Kit drew closer to Caramon. "Did you know Raistlin could do magic like that?"

"Like what?" Caramon was puzzled.

"Cast a spell like the one he cast tonight. It was a powerful spell, Caramon. I know. I've been around magicusers

some, and I've seen ... Well, never mind what I've seen, but trust me on this. What Raistlin did he shouldn't

have been able to do. Not as young as he is."

"He's good at magic," Caramon said, still not comprehending what this was all about. He might have added,

in the same tone, that Raistlin was good at gardening or at cooking fried eggs, for that was how Caramon

viewed it.

Kit made an impatient gesture. "Are you part gully dwarf to be so thickheaded? Can't you understand?" She

lowered her voice to a hissing whisper. "Listen to me, Caramon. You say Raistlin is good at magic. I say he's

too good at magic. I hadn't realized it until tonight. I thought he was just playing at being a wizard. How could I

know he was this powerful? I didn't expect-"

"What are you saying, Kit?" Caramon demanded, starting to lose patience.

"Let them have him, Caramon," Kitiara said, soft, quiet. "Let them hang him! Raistlin is dangerous. He's like

one of those vipers. As long as he's charmed, he'll be nice. But if you cross him ... Don't go back to the prison,

Caramon. Just go to bed. In

the morning, if anyone asks you about the knife, say it was his. That's all you have to do, Caramon. And

everything will be over with quickly."

Caramon was struck dumb, her words hitting him like a blow that left him too dazed to think what to say.

Kit couldn't read the blank expression on his face in the darkness. Judging him by her own standards, she

guessed that he was tempted.

"Then it's you and me, Caramon," she continued. "I've had an offer of a job up north. The pay is good, and it

will keep getting better. It's mercenary work. What we always talked about doing, you and I. I'll put in a good

word for you. The lord will take you on. He's looking for trained soldiers. You'll be free of Solace, free of

entanglements"-she cast a narrow-eyed glance in the direction of Tanis's tent, then looked back to her halfbrother-

"free to do what you want. What do you say? Are you with me?"

"You want me ... to let Raistlin ... die?" Caramon asked hoarsely, the last word nearly choking him.

"Just let whatever's going to happen, happen," Kit said soothingly, spreading her hands. "It will be for the

best."

"You can't mean that!" He stared, incredulous. "You're not serious."

"Don't be an idiot, Caramon!" Kit said sternly. "Raistlin's using you! He always has, he always will! He

doesn't care a Flotsam penny for you. He'll use you to get what he wants, then when he's finished with you, he'll

throw you away as if you were a bit of rag he'd use to wipe his ass. He'll make your life hell, Caramon! Hell! Let

them hang him! It won't be your fault."

Caramon backed away from her, nearly taking down the tent post. "How can you ... No, I won't do it!" He

began fumbling with the tent flap, trying desperately to get out.

Kit lunged at him, dug her nails into his flesh. Her face loomed close to his, so close that he could feel her

breath hot on his cheek. "I would have expected such an answer from Sturm or Tanis. But not you! You're not a

sap, Caramon. Think about what I've said!"

Caramon shook his head violently. He felt nauseous, the same way he'd felt when he'd first seen the murdered

corpse. He was still trying to get out of the tent, but he was so flustered and upset that he couldn't find his way.

Kit regarded him in silence, her hands on her hips. Then she gave a exasperated sigh.

"Quit it!" she ordered irritably. "Stop thrashing about! You're going to knock the tent over. Just calm down,

will you? I didn't mean it. It was all a joke. I wouldn't let Raistlin hang."

"That's your idea of a joke?" Caramon wiped the chill sweat from his brow. "I'm not laughing. Are you going

to tell them the truth?"

"What the hell good will that do?" Kit demanded, adding with a flash of anger, "You want to see me hang

instead? Is that it?"

Caramon was silent, miserable.

"I didn't kill her," Kit said coldly.