Dragonlance 02 - Dragons of Winter Night Read Online Free PDF

“rear guard.”
    Skipping along beside Flint was Tasslehoff Burrfoot, his shrill, piping voice audible to Tanis in the front of the line. Tas was regaling the dwarf with a marvelous tale about the time he found a woolly mammoth—whatever that was—being held prisoner by two deranged wizards. Tanis sighed. Tas was getting on his nerves. He had already sternly reprimanded the kender for hitting Sturm in the head with a snowball. But he knew it was useless. Kender lived for adventure and new experiences. Tas was enjoying every minute of this dismal journey.
    Yes, they were all there. They were all still following him.
    Tanis turned around abruptly, facing south. Why follow me? He asked resentfully. I hardly know where my life is going, yet I’m expected to lead others. I don’t have Sturm’s driving quest to rid the land of dragons, as did his hero Huma. I don’t have Elistan’s holy quest to bring knowledge of the true gods to the people. I don’t even have Raistlin’s burning quest for power.
    Sturm nudged him and pointed ahead. A line of small hills stood on the horizon. If the kender’s map was correct, the city of Tarsis lay just beyond them. Tarsis, and white-winged ships, and spires of glittering white.

3
Tarsis the Beautiful.

    T anis spread out the kender’s map.
    They had arrived at the foot of the range of barren and treeless hills which, according to the map, must overlook the city of Tarsis.
    “We don’t dare climb those in daylight,” Sturm said, drawing his scarf down from his mouth. “We’d be visible to everything within a hundred miles.”
    “No,” Tanis agreed. “We’ll make camp here at the base. I’ll climb, though, to get a look at the city.”
    “I don’t like this, not one bit!” Sturm muttered gloomily. “Something’s wrong. Do you want me to go with you?”
    Tanis, seeing the weariness in the knight’s face, shook his head. “You get the others organized.” Dressed in a winter traveling cloak of white, he prepared to climb the snow-covered, rock-strewn hills. Ready to start, he felt a cold hand on hisarm. He turned and looked into the eyes of the mage.
    “I will come with you,” Raistlin whispered.
    Tanis stared at him in astonishment, then glanced up at the hills. The climb would not be an easy one, and he knew the mage’s dislike of extreme physical exertion. Raistlin saw his glance and understood.
    “My brother will help me,” he said, beckoning to Caramon, who appeared startled but stood up immediately and came over to stand beside his brother. “I would look upon the city of Tarsis the Beautiful.”
    Tanis regarded him uneasily, but Raistlin’s face was as impassive and cold as the metal it resembled.
    “Very well,” the half-elf said, studying Raistlin. “But you’ll show up on the face of that mountain like a blood stain. Cover yourself with a white robe.” The half-elf’s sardonic smile was an almost perfect imitation of Raistlin’s own. “Borrow one from Elistan.”
    Tanis, standing on the top of the hill overlooking the legendary seaport city of Tarsis the Beautiful, began to swear softly. Wispy clouds of steam floated from his lips with the hot words. Drawing the hood of his heavy cloak over his head, he stared down into the city in bitter disappointment.
    Caramon nudged his twin. “Raist,” he said. “What’s the matter? I don’t understand.”
    Raistlin coughed. “Your brains are in your sword-arm, my brother,” the mage whispered caustically. “Look upon Tarsis, legendary seaport city. What do you see?”
    “Well …” Caramon squinted. “It’s one of the biggest cities I’ve seen. And there are ships—just like we heard—”
    “ ‘The white-winged ships of Tarsis the Beautiful,’ ” Raistlin quoted bitterly. “You look upon the ships, my brother. Do you notice anything peculiar about them?”
    “They’re not in very good shape. The sails are ragged and—” Caramon blinked. Then he gasped. “There’s no