Caramon went white to the lips. "Raist, I-"

"I will disown you," Raistlin pressed on, knowing that the iron must strike to the heart. "I will leave this

house, and I will never come back. Your name will never be spoken in my presence. If I see you coming down

the road, I will turn and walk the opposite direction."

Caramon was hurt, deeply hurt. His big frame shuddered, as

if the point Raistlin had driven home was in truth steel.

"I guess ... it means a lot ... to you," Caramon said brokenly, lowering his head, staring at his clasped hands.

Raistlin was softened by his brother's anguish. But Caramon had to be made to understand. Kneeling beside his

twin, Raistlin stroked his brother's curly hair.

"Of course this means a lot to me, Caramon. It means everything! I have worked and studied almost my entire life

for this chance. What would you have me do--cast it aside because it is dangerous? Life is dangerous, Caramon.

Just stepping out that door is dangerous! You cannot hide from danger. Death floats on the air, creeps through the

window, comes with the handshake of a stranger. If we stop living because we fear death, then we have already died.

"You want to be a warrior, Caramon. You practice with a real sword. Isn't that dangerous? How many times have

you and Sturm very nearly sliced off each other's ears? Sturm has told us of the young knights who die in the

tourneys held to test their knighthood. Yet if you had the chance to fight in one of those, wouldn't you take it?"

Caramon nodded. A tear fell on the clasped hands.

"What I do is the same thing," Raistlin said gently. "The blade must be forged in the fire. Are you with me, my

brother?" He pressed his hand over Caramon's. "You know that I would stand at your side, should you ever fight to

prove your mettle."

Caramon lifted his head. In his eyes, there was new respect and admiration. "Yes, Raist. I'll stand with you. I

understand, now that you've explained it. I won't say a word to anyone. I promise."

"Good." Raistlin sighed. The elation had drained away. The battle with his brother had sapped his energy, leaving

him weak and exhausted. He wanted to lie down, to be quiet and alone in the comforting darkness.

"What do I tell the others?" Caramon asked.

"Whatever you choose," Raistlin returned, heading for his room. "I don't care, so long as you make no mention of

the truth."

"Raist ... " Caramon paused, then asked, "You wouldn't do what you said, would you? Disown me? Claim that

you never had a brother?"

"Oh, don't be such an idiot, Caramon," Raistlin said and went to his bed.

Caramon informed Sturm the next day that neither he nor

his brother could accompany him to Solamnia. Sturm

tried arguing and persuading, but Caramon remained adamant, though he could give no clear reason for his

change of heart. Sturm marked Caramon as being worried and preoccupied about something. Assuming that Raistlin

had decided not to go and had forbidden his brother to go without him, Sturm though offended and hurt-said no

more about the matter.

"If you want a traveling companion, Brightblade, I'll go with you myself," Kitiara offered. "I know the fastest and

best routes north. Plus, from what I've heard, there's dark doings happening up that way. We shouldn't either of us

travel alone, and since we're heading the same direction, it makes sense that we travel together."

The three were in the Inn of the Last Home, drinking a glass of ale. Having stopped by her brother's home, Kit had

recognized immediately that the twins were up to something and was angry when they maintained that nothing

unusual was going on. Well aware that she would never be able to pry the secret from Raistlin, she hoped to be able

to tease the truth out of the more pliable Caramon.

"You and Tanis would be most welcome, Kitiara," Sturm said, recovering from his initial astonishment at her offer.

"I did not ask you at first because I knew Tanis planned to accompany Flint on his summer journeys, but-"

"Tanis won't be going with me," Kit said tonelessly, flatly. She drained her tankard of ale and loudly called out for

Otik to bring her another.

Sturm looked over at Caramon, wondering what was going on. Tanis and Kitiara had been together all winter,

closer and more affectionate than ever.

Caramon shook his head to indicate that he had no idea. Sturm was troubled. "I'm not certain-"