"The Regent and the people fled in terror. To this day, no one has dared enter the Tower of Palanthas-or even approached its gates. It was after the cursing of the Tower that my father brought the dragon orb to Silvanesti:'

"But surely your father knew something about the orb before he took it;' Tanis persisted. "Haw to use it-'

"If so, he did not speak of it;" Alhana said wearily, "for that is all I knave. I must rest now. Good-night;' she said to Tanis without looking at him.

"Good-night, Lady Alhana," Tanis said gently. "Rest easily this night. And don't worry". Your father is wise anti has lived through much. I'm certain everything is all right:'

Alhana started to sweep past without a word, then, hearing tine sympathy in his voice, she hesitated.

"Though he passed the Test;" she said so softly Tanis had to step closer to heat, "he was net as powerful in his magic as your young friend is now. Arid if he thought the dragon orb was our only hope, I tear-" Her voice broke.

"The dwarves have a saying:' Sensing for a moment that the barriers between them had been lowered, Tani:; put his arm around Alhana's slender shoulders and drew her ..-lose. " 'Rouble borrowed will be paid hack with interest compounded an sorrow: Don't worry. We're with you:'

Alhana did not answer. She let herself be comforted far just an nstant, then, slipping .free of his grasp, walked to the entrance to the cave. There she stopped and looked back.

"You are worried about your friends;" she said. "Do not be. They escaped the city and are safe. Though the kender was close to death for a time, he survived, and now they travel to Ice Wall in search of a dragon orb:'

"How do you know this?" Tanis gasped.

"I have told you all I can:' Alhana shook her head.

"Alhana! How do you know'?" Tanis asked sternly.

Her pale cheeks stained with pink, Alhana murmured, "I-I gave the knight a Starjewel. He does not know its power, of course, nor how to use it. I don't know why I gave it to him, even, except-"

"Except what" Tanis asked, amazed beyond belief.

"He was so gallant, so brave. He risked his life to help me, and he didn't even know who I was. He helped me because I was in trouble. And-" Her eyes glimmered. "And he wept, when the dragons killed the people. I've never seen an adult weep before. Even when the dragons came and drove us from our home, we did not weep. I think, perhaps, we've forgotten how:'

Them, as if realizing she had said too much, she hastily gulled aside the blanket and entered the cave.

"In the name of the gads!" Tanis breathed. A Starjewel What a rare and priceless gift: A gift exchanged by elven lovers forced to part, the jewel creates a bond between souls. Thus, linked, they share the innermost emotions of the laved one and can grant strength to each other in times of need. But never before in Tanis's long life, had the half-elf heard of a Starjewel being gives to a human. What would it do to a human? What kind of effect would it have? And Alhana-she could never love a human, never return lave. This must be some sort of blind infatuation. She had been frightened,, alone. No, this could only end in sorrow, unless something changed drastically among the elves or within Alhana herself.

Even as Tanis's heart expanded with relief to know Laurana and the others were safe, it contracted with fear and grief for Sturm,

Chapter 9

Silvanesti. Entering the dream.

The third day, they continued their journey, flying into the sunrise. They had lost the dragons; apparently; although Tika, keeping watch behind, thought she could see black dots upon the horizon. And that afternoon, as the sun was sinking behind them, they neared the river known as Thos-Thalas-Lord's River-which divided the outside world from Silvanesti.

All of his life, Tanis had heard of the wander and beauty of the ancient Even Home, though the elves of Qualinesti spoke of it without regret. Then did not miss the last wonders of Silvanesti, for the wonders themselves became a symbol of the differences that had developed between the elven kin.

The elves in Qualinesti lived in harmony with nature, developing and enhancing its beauty. They built their homes among the aspens, magically gilding the trunks with silver and gold. They built their dwellings of shimmering rose quartz, and invited nature to come dwell with them.

The Silvanesti, however, loved uniqueness and diversity in all objects. Not seeing this uniqueness existing naturally, they reshaped nature to conform to their ideal. They had patience and they had time, for what were centuries to elves whose life spans measured in the hundreds of years? And so they reformed entire forests, pruning and digging, forcing the trees and flowers into fantastic gardens of incredible beauty.

They did not 'build' dwellings, but carved and molded the marble rock that existed naturally in their land iota such strange and wondrous shapes that-in the years before the races were estranged-dwarven craftsmen traveled thousands of miles to view them, and then could do nothing but weep at the rare beauty. And, it was said, a human who wandered into the gardens of Silvanesti could not leave, but stayed foaever enraptured, caught in a beautiful dream.

All this was known to Tanis only through legend, of course, for none of the Qualinesti had set foot in their ancient home since the Kinslayer wars. No human-it ryas believed-had been allowed in Silvanesti since a hundred years before that.

'What about the stories;' Tanis asked Alhana as they flew above the aspens on the backs of the griffons, '"the stories of humans trapped by the beauty of Silvanesti, unable to leave Do my friends dare go to this land?" Alhana glanced back at him.

"I knew humans were weak;' she said coldly "brat I did not think they were that weak. It is true humans do oat come to Silvanesti, but that is because we keep them out. We certainly wouldn't want to keep any in. If I thought there was danger of that, I would not allow you into my homeland:'

"Not even Sturm?" he couldn't help asking wry,"I3.^, nettled by her stinging tone.

But he was not prepared for the answer. Albans lwist-ed ":o face him, whipping around so fast her long black hair flailed his skin. Her face was so pale with anger, it seemed translucent and he could see the veins pulse beneath her skin. Her dark eyes seemed to swallow him in their black depths.

"Never speak of that to me!" she said through clenched teeth and white lips. "Never speak of him!"

"But last night-" Tanis faltered, astonished, putting his hand to his burning cheek.

"Last night never happened;" Alhana said. "I was weak, tired, frightened. As I was when . . . when I met Stur-the knight. I regret speaking of him to you. I regret telling you of the Starjewel:'