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.Tasslehoff was already clambering onto theanimal's back.He helped Usha, who had never ridden any sort of beast in her life and was appalledat the size of the horse.She felt unsafe and unsteady on the horse's bare back.Tasslehoff, digging in with his heels, grabbed hold of the mane."Now what?" He had to shout to be heard above the clamor the horse was making."Go the High Clerist's Tower," Usha instructed."How?" Tas cried."Wish it!" Usha closed her eyes and wished.Raistlin sat in a chair in Astinus's study, engrossed in a book the chronicler had just completed,dealing with the fall of Qualinesti into the hands of the dark knights, a fall that had beenaccomplished without a fight.The knights and their blue dragons had encircled Qualinesti, ringed it round with sword and spear,and yet had not attacked.Ariakan, in what had become almost standard procedure, sent in an envoy,demanding the elves surrender.In secret, he met with representatives of the elven senate.Within the elven kingdom, the people were divided, torn asunder by fear of the knights and the bluedragons that circled with impunity overhead.The elves sent messages to the golden and silverdragons to come to their rescue, but they receivedno answer.At this point, a faction of younger elves demanded that the nation go to war.Porthios and his troops were out in the wilderness, keeping an eye on Ariakan and his troops.Porthios could not hope toattack such a large force with his small band of guerilla fighters, but if the elves would attack from within Qualinesti, Porthios and his forces would attack from their side and catch the dark knights in a closing vice.The elves were prepared to follow this plan when a senator rose to announce that Qualinesti hadsued for peace.The senate had voted for surrender, provided that their king-Gilthas, son of TanisHalf-Elven and his wife Laurana-be allowed to remain the ruler.The meeting had ended in a near riot; many of the younger elves were arrested, led away in chainsby their own people.Gilthas stood silently by, watching, saying nothing.His widowed mother,Laurana, was at his side.All knew then that Gilthas was nothing but a puppet, who danced when theknights pulled his strings.At least, that's what they thought they knew.Raistlin, reading, smiled now and then.The water clock on the mantle ticked the passage of time; Astinus's pen recorded it.Second Watchhad come and gone.From within the library came an odd sound.Raistlin lifted his head."A horse?" he said in wonderment."That's what it is," Astinus said calmly, continuing to write.Raistlin raised an eyebrow."Inside the Great Library?""That's where it is." Astinus wrote on."Or was."The sound of the horse was replaced by the sound of sandals, flapping in haste on the floor."Enter, Bertrem," said Astinus, before the monk had knocked.The door opened; Bertrem's head appeared.Receiving no rebuke for disturbing his master,Bertrem's head was soon followed by the rest of him."Well," Raistlin demanded, "have they left?"Bertrem looked to his master.Astinus, irritated, ceased his work, glanced up."Well, answer the archmage's question! Have the woman and the kender left?""Yes, Master," Bertrem answered with a sigh of thankfulness.Bertrem had once fought off an attack by draconians, when they had tried to burn the library duringthe war.He never had nightmares about draconians, however.Bertrem had nightmares aboutkender-kender loose in the Great Library, kender whose pockets were bulging with books."They are gone.They brought in a horse!" he added in shocked disapproval."A horse in the Great Library!""A noteworthy event," Astinus said, and made a note of it.He glanced at Raistlin."They have gone to rescue yournephew.I am surprised you are not with them.""I am with them, in my own way," Raistlin said, andreturned to his reading.14The Nightlord Accuses.Palin Responds.A Dark Omen.The two knights who had escorted Steel to his execution now assisted him to stand up from theblock.They were forced to lift him to his feet, then prop him up.Steel had been so intent on thenext world, had given himself so completely to death, mat he was weak and shaking in life.Hetottered on unsteady legs and gazed around in bewilderment, wondering what this new life nowheld for him.Lord Ariakan had lowered the sword, though he still held it He commanded discipline in the ranks,silenced the clamor.Palin stood on the spot where he had materialized.He had not moved, had not spoken since hisinitial, startling pronouncement.Lord Ariakan had, of course, halted the execution, but it wasobvious - from the way he was shirting his gaze from Steel to'Palin and back again - mat HisLordship had questions.Ariakan turned to the assembled knights."Is there someone here who can tell me what is going on?Who is this White Robe? Is this truly the prisoner we seek? Can anyone here identify him?"Two knights stepped forward, both pushing eagerly out of the crowd, though each had differingmotives for their haste.One was Subcommander Trevalin, newly arrived from the triumph inQualinesti.His face was alight with pleasure, and he cast Steel a congratulatory glance as he cameto stand before his lord.The other was the Nightlord, who had eyes only for Palin.Trevalin would have spoken out immediately, but the Nightlord outranked him.He was forced tocontain his eagerness.Lillith had first say."My lord Ariakan." The Nightlord bowed.She seemed disturbed, troubled."This is indeed the prisoner, Palin Majere, for whom Steel Brightblade gave his parole.I was the one who captured thisyoung mage in battle.I know him.I so swear before our queen.Yet, I would say, my lord, that thismage's recovery should not, in any way, affect your lord's judgment passed on Steel Brightblade.Helost his prisoner.It was not Brightblade who recovered him.My lord said he was to die.I urge Your Lordship to carry out the sentence!"Lord Ariakan regarded the woman with a troubled expression, then turned away from her, cuttingshort her attempt to say more.Ariakan looked to Trevalin."Subcommander, do you recognize this White Robe? Will you swear to his identity?""I do indeed know this mage, my lord," Trevalin said."He is the prisoner, Palin Majere, I so swear by my queen and all her hosts! This frees Steel Brightblade of the sentence of death!" He cast a defiant look at the Nightlord.Ariakan smiled slightly."That will do, Subcommander." He looked next to Steel."Brightblade, is this your prisoner?""Yes, my lord." Steel spoke in a daze."This is Palin Majere.""Nephew of Raistlin Majere, who once again walks this realm!" The Nightlord was avid
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