was h~ape, p-fe smiled at her and she smiled back.-a strained sn'"le-but it erased lines of )fatigue surd wogry in her face.

„Rest;' he told her. "You look exhausted."

"I tried to sleep;' she murmured, "but I had terrible dreamshands encased in crystal, huge dragons flying through stone hallways' She shook her head, then sat down, exhausted, in a corner sheltered from the chill wind.

Sturm's gaze moved to Tasslehoff, who lay beside her. The kender was fast asleep, curled into a ball. Sturm looked at him with a smile. Nothing bothered Tas. The kendei d had a truly glorious day-one that would live in his memory forever.

"I've never been at a siege before;' Sturm had heard Tas confide to Flint just seconds before the dwarf's battle-axe swept off a goblin"s head.

"You know were all going to die;' Flint growled, wiping black blood from his axe blade.

"That"s what you said when we faced that black dragon in, Xak Tsaaoth;' Tas replied. "Then you said the same thing '

Tharbardin; and then there was the boat-'

"This time we're .going to die!" Flint roared in a rage. '"lf have to kill you myself!'

But their hadn't died-at least not today. There's alwa tomorrow, Sturm thought, his gaze resting on the dwarf leaned against a stone wall, carving at a block of wood.

Flint looked up. 'When will it start?" he asked.

Sturm sighed, has gaze shifting out to the eastern 'Dawn," he replied. "A few hours yet."

The dwarf nodded. "Can we hold?" His voice was matter fact, the hand that held the wood firm and steady.

"4~,'e must;' Sturm replied. "The messenger will read amp; Pa thas tonight. If they act at once, a•s still a two-day march reach u:;.- a must give them two. days-"

"If they act at oncefi" Flint grunted.

"I know . . ;' Sturrcv said softly, sighing. "You should les

he turned to Laurana, who carne out of her reverie witha s! "Go to f 'al.anthas. Convince them of the danger."

"Your messenger must .da that" Laurana said tiredly. "If no words of mine will sway them:'

"Laurana:" he began.

"Do. grow geed me" she asked abruptly. "Am I of use

"You know you are," Sturm answered. He had the elfmaid's unflagging strength, Ih~er courage, and her with the bar.

"Then I'm staying;' Laurana said simply. Drawing the blanround her, she closed her eyes. "I can't sleep, she whispered. But within a few momentskender's.

Sturm shook his head, swallowing a choking thickness in his throat. His glance met Flint's. The dwarf sighed and went back to his carving, Neither spoke, both men thinking the same thing. Their deaths would be bad if the draconians overran the Tower. Laurana's death could be a thing of nightmares.

The eastern sky was brightening, foretelling the sun's approach, when the knights were roused from their fitful slumber by the blaring of horns. Hastily they rose, grabbed their weapons, and stood to the walls, peering out across the dark land-

The campfires of the dragonarmies burred low, allowed to go out as daylight neared. They could hear the sounds of life returning to the horrible body. The knights gripped their weap-

ons, wading, Then they turned to each other, bewildered.

The dragonarmies were retreating! Although only dimly seen in the faint amp;alflight, it was obvious that the black tide was slowly withdrawing. Stucrn Tnratched puzzled. The armies moved back, just over the horizon. But they were still out there, Sturm knew, He sensed them.

Some of the Younger knights began to cheer.

"Keep quiet!" Sturrn commanded harshly, Their shouts

grated an his raw nerves. Laurana came to stand beside him and glanced at him in astonishment. His face was gray and hag-

gard in the flickering torchlight. His gloved Fists, resting atop the battle=rents, clenched and unclenched nervously. His eyes narrowed as he leaned forward staring eastward,

La'srana, sensing the rising fear within IIirn, fell her own body grov, chill. She remembered what she had told Tas. "Is it what we feared" she asked, her hand an his arm. "P ay we are wrong!'' he spoke softl•r,. in a broker; voice. Minutes passed. Nothing happened. Flint came to join them, cla.mLeI.2.,g up on a huge slab of broken stone to see over the

edge of !he L%~all. 'Tas woke, yawning. "When.'s breakfast?" the kender inquired' cheerfully, but no one Paid any attention to, him.

Still they watched and waited. Now all the knights, each of them feeling the same rising fear, lined the walls, staring eastward without any clear idea why. "What is it?" Tas whispered. Climbing up to stand beside Flint, he saw the small red sliver of sun burning on the horizon, its orange fire turning the night sky purple, dimming the stars. "What are we looking at?" Tas whispered, nudging Flint. "Nothing" Flint grumbled. "Then why are we looking-" The kender caught his breath with a sharp gulp. "Sturm-° he quavered. "Mat is it?" the knight demanded, turning in alarm. Tas kept staring. The rest followed his gaze, but their eyes were no match for the kender's. "Dragons . . :' Tasslehoff replied. "Blue dragons." 'I thought as much; Sturm said softly. "The draganfear. That's why they pulled the armies back.. The humans fighting among them could not withstand it. How many dragonsd" 'Three,"' answered Laurana. "I can see them now:' "Three," Sturm repeated, his voice empty, expressionless. "Listen, Sturm-" Laurana dragged him back away from the wall. I-we-weren't going to say anything. It might not have mattered, but it does now. Tasslehoff and I know haw to usethe dragon orb!"

'Dragon orb?'4 Sturm muttered, not really listening, D

'The orb here, Stux^rnl" Laurana persisted, her hands clutching him eagerly. 'The one below the Tower. in the very center. Tay shared it to me. Three long, wide hallways lead to it and-I and-` Her voice died. Suddenly she saw vividly, as her subconscioushad seen during the night, dragons flying down sion halls . . . .

"Sturrrt!" she shouted, shaking him in her excitement. know how the orb worksl I know how to kill the drago Now, if we dust have the time-"

Sturm, caught, held of her, his strong hands grasping her the shoulders. In all the months he flail known her, Hle could recall seeing her more beautiful. Her fac pale with wearing was alight with excitement.

"Tell me, quickly,"' he ordered.

Laurana explain, her words falling over themselves as she painted a picture to him that became clearer as her as

talked. Flint and Tas watched from behind Sturm, the dwarf's face aghast, the kender's face filled with consternation.

"Who'll use the orb?" Sturm asked slowly.

"I will," Laurana replied.

"But, Laurana;' Tasslehoff cried, "Fizban said-'

"Tas, shut up!" Laurana said through clenched teeth. "Please, Sturm!" she urged. "It's our only hope. We have the dragonlances-and the dragon arbl"

The knight looked at her, then toward the dragons speeding out of the ever-brightening east.

"Very well;" he said finally. "Flint, you and Tas go down and gather the men together in the center courtyard. Hurry!"

Tasslehoff, giving Laurana a last, troubled glance, jumped down from the rock where he and the dwarf had been standing. Flirt came after him more slowly, his face somber and thoughtful. Reaching the ground, he walked up to Sturm.

Must you? Flint asked Sturm silently, as their eyes met.

Sturm nodded once. Glancing at Laurana, he smiled sadly. "I'll tell her," he said softly. "Take cam of the kender. Good-bye, my friend:"

Flint swallowed, shaking his old head. Then, his face a mask of sorrow, the dwarf brushed his gnarled hand across his eyes and gave Tas a shove in the back.

"Get moving!" the dwarf snapped.

Tas turned to look at him do astonishment, then shrugged and ran skipping along the tap of the battlements, his shrill voice shouting out to the startled knights.