Temple of the Dragonslayer (33 page)

Pedar chuckled. “The pain is all in your mind, my boy. Your back is fully healed by now.”

Elidor looked skeptical, but he didn’t say anything.

Davyn wasn’t sure why the elf thief was going with them. In fact, Elidor had never openly declared his intention to do so. It was just understood that he was coming along. Perhaps, Davyn thought, since he was half Kagonesti and half Silvanesti—half wild, half civilized—he too had found a group of friends to which
he belonged. And, like Davyn, perhaps for the first time.

“Tell me, Elidor, why have you decided to accompany us?” Davyn asked. “Tired of a life of crime?”

He’d meant it as a joke, but the elf looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, the usual. Adventure, friendship, loyalty—you know all about loyalty, don’t you?” Elidor’s smile was almost, but not quite, a sneer.

Davyn’s heart skipped a bit. What did he know? He briefly considered confronting Elidor and demanding an explanation, but it wasn’t the time or place. He’d have to let the matter drop—for now.

“It’s too bad we can’t take the arrow with us,” Sindri said. “We might need it if we ever run into another dragon.” He gave Raedon a look. “An evil dragon, I mean.”

After Nearra had killed Slean, the arrow had vanished, only to reappear once again as a part of the mosaic. The clerics had tried several times to extract the arrow, but without success.

Nearra had her own theory about that. “Even if the gods allowed us to borrow it once,” she said, “the arrow will remain part of the mosaic until it is truly needed again.”

“Well, then,” Feandan said. “I suppose there’s nothing more to do than wish you all farewell.”

“Good journey,” Nysse added.

“Be careful,” Gunna warned.

“And may the gods watch over you and guide you along your way,” Pedar said.

The companions then turned and headed for the gateway, Raedon walking alongside them. As the dragon began telling a joke about a barbarian, a griffin, and a centaur, Davyn had the feeling that they were being watched. He looked up and wasn’t at all surprised to see a black falcon circling overhead.

The story continues in
T
HE
                                         
D
YING
K
INGDOM
by Stephen D. Sullivan.

Thanks to Mark Sehestedt and Nina Hess. This is a much better book because of their editorial guidance. Extra-special thanks to my most important editor: my daughter Devon, who read the first draft of the manuscript and gave me excellent suggestions from a kid’s point of view. Thanks to my agent, Jonathan Matson, for believing in me all these years. And, of course, deep gratitude to Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman for creating a wonderful world and granting me the privilege of living there for a little while.

Tim Waggoner writes fiction for both teen and adult readers. He has published five novels, a story collection, and over seventy short stories. He lives near Dayton, Ohio, and teaches creative writing at Sinclair Community College.