arms around the white-robed mage and hugged him tight.
'So you passed! I'm proud of you, son!' Caramon whispered. 'So proud-'
'Thank you, father!' Palin said brokenly. 'There is nothing to forgive. I understand at last-' The rest of the young mage's words were squeezed from him by his father's hug. Then, with a clap on the back, Caramon let his boy go and returned to staring out the window, frowning down at the Shoikan Grove.
Turning back to Dalamar, Palin looked at the dark elf, puzzled.
'The Test,' he said hesitantly. 'It-it all seems so real! Yet, I'm here… Raistlin didn't kill me…'
'Raistlin!' Caramon glanced around in alarm, his face pale.
'Be at ease, my friend,' Dalamar said, raising his slender hand. 'The Test varies for each person who takes it, Palin. For some, it is very real and can have real and disastrous consequences. Your uncle, for example, barely survived an encounter with one of my kind. Justarius's Test left him crippled in one leg. But, for others, the Test is only in the mind.' Dalamar's face grew tense, his voice quivered in remembered pain. 'That, too, can have its effects. Sometimes worse than the others…'
'So-it was all in my mind. I didn't go into the Abyss? My uncle wasn't really there?'
'No, Palin,' Dalamar said, regaining his composure. 'Raistlin is dead. We have no reason to believe otherwise, despite what we told you. We do not know for certain, of course, but we believe that the vision your father described is a true one, given to him by Paladine to ease his grief. When we told you we had signs that Raistlin was still alive, that was all part of the ruse to bring you here. There have been no such signs. If Raistlin lives today, it is only in our legends…'
'And our memories,' Caramon muttered from the window.
'But he seemed so real!' Palin protested. He could feel the soft black velvet beneath his fingertips; the burning touch of the golden-skinned hands; the cool, smooth wood of the Staff ofMagius. He could hear the whispering voice, see the golden, hour glass eyes, smell the rose petals, the spice, the blood…
Lowering his head, he shivered.
'I know,' said Dalamar with a soft sigh. 'But it was only illusion. The Guardian stands before the door, the door is still sealed. It will be, for all eternity. You never even went inside the laboratory, much less the Abyss.'
'But I saw him enter-' Caramon said.
'All part of the illusion. I alone saw through it. I helped create it, in fact. It was designed to be very real to you, Palin. You will never forget it. The Test is meant to judge not only your skill as a magic-user but, more importantly, to teach you something about yourself. You had two things to discover-the truth about your uncle, and the truth about yourself.'
Palin smoothed the fabric of his white robes with his hands. 'I know now where my loyalties lie,' he said softly, remembering that bitter moment standing before the Portal. 'As the Sea Wizard said, I will serve the world and, in so doing, serve myself.'
Smiling, Dalamar rose to his feet. 'And now, I know you are eager to return to your home and your family, young mage. I will detain you no longer. I al most regret that you did not make another choice, Palin,' the dark elf said with a shrug. 'I would have enjoyed having you as my apprentice. But you will make a worthy adversary. I am honored to have been a part of your success.' Dalamar extended his hand.
'Thank you,' said Palin, flushing. Taking Dalamar's hand in his, he clasped it gratefully. 'Thank you… for everything.'
'Yeah,' mumbled Caramon, leaving the window to come stand beside his son. He, too, gripped Dalamar's hand in his, the elf's slender fingers completely engulfed in the big man's grip. 'I–I guess I will let you use… that magic of yours… to send us back to Solace. Tika'll be worried sick-'
'Very well,' Dalamar said, exchanging smiles with Palin. 'Stand close together. Farewell, Palin. I will see you at the Tower of Wayreth.'
There came a soft knock upon the door.
Dalamar frowned. 'What is it?' he asked irritably. 'I gave instructions that we were not to be disturbed!'
The door opened by itself, apparently. Two white eyes gleamed from out of the darkness. 'Forgive me, Master,' said the spectre, 'but I have been instructed to give the young mage a parting gift.'
'Instructed? By whom?' Dalamar's eyes flashed. 'Justarius? Has he dared set foot in my Tower without my permission-'
'No, Master,' said the spectre, floating into the room. Its chill gaze went to Palin. Slowly it approached the young mage, its fleshless hand outstretched. Caramon moved swiftly to stand in front of his son.
'No, Father,' said Palin firmly, putting a restraining hand on his father's sword-arm. 'Stand aside. It means me no harm. What is it you have for me?' the young mage asked the spectre, who came to a halt only inches from him.
In answer, the fleshless hand traced an arcane symbol in the air. The Staff of Magius appeared, held fast in the skeletal fingers.
Caramon gasped and took a step backward. Dala-mar regarded the spectre coldly. 'You have failed in your duties!' The dark elf's voice rose in anger. 'By our Dark Queen, I will send you to the eternal torment of the Abyss for this-'
'I have not failed in my duty,' the guardian replied, its hollow tone reminding Palin fearfully of the realm he had entered-if only in illusion. 'The door to the laboratory remains locked and spellbound. The key is here, as you can see.' The Guardian held out its other hand, showing a silver key lying in the bony palm. 'All is as it was, undisturbed. No living being has entered.'
'Then who-' Dalamar began in fury. Suddenly, his voice dropped, his face went ashen. 'No living being…'
