The bozak coolly ignored Brian. The draconian did not believe he was in any danger, and Brian realized there must be a good reason for this. Brian looked about. A draconian was running alongside his horse, ready to spring at him and try to drag him to the ground.
Brian made an awkward, back-handed slash with his sword, and he must have hit the draconian, for blood spurted and the creature dropped out of sight. Brian tried to stop his horse’s forward motion, but the beast was terrified by the smell of blood and the shouts and the fighting and was completely out of control. Wild-eyed, spittle flying, the horse carried Brian closer to the bozak. The draconian raised his clawed hands, fingers splayed, pointing at Brian.
Brian flung his sword into the snow and leaped off the maddened horse, hurling himself at the bozak. Brian slammed into the draconian, taking the bozak completely by surprise. The fiery missiles shot off in all directions. The bozak, arms flailing wildly, toppled over backward with Brian on top of him.
Brian scrambled to his feet. The bozak, jarred by the fall, was fumbling for his sword. Brian snatched the knife at his belt and stabbed it with all his strength into the bozak’s throat. The draconian gurgled and choked as blood welled around the knife, and the creature glared at him in fury that rapidly dimmed as death took him.
Remembering just in time that bozaks were as dangerous dead as they were alive, Brian shouted a warning to his friends, then turned and hurled himself as far from the creature as he could manage. He landed belly-first on the snow-covered ground, bruising his ribs on a rock, just as an explosion sent a wave of heat washing over him. He lay still a moment, half-stunned by the blast, then looked back.
The bozak was charred bone, smoldering flesh, and fragments of armor. Aran, swearing loudly, stood over his dead foe, trying to wrench free his sword encased in the stony statue that had been a baaz. Aran gave his sword a mighty yank. The stone crumbled to ash and he nearly went over backward. He caught his balance, and, still swearing, wiped blood from a cut on his chin.
“Anyone hurt?” Derek called out. He stood beside his shivering horse. His sword was wet with blood. A pile of ashes lay at his feet.
Aran grunted in response.
Brian was looking about for his horse, only to see it galloping madly across the plains, heading for home. He whistled and shouted, all in vain. The horse paid no heed, kept running.
“There goes my gear!” Brian exclaimed in dismay. “The rest of my armor, food, my clothes…”
He’d been wearing his breastplate and helm, but he was sorry to lose the remainder: grieves and bracers, gloves…
Shaking his head, Brian bent to retrieve his sword and saw the document the bozak had been consulting lying in the snow. The draconian must have tossed it down in order to concentrate on his spellcasting. Curious, Brian picked it up.
“What in the Abyss are draconians doing camped out by a bridge in the snow? “Aran demanded. “This doesn’t make any sense.”
“Ambushing travelers makes sense for them,” said Derek.
“They weren’t going to ambush us. They were going to let us go until they saw that bright red rose of yours and realized we were Solamnic knights,” Aran returned.
“Bah! They would have jumped us from behind no matter what,” said Derek.
“I’m not so sure,” said Brian, rising to his feet, the document in his hand. “I think they’re bounty hunters. I saw the bozak consulting this as we rode up. He saw that we didn’t match the descriptions, and he ordered the baaz to let us go.”
The document contained a list of names, accompanied by descriptions, and amounts to be paid in reward for their capture. Tanis Half-elven was the first name on the list, Flint Fireforge was another with the word “dwarf” written alongside. There was a kender, Tasslehoff Burrfoot, two elves, a wizard, Raistlin Majere, and a man listed as a cleric of Paladine.
“And look at this.” Brian indicated a name. “An old friend of ours.”
Sturm Brightblade. Beside his name was written, Solamnic knight.
“Huh! Brightblade is not a knight,” said Derek, frowning.
Aran looked at him in astonishment. “Who cares if he’s a knight or not?” He jabbed at the document. “This is why the draconians were keeping a watch on this bridge. They were looking for these people, one of whom happens to be a friend of ours and a Solamnic.”
“A friend of yours, perhaps,” said Derek. “Brightblade is no friend of mine.”
“I don’t think we should stand here arguing,” Brian pointed out. “There could be more draconians around. Tarsis might have fallen into enemy hands for all we know.” Folding the paper carefully, he thrust it into his belt.
“Not likely,” said Derek. “We would have heard news of that in Rigitt, and these draconians were in disguise. If they were in control of Tarsis, they would be swaggering about letting everyone know they were in charge. They were here in secret, acting on their own.”
“Or on orders from their master,” Aran commented. “Did you notice—they were wearing blue insignia like the draconians that attacked us in Solamnia.”
“That is odd, come to think of it,” Brian said. “According to reports, the red wing of the dragonarmy is nearer to Tarsis than the blue.”
“Blue or red, they are all our foes, and Brian is right,” said Derek. “We have already been here too long. Brian, you ride with Aran. His horse is the largest and strongest. We’ll transfer his gear to my horse.”
They shifted the saddlebags from Aran’s horse to Derek’s, then Aran mounted and pulled Brian up behind him. Brian’s horse had long since disappeared.
Aran and Brian started to canter off down the road.
“Where are you going?” Derek demanded.
“Tarsis,” said Aran, halting. “Where else?”
“I don’t think we should enter Tarsis openly,” said Derek. “Not until we know more about what is going on.”
“You mean, not announce our noble presence?” Aran exclaimed in mock horror. “I’m shocked, Derek, shocked that you would even suggest such a thing! I may never recover.” He drew out his flask and took a consoling drink.
Derek gave him an angry look and did not answer. Brian glanced at the sky. The clouds were swirling, gray over white. A pale light gleamed from beneath them. If the clouds cleared, the night would be frigid.
“Where do we go?” he asked.
“According to the map, there is wooded hill country west of Tarsis. We will camp there for the night, keep watch on the city, and decide what to do in the morning.” Derek turned his horse’s head, striking off across the plains.
Aran, chuckling to himself, followed along behind him.
“Interesting to see Brightblade’s name on a bounty list,” Aran said to Brian. “And keeping strange company from the looks of it—elves, dwarves and the like. I suppose that’s what comes of living in a crossroads town like Solace. I’ve heard it’s a wild place. Did he ever say anything to you about his life there?”
“No, he never discussed it. But then, Sturm was always a very private man. He rarely spoke about himself at all. He was more concerned about his father.”
“Too bad about that.” Aran sighed. “I wonder what sort of trouble Sturm’s in now?”
“Whatever it is, he’s in this part of Ansalon—either that, or someone thinks he is,” said Brian.
“I’d like to see Brightblade again. He’s a good man, despite what some think.” Aran cast a dour glance at Derek. “I don’t suppose it’s likely, though.”
“You never know who’ll you’ll meet on the road these days,” said Brian.
“That’s true enough,” Aran stated, laughing, and he dabbed at his chin to see if it was still bleeding.
The three knights spent a cold and cheerless evening huddled around a fire in a shallow cave in the hills above Tarsis. The snowstorm had blown itself out and the night was clear, with both Solinari and Lunitari shedding silver and red light.
From their camp, the knights could see one of the main gates, closed and barred until morning. Guards manned the walls, pacing off the watch in slow, measured tread. The city was dark; most people were in their beds.