Raistlin's eyes narrowed, "He told Kitiara, though. I'm sure of it. That is why she traveled north, to find his family."
"Kitiara . .. . " Laurana said in a strained voice. She touched the name .as one touches an aching tooth, eager to understand more of this human woman Tanis loved. "Then, that man-the noble warrior-was Kitiara's father?" she said in a husky voice.
Raistlin regarded her with a penetrating gaze. "Yes;' he whispered. "She is my elder half-sister. Older than Caramon and I by about eight years. She is very much like her father, I believe. As beautiful as he was handsome. Resolute and impetuous, warlike, strong and fearless. Her father taught her the only thing he knew-the art of warfare. He began going on longer and Longer trips, and one day vanished completely. My mother convinced the Highseekers to declare him legally dead. She then remarried the man who became our father. He was a simple man, a woodcutter by trade. Once again, her farsight did not serve her:"
'"Why" Laurana asked gently, caught up in the story, amazed that the usually taciturn sage was so voluble, not knowing that he was drawing more out of her simply by watching her expressive face than he was giving in return.
"The birth of my brother and I for one thing;' Raistlin said.
Then, overcome by a fit of coughing, he stopped talking and motioned to his brother, "Caramon! It is time for my drink;" he said in the hissing, whsiper that pierced through the loudest talk. "Or have you forgotten me in the pleasure of other company?"
Caramon fell silent in mid-laugh ' No, Raist;' he said guiltily, hurriedly rising from his seat to hang a kettle of water over the fire. Tika, subdued, lowered her head, unwilling to meet the mage's gaze.
After staring at her a moment" Raistlin turned back to Laurana, who had watched all this with a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach. He began to speak again as if there had been no interruption. "My mother never really recovered from the childbirth. The midwife gave me up for dead, and I would have died, too, if it hadn't been for Kitiara. Her first battle, she used to say, was against death with me as the prize. She raised us. My mother was incapable of taking care of children, and my father was forced to work day and night simply to keep us fed. He died in an accident when Caramon and I were in our teens. My mother went into one of her trances that day"-Raistlin's voice dropped-"and never came out. She died of starvation:'
"How awful!" Laurana murmured, shivering.
Raistlin did not speak for long moments; his strange eyes staring out into the chill, gray winter sky. Then his mouth twisted. "It taught me a valuable lesson-learn to control the power. Never let it control you!"
Laurana did not seem to have heard him. Her hands in her lap twisted nervously.. This was the perfect opportunity to ask the questions she longed to ask, but it would mean giving up a part of her inner self to this man she feared and distrusted. But her curiosity-and her love-were ton great. She never realized she was falling into a cunningly baited trap. For Raistlin delighted nn discovering the secrets of people's souls, knowing he might find them useful.
"What did you do then^"she asked, swallowing. "Did I Kitiara . . :" Trying to appear natural, she stumbled aver `he name and flushed in embarrassment.
Raistlin watched Laurana's inner straggle with interest. "Kitiara was gone by then;" he answered. "She left home when she was fifteen, earning her living by her sword. She is an expert-so Caramon tells me-and hall no trouble finding mercenary work. Ch, she returned every so often, to see how we were getting along. When we were olden, and more skilled" she took us with her. That was where Caramon and a learned to fight together-I using my magic, my brother his sword. Then; after she met Tanis"- Raistlin's eyes glittered at Laurana's discomfiture-"she traveled with us more often:'
"Traveled with whom? Where did you go?"
"There was Sturm Brightblade, already dreaming of knighthood, the kender, Tanis, Caramon, and I. We traveled with Flint, before he retired from metalsmithing. The roads grew so dangerous that Flint gave up traveling. And, by this time, we had all learned as much as we could from our friends. We were growing restless. It was time to separate, Tanis said:"
"And you did as he said? He was your leader, even then?" She looked back to remember him as she had known him before he left Qualinost, beardless and lacking the lines of care and worry she saw now on his face. But even then he was withdrawn and brooding, tormented by his feelings of belonging to lath races-and to neither. She hadn't understood him then. Only now, after living in a world of humans, was she beginning to.
"He has the qualities we are told are essential for leadership, He is quick-thinking, intelligent, creative. But most of us possess these-in greater or lesser degree. Why do the others follow Tanis? Sturm is off noble blood, member of an order whose rants go back to ancient times. Why does he obey a bastard half-elf? And Riverwind? He distrusts all who are not human and half who are. Yet he and Goldmoon both would follow Tanis to the Abyss and back. Why?"
"I have wondered;" Laurana began, "and I think-'
But Raistlin, ignoring her, answered his own question. "'Tanis listens to his feelings. He does, not suppress them, as does the knight, or hide them, as does the Plainsman. Tanis realizes that sometimes a leather must think with leis heart and not his head:" Raistlin glanced at her- "Remember that:"
Laurana blinked, confused for a moment, then, sensing a tone of superiority in the mage which irritated her, she said loftily, 'I native you leave out yourself. If you are as intelligent and powerful as you claim, why do you follow Tanis?"
Raistlin's hourglass ewes were dark and hooded. He stopped talking as Caramon brought this twin .a cup and carefully poured water from tile kettle. The warrior glanced at Laurana, his face dark, embarrassed and uncomfortable as always whenever his brother went on like this.
Raistlin did not seem to notice. Pulling a pouch from his pack, he sprinkled some green leaves into the hot water. A pungent, acrid smell filled the room. "I do not follow him:' The young mage looked up at Laurana. "Far the time being, Tanis and I simply happen to be traveling in the same direction:"
"The Knights of Solamnia are not welcome in our city;" the Lord said sternly, his face serious. His dark gaze swept the rest of the company. "Nor are elves, kender, or dwarves, or those who travel in their company. I understand you also have a magic-user with you, one who wears the red robes. You wear armor. Your weapons are blood-stained and come quickly and readily to your hands. Obviously you are skilled warriors:"
"Mercenaries, undoubtedly, milord;' the constable said.
"We are not mercenaries;' Sturm said, coming to stand before the bench, his bearing proud and noble. "We come out of the northern Plains of Abanasinia. We freed eight hundred men, women, and children from the Dragon Highlord, Verminaard, in Pax Tharkas. Fleeing the wrath of the dragonarmies, we left the people hidden in a valley in the mountains and traveled south, hoping to find ships in the legendary city of Tarsis. We did not know it was landlocked, or we would not have bothered:"