Dragonlance 10 - The Second Generation (5 page)

"One night, when Steel was twelve, I was awakened by a knocking at the door. I looked out the window and saw three figures, cloaked in black, riding horseback. All my fears returned to me. They frightened me so much, in fact, that I woke Steel and told him we must flee, escape by the back door. He refused to go. I think… I think some dark voice called to him. He told me to run, if I wanted. He would not. He wasn't afraid.

"The men battered down the door. Their leader was… Do you recall, I spoke of Ariakas?"

"Highlord of the Red Dragonarmy. He died in the temple, during the final assault What has he got to do with this?"

"Some say he was Kit's lover," Tika inserted.

Sara shrugged. "She wouldn't have been the first, and likely not the last. But, according to what I've heard, Zeboim, daughter of Takhisis, was enamored of Ariakas, became his lover, and bore him a son, named Ariakan. Ariakan fought in the ranks, under his father's command, during the War of the Lance. He is a skilled warrior who fought courageously in battle. When he was captured, more dead than alive, by the Knights of Solamnia, they were so impressed with his courage that, although he was their prisoner, they treated him with every respect.

"Ariakan was their prisoner for many years, until they finally released him, mistakenly thinking that—in these times of peace—the man could do no harm. Ariakan had learned much during his enforced stay with the knights. He came to admire them, even as he despised them for what he considered their weaknesses.

"Shortly after his release, Ariakan was visited by Takhisis, in the form of the Dark Warrior. She commanded him to start an order of knights dedicated to her, as the Solamnic Knights are dedicated to Paladine. 'Those who are boys now will grow up in my service,' she told him. 'You will raise them to worship me. I will own them, body and soul. When they are men, they will be prepared to give their lives in my cause.'

"Almost immediately, Ariakan began to 'recruit boys for this unholy army." Sara's voice sank. "Ariakan was the man at the door."

"Blessed Paladine!" Tika murmured, stricken.

"He had found out about Kit's son." Sara shook her head. "I'm not sure how. Ariakan claimed that Kit had told his father about the boy. I don't believe that. I think… I think it was the wizard Dalamar, evil Master of the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas, who led Ariakan to us—"

"But Dalamar would have told me," Caramon protested. "He and I are… well—" Sara stared at him, her eyes wide.

"Not friends," Caramon said, thinking the matter through, "but we have a mutual respect for each other. And the boy is my nephew, after all. Yes, Dalamar would have told me—"

"Not likely!" Tika sniffed. "When all's said and done—he's a black-robed mage. Dalamar serves the Dark Queen and himself, not necessarily in that order. If he saw that Steel might prove valuable…" She shrugged.

"Perhaps Dalamar was only following orders," Sara whispered, glancing fearfully out the window, into the night. "Takhisis wants Steel. I believe that with all my heart. She has done everything in her power to take him… and she is close to succeeding!"

"What do you mean?" Caramon demanded.

"It is the reason I am here. That night, Ariakan made Steel an offer. Ariakan would make Steel a dark paladin."

Sara reached for her cloak, held up the brooch of the black lily in a trembling hand. "A Knight of Takhisis."

Caramon was aghast. "Such an evil order doesn't exist."

"It does," Sara said in a low voice, "though few know it. But they will. They will." She sat silently shivering and, at length, drew her cloak back around her.

"Go on," Caramon said grimly. "I think I see where this is heading."

"Kitiara's son was among the first Ariakan sought. I must admit he is shrewd, is Ariakan. He knew exactly how to handle Steel. Ariakan spoke to the boy man-to-man. He told him he would teach him to be a mighty warrior, a leader of legions. He promised Steel glory, riches, power. Steel was entranced. He agreed, that night, to go with Ariakan.

"Nothing I said or did, no tears I shed, moved Steel. I won only one concession—that I could come with him. Ariakan agreed to this only because he figured I could be useful to him. He would need someone to cook for the boys, mend their clothes, clean up after them. That… and he took a fancy to me," Sara finished softly.

"Yes," she added, partly ashamed, partly defiant, "I became his mistress. I was his mistress many years, until I grew too old to please him anymore."

Caramon's face darkened.

"I understand," said Tika, patting the woman's hand. "You sacrificed yourself for your son. To be near him."

"That was the only reason! I swear to you!" Sara cried passionately. "I hate them and what they stand for! I hate Ariakan. You don't know what I have endured! Many times, I wanted to kill myself. Death would have been far easier. But I couldn't leave Steel. There is good in him, still, though they've done all they could to trample out the spark. He loves me and respects me, for one thing. Ariakan would have rid himself of me long ago, but for Steel. My son has protected me and defended me, to his own detriment, though he never speaks of it. He has watched others rise to knighthood ahead of him. Ariakan has held Steel back, all because of me.

"Steel is loyal. He is honorable, like his father. Both to a fault, perhaps, for as he is loyal to me, so he is loyal to them. His life is bound up in this evil knighthood. And, at last, he has been offered the chance to become one of them. In three nights' time, Steel Brightblade will swear the oath, make his vows, and give his soul to the Queen of Darkness. This is why I have come to you, why I have risked my life, for if Ariakan discovers what I've done, he will kill me. Not even my son will be able to stop him."

"Faith, my lady," said Caramon, troubled. "What do you want me to do? Give you refuge? That is easily handled—"

"No," said Sara. Timidly, she touched Caramon's hand. "I want you to stop my son—your nephew from taking the vows. He is the soul of honor, though that soul is dark. You must convince him that he's making a terrible mistake."

Caramon stared at her in astonishment. "If you—his mother, a woman he loves—haven't been able to change him, all these years, what can I do? An uncle he never knew, a stranger. He won't listen to me."

"Not to you," Sara agreed, "but he might listen to his father."

"His father's dead, my lady."

"I've heard that the body of Sturm Brightblade is enshrined in the High Clerist's Tower. I've heard it said that the body possesses miraculous holy powers. Surely, the father would reach out to help his son!"

"Well… maybe." Caramon appeared dubious. "I've seen some strange things in my life, but I still don't understand. What is it you want me to do?"

"I want you to take Steel to the High Clerist's Tower."

Caramon's jaw sagged. "Just like that! And what if he doesn't want to go?"

"Oh, he won't," Sara said confidently. "You're going to have to use force. Probably take him at sword point. And that won't be easy. He's strong and a skilled warrior, but you can do it. You're a Hero of the Lance."

Perplexed, baffled, Caramon gazed at the woman in uncomfortable silence.

"You must do it," Sara pleaded, clasping her hands in supplication. Tears slid unheeded down her cheeks; weariness and fear and sorrow finally overcame her. "Or Sturm's son will be lost!"

"Well," said Tika, jumping briskly to her feet, "if you two are going to leave before dawn, you'd better get started."

"What?" Caramon stared at his wife. "You can't be serious."

"I most certainly am."

"But—"

"The boy's your nephew," Tika informed him, hands on her hips.

"Yes, but—"

"And Sturm was your friend."

"I know that, but—"

"It's your duty. And that's that," Tika concluded. "Now, where did we pack away your armor?" She eyed him critically. "The breastplate won't fit, but the chain mail might—"

"You expect me to go riding a blue dragon into a… a—" Caramon looked at Sara.

"Fortress," she told him. "On an island, far to the north, in the Sirrion Sea."

"An island fortress. A secret stronghold filled with legions of dark paladins dedicated to the service of the Dark Queen! And once in this fortress, I'm supposed to snatch up a trained knight in the prime of his life and haul him off to pay a visit to the High Clerist's Tower. And if I even get there alive, which I doubt I'll do, then you expect the Solamnic Knights to just let us stroll in? Me and a knight of evil?" Caramon was forced to shout this last. Tika had walked out on him, into the kitchen.

"If one side doesn't kill me," he bellowed, "the other will!"

"Hush, dear, you'll wake the children." Tika returned, carrying a bag, redolent with the odor of roasted meat, and a waterskin. "You'll be hungry by morning. I'll just go fetch you a fresh shirt. You'll have to see to the armor. I remember—it's in the big chest under the bed. And don't worry, dear," she said, stopping to give him a hurried kiss. "I'm sure Sara has devised a way to get you inside the fortress. As for the High Clerist's Tower, Tanis will come up with a plan."

"Tanis!" Caramon regarded her blankly.

"Well, of course, you're going to pick up Tanis on the way. You can't go alone. You're not in the best of shape. Besides…" She glanced at Sara, who had donned her cloak and was standing impatiently by the door. Tika took hold of her husband's ear and pulled his head down to her level. "Kitiara may have lied," she whispered. "Tanis may be the real father. He should see the boy.

"Then, too," she added aloud, as Caramon rubbed his ear, "Tanis is the only one who can get you into the High Clerist's Tower. The knights will have to let him inside. They wouldn't dare offend him or Laurana."

Tika turned to Sara with an explanation. "Laurana is Tanis's wife. She was one of the leaders of the Knights of Solamnia during the War of the Lance. She is highly revered among them. Now she and Tanis are both serving as liaisons between the knights and the elven nations. Her brother, Porthios, is the Speaker of the elven nations. To offend either Tanis or Laurana would be tantamount to offending the elves, and the knights would never do such a thing. Would they, Caramon?"

"I s'pose." Caramon looked dizzy. Events were happening too fast. Tika knew this was the case, knew how to handle her husband. She had to keep things moving fast.

If once he stopped and got to thinking about it, he'd never budge. As it was, she could already see him mulling it over.

"Maybe we should wait until the boys come back from the plains," he hedged.

"No time, dear," Tika said, having anticipated this. "You know that they always spend a month with Riverwind and Goldmoon, going out hunting and learning woodcraft and that sort of thing. Besides, once they set eyes on Goldmoon's beautiful daughters, our boys will be even less anxious to leave. Now, off with you." She pushed Caramon, blinking and scratching his head, toward the door that led back to their private chambers. "Do you remember how to reach Tanis's castle?"

"Yes, I remember!" Caramon snapped quickly.

Too quickly. And therefore Tika knew he didn't remember; he was having to think about it, which was good, because that meant he'd be occupied with trying to figure out how to reach Tanis's dwelling for the length of time it would take him to get ready. Which meant he'd be well on his way before it occurred to him to consider anything else.

Like the danger.

Once he was out of sight, Tika's briskness evaporated. Her shoulders sagged. Sara, keeping watch out the window, turned at the sudden silence. Seeing the bleak and unhappy look on Tika's face, Sara walked over to stand beside her.

"Thank you for what you've done. I know this can't be easy for you to let him go. I won't say there isn't any danger. That would be lying. But you're right. I have thought of a way to sneak him inside the fortress. And taking Tanis Half-Elven with us is an excellent idea."

"I should be used to it," said Tika, clutching the meat sack in her hands. "I sent my two boys off yesterday. They're younger than your son. They want to be knights. I smile when I tell them goodbye. I call after them that I'll see them in a week or a month or whatever. And I don't let myself think that I may not, that I may never see them again. But the knowledge is there, in my heart."

"I understand," said Sara, "I've done it myself. But at least you know your boys are riding in the sunlight. They are not shrouded by darkness…" She put her hand to her mouth and choked back a sob.

Tika put her arm around her.

"What if I'm too late?" Sara cried in a low voice. "I should have come sooner, but… I never believed he would really go through with it. I always hoped he would give it up!"

"It will be all right," Tika soothed her. "It will all be all right." Caramon came out of the bedroom. He was draped in chain mail, which fit well over his shoulders, but didn't quite do its job covering his middle. The big man wore an aggrieved expression.

"You know, Tika," he said, solemnly, staring down at the clanking mail with a frown. "I don't remember this stuff being this heavy."

Caramon did finally recall how to reach Tanis's castle, located in Solanthus, but he knew the directions only by traveling overland, not by dragon back. Sara, however, was familiar with the entire continent of Ansalon—a familiarity Caramon found disquieting.

"Ariakan has excellent maps," she said, in some confusion.

Caramon wondered just why the Knights of Takhisis had excellent maps of the continent. Unfortunately, the reason wasn't difficult to guess.

The journey took hardly any time at all. Far too little time, for Caramon, who sat hunched on the back of the dragon saddle, cold and hungry (he'd long since eaten the meat), all the sleep startled out of him. He was trying to think of how he was going to explain this strange tale to his friend Tanis. And what if Tanis is the father? Caramon mulled the matter over. Am I doing him a favor by springing a son on him? What will Laurana say? She never had any use for Kit, that's for damn sure. And what about Tanis's own son? How will this make him feel?