For the Knights of Solamnia, the Whitestone Glade was their most sacred place. Legend stated that Vinus Solamnus had received his celestial vision of an order of honorable Knights at Whitestone Glade and that the gods themselves had sanctified it. Certainly some of the most important decisions concerning the fate of Krynn had been made here. It was here during the War of the Lance that a dragon orb was destroyed and the dragonlance was revealed, thus directing the course of the war from certain disaster to eventual victory. When the power of the dragonlance was demonstrated, the stone itself was split to its core. There were some who mourned its defacement in such a vulgar and melodramatic display, but the magic of the Whitestone had not been harmed. It bore its wound like a proud old soldier, with dignity. A few even claimed it was more beautiful than before.
It was natural that the survivors gathered there, as the moon shone down, filling up the glade as though with silver water. In the distance through the trees, numerous fires burned a deep golden red. It would have been a magical sight, with a sylvan loveliness, were it not for the knowledge that each pillar of smoke and each merry flame was a house, or a barn full of the summer's harvest. Slowly, singly or in weary pairs, Knights straggled into the glade and collapsed near the Whitestone, where a group of Knights had gathered around a bonfire. One or two stood guard, but there seemed little need for a watch any longer.
"They are gone," Valian commented as he bandaged his wounded arm. Blood ran from a cut on his brow, and his armor was rent in a half-dozen places. "I imagine they're half way to Xenos by now."
Liam rose and stood quietly for a moment near the Whitestone, weighing his thoughts. Everyone looked at him expectantly, even the dark elf. Lady Meredith sat in the grass with most of her battered armor strewn about her, a bloody sword lay across her knees. Ellinghad Beauseant stood at the edge of the firelight, warily keeping watch in the night. With a towel and a bowl of watered wine, Lady Jessica cleaned a ghastly slash to the ear of the Lord High Warrior, Sir Quintayne. Nalvarre assisted her, directing her efforts with his bandaged hands. He'd fought at the stables, protecting the horses, wielding a quarterstaff with deadly purpose, but staves against swords is rarely a fair contest, and the wounds he sported on hands, head, and chest bore this out.
Compared to the skirmish in the stables, the fighting in the courtyard had been horrendous, bloody, a tragedy in the annals of the Knighthood. No clear lines were drawn. Knights of Takhisis had fought alongside Knights of Solamnia, but against other Knights of Takhisis and Solamnia. Lord Tohr, wielding the terrible magic of Nightbringer, the black mace once owned by Dragonhighlord Verminaard, wreaked havoc among those opposing him. The heaviest fighting had taken place at the postern gate, as the forces under Liam tried to prevent the forces of Tohr from escaping. There Valian had proved himself, winning Liam's ultimate trust by capturing Nightbringer and bringing the trophy from the battle. Nightbringer, and its owner's right hand, now lay in the grass near the fire. Thus wounded, Lord Tohr had fled into the night.
Unfortunately, most of the Knights loyal to Tohr escaped with him. Liam's forces pursued them into the forest, where the Dark Knights and their allies set torch to barn, cottage, and crib. Over half the castle's garrison had been lost this night and for nothing. Nothing was resolved. Many had died fighting, but many, many more fled, joining Lord Tohr and his promises of glory. Quite a number of these were blooded Knights – a terrible blow to the Solamnic ranks – while those few who'd come over from the Knights of Takhisis didn't even begin to replace the Solamnics lost in the battle, much less those who'd gone over to Lord Tohr.
To say that the battle resolved nothing was perhaps not entirely true. It had concluded the question of who would lead the Knights of Sancrist Isle-no one. Gunthar's dream of a single united order had died, and the Knights of Solamnia were reborn from the ashes (a little worse for wear, it was true).
Quintayne impatiently brushed aside Lady Jessica's hesitant ministrations and pointed at Tohr's hand, lying on the grass. "There's your coat of arms," he said, laughing, to Valian. "Severed hand and mace on a field of red."
Valian stared back at him with his cold, blue eyes until Quintayne's laughter nervously subsided. "I hardly think this is the time for morbid jokes," he whispered.
"Quite true, Valian. Now is the time for hard decisions," Liam said, staring up at the waning moon. "What shall be our next move? As Valian said, Tohr and his allies will be fortified within Xenos before the next night falls. They are probably dispatching wyvern couriers for reinforcements this very moment. They'll want to strengthen their position and hold it, and with Pyrothraxus guarding their rear, they could very well succeed. Should we pursue and try to catch them?"
"We'd never find them. They are scattered throughout the forest, I'd imagine, following a hundred different trails to Xenos," Valian said. "Such a hunt would be fruitless and only serve their needs by causing us to waste valuable time."
"Let's not forget that we ourselves gave the Knights of Takhisis the citadel at Xenos, and now the people there will suffer for it," Ellinghad said from the edge of the shadows.
"And what do you suggest we do?" Quintayne asked.
"It's obvious what we need to do," Ellinghad said. "Raise the alarm, muster our forces from all over the island. Lay siege to Xenos as soon as possible and drive out the Knights of Takhisis before they have time to prepare."
"Xenos was our gathering point should anything go wrong," Valian said. "Lord Tohr had it provisioned to withstand a siege of many weeks, long enough for reinforcements to arrive from Ansalon. There are secreted several wyverns in the cellar; they are ready to carry messages at a moment's notice. As you can see, they are already prepared."
"Then we have no time to lose!" Ellinghad urged.
"Have you forgotten about poor Uhoh?" Jessica cried. Quintayne snorted derisively.
"I believe Jessica has a point, " Lady Meredith said. "We cannot leave the draconian stronghold in a position to molest our lines of supply. They are sure to send agents to wreak havoc among the civilian population. The draconians might even attempt to strike here, at the heart of the Knighthood."
"That's not my point at all," Jessica argued. "My point is that Uhoh is trapped in that awful place because of what he knew about Lord Gunthar's death. As soon as the draconians learn what has happened here, they'll kill him for sure."
"What's the point of rescuing him?" demanded Quintayne.
Nalvarre leaped to his feet, his face a scarlet color beneath his beard. "The point is, if not for that gully dwarf, you'd be handing over control of this Knighthood to the Knights of Takhisis tomorrow morning, right here in this very place, and willingly!" A cool white hand reached up and touched his arm. He seemed to start, then glanced down at Lady Jessica. The color slowly drained from his face. "I'm sorry," he said to the Knights, "but I do not think you should forget the noble service Uhoh Ragnap has performed for you."
"Yet Lady Meredith is correct. The draconian stronghold is a threat to us," Liam said.
"Not so grave a threat as the Knights at Xenos," Ellinghad said.
"That is what we have to decide," Liam said. "Do we lay siege to Xenos before the Knights of Takhisis can bring in reinforcements, or do we first go after Uhoh and attack the draconians?"
"Let's not forget about Pyrothraxus," Valian said. "There is some arrangement between the draconians and the dragon. After all, he did attack Isherwood in an attempt stop us from bringing the gully dwarf's tale to light."
"Quite right," Liam said. "Quite important."