"We went after him," Caramon said hurriedly. "And we caught up with him. Luckily he hadn't gone far-the

fair is pretty interesting, you know. We found him, and after we took the monkey back to its owner, who'd been

searching high and low for it ... The monkey does tricks. You should see it, Raist. It's real cute. Anyway, the

owner was hopping mad, although Tas said over and over that the monkey had accompanied him voluntarily, and

the monkey did seem to like him-"

"Kindred spirits," observed Raistlin.

"-so by this time, the monkey's owner was yelling for the town guard. Tanis showed up about then, and we

made off with Tas while Tanis explained it had all been a mistake and settled with the owner for a couple of steel

for his trouble. Sturm decided then that a little military discipline was what was called for, so we took Tas to the

parade ground and marched up and down for an hour. Tas thought that was great fun and would have kept it up,

but due to the hot sun and the fact that we'd forgotten to bring any water, Sturm and I had to call it quits. We

were about done in. The kender, of course, was feeling fine.

"We no more than got back to the fairgrounds when he sees some woman swallowing fire she really did,

Raist. I saw it, too. Tas runs off and we chase after him, and by the time we caught up, he'd lifted two pouches

and a sugar bun and was just about to try putting hot coals into his mouth. We took the coals away and returned

the pouches, but the sugar bun was gone except for some crumbs around Tas's lips. And then-"

Raistlin held up his hand. "Just answer me this: Where is Tasslehoff now?"

"Tied up," said Caramon wearily. "In the back of Flint's booth. Sturm's standing guard over him. It was the

only way." "Excellent, my brother," said Raistlin.

"Absolute hell," Caramon muttered.

Flint was doing quite well for himself at the fair. People crowded into his stall, kept the dwarf busy pulling rings

from the cases and lacing on bracers. He had taken in a goodly quantity of steel, which he kept in a locked iron

money box, as well as many items taken in trade. Bartering was an accepted practice at the fair, especially among

the vendors. Flint had acquired a new butter churn (which he would trade to Otik for brandy), a washtub (his had

sprung a leak), and a very fine tooled-leather belt. (His current belt was a tad too small. Flint claimed it had shrunk

when he fell into Crystalmir Lake. Tanis said no, the belt was fine. It was the dwarf who had expanded.)

Raistlin avoided the crowd in the front of the booth, entered the back to find the kender tied securely to a chair,

with Sturm seated in a chair opposite. If one were to judge by the expressions on the faces of thetwo, one might have

guessed that Sturm was the prisoner. Tasslehoff, quite enjoying the novelty of being tied hand and foot, was passing

the time by entertaining Sturm.

"-and then Uncle Trapspringer said, 'Are you sure that's your walrus?' And the barbarian said- Oh, hello, Raistlin!

Look at me! I'm tied to a chair. Isn't this exciting? I'll bet Sturm would tie you up if you asked him politely. Would

you, Sturm? Would you tie up Raistlin?"

"What happened to the gag?" Caramon asked.

"Tanis made me take it off. He said it was cruel. He doesn't know the meaning of the word," Sturm replied. He

eyed Raistlin grimly, as though he would have liked to take the kender up on his offer. "I trust this will be worth it. I

doubt now that anything short of the return of the entire pantheon of gods to denounce Belzor would be sufficient to

recompense us for the day we've spent."

"Something less than that, perhaps, but just as effective," Raistlin replied. "Where is Kitiara?"

"She went off to look around the fairgrounds, but she promised she'd be back in time." Caramon quirked an

eyebrow. "She said the atmosphere was too cold for comfort, if you take my meaning."

Raistlin nodded in understanding. She and Tanis had quarreled last night, a quarrel that had probably been

overheard by most of the vendors and perhaps half the town of Haven. Tanis had kept his voice low; no one could

hear what he was saying, but Kit had no such scruples.

"What do you take me for? One of your namby-pamby little elf maids who has to be clinging to you every second? I

go where I please, when I please, and with whom I please. To tell you the truth, no, I didn't want you along. You can

be such an

old man sometimes, always trying to spoil my fun."

The quarrel had gone on long into the night.

"Did they make up this morning?" Raistlin asked his brother, glancing at Tanis's back. The half-elf stood behind