Read Online Dragonlance 04 - Time of the Twins by Margaret Weis - Free Book Online

and he tried—he really did. He helped the local constable, tracking down renegade draconians. He was a bodyguard, for a while, hiring out to people traveling to Haven. But no one ever hired him twice." Her voice dropped. "Then one day, last winter, the party he'd been supposed to protect returned, dragging him on a sled. He was dead drunk. They'd ended up protecting him! Since then, he's spent all his time either sleeping, eating, or hanging out with some ex-mercenaries at the Trough, that filthy place at the other end of town."

    Wishing Laurana were here to discuss such matters, Tanis suggested softly, "Maybe a—um—baby?"

    "I was pregnant, last summer," Tika said dully, leaning her head on her hand. "But not for long. I miscarried. Caramon never even knew. Since then"—she stared down at the wooden table—"well, we haven't been sleeping in the same room."

    Flushing in embarrassment, Tanis could do nothing more than pat her hand and hurriedly change the subject. "You said a moment before 'it had something to do with—' . . . with what?"

    Tika shivered, then took another drink of wine. "Rumors started, then, Tanis," she said in a low, hushed voice. "Dark rumors. You can guess who they were about!"

    Tanis nodded.

    "Caramon wrote to him, Tanis. I saw the letter. It was—it tore my heart. Not a word of blame or reproach. It was filled with love. He begged his brother to come back and live with us. He pleaded with him to turn his back on the darkness."

    "And what happened?" Tanis asked, though he already guessed the answer.

    "It came back," Tika whispered. "Unopened. The seal wasn't even broken. And on the outside was written, 'I have no brother. I know no one named Caramon.' And it was signed, Raistlin!"

    "Raistlin!" Crysania looked at Tika, as if seeing her for the first time. Her gray eyes were wide and startled as they went from the red-haired young woman to Tanis, then to the huge warrior on the floor, who belched comfortably in his drunken sleep. "Caramon . . . This is Caramon Majere? This is his brother? The twin you were telling me about? The man who could guide me—”

    "I'm sorry, Revered Daughter," Tanis said, flushing. "I had no idea he—”

    "But Raistlin is so . . . intelligent, powerful. I thought his twin must be the same. Raistlin is sensitive, he exerts such strong control over himself and those who serve him. He is a perfectionist, while this"—Crysania gestured—"this pathetic wretch, while he deserves our pity and our prayers, is—”

    "Your 'sensitive and intelligent perfectionist' had a hand in making this man the 'pathetic wretch' you see, Revered Daugh ter," Tanis said acidly, keeping his anger carefully under control.

    "Perhaps it was the other way around," Crysania said, regarding Tanis coldly. "Perhaps it was for lack of love that Raistlin turned from the light to walk in darkness."

    Tika looked up at Crysania, an odd expression in her eyes. "Lack of love?" she repeated gently.

    Caramon moaned in his sleep and began thrashing about on the floor. Tika rose quickly to her feet.

    "We better get him home." She glanced up to see Riverwind's tall figure appear in the doorway, then turned to Tanis. "I'll see you in the morning, won't I? Couldn't you stay . . . just overnight?"

    Tanis looked at her pleading eyes and felt like biting off his tongue before he answered. But there was no help for it. "I'm sorry, Tika," he said, taking her hands. "I wish I could, but I must go. It is a long ride to Qualinost from here, and I dare not be late. The fate of two kingdoms, perhaps, depends on my being there."

    "I understand," Tika said softly. "This isn't your problem anyway. I'll cope."

    Tanis could have torn out his beard with frustration. He longed to stay and help, if he even could help. At least he might talk with Caramon, try to get some sense into that thick skull. But Porthios would take it as a personal affront if Tanis did not come to the funeral, which would affect not only his