''I do," Fizban replied in a law voice. "But the decisions have not been left in my hands. That will be up to others:'

"I see;' Tas sighed. "Important people, I suppose. People like kings and elflords and knights." Then Fizban's words echoed in his mind. The lives of some we lave . . .

Suddenly a lump formed in Tas's throat, choking him. His head dropped into his hands.. This adventure was turning out all wrong! Where was Tanis? And dear old Cararnon? .And pretty Tika? He had tried not to think about them, particularly after that dream.

And Flint-I shouldn't have gone without him, Tas thought miserably. He might die, he might be dead right now! Thelives of some you love.! I never thought about any of us dying-not really. I always figured that if we were together we could beat anything! But now, we've gotten scattered somehow. And ':kings are going all wrong!

Tas felt Fizbari s hand stroke his topknot, his one great van-: iky. And far the first time in his life, the kender felt very lost and= alone and frightened. The wage's grip tightened around hima affectionately. Burying his face in Fizban's sleeve, Tas began to. cry.

Fizban patted him gently. "`yes;' the wage repeated, "important people.''

300

the Council of "itestone. ?fin important person.

he Council of 4h~'hitestone met upon the twenty-eighth day of December, a day known as

Famine Day in Salamnia, for it commemorated the suffering of the people during the first winter following the Cataclysm.

Lord Gunthar thought it fitting to hold the Council meeting on this day, which was marked by fasting and meditation.

l: had been over a month sine the armies sailed for Palanthas. The news Gunthar received from that city was snot good. A report had arrived early an the rncrning of the twenkyeigh:h, :n fact. heading it twice over, he sighed heavily,

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES

frowned, and tucked the paper into his belt.

The Council of Whitestone had met once before within the recent past, a meeting precipitated by the arrival of the refugee elves in Southern Ergoth and the appearance of the dragonarmies in northern Solamnia. This Council meeting was several months in the planning, and so, all members-either seated or advisory-were represented. Seated members, those who could vote, included the Knights of Solamnia, the gnomes, the hill dwarves, the dark-skinned, sea-faring people of Northern Ergoth, and a representative of the Solamnic exiles living on Sancrist., Advisory members were the elves, the mountain dwarves, and the kender. These members were invited to express their opinions, but they could not vote.

The first Council meeting, however, had not gone well. Some of the old feuds and animosities between the races represented burst into flame. Arrnan Kharas, representative of the mountain dwarves, and Duncan Hammerrock, of the hill dwarves, had to be physically restrained at one point, or blood from that ancient feud might have flowed again. Alhana Sta.rL~reeze, representative of the Silvanesti in her Eatheis absence, refused to speak a ward during the entire session. Alhana had come only because Porthios of the Qualinesti was there. She feared an .alliance between the Qualinesti and the humans and was -rietermined to prevent it.

Alhana need not have worried. Such was the distrust between humans and elves, that they spoke to each other only out of politeness. Not even Lord Gunthar's impassioned speech., in which the had declared, "Our unity begins peace; our division ends hope!" made an impression.

Porthios's answer to this had been to blame the dragons' reappearance on the humans. 'The humans, therefore, could'; extricate themselves from this disaster. Shortly after Porthiia

made his position clear, Alhana rose haughtily arid left, leaving no cane with any doubts about the position .of the ilvanesti. .

The mountain dwarf, Adman Kharas, had declared that ' people would be willing to help, but that until tine Hammer

ICtIaras was found, the mountain dwarves could not be unit ' No one knew at the time that the companions would

return the Hammer, so Gunthar was forced to discount the ' of the dwarves. The only person; in fact, who offered help

was Kronin Thistleknott, chief of the kender. Since the last thing any sane country wanted was the "aid" of an army of kenders, this gesture was received with polite smiles, while the members exchanged horrified looks behind Kronin's back.

The first Council disbanded, therefore, without accomplishing much of anything.

Gun thar had higher hopes for this second Council meeting. The discovery of the dragon orb, of course, put everything in a much brighter light. Representatives from both elven factions had arrived. These included the Speaker of the Suns, who brought with him a human claiming to be a cleric of Paladine. Gunthar had heard a great deal about Elistan from Sturm, and he looked forward to meeting him. Just who would represent the Silvanesti, Gunthar wasn't certain. He assumed it was the lord who had been declared regent following Alhana Starbreeze's mysterious disappearance.

The elves had arrived on Sancrist two days ago. Their tents stood out in the fields, gaily colored silk flags fluttering in brilliant contrast to the gray, stormy sky. They were the only other race to attend. There had not been time to send a message to the mountain dwarves, and the hill dwarves were reported to be fighting for their lives against the dragonarmies; no messenger could reach them.

Gunthar hoped this meeting would unite the humans and the elves in the great fight to drive the dragonarmies from Ansalon. Hut his hopes were dashed before the meeting began.

After scanning the report from the armies in Palanthas, Gunthar left his tent, preparing to make a final tour of the Glade of the Whitestone to see that everything was in order. Wills, his retainer, came dashing after him.

"My lord;' the old man puffed" "return immediately:"

'What is it?" Gunthar asked. )gut the old retainer was too much out of breath to reply.

Sighing, the Solamnic lord went back to his tent where he found Lord Michael, dressed in Eull armor, pacing nervously.

"What's the matter?" Gunthar said, his heart sinking as he saw the grave expression on the young lord's face.

– Michael advanced quickly, seizing Gunthar by the arm. "My lord, we have received ward that the elves will demand the return of the dragon orb. If we don't return it, they are prepared to go to war to recover it!"

"What?" Gunthar demanded incredulously. "War! Against us! That's ludicrous! They can't- Are you certain? How reliable is this information?"

"Very reliable, I'm afraid, Lord Gunthar"

"My lord, I present Elistan, cleric of Paladine;' Michael said. "I beg pardon for not introducing him earlier, but my mind has . been in a turmoil since he first brought me this news:"

"I have heard a great deal about you, sir;" Lord Gunthar said, extending his hand to the man.

The knight's eyes studied Elistan curiously. Gunthar hardly knew what he had expected to see in a purported cleric of Paladine-perhaps a weak-eyed aesthetic, pale and lean from study. Gunthar was not prepared for this tall, well-built man who might have ridden to battle with the best of the knights. The ancient symbol of Paladine-a platinum medallion engraved with a dragon-hung about his neck.

Gunthar reviewed all he had heard from Sturm concerning Elistan, including the cleric's intention to try and convince the elves to unite with the humans. Elistan smiled wearily, as if ; aware of every thought gassing through Gunthar's mind. They were the thoughts he answered.

"Yes, I have failed;' Elistan admitted. "It was all I could do to ' persuade them to attend the Council meeting, and they have:,

comehere only, I fear, to give you an ultimatum: return the orb.~