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.He would have onechance, and one chance only.If he failed, not only would the kender die, but he might very welldie himself.Placing the pearl upon his own chest, over his heart, Raistlin closed his eyes and began to repeatthe words of the spell, chanting the lines six times, making the proper changes in inflection eachtime.With a thrill of ecstasy, he felt the magic flow through his body, drawing out a part of his own life force, capturing it within the pearl.The first part of the spell complete, Raistlin held the pearl poised above the kender's heart.Closing his eyes once more, he recited the complex spell again, this time backwards.Slowly hecrushed the pearl in his hand, scattering the iridescent powder over Tasslehoff's rigid body.Raistlin's chanting came to an end.Wearily he opened his eyes and watched in triumph as thelines of pain faded from the kender's features, leaving them filled with peace.Tas's eyes flew open."Raistlin! I-plooey!" Tas spit out the green leaf."Yick! What kind of nasty thing was that? And how did it get into my mouth?" Tas sat up dizzily, then he saw his pouches."Hey! Who's beenmessing with my stuff?" Glancing up at the mage accusingly, his eyes opened wide."Raistlin!You have on Black Robes! How wonderful! Can I touch them? Oh, all right.You needn't glare atme like that.It's just that they look so soft.Say, does this mean you're truly bad now? Can you do something evil for me, so I can watch? I know! I saw a wizard summon a demon once.Could youdo that? Just a small demon? You could send him right back.No?" Tas sighed in disappointment."Well-Hey, Caramon, what are those draconians doing with you? And what's the matter withTika? Oh, Caramon, I-""Shut up!" Caramon roared.Scowling ferociously at the kender, he pointed at Tas and Tika."The mage and I were bringing these prisoners to our Highlord when they turned on us.They'revaluable slaves, the girl especially.And the kender is a clever thief.We don't want to lose them.They'll fetch a high price in the market in Sanction.Since the Dark Queen's gone, it's every manfor himself, eh?"Caramon nudged one of the draconians in the ribs.The creature snarled in agreement, its blackreptilian eyes fastened greedily on Tika."Thief!" shouted Tas indignantly, his shrill voice ringing through the corridor."I'm-" He gulped, suddenly falling silent as a supposedly comatose Tika gave him a swift poke in the ribs."I'll help the girl," Caramon said, glaring at the leering draconian."You keep an eye on the kender and, you over there, help the mage.His spell-casting has left him weak."Bowing with respect before Raistlin, one of the draconians helped him to his feet."You two"-Caramon was marshaling the rest of his troops-"go before us and see that we don't have anytrouble reaching the edge of town.Maybe you can come with us to Sanction," Caramoncontinued, lifting Tika to her feet.Shaking her head, she pretended to regain consciousness.The draconians grinned in agreement as one of them grabbed hold of Tas by the collar andshoved him toward the door."But my things!" wailed Tas, twisting around."Keep moving!" Caramon growled."Oh, well," the kender sighed, his eyes lingering fondly on his precious possessions lying scattered on the bloodstained floor."This probably isn't the end of my adventuring.And-after all-empty pockets hold more, as my mother used to say."Stumbling along behind the two draconians, Tas looked up into the starry heavens."I'm sorry,Flint," he said softly, "Just wait for me a little longer."13Kitiara.As Tanis entered the antechamber, the change was so startling that for a minute it was almostincomprehensible.One moment he had been fighting to stand on his feet in the midst of a mob,the next he was in a cool dark room, similar to the one he and Kitiara and her troops had waitedin before entering the Hall of Audience.Glancing around swiftly, he saw he was alone.Although every instinct urged him to rush out ofthis room in his frantic search, Tanis forced himself to stop, catch his breath, and wipe away theblood gumming his eye shut.He tried to remember what he had seen of the entry into theTemple.The antechambers that formed a circle around the main Hall of Audience, themselvesconnected to the front part of the temple by a series of winding corridors.Once, long ago in Istar, these corridors must have been designed in some sort of logical order.But the distortion of theTemple had twisted them into a meaningless maze.Corridors ended abruptly when he expectedthem to continue, while those that led nowhere seemingly went on forever.The ground rocked beneath his feet as dust drifted down from the ceiling.A painting fell from thewall with a crash.Tanis had no idea of where Laurana might be found.He had seen her come inhere, that was all.She had been imprisoned in the Temple, but that was below ground.He wondered if she hadbeen at all cognizant of her surroundings when they brought her in, if she had any idea how to getout.And then Tanis realized that he himself had only a vague idea of where he was.Finding atorch still burning, he grabbed it and flashed it about the room.A tapestry-covered door swungopen, hanging on a broken hinge.Peering through it, he saw it led into a dimly lit corridor.Taniscaught his breath.He knew, now, how to find her! A breath of air stirred in the hallway-fresh air,pungent with the odors of spring, cool with the blessed peace of night-touched his left cheek.Laurana must have felt that breath, she would guess that it must lead out of the Temple.QuicklyTanis ran down the hallway, ignoring the pain in his head, forcing his weary muscles to respondto his commands.A group of draconians appeared suddenly in front of him, coming from another room.Remembering he still wore the dragonarmy uniform, Tanis stopped them."The elfwoman!" he shouted."She must not escape.Have you seen her?"This group hadn't, apparently, by the tone of the hurried snarls.Nor had the next group Tanisencountered.But two draconians wandering the halls in search of loot had seen her, so they said.They pointed vaguely in the direction Tanis was already heading.His spirits rose.By now, the fighting within the Hall had ended.The Dragon Highlords who survived had madegood their escapes and were now among their own forces stationed outside the Temple walls.Some fought.Some retreated, waiting to see who came out on top.Two questions were oneveryone's mind
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