Muscles stiff and aching, fear and blood leaving a bitter taste in his mouth, a taste that sickened him, he made

his way across the boardwalk. Hearing sounds of footsteps and afraid that Balif was coming after him, Raistlin

glanced back.

Balif was leaving by the stairs, his cloak swirling around him.

Kitiara had fished the coin out of her glove. She flipped it into the air, caught it. Leaning over the rail, she

called after him, "I'll keep in touch!"

Raistlin heard the man's brief, cold laughter. Footsteps continued on the stairs and then died away as the man

reached ground level.

Kitiara remained standing by the water barrel, her head lowered, her arms crossed over her chest. She was

deep in thought. After a moment, she shook herself all over, as if shaking off all doubt and questions. Drawing

her hood close to

conceal her face, she set off at a brisk pace.

Raistlin took a circuitous route home, one that was longer but would insure he did not cross his sister's path. He

mulled over Kit's conversation, trying to ferret out a meaning, but he was too stupid with fatigue to make any sense

of it. His body was drained. It was all he could do to force himself to place one foot in front of the other, trudge the

weary way back home.Caramon would be awake, worried sick, asking questions.

Raistlin smiled grimly. He wouldn't have to lie. He would simply say that he'd spent the evening with their sister.

The twins turned twenty that summer.

Their Day of Life Gift was supposed to have been a

joyous celebration. Kitiara gave them a party, inviting their friends to the Inn of the Last Home, treating them

to supper and all the ale they could drink, which, in the dwarf's case, was an alarming amount. Everyone was having

a good time, with the exception of the guests of honor.

Raistlin had been in a foul mood since spring, more than usually sarcastic and bitter, especially with his brother.

Their mutual birthday, with its necessary reminders of their dead parents, only appeared to sharpen the edge of his

bad humor.

Caramon was glum, having just heard the news that Miranda, the girl he currently adored, had suddenly up and

married the miller's son. The unseemly haste with which the wedding was held gave rise to speculations of the most

scandalous nature. Caramon's disappointment in the matter was lightened somewhat when he noticed that news of

Miranda's nuptials actually brought a smile to Raistlin's face. The smile was dark and unpleasant, not the sort of

smile that warms the heart, but it was a smile. Caramon took this as a good sign and hoped fervently that his

currently unhappy home life would improve.

The Day of Life Gift party lasted well into the night, and the warmth and good spirits of everyone else soon thawed

Raistlin's chill. This was the first celebration Kitiara had attended for her brothers since they were small, almost too

small to remember. These past months were the longest period of time she had spent in Solace since her girlhood.

"For a backwater town, it isn't nearly as boring as I remember,"sherepliedin answer to Raistlin's causticquery. "I

don't

have to be anywhere, not for a while, at least. I'm having fun, baby brother."

She was in wonderful spirits that night, and so was Tanis Half-Elven. The two sat next to each other and their

mutual admiration was obvious. Each watched the other with warm, bright eyes. Each urged the other to tell favorite

stories. With secret smiles and sidelong glances, each reminded the other of some joke known only to the two of

them.

"Tonight's celebration is on me," said Kit, when it came time to settle the reckoning. "I'm paying for everything."

She tossed three large coins onto the table. Otik, his broad face beaming, reached out for them. Raistlin deftly slid

his hand under Otik's, snatched up one of the coins, and held it to the light.

"Steel. Minted in Sanction," Raistlin observed, studying them. "Newly minted, I would say."

"Sanction," Tanis repeated, frowning. "That city has the reputation of an evil place. How did you come by coins

from Sanction, Kit?"

"Yes, where did you find such an interesting coin, Sister?" Raistlin asked. "Look at this-it has a five-headed dragon

stamped on it."

"An evil image," said Tanis, looking grave. "The ancient sign of the Dark Queen."