Eastward, Huma made his way through the soft snow. The cloud cover, fie noticed, had not dispersed. It merely avoided this peak.

He had walked for no more than ten minutes when he heard the voice. There was no mistaking it. It was Kaz, angered. The knight's pace picked up. Only one person would anger the minotaur so.

"If only I had done what I had desired and ended your miserable existence there and then. You have no honor, no conscience." The minotaur stood tall. His fists emphasized each point as he battered the air as if it were the object of his reprimand.

Magius sat with odd quietude on a large rock, his head in his hands, unmoving, as the minotaur continued to berate him. Huma tensed as he stepped toward the pair.

It was Magius who sensed his approach. The mage's face was pale and drawn, his hair radiating wildly about his head. His eyes had sunken in. They widened as he raised his head, and his numbed mind finally recognized the figure of his only friend.

"Huma!"

"What?" Kaz jumped at the sudden shout. He saw the direction of the magic-user's gaze and turned. The blood-red look in his eyes vanished, and a toothy grin appeared on his bovine face. The anger of a moment before was temporarily forgotten. "Huma!"

As the minotaur stepped forward, Magius seemed to curl into himself. The mage stared pitifully in Huma's direction, but made no move to join Kaz in greeting their lost comrade.

The minotaur almost crushed Huma in a bear hug. Kaz looked down at him, smiling all the time, then suddenly lifted the hapless knight off the ground and spun him around. Huma felt like an infant in the hands of the huge man-beast.

"Where have you been? I sought you out, but could not find the path you had taken. I searched again and again calling to you, but only the wind and that infernal cry responded. Sarg-Gods! I finally thought you were dead." He put Huma down. Kaz turned on Magius, who stepped back as if struck. "When I told that one what had happened, he fairly shouted with glee at first."

"WHAT?" Huma gazed over at Magius. His childhood friend would not look at him.

Kaz thrust a finger at the knight. "Do you know why you were so important to him? It was not your friendship. It was not your skills. His mad vision had convinced him that there was indeed a gift from Paladine somewhere here but that he would die if he tried to claim it. So he intended to send you in his place. You would have taken the attack that would have killed him! Your life was expendable!" The angry warrior laughed coldly. "Can you believe it? He claimed a knight in sun-drenched armor and bearing a lance of incredible power would run him through; did you ever hear such nonsense?

"When he thought you were dead, he believed the vision had been altered forever. He was confident that he would almost immediately find this great secret and live to use it in your memory and his glory."

Kaz paused to catch his breath, and Huma chose that moment to step around the minotaur and confront Magius. The mage looked up at him, almost fearfully, and moved back a step. Huma reached out a hand, but Magius refused to take it.

The minotaur came up behind Huma. "When we found no path or cavern, he started to fall apart. I could have never believed this one could have a conscience. I suppose I helped, for I reminded him every hour of every day about what he had done. How you had talked of him as a good friend."

Huma leaned down. His voice was soft. "Magius. There is nothing to be fearful of. I do not hate you for what you did. That was not you; it was never you."

The shadow of the minotaur covered them both. Magius turned away.

"What are you saying, Huma?" the minotaur demanded. "This one betrayed you, had planned on betraying you since before you and I met. All for some utter, senseless madness!"

"You weren't there!" Huma snapped. "I've heard tales of how real the Tests are. Sometimes they exist only in the mind; sometimes they are completely and terribly existent. In either case, the magic-user who is being tested can die."

"Magius," Huma whispered to his conscience-stricken friend. The spellcaster seemed to be on the edge of collapse. It must have seemed that the knight's ghost had come back to haunt the one who had betrayed him. "Magius. Forget the vision. You were right about the mountain. I've found what we were searching for!"

The mage's eyes widened and narrowed, then he began to calm down. "You found it?"

"I did. I faced the challenges in the mountain and passed."

"What's that you're talking about?" roared Kaz. "What challenges?"

Huma briefly described what had taken place within the mountain. The story of Wyrmfather brought a strange light to the eyes of Magius, who, stuttering, confessed he had made a study of the design of the statuette years before, only to come up with nothing more than a few scraps of legend. The treachery of Rennard shook both listeners. Magius had grown up with Huma and often had wondered about the knight's father.

"By my ancestors twenty-five generations back! Would that I had been there when you fought the father of all dragons. Such a battle, and I missed it!" The minotaur shook his head.

The knight grimaced. "It was more a battle for survival than anything else. Luck had much to do with it."

"I think not. I do not see luck as a factor in these challenges. How many would have taken such action? How many would have run or stood trembling before the dragon? Many minotaurs would have thought it folly."

Magius tugged at Huma's arm, almost as a small child might do. "The Dragonlance? You have it with you? I have to see it!"

A solid, clawed fist materialized before the spellcaster's face. "You'll see nothing!"

Huma dared the minotaur's wrath by pushing the fist down. Kaz glared at Huma, then forced himself under control.

"That is what I need your help for now," Huma told them both. "Another person may be waiting to aid us, but I'll need your help to pull the lances from the chamber. All but one are more than twice your height, Kaz. It will be difficult."

"We shall do it, though, and this vermin here will help."

Magius paled, but he stood his ground. "I will do every bit as much work as you-most likely more."

The wind whipped the minotaur's mane around his face, giving him a particularly wild look. "That remains to be seen, mage."

"Enough!" Huma shouted. He would drag the lances out himself if need be. "If you are coming, do so, or stay here and let the snows eventually cover you!"

He stalked away. A moment later, the other two followed quickly and without comment.

He had marked the spot as well as he could. The rock was where he had left it and he stepped over it and reached down. Kaz and Magius looked on in curiosity, especially when Huma's hand found only hard earth and not the hole that should have been there.

"What's the matter?" Kaz asked.

"I can't find it! I can't find it!"

The others fell to their knees and began searching the ground.

'There is no need to search further," a voice suddenly said. "The Dragonlances are safe and ready for their journey out into the world."

The voice came from above them. A great wind buffeted the trio, forcing them to step back. The voice apologized and the great wings slowed as the majestic dragon came to stop on a nearby outcropping.

"I heard the summons," said the same silver dragon who had given aid to Huma and Kaz, what seemed so long ago. "The lances are ready, awaiting us in a safe place." She gazed-fondly?-at the knight. "The next step in their journey, Huma, is up to you."

Chapter 22.

"You? Gwyneth sent for you?"

The silver dragon's head bobbed in acknowledgment. "This was the area of my birth, long ago. I still come here; it is part of my duty, part of my destiny to stand watch here, waiting for the day the Dragonlances will be revealed to the world."

"How did you fare against the darkness?" Huma asked. He remembered the dragons as they waited for the magical blackness to envelop them. At that time, he had wondered whether they would live or die.

"We were vanquished." There was very human bitterness in her voice. "It was more than just the work of the renegades. We could feel the presence of the Black Robes, though they were reluctant to be involved, for some reason, and something else. Something so malevolent that two of our number died there and then, merely because of its presence. We suspected and by the time we had lost, we knew." She hesitated. 'Takhisis has come to Krynn itself."

They were all stunned. The minotaur's mouth worked, but no sound emerged. Magius was shaking his head again and again, as if he could deny it. Huma just stood there, the stony look on his face masking well the fear and anguish he felt. The Dragonqueen on Krynn-hope, it would appear, was lost.

Or was it? Immediately, Huma remembered the vision of the platinum knight who had vanquished the darkness with the glory of the lance.

He cut off any comments by stating flatly, "This means nothing. We have the Dragonlances. Hope remains."

Kaz shook his head while Magius simply absorbed every word. The dragon looked on in satisfaction. She seemed quite pleased with Huma's reactions.

The wind was beginning to pick up, and neither Huma nor his companions had any intention of staying on the mountain any longer than necessary. They needed food and rest.

Huma asked the silver dragon, "Where are the lances?"

"They are far down below with your horses. I could carry them all, perhaps, but it would leave me barely able to maneuver, much less keep aloft. It would be best if I remain unhindered should we be attacked en route."

A thought occurred to Huma. The knight turned to his companions. "Kaz and Magius, you will take the horses. I would like to trust the two of you to work together. Is that possible?"

Kaz glowered at the mage, who, having been relieved of his guilt, was rapidly returning to his former arrogance and thus returned the glare with equal dislike. They would work together, though, because this goal far transcended their pettiness. Satisfied, Huma continued.

'There was a saddle on the dragon statue in the chamber of the lances," he told the dragon. "It enabled the rider to maintain control of his weapon. I would like to create a makeshift version of that saddle. Then, if you permit, I can ride upon your back, a Dragonlance ready should we be attacked."

She raised her head and seemed to consider. Finally, the silver dragon nodded. "An excellent thought. I must tell you that when I first arrived in the mountains, I ran across one of the dreadwolves of Galan Dracos and immediately slew it, but rest assured that Galan Dracos will send his lackey, the warlord Crynus, to deal with you." She extended her lengthy talons. "I would not dislike a second confrontation with that obscenity called Charr. Too many of my kind have fallen to that black dragon and his warlord companion."

That said, the silver dragon spread her wings, rose into the air as briefly and gently as possible, and then dropped to a point low enough so that she was almost eye level with the trio. "Climb aboard. I can take the three of you to the lances. Be prepared for many turns, however. The winds can be fierce in the mountains."

When they were securely upon her back, the leviathan spread her wings again and launched herself into the sky. At first, the trio saw the earth far below rushing up to meet them, then it seemed to be pulled back, as the silver dragon rose higher until she was able to maintain a proper balance.

Huma stared at the peak they were leaving. So much had happened there that he would never fully understand. He had not even climbed to the top, as he had first thought. At least a full quarter of the mighty giant still loomed above them.

Below lay the cloud-enshrouded world. As they entered the misty ceiling over Ansalon, Huma shuddered and prayed that, despite his victories in the mountain, he was up to the challenges ahead.

"There." The silver dragon indicated a spot on the southern base of the mountain. Huma looked down and saw the horses and a wagon. The silver dragon had planned well for the difficult journey.

Only when they were on the ground did Kaz argue. "You cannot expect horses such as these to pull a wagon! They have not been trained for such labor. They are beasts of war, not burden."

'They will do what they can," replied the majestic leviathan.

Huma, meanwhile, was fast at work on his own idea. He had removed the saddle from his mount. With the aid of a dagger borrowed from Kaz-his own still lay somewhere within the mountain-he cut the saddle on each side so that it would fit more comfortably on the dragon's back, which was much wider than that of any horse. As the straps would not reach around the midsection of a dragon, Huma was forced to employ rope. Fortunately, the skin of a dragon was much stronger and harder than that of a horse, so the coarse bonds would not irritate or hamper her.

There was little Huma could do about the post on which the lance should have pivoted. The most he could really do was carve away part of the pommel so that the lance could at least rest in something. Then, he strapped the Dragonlance securely to that side and tested it. Huma found he had some movement to his left, but his right had little. Satisfied that it would work, Huma removed the lance and presented the silver dragon with what he had created. She looked at it questioningly, then accepted its design.

"The saddle I saw," the knight explained, "was very much akin to a horse's saddle. It is a wider saddle since it must be worn by a dragon. Essentially, the true difference lies in the post on which the Dragonlance sits. The one on the dragon statue pivoted as I removed the lance. I cannot do that without more equipment and more time. Therefore, shaving the pommel to fit the handle of the Dragonlance was the only choice." Huma frowned at his handiwork. "I did very little actually."

"This will do," replied the winged creature.

While Huma was at work on the saddle, Magius investigated the wagon. He did not particularly care for the thought of dragging the lances by cart all the way back to Vingaard Keep-provided the Solamnic citadel was still standing-and he vocalized his doubts to those around him.

"There is no need for all this. I can transport the lances in virtually no time." The magic-user raised his hands and began to mutter.

Huma dropped the saddle as he realized what was happening. "Magius, no!"

It was too late. The mage completed his spell-and nothing happened, except that the Dragonlances seemed to gleam a little more brightly. Magius looked at the cart and then at his hands, as if the latter were somehow responsible for his failure.

Kaz let out a bellowing laugh.

"Don't ever do that again!" Huma practically shouted. "You are fortunate; the Dragonlances are impervious to your magic. There's no telling what might have happened if you had tried a more powerful spell."

The saddle was secured to the dragon shortly thereafter. It fit-barely. The cuts Huma had made into the sides of the saddle let it flatten out. The ropes were tight, but did not bind the dragon uncomfortably. When that was finished, the knight separated the original lance from the others and, with Kaz's help, tied it loosely to the left side of the saddle's pommel.

It was decided that Magius would drive the wagon and Kaz would ride along as escort on the remaining horse. Above them, Huma and the dragon would act as scout and protector, Huma paused before mounting the dragon, and he stared at the peak. "Gwyneth? What of her?"

The silver dragon turned her head and peered at him with great interest. "You care for her?"

Though admittedly not the best judge of his own emotions, Huma finally nodded. 'Though it's been a short time, I feel I have never known someone as well. Is she not coming with us?"

The dragon opened her massive jaws to speak, paused, and then visibly changed her mind about whatever she had planned to say. "There are things that she must do. It is possible you will see her again when you least expect it."

It was not what Huma had wanted to hear, but the knighthood needed these lances; there was no more time to waste.

"We may come across some of my kin on the way," the dragon commented. "If so, we could transport everything in the air and save much time."

Huma secured himself. He checked the Dragonlance. It felt right in his hand. "Let us be off."

A lone figure astride a massive warhorse awaited them when they departed the chain of mountains. From the distance, it was impossible to make out whether this was friend or foe, and so Huma, on the back of the silver dragon and high above his other companions, moved on ahead, low and swift, to investigate. Midway there, he saw the figure raise a hand and shout a greeting. Recognition came to Huma a moment later.

Buoron watched wide-eyed as the dragon landed before him. He saw the knight sitting high atop the back of the giant creature, the gleaming lance poised for use.

"Huma?"

"Buoron." Huma did not dismount. "Why are you still here? Has something happened to the outpost?"

The bearded knight shook his head. "No ... I felt that someone should wait here, just in case."

The faith of the other knight touched Huma. "I appreciate your perseverance, my friend. We are on our way back to Solamnia. I fear we have little time to stop at the outpost, but we will have to do so in order to gather supplies."

"There is no need." Buoron indicated several large, heavy sacks attached to his saddle. "I have enough here for four for a week. The horses can graze; there is plenty of good land. Water is also no problem. I can show you a number of streams."

Huma squinted. "You speak as if you are going with us. I appreciate the thought, but we could not ask that of you."

Buoron smiled slightly. "I have received permission from Taggin to return with you to Solamnia. He feels that a report should be made of activities at the central command and to see if there is anything Grand Master Trake would have of us."

'Trake is dead. Oswal is now Grand Master."

"When did this happen?"