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.He-Tasslehoff Burrfoot-who'd never been afraid of anything in his life! He'd faced dragons without trembling, but theknowledge of what he was going to do now appalled him.His hands felt as if he'd been makingsnowballs without gloves on.His tongue seemed to belong in some larger person's mouth.But Taswas resolute.He just had to keep them talking, keep them from guessing what he planned."You've never taken us kenders very seriously; you know," Tas began, his voice sounding too loud and shrill in his own ears, "and I can't say I blame you much.We don't have a strong sense ofresponsibility, I guess, and we are probably too curious for own good-but, I ask you, how are yougoing to find out anything if you're not curious?"Tas could see the Speaker's face turn to steel, even Lord Gunthar was scowling.The kender edgednearer the dragon orb."We cause lots of trouble, I suppose, without meaning to, and occasionally some of us do happen to acquire certain things which aren't ours.But one thing the kender know is-"Tasslehoff broke into a run.Quick and lithe as a mouse, he sipped easily through the hands thattried to catch him, reaching the dragon orb within a matter of seconds.Faces blurred around him,mouths opened, shrieking and yelling at him.But they were too late.In one swift smooth movement, Tasslehoff hurled the dragon orb at the huge, gleaming Whitestone.The round, gleaming crystal-its insides swirling in agitation-hung suspended in the air for long,long seconds.Tas wondered if the orb had the power to halt its flight.But it was just a feveredimpression in the kender's mind.The dragon orb struck the rock and shattered, bursting into a thousand sparkling pieces.For aninstant, a ball of milky white smoke hung in the air, as if trying desperately to hold itself together.Then the warm, springlikebreeze of the glade caught it and swept it apart.There was intense, awful silence.The kender stood, looking calmly down at the shattered dragon orb."We know." he said in a small voice that dropped into the dreadful silence like a tiny drop of rain,"we should be fighting dragons.Not each other."No one moved.No one spoke- Then there was a thump.Gnosh had fainted.The silence broke-almost as shattering as the breaking of the orb.Lord Gunthar and the Speakerboth lunged at Tas.One caught hold of the kender's left shoulder, one his right."What have you done?" Lord Gunthar's face was livid, his eyes wild as he gripped the kender with trembling hands."You have brought death upon us all!" The Speaker's finger bit into Tas's flesh like the claws of a predatory bird."You have destroyed our only hope!""And for that, he himself will be the first to die!"Prthios-tall, grim-faced elflord-loomed above the cow Bring kender, his sword glistening in hishand.The lend stood his ground between the elven king and the knight, small face pale, hisexpression defiant.He had known when commited his crime that death would be the penalty.Tanis will be unhappy over what I've done" Tas than sadly.But at least he'll hear that I died bravely."Now, now, now." said a sleepy voice."No ones going to die! At least not at this moment.Quit waving that sworb around, Porthios! Someone'lI get hurt."Tas peered out from under a heaving sea of arms and shin armor to see Fizban, yawning, step overthe inert body of gnome and totter toward them.Elves and humans madeEcr [-,:m.to pass, as if compelled to do so by an unseen force.Porthios whirled to face Fizban, soangry that saliva bubblep his lips and his speech was nearly incoherent."Beware, old man, or you will share in the punishment!""I said quit waving that sword around." Fizban snapped irritably, wiggling a finger at the sword.Parthios dropped his weapon with a wild cry.Clutching his stinging, burning hand, he stared downat the sword in astonishment-the hilt had grown thorns! Fizban came to stand next to the elflord andregarded him angrily."You're a fine young man, but you should have been taught some respect for your elders.I said to put that sword down and I meant it! Maybe you'll believe me next time!" Fizban's baleful gazeswitched to the Speaker."And you, Solostaran, were a good man about two hundred years ago.Managed to raise three fine children-three fine children, I said.Don't give me any of this nonsenseabout not having a daughter.You have one, and a fine girl she is.More sense than her father.Musttake after her mother's side.Where was I? Oh, yes.you brought up Tanis Half-Elven, too.Youknow, Solastaran, between the four of these young people, we might save this world get."Now I want everyone to take his seat.Yes, you, too, Lord Gunthar.Come along, Solostaran, I'llhelp.We old men have to stick together.Too bad you're such a damn fool."Muttering into his beard, Fizban led the astounded Speaker to his chair.Porthios, his face twisted in pain, stumbled back to his seat with the help of his warriors.Slowly the assembled elves and knights sat down, murmuring among themselves-all casting darklooks at the shattered dragon orb that lay beneath the Whitestone.Fizban settled the Speaker in his seat, glowered at Lord Quinath, who thought he had something tosay but quickly decided he didn't.Satisfied, the old mage came back to the front of the Whitestonewhere Tas stood, shaken and confused."You." Fizban looked at the kender as if he'd never seen him before, "go and attend to that poor chap." He Kaved a hand at the gnome, who was still out cold.Feeling his knees tremble, Tasslehoff walked slowly aver to Gnosh and knelt down beside nice, gladto look at something other than the anger, fear-filled faces."Gnash" he whispered miserably, patting the gnome on the cheek, "I'm sorry.I truly am, I mean about your Life Quest and your father's soul and everything.But there just didn't were to beanything else to do."Fizban turned around slowly and faced the assembled group, pushing his hat back on his head."Yes, I'm going to lecture you.You deserve it, every one of you-so don't sit there looking self-righteous.That kender"-he pointed at Tasslehoff, who cringed-"has more brains beneath thatridiculous topknot of his than the lot of you have put together.Do you know what would havehappened to you if the kender hadn't had the guts to do what he did? Do you? Well, I'II tell you.Just let me find a seat here." Fizban peered around vaguely."Ah, yes, there." Nodding in satisfaction, the old mage toddled over and sat down on the ground, leaning his back against thesacred Whitestone!The assembled knights gasped in horror.Gunthar leaped to his feet, appalled at this sacrilege."No mortal can touch the Whitestone!" he yelled, striding forward.Fizban slowly turned his head to regard the furious knight."One more word," the old mage said solemnly, "and I'll make your moustaches fall off.Now sit down and shut up!"Sputtering, Gunthar was brought up short by an imperious gesture from the old man.The knightcould do nothing but return to his seat
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