Dragons of Summer Flame

by Tracy Hickman

  “The food’s bad, and the wine is worse,” Tas said cheerfully. “Which is why no Knights of Takhisis come around here.” He winked.

  The innkeeper brought over a mug of ginger beer and a glass of wine. Tas took a swig of beer. “We’d like some food,” he told the innkeeper.

  “I’m not hungr—” Palin began. Tas kicked him under the table.

  “Bring us two plates of cornbread and beans, and put lots of peppers in them,” Tas ordered.

  “I’ll send the girl,” the man muttered, and left.

  “Tell me about Usha!” Palin said, leaning across the table to be heard.

  Tas took a good long look around the tavern, then, nodding to himself, he launched into his tale.

  “Where was I? Oh, yes. In prison. Well, I met this dwarf in the common cells, and he was most entertaining, being a thief and everything. He said my set of lock-picks, which the knights took away from me, was one of the finest he’d ever seen and that if I wanted to sell it he’d be interested when he got out, which he didn’t expect to be for some time due to the fact that the knights take a very dim view of thievery and were doing their best to clean up the town. Which is why there weren’t any kender in jail.”

  Here Tas sighed and paused to take another drink of ginger beer and to look around the inn once more. Palin fidgeted nervously, anxious to hear how this story ended—if it ever did.

  Wiping foam from his mouth, Tas continued.

  “Well, I remembered that Dalamar had told me to watch out for Usha and no one gets around town like a thief, so I asked the dwarf if he’d seen anyone who looked like Usha, and I gave him her description. He said, yes, that sounded just like a woman who’d joined the Thieves’ Guild. She was proving to be an apt pupil, or would have been if the knights hadn’t moved in and ruined everything.”

  “I don’t suppose he made a mistake?” Palin asked hopefully. “Maybe there’s another woman who looks like Usha—”

  Tas cocked an eye at him over the rim of the mug of ginger beer.

  “I guess not,” Palin said, with a sigh. “It must be her. I know where the Thieves’ Guild is. Steel and I went there. But how will we get near the place? It must be well guarded. And we have to go tonight. Like I said, I promised … someone … I’d meet him at the Great Library.”

  “Well, visiting the Thieves’ Guild’s going to be dangerous,” Tas said quietly. “People say the knights are going to burn it down.”

  “But you said … Usha! Is she …”

  “She’s all right,” Tas reassured him. “You can ask the dwarf. He’s sitting over at the table near the window.”

  Palin twisted around in his chair.

  The dwarf, who had been watching them, raised his mug in salute. “Good to see you again, Laddie.”

  Palin hung on to the table. “That’s … that’s …”

  “Dougan Redhammer,” Tasslehoff said, waving.

  The flashily dressed dwarf heaved himself to his feet, clomped over to their table. “Mind if I join you, Laddie?” He winked. “Palin Majere, if I remember correctly.”

  Palin swallowed. “I … I … know you … You’re …”

  “Easy, Lad,” Dougan said softly. “Eyes watching, ears listening. If I were you, I’d order a bite to eat. You look a little peaked.”

  “Here’s the waitress,” Tas said, grinning at Dougan, who grinned back, stroked his luxuriant beard.

  The woman, carrying a tray of heavy mugs in her hands, stopped on her way to the kitchen. Her hair, wet with sweat and steam, straggled down over her face. She was dressed in what appeared to be castoff clothing—a man’s full-sleeved shirt tied at the waist, a long, cotton skirt with the front tied up in knots, to keep from tripping over it. She cast them a quick, bored glance, then shifted her gaze back to the kitchen door.

  “Yeah? What d’you want? Make it quick. I’ve got dishes to wash.”

  “Usha!” Palin barely found the strength to stand up. He pushed himself away from the table. “Usha, it’s me!”

  At the sound of his voice, speaking her name, Usha nearly dropped the mugs.

  Palin caught them for her. Their hands met and touched, beneath the heavy tray.

  “Palin!” she said breathlessly. “I thought you were dead! I never expected to see you again! Where did you go? What are you doing here?”

  “Tas brought me. It’s a long story. I’m not dead. I came looking for you.”

  The two stood gazing at each other, holding the tray of mugs, oblivious to everything and everyone else.

  “You found me,” Usha said softly.

  “And I won’t ever leave you again,” Palin promised.

  Dougan Redhammer tugged on his mustache. He eyed Palin speculatively.

  “Wanna bet?” the dwarf asked, with a quirk of his eyebrow.

  7

  The brawl. Escape.

  Thieves’ way.

  o messing about with the customers on my time, girl,” the innkeeper said, descending on them. “Get to work!”

  “Sorry.” Palin took the tray from Usha and handed it to the startled innkeeper. “She’s quitting.”

  “What? Palin, I can’t quit! I—Well, I—” Usha bit her lip, flushed, finished lamely. “I need this job.”

  “She needs the job!” The innkeeper mimicked her. Sneering, he slammed the tray full of mugs down on the table. “Yes, she needs it. So she can see who’s carrying a fat purse and then mark them for her thief friends! Like the dwarf there.”

  “Say now!” Dougan roared, clenching his fists. “Mind who you’re calling a thief! By Reorx’s beard, I’ll not stand for that!”

  Grabbing a chair, the dwarf brought it crashing down on the head and shoulders of the blacksmith, who was seated behind him.

  The drunken smith, growling in anger, staggered to his feet, began flailing away with his fists. He missed the dwarf, connected with the innkeeper.

  The innkeeper staggered backward, rubbing his jaw. Tasslehoff caught hold of his apron strings.

  “Skinny-butt, skinny-butt!” Tasslehoff sang out, skipping around the dazed innkeeper like a topknotted fiend. “Afraid to eat his own cooking! Ptomaine Bill they call him!”

  The blacksmith was now taking on all comers, which included at least half the customers. The other half had gathered around, shouting encouragement and placing bets. The innkeeper hefted the poker and took off after Tas.

  Dougan yelled over at Palin and Usha. “Be off with you, Lad! You, too, Lassie. I’ll take care of this wee matter!”

  Palin looked intently at the dwarf. “It’s good to see you again, sir. I wish our second meeting was under happier circumstances.”

  “I do too, Laddie. By Reorx, I do.” Dougan heaved a profound sigh. “It’s in the hands of the gods.…”

  A crockery jug smashed down on top of the dwarf’s head. Ale cascaded over his hat, drenching the jaunty plume and soaking the dwarf.

  “That does it!” he yelled, spluttering. Leaping up on a chair, he shoved up his sleeves and knocked his opponent flat. “Best hurry, Lad!”

  “This way,” Usha said, and she led Palin out the inn by the back door.

  Outside they heard a whistle, blowing wildly. The call was answered by running footsteps, the sound of shouted orders. The two huddled in the shadows.

  “The knights!” Palin reported, peering around a corner of the wall. “A patrol’s coming down the street.”

  “What about Dougan?” Usha asked anxiously. “We can’t leave him! And Tas!”

  “Here I am!” came a bright voice.

  Tasslehoff emerged from behind the compost heap. He was slightly rumpled, his face was filthy, his pouches hung askew, and his topknot had slipped to one side of his head.

  “I’m fine,” he pronounced.

  “Four knights are going in the front,” Palin said. “We should leave now, before more come.”

  Usha held back. “Dougan!” she said again urgently. “He’s been really good to me—”

  “Oh, he’ll be a
ll right,” Tas assured her. “He’s a god, after all.”

  Usha stared. “What?”

  “We better go now!” Palin urged, tugging Usha along.

  “He’s a god,” Tas said offhandedly, hastening along beside them. “Reorx. I know, you see, because I hang around gods a lot. Paladine and I are great personal friends. The Dark Queen was so fond of me that she wanted me to stay with her in the Abyss. And now Reorx, who is really Dougan. We had a nice little chat, before someone clonked him on the head bone with a stew pot.”

  “Do you know what he’s talking about?” Usha asked Palin in an undertone.

  “I’ll explain later,” he whispered.

  “Now where are we going?” Tas asked excitedly.

  “To the Great Library.”

  “Ah! Astinus.” Tas was triumphant. “You see? When I was in the Abyss—the second time, not the first—I finally figured out where I knew him from. He knows me, too.”

  From inside the inn came shouts and shrieks and the clash of steel against iron.

  They reached the end of the alley. Palin started to venture out into the street.

  Usha caught hold of him.

  “What are you doing? You can’t just walk out there like that!”

  “My dear,” Palin said, gently but firmly, “we have to hurry. Don’t worry. If the knights see us, they won’t connect us with the brawl. They’ll figure we’re ordinary citizens, out for an evening stroll.”

  “That’s just it,” Usha countered. “Ordinary citizens don’t go out for evening strolls anymore. Look around. Do you see anyone in the streets?”

  Palin was startled to realize that Usha was right. The streets were empty—except for the knights.

  “Read your identification papers,” Usha said softly. “Sometimes certain people are given permission to be out at night. If so, it should be stamped on your papers.”

  Palin stared. “What identification papers? What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t need an identity,” Tas asserted. “I know who I am. I told them so in the jail last night.”

  “Everyone in Palanthas has to have papers.” Usha looked from one to another in consternation. “Even visitors. The knights give them to you at the gate. Are you sure you didn’t get any papers? How did you get into town without them?”

  “Well,” Tas began, “Dalamar said something that sounded like oogle, bogle, bogle and—”

  “Never mind,” Palin interrupted quickly. “Let’s say that we both came into town by rather unconventional means. And, no, neither of us has papers. I don’t understand. When did this start?”

  The door to the inn opened. The knights marched out several men—including the blacksmith and the innkeeper, who was pleading with them not to shut down his business. Four more knights came out, carrying the unconscious dwarf by the arms and heels. The remainder of the patrons melted away into the darkness.

  Tas, Palin, and Usha held perfectly still until the knights had left. The lights in the inn still burned. The cook came fearfully to the door, peered out, then—pulling off her apron—she ran for home.

  “You see,” said Usha. “Everyone’s terrified. When the knights took over, they made every person in Palanthas come to the lord’s house—which is now the knights’ headquarters—and register. You had to say where you lived, who your parents were, how long you’d been living in the city. If people said the wrong thing, they were taken away—no one knows where. All the families of the Solamnic Knights have vanished. Their houses have been taken over—Hush!”

  The three ducked deeper into the alley. A patrol of three knights clanked by, their measured footsteps ringing on the cobblestones.

  “The knights established a curfew,” Usha continued softly, after the knights had passed. “All citizens are required to be in their homes by midnight. To help enforce the curfew and to ‘protect the good citizens from marauding raiders’ the knights said that we could no longer light the street lamps.”

  “The lamps,” Palin murmured. “I wondered what was different! Even at night, Palanthas used to be as bright as day.”

  “No one comes out now. The tavern’s been losing money. Only the locals stop by for a drink, and now they probably won’t even do that anymore. No one wants to run into the patrols.”

  Usha gestured down the street the knights had taken. “Even if you’re on some perfectly innocent errand, you’re marched off to one of the knights’ headquarters and questioned endlessly. They ask to see your papers. They want to know where you’re going and why. Then, if your answers satisfy them and if your papers are ‘in order,’ then they escort you to your destination. If they catch you in a lie, may the gods help you. And if they caught you, Palin, without papers, in the company of a kender …”

  Usha shrugged, shook her head.

  “Kender aren’t allowed in the city at all,” Tas added. “They threw me out this morning, along with a few others. I came right back in, of course, but that wasn’t as easy as it used to be. A lot of the old cracks and holes in the wall have been repaired. Still, there are a few they missed.”

  “We can’t just stay here, skulking in the alley,” Palin whispered. “I must be at the library by midnight. We’ll have to chance the streets. We’re running out of time.”

  “What about your magic ring?” Tas asked eagerly. “You could whisk us there in no time. I love being magicked.”

  “The ring would take me there,” Palin said, “but not you or Usha. Come on. We should leave now, while it’s quiet, before the knights come back.”

  Usha was silent long moments, then said, “There’s another way, a safer way, but you won’t like it.”

  “Why?” Palin asked, chilled. “What is it?”

  Usha tossed her silver hair. “The Thieves’ Way, it’s called. There—I told you, you wouldn’t like it.”

  Even by Solinari’s dim white light, Palin could see Usha’s face darken. She wouldn’t look at him, and she pulled her hand out of his.

  “Usha,” Palin began awkwardly.

  “I was hungry,” she added defiantly. “I had nowhere to go, no place to sleep. The dwarf, Dougan Redhammer, found me and was kind to me. He took me to the Thieves’ Guild. They didn’t ask any questions.” Usha cast Palin a reproachful glance. “They accepted me right off, made me feel at home. They gave me a place to sleep, found me a job, which is a lot more than some people did for me.”

  Palin was confused. Suddenly, he was the guilty party, and he wasn’t at all sure how that had happened.

  “I’m sorry,” he said lamely, “but I—”

  “I never stole anything!” Usha continued, growing heated, blinking back tears. “Not a single thing! The thieves were only teaching me. Dougan said I was good at it. I have a real knack.”

  “Usha, I understand. Hush, don’t say anything more.” He took hold of her hands, held her tightly.

  She looked up at him, into his eyes, and for a moment he lost any notion of where he was, what he was doing. His lips were on hers, she was in his arms. They clung to each other, in the darkness, feeling safe in each other’s arms, if nowhere else on Krynn.

  Palin slowly, reluctantly, pushed Usha away. “I can’t let this happen between us,” he said firmly. “You’re my uncle’s daughter … my own cousin!”

  “Palin …” Usha sounded uncomfortable. “What if I told you that I wasn’t, well, wasn’t really—” She stopped, tried again. “That I hadn’t told the truth …” She stopped again.

  “The truth about what?” He smiled at her, tried to seem cheerful. “About being a thief? But you did tell me. And I understand.”

  “No, that wasn’t it,” she said, sighing. “But, never mind. It wasn’t important.”

  Palin felt a tugging on the sleeve of his robe.

  “Excuse me,” said Tas politely, “but this alley is getting awfully boring, and what time did you say we had to be at the library?”

  “Tas is right. We should go now. We’ll take your way.”

  �
��Follow me, then.” Usha turned away from the street, led them farther into the dark alley, until they reached a dead end.

  Tall buildings blocked the moonlight. Light from the deserted inn did not illuminate this part of the alley. Usha stumbled over something in the dark. Tas stepped on a cat, which screeched and fled. Palin banged his shin against a crate.

  “We need light,” Usha muttered.

  “Is it safe?”

  She glanced back nervously down the alleyway. “We won’t be here long.”

  Palin said, “Shirak,” softly, and the Staff of Magius began to glow with a pale, cold light. He held the staff high, saw nothing but walls on all three sides.

  “Usha, how—?”

  “Hush,” she whispered, and dropped to her knees. “Help me move this grate!”

  “The sewer!” Tas was down on all fours instantly. He began tugging at the grate in excitement. “We’re going down into the sewer! I’ve heard of the Palanthas sewers before. They’re supposed to be very interesting, but I never got around to actually going down into one. Isn’t this wonderful, Palin?”

  Palin thought of several words to describe going down into the sewers of this large, populous city. Wonderful was not foremost among them. He crouched beside Usha, just as she and Tas managed to slide the heavy grate to one side.

  “This may be a good hiding place, but how is it going to get us to the library? … Ugh!”

  A terrible smell flowed up out of the darkness, a smell so foul that it seemed to have a shape and life of its own. Palin gagged and covered his nose with his hand. Tasslehoff, who had been staring, open-mouthed, into the hole, tumbled back as if he’d been struck in the face.

  “Pew! Yick! Uck!” The kender wrinkled his nose in disgust. “That certainly is.… is …”

  “Indescribable,” Palin said grimly.

  “Here, put this over your nose and mouth.” Usha handed Palin a bar rag, which had been hanging from her belt. “You’ll soon get used to it.”

  The rag smelled only slightly better than the sewer. Palin took it, but hesitated.

  “Usha …”

  She began kilting up her skirt, lifting the hem and tucking it into her belt. “The sewer system can take you anywhere in Palanthas, maybe even to the Tower of High Sorcery. I don’t know. The route’s not going to be very pleasant, but—”