Frustrated, he pushed up on the portcullis-more out of habit than hope, for only Caramon or ten knights would have the strength necessary to raise it.

To the kender's astonishment, the portcullis began to rise, making the most god-awful screeching! Grabbing for it, Tas dragged it slowly to a halt. The kender looked fearfully up at the battlements, expecting to see the entire garrison thundering .,' down to capture him. But apparently the knights were listening only to the growlings of their empty stomachs.

Tas turned back to the portcullis. There was a small space open between the sharp iron spikes and the stone workspace just big enough for a kender. Tas didn't waste any time or stop to consider the consequences. Flattening himself, he wriggled beneath the spikes.

He found himself in a large, wide hall-nearly fifty feet across. He could see just a short distance. There were of torches on the wall, however. After a few jumps, Tas reach one and lit it from Flint's tinder box he found in his pouch.

Now Tas could see the gigantic hall clearly. It ran strai ahead, right into the heart of the Tower. Strange c0Iru ' ranged along either side, like jagged teeth. Peering behind o he sale nothing but an alcove.

The hall itself was empty. Disappointed, Tas continued w ing down it, hoping to find something interesting. He came second portcullis, already raised, much to his chagrin. " thing easy is more trouble than it's worth;' was am old ke saying. Tas walked beneat:n that portcullis into a second way, narrower than the first-only about ten feet widewith the same strange-, toothlike columns on either side.

Why build a tower s,o easy to enter? Tas wondered.

outer wall was formidable, but once past that, five dwarves could take this place. Tas peered up. And w h''I hugO The main hall was thirty feet high!

Perhaps the knights back in. those days had been giants,kendEr speculated with irteTest as he crept down the hall, , ing into open doors and pakiing into corners.

At the -end of the se:orrd hallway, he found a third port ,

This one was different from the other two, and as strange as the rest of the Tower. This portcullis had two halves, which slid together to join in the center. Oddest of all, there was a large hole cut right through the middle of the doors!

Crawling through this hole, Tas found himself in a smaller

room. Across from him stood two huge steel doors. Pushing on them casually, he was startled to find them locked. None of the

portcullises had been locked. There was nothing to protect.

Well, at least here was something to keep him occupied and

make him forget about his empty stomach. Climbing onto a stone bench, Tas stuck his torch into a wall sconce, then began to fumble through his pouches. He Finally discovered the set of lock-picking devices that are a kenders birthright-I% insult the door's purpose by locking it?" is a favorite kender expression.

Quickly Tas selected the proper tool and set to work. The lock was simple. There was a slight click, and Tas pocketed his

tools with satisfaction as the door swung inward. The kender stood a moment, listening carefully. He could hear nothing. Peering inside, he could see nothing. Climbing up on the bench again, he retrieved his torch and crept carefully through the steel doors.

Holding his torch aloft, he found himself in a great, wide, circular room. Tas sighed. The great room was empty except for a dust-covered object that resembled .an ancient fountain

standing squarely in the center. This was the end of the corridor, too, for though there were tyro more sets of double doors leading out of the room, it was obvious to the kender that they

.

only led back up the other two giant hallways. This was the heart of the Tower. This was the sacred place. Ths was *,vhat all the fuss was about.

Nothing.

Tas walked around a bit, shining his t.orchlight here and there. Finally the disgruntled kender went to examine the fountain in the center of the room before leaving.

As Tas drew closer, he saw it wasn't a fountain at all, bu t the

dust was so thick, he couldn't figure it out, it was about as tall as the kender, standing four feet off the ground. 'I 'he round tap was supported on a slender three-legged) Stand..

Tas inspected the object closely, the he took a deep breath and blew as hard as he could. Dust flew up his nose and hHe sneezed violently, nearly dropping the torch. For a moment he couldn't see a thing. Then the dust settled and he could see the object. His heart leaped into his throat.

"Oh, no!" Tas groaned. Diving into another pouch, he pulled out a handkerchief and rubbed the object. The dust came off easily, and he knew now what it was. "Drat!" he said in despair. "L was right. Now what do I do?"

The sun rose red the next morning, glimmering through a haze of smoke hovering above the dragonarmies. In the court-.. yard of the Tower of the High Clerist, the shadows of night hats; not yet lifted before activity began. One hundred knight mounted their horses, adjusted the girths, called for shields, buckled on armor, while a thousand footmen milled aroun searching for their proper places in line.

Sturm, Laurana, and Lord Alfred stood in a dark doorw watching in silence as Lord Derek, laughing and calling jokes to his men, rode into the courtyard. The knight resplendent in his armor, the rose glistening on his breas in the first rays of the sun. His men were in good spirits, thought of battle making them forget their hunger.

"You've got to stop this, my lord;" Sturm said quietly.

"I can't!" Lord Alfred said, pulling on his gloves. His ` was haggard in the morning light. He had not slept since St awakened him in the waning hours of the night. "The I5I gives him the right to make this decision:"

In vain had Alfred argued with Derek, trying to co him to wait just a few more days! Already the wind was ffig to shift, bringing warm breezes from the north.

But Derek had been adamant. He would ride out and lienge the dragonarmies 4n the field. As for being outrvum he laughed in scorn. Since when do goblins fight lilee ' Solamnia? The Knights had been outnumbered fifty toV nhe Goblin and Ogre wars. of the Vingaard Keep one h years. ago, and they'd routed the creatures with ease!

"But you'll be fighting draconians;' Sturm warned. mot like goblins. They are intelligent and skilled. They have magic-users among their ranks, and their weapons are the best in Krynn. Even in death they have the power to kill"

"I believe we can deal with them, Brightblade;" Derek interrupted harshly, "And now I suggest you ,make your men and tell them to make ready."

"I'm not going;" Sturm said steadily. "And I'm not ordering my men to go, either:'

Derek paled with fury. For a moment he could not speak, he

was so angry. Even Lord Alfred appeared shocked.

"Sturm," Alfred began slowly, "do you know what you are doing?"

"Yes, my lord;' Sturm answered. 'We are the only thing

standing between the dragonarmies' and Palanthas. We dare not leave this garrison unmanned. I'm keeping my command here: '

"Disobeying a direct order," Derek said, breathing heavily, "You are a witness, Lord Alfred. I'll have his headthis time!" He stalked out- Lord Alfred, his fate grim, Sturm alone, frollowed, leaving. In the end, Sturm had given his men a choice. They could stay with him at no risk to themselves--since they were simply obeying tile orders of their commanding officer-or they could accompany Derek. It was, he mentioned, the same choice Vinas 5olamnus had given his men long ago, when the Knights rebelled against the corrupt Emperor of Ergoth. The men did not need to be reminded of this legend. They saw ;,t as a sign

and, as with Solamnus, most of them, chose to stay with the commander they had come to respect and admire,