"Darn right you'll pay for it," the dwarf said. "How old are you?"

"Twenty," answered Sturm.

"Eighteen," said Caramon. "Raist is eighteen, too."

"Since he knows we are twins, I'm certain Master Fireforge has figured that out," Raistlin said caustically.

Flint eyed Sturm. "And you plan to be a knight." The dwarf's shrewd gaze shifted to Caramon. "And you, big

fellow. You figure on being a great warrior, I suppose? Sell your sword to some lord."

"That's right!" Caramon gaped. "How did you know?"

"I've seen you around town, carrying that great sword of yours -handling it all wrong, I might add. Well I'm

here to tell both of you right now that the knights'll take one look at you and the way you fight, Sturm

Brightblade, and they'll laugh themselves right out of their armor. And you, Caramon Majere, you couldn't sell

your fighting skills to my old grannie."

"I know I have a lot to learn, sir," Sturm replied stiffly. "If I were living in Solamnia, I would be squire to a

noble knight and learn my craft from him. But I am not. I am exiled here." His tone was bitter.

"There's no one in Solace to teach us," Caramon complained. "This town is way too quiet. Nothing ever

happens here. You'd think we'd at least have a goblin raid or something to liven things up."

"Bite your tongue, lad. You don't know when you're well off. As for a teacher, you're looking at him." Flint

tapped himself on the breast.

"You?" Both young men appeared dubious.

Flint stroked his beard complacently. "I had my foot on both of you, didn't I? Besides"-reaching out, he gave

Raistlin a poke in the ribs that caused him to jump "I want to talk to the book reader here about his views on a

good many matters. No need to talk of money," the dwarf added, seeing the twins exchanging doubtful glances

and guessing what they were thinking. "You can pay me in chores. And you can start by going to the inn and

seeing what's become of that dratted kender."

As if the words had conjured him, the door was thrown open by the "dratted" kender.

"I've got the cider and a kidney pie that someone didn't want, and- Ah, there! I knew it!"

Tasslehoff gazed sadly at the remains of the chest and the broken dishes. "You see what happens, Flint, when I'm

not around?" he said, solemnly shaking his topknot.

The unlikely friendship between the young humans, the dwarf, and the kender flourished like weeds in the

rainy season, according to Tasslehoff. Flint took exception to

being called a "weed," but he conceded that Tas was right. Flint had always had a soft spot in his gruff heart for

young people, particularly those who were friendless and alone. He had first become acquainted with Tanis Half-

Elven when he met that young man living in Qualinesti, an orphan that neither race would claim. Tanis was too

human for the elves, too elven for humans.

Tanis had been raised in the household of the Speaker of the Sun and Stars, the leader of the Qualinesti, growing

up with the Speaker's own children. One of those children, Porthios, hated Tanis for what he was. Another cousin,

Laurana, loved Tanis too much. In that is another tale, however.

Suffice it to say that Tanis had left the elven kingdom some years ago. He'd gone for help to the first person-the

only person-he knew outside of Qualinesti: Flint Fireforge. Tanis had no skill at all in working metal, but he did have

a head for figures and a keen business sense. He soon discovered that Flint was selling his wares far below their true

worth. He was cheating himself.

"People will be happy to pay more for quality workmanship," Tanis had pointed out to the dwarf, who was terrified

that he would lose his clientele. "You'll see."

Tanis proved to be right, and Flint prospered, much to the dwarf's astonishment. The two became partners. Tanis

began accompanying the dwarf on his summer travels. Tanis hired the wagon and the horses, put up the booths at

the local fairs, made appointments to show Flint's wares privately to the well-to-do.

The two developed a friendship that was deep and abiding. Flint asked Tanis to move in with him, but

Tanis pointed out that the dwarf's house was a bit cramped for the tall half-elf. Tanis's dwelling place was

nearby, however, built up in the tree branches. The only quarrel the two ever had-and it wasn't really a

quarrel, more of a grumbling argument-was over Tanis's trips back to Qualinesti.

"You're not fit for anything when you come back from that place," Flint said bluntly. "You're in a dark mood