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.Certain bold words came back to him./ will not enter Palanthas dressed as an innkeeper.Nor hide behind another man's name."You are mistaken, Revered Daughter," Steel said coolly, politely."My name is Steel Brightblade, Knight of the Lily.I have the honor to serve Her Dark Majesty, Takhisis."Palin rolled his eyes, shook his head."Now you've done it!" he whispered.The tiger muttered softly in its throat.Lady Crysania soothed her guide with her hand.Her browwas furrowed, her expression troubled."You proclaim this in the open, in the city of Palanthas?" she asked, not threatening, but in wonder."I proclaim it to you, Revered Daughter," Steel returned."A sighted man could see who I am.There is no honor, only shame, in taking unfair advantage of one whom the gods have chosen towalk in shadow.Still greater shame lies in deceiving a woman as noble and courageous asyourself, my lady."Crysania's sightless eyes widened."What Tanis Half-Elven told us years ago about you knights was right," she murmured."Paladine help us!" Her sightless gaze turned inward, pondering, then her face shifted once again to Palin."What are you doing here, young mage? Why do you travel in company with this knight, who-though honorable-is nevertheless dedicated to evil?""I am this knight's prisoner, Revered Daughter," Palin replied."My brothers are both dead.The Knights of Takhisis have landed on the northern coast, near Kalaman.Tanis Half-Elven is on hisway to give this news to the knights in the High Clerist's Tower.""A prisoner.Then they have demanded ransom.""Yes, Revered Daughter.That is why we are here." Palin fell silent obviously hoping the cleric would ask him nothing else."You are going to the Tower of High Sorcery.""Yes, Revered Daughter," Palin answered.The tiger suddenly shook himself, as if he'd just stepped out of the sea and was shaking off thewater.The great head moved restlessly beneath Crysania's fingers."If you wanted ransoming, young mage, you would go to the Tower of High Sorcery at Wayreth.The Wizards' Conclave decides such issues." Crysania's voice had sharpened."Forgive me, Revered Daughter," Palin said with quiet firmness."But I am not at liberty to discuss this.I have given this knight my word of honor.""And should we be considered less honorable than our enemies?" Crysania asked with a half-smile."That is what you imply.My lord Dalamar does not know you are coming, does he?""No, my lady," Palin replied softly."You are planning to enter through the Shoikan Grove.You will not survive.Your word of honorwill not be of much use to you in that dread place.I know," she added, with a shiver."I have walked it."She was silent.Again the sightless gaze turned inward.Steel wanted to leave, yet he was uncertain how to extricate himself.Lady Crysania lifted herhead, faced them both, her eyes staring somewhere in between them."You are wondering, perhaps, why I do not summon the city guards to deal with you.This meeting does not come about by chance.I do not often walk the temple grounds after midnight.IBut this night, I couldn't sleep.I supposed it was the heat and jwent out to seek a breath of cooler air.But now I know it was |Paladine's will that I find you, that we find each other.Andwhatever you are doing, I feel his will guiding you."1Palin stirred, cast a sidelong glance at Steel.The dark paladin shrugged, smiled.Queen Takhisiswas known to work in mysterious ways."You will never win your way through the Shoikan Grove alive.Here." Lady Crysania reached to her throat, drew forth a medallion.Gold flashed in the silver moonlight.Unfastening the clasp, she removed the medallion, held it out."Take this, Palin Majere.It will not protect you from theundead guardians of that dread place, but it will lift the fear from your heart, give you courage to walk the darkness."Palin looked stricken, as guilty as any thief caught with his fingers in the poor box."I can't accept this, Revered Daughter.It.isn't right.You don't know." He fell silent.Lady Crysania reached for the mage's hand.She found it, pressed the medallion into his palm."Paladine be with you," she said."Thank you, my lady." Palin clutched the medallion, not knowing what else to do or say."It is time we were going," Steel said, deciding to take command of the situation.He made a formal bow to Lady Crysania."I would offer to provide you safe escort back to your chambers, my lady, but I see that you are already well protected."Lady Crysania smiled, though immediately afterward, she sighed."I believe you would, SirKnight.It grieves me to see such nobility of heart and spirit dedicated to darkness.And how willyou enter the Shoikan Grove, Sir Knight? Your queen does not rule there.Her son, Nuitari, is thedread monarch of that evil place.""I have my sword, my lady," Steel answered simply.She took a step nearer, the sightless eyes staring at him, and suddenly it seemed to him-startlingly-that she could see him.She reached out her hand to him, rested her hand on his breast, on thearmor with the death lily, the skull.The cleric's touch was like a flame, searing his soul, and it was like cool water, bringing him ease.For the first time in his life, Steel was helpless, had no ideawhat to do."You, too, have a guardian, I see," Lady Crysania said to him."Two guides! One of dark, one of light.The guide who stands on your left, on your heart-side, is a woman.She wears blue armor andcarries the helm of a Dragon Highlord in one hand and a lance in the other.The tip of the lance iswet with blood.She is nearest to your heart.The guide on your right is a man, a Knight ofSolamnia.He holds no weapon.His sheath is empty.A bloody hole, made by a lance, pierces hisbody.This man is nearest to your soul.Both want to guide you.Which will you choose to follow?"She finished speaking, removed her hand.Steel slumped, as if she had been holding him up.Hesought proud words, but none came.He could only stare at her in amazement.What she haddescribed had been the Vision - given to him by Queen Takhisis.The tiger padded up, pressed the white-and-black-striped body protectively against Crysania.Shebid Palin and Steel good 'night."My blessing go with you," she said to them softly.Her hand upon the tiger's head, the cleric of Paladine retraced her steps, was soon lost in theshadows.Palin was staring, openmouthed, at Steel.The dark knight was in no mood to talk.Half-angry, half-frightened, wholly embarrassed, Steel turned on his heel and walked rapidly back down the street,back the way they'd come.He heard the footsteps of the mage, the flapping of his robes, as Palinhurried to catch up
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