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.She shut her eyes, concentrated, tried to bring back the image and words of her people.The images came, comforting, warm, and forever lost.Tears burned her eyes.She'd been so cold, so selfish.She longed to take back that moment, replaceit with another in which she told them how grateful she was to them, how much she loved them,how much-how very much-she would miss them."If you're ever in danger and you want to escape, use this."She could see the Protector clearly, hear his counsel, feel him press an object into her hand.What object? Which?"If you don't want to be trapped alone on the stairs in the dark, I suggest you come with me," Jenna advised, adding dryly, "unless you are leaving us.""I am leaving," Usha answered.It was either the obsidian amulet or the glass vial, one or the other.One had something to do withshadows, which wouldn't likely be of much help to her.This foul place already had more shadowsthan it knew what to do with.The other would take her out of danger.How? Usha couldn't recall,but anything was better than this.Obsidian was black and so were shadows.Logic rejected the amulet, told her to try the vial.Usha had lived around magic all her life, but only magic that was used for good and practicalpurposes.She had never seen evil or harmful magic-until she had come to this dread tower.And soshe wasn't particularly frightened about trying an unknown magic.Her Protector had given it toher; she trusted him.Usha plucked the vial from her pouch, cracked open the wax seal that covered it.Jenna sprang at her, but it was too late.A thin sliver of whitish yellow smoke rose from the vial.It smelled sweet, like newly mown grass,and banished the stench of death and decay that seemed to linger in the air.Usha held the vial to her nose.She inhaled the smoke.She became smoke.24The Chamber Of Seeing.Where are we now?" Steel asked."We stand in the Chamber of Seeing," said Dalamar."It was created by my shalafi, Raistlin Majere."They stood in a circular room in the center of which, taking up almost the entire area, with theexception of a small walkway, was a pool of dark water.A blue flame spurted from the pool'scenter.The flame gave off no smoke, and what it used for fuel-unless it burned the water-could notbe told.And though the flame was bright, it provided little light.The chamber remained dark."And what does this Chamber of Seeing do," Steel inquired, glancing around in disgust, "besides give off a foul smell?"His gaze caught movement around the edge of the pool; his hand went to his sword's hilt."Relax, Sir Knight," Dalamar said quietly."They cannot hurt you."Steel, not exactly trusting the Black Robe, did not let loose his sword.He stared hard in thedirection of the movement, sucked in a hissing breath."What in the Queen's name is that?""At one point in his notorious career, my shalafi attempted to create life.These were the result.They are known as the Live Ones."Bleeding, larvalike masses, the Live Ones crawled, writhed, or pulled themselves along the side ofthe pool.They made noises, but whether they were speaking or merely bleating in pain-filleddistress, Steel could not tell.The knight had seen many horrible sights, seen his comrades hackedto death in battle, seen dying dragons plummet from the skies.For the first time in his life, he was forced to avert his gaze, forced to sternly calm the quaking of his stomach."Sacrilege," he said, wishing the creatures would cease their pitiable waitings."True," Dalamar agreed."My shalafi had no great respect for the gods-any gods.But do not waste your sympathy on these.The Live Ones are better off, and they know it.""Better off than what?" Steel demanded harshly."Those known as the Dead Ones.But, come, Sir Knight.Your commander desires to speak withyou, and we are wasting his valuable time.He seemed quite impatient.""How do I talk to him? Where is he?" Steel peered into the shadows as if he expectedSubcommander Trevalin to step out of the stone walls."I have no idea where he is.He did not tell me.Look into the pool."The Live Ones yammered in excitement.Several dragged their bodies near the edge, pointed to thewater with their misshapen appendages.Steel regarded them, the dark elf, and the pool withsuspicion."Go to the edge," Dalamar instructed impatiently, "and look into the water.Nothing dreadful will happen to you.Get on with this, Sir Knight.Your commander's time is not the only time wasted.Critical events are happening in this world, as I believe you are about to discover."Steel, still dubious, but accustomed to obeying orders, walked to the edge of the pool, careful notto step on any of the Live Ones in the process.He stared down into the dark water and, at first, saw nothing except the reflection of the blue flame.Then the flame and water blended, rippled.He hada terrifying feeling that he was falling into the pool, put out his hands to stop himself, and verynearly touched Subcommander Trevalin.The Subcommander stood in a burned-out shell of a castle.Scorch marks charred the walls; theceiling beams had fallen in; the roof was now the sky.The Subcommander was holding a staff meeting, apparently, for many knights under his commandwere assembled in the large room.At the far end of the room sat another knight, this one clad inthe armor of the Knights of Solamnia.Steel might have taken this knight for a prisoner, but thearmor was charred and blackened like the fire-scourged castle walls.Eyes as red as flame burnedthrough the slits of the metal helm.Steel knew then the name of this dread knight, knew where hiscommander was.Dargaard Keep, home of the death knight, Lord Soth."Subcommander Trevalin." Steel saluted.The Subcommander turned around."Ah, Brightblade.You are still a guest of my lord Dalamar, Isee." The knight saluted."I thank you, my lord, for conveying my message."Dalamar bowed, his mouth twisted in a half-smile, a half-sneer.He was in a very awkwardposition.He had no love for Takhisis's gray-robed wizards, yet he was bound-at least outwardly-todo all he could to forward his Dark Queen's cause."How goes your mission, Brightblade?" Trevalin continued."The Gray Knights are most anxious to hear." A quirk of his eyebrow expressed exactly what he thought of the Gray Knights and their anxiety.Steel faced his superior steadfastly, unblinking."My mission has failed, Subcommander.TheWhite Robe, Palin Majere, has escaped."Trevalin was grave."This is most unfortunate, Brightblade.ib there any possibility you canrecapture the prisoner?"Steel glanced sideways at Dalamar.The dark elf shook his head."Not where he has gone," he said softly."No, Subcommander," Steel replied."A pity [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]