Caramon started to argue. Recalling his pledge, he kept silent. The threat about the frog might also have had

something to do with his quick compliance.

"Sure, Raist. But you be careful. I don't trust these magic-users."

Raistlin walked to the door. His body tingled with both anticipation and dread, excitement at the idea of obtaining

what he needed, dread to think that he might have come all this way only to find the mage gone. Raistlin was in such

a state of nervous excitement by the time he reached the door that at first his strength failed him; he could not lift

his trembling hand to

knock, and when he did, his knock was so faint that he was forced to repeat it.

No one answered the door. No face came to peer curiously out the window.

Raistlin very nearly gave way to despair. His hopes and dreams of future success had been built around this

one shop; he had never imagined that it might be closed. He had looked forward to gaining the books he needed

for so long, he had come so far and he was so close, that he did not think he could bear the disappointment. He

knocked again, this time much louder, and he raised his voice.

"Master Lemuel? Are you home, sir? I have come from Master Theobald of Solace. I am his pupil, and-"

A small window inside the door slid open. Aneyein the window peered out at Raistlin, an eye filled with fear.

"I don't care whose pupil you are!" came a thin voice through the small opening. "What do you think you're

doing, shouting that you're a mage at the top of your lungs? Go away!"

The window slid shut.

Raistlin knocked again, more peremptorily, said loudly, "He recommended your shop. I have come to

purchase-"

The little window slid open. The eye appeared. "Shop's closed."

The window slid shut.

Raistlin brought in his reserves for the attack. "I have an unusual variety of plant with me. I thought that

perhaps you might not be familiar with it. Black bryony-"

The window slid open. The eye was more interested. "Black bryony, you say? You have some?"

"Yes, sir." Raistlin reached into his pouch and carefully drew out a tiny bundle of leaves, stems, and fruits

with the roots attached. "Perhaps you'd be interested. .."

The window slid shut again, but this time Raistlin heard a bolt being thrown. The door opened.

The man inside the door was clad in faded red robes, covered with dirt at the knees where he was accustomed

to kneeling in his garden. He must have been standing on tiptoe to put his eye to the small window in the door,

because he was almost as short as a dwarf, compact and round, with a face that must once have been as ruddy

and cheerful as the summer sun. Now he was like a sun that is eclipsed. His eyes were puckered with worry and

his brow creased. He peered nervously out into the street, and at the sight of Caramon, his eyes

widened in fear and he very nearly shut the door again.

Raistlin had his foot in it, however, and was quick to seize the handle with his hand. "May I present my

brother, sir? Caramon, come here!"

Caramon obligingly came over, ducking his head and grinning self-consciously.

"Are you sure he's who he says he is?" the mage asked, regarding Caramon with intense suspicion.

"Yes, I'm certain he's my brother," Raistlin replied, wondering uneasily if he was having to deal with a lunatic.

"If you look at us closely, you will note the resemblance. We are twins."

Caramon helpfully tried to make himself look as much like his brother as possible. Raistlin attempted to match

Caramon's open, honest smile. Lemuel studied them for several long moments, during which Raistlin thought he

would fly apart from the tension of this strange interview.

"I guess so." The mage didn't sound very convinced. "Did anyone follow you?"

"No, sir," said Raistlin. "Who would there be to follow us? Most people are at the fairgrounds."

"They're everywhere, you know," observed Lemuel gloomily. "Still, I suppose you're right." He looked long

and hard down the street. "Would your brother mind very much going to check to make certain no one is hiding

in the shadow of that building over there?"

Caramon looked considerably astonished but, at an impatient nod from his twin, did as he was told. He walked

back down the street to a tumbledown shack, searched not only the shadow but took a look inside the building