need of his divine help.

"Trust a mountain dwarf to pretend that we don't exist. They wish we'd fall off the face of Krnn, that's what.

We're a shame and an embarrassment to them," Flint concluded.

"Could you fall off the face of Krynn?" Tas asked eagerly. "How would you do it? My feet seem to be pretty

firmly planted on the ground. I don't think I could drop off. What if I stood on my head?"

"If there was a true god in this world, the kender would have all dropped off it by now," Flint grumbled.

"Would you look at that doorknob? Standing on his head!"

It might be more accurate to say that Tasslehoff was attempting to stand on his head. He had his head

planted on the floor and was kicking his legs, trying to get his feet into the air, but not having much success.

Finally he did manage to stand on his head, with the result that he almost immediately toppled over. Nothing

daunted, he tried again, this time taking the precaution of placing himself next to a wall. Fortunately for the

party and the rest of the customers, this endeavor absorbed the kender's attention and energies for a

considerable length of time.

"If the ancient gods are still around somewhere," said Tanis, resting his hand on Kit's, urging her to be

patient, to stay awhile longer, "then there should be some sign of their presence. In the old days, it was said

that the clerics of the gods had the power to heal sickness and injuries, that they could even restore life to the

dead. The clerics disappeared right before the Cataclysm and have not been seen since, at least that the elves

have heard."

"Clerics of Reorx live," Flint maintained, his tone bitter. "I'm convinced of it. They're inside Thorbardin. All

sorts of miracles are performed in the halls of our ancestors, halls where by rights we hill dwarves shouldbe

now !" He thumped the table with his fist.

"Come, old friend," Tanis admonished mildly. "You remember that time we met the mountain dwarf at the

fair in Haven

last fall. He claimed that it was the hill dwarves who had clerical powers and refused to share them with their

cousins in the mountain."

"Of course he would say that!" Flint bellowed. "To ease his guilty conscience!"

"Tell us a story about Reorx," suggested Caramon, the peacemaker, but the dwarf was angry and wouldn't talk.

"Some of these followers of the new gods claim to have that power," Tanis stated, giving Flint time to cool off. "The

clerics of Belzor, for one. The last time I was in Haven, they made a big show of it. Caused cripples to get up and walk

and dumb people to speak. What do you say, Kit?"

He'd caught her in a prodigious yawn, which she didn't bother to hide. Raking back her curly hair, she laughed

carelessly. "Who wants or needs any gods at all? I certainly don't. No divine force controls my life, and that's the way

I like it. I choose my own destiny. I am slave to no man. Why should I be a slave to a god and let some priest or cleric

tell me how to live?"

Tanis applauded her when she finished and saluted her with a raised glass. Flint was frowning and thoughtful.

When his glance fell on Tanis, the frown deepened into concern. Sturm stared raptly into the fire, his dark eyes

unusually bright, as if he saw Paladine's knights once more riding into battle in the name of their god. Caramon had

long since dozed off. He lay with his head on the table, his hand still wrapped around his ale mug, softly snoring.

Tasslehoff, to the wonder and amazement of all, had managed to stand on his head and was shrilly demanding that

everyone look at him-quickly, before he fell off the face of Krynn.

"We've stayed long enough," Kit whispered to Tanis. "I can think of lots more interesting things to do than hang

around here." Taking hold of his hand, she brought it to her lips, kissed his knuckles.

Tanis's heart was in hiseyes, as the saying goes. His love and longing for her was apparent to everyone watching

him. Everyone except Kit, who was now playfully nibbling on the knuckles she had previously been kissing.

"I'm going to have to leave Solace soon, Kit," he said to her softly. "Flint will be taking to the road any day now."

Kitiara rose to her feet. "All the more reason not to waste what time we have left. Good-bye, little brothers,"she

said, not looking at them. "Happy Day of Life Gift."

"Yes, best wishes," Tanis said, turning to Raistlin with a

warm smile. He patted the snoring Caramon on the shoulder.

Kitiara put her arm around the half-elf's waist, leaned into him. He placed his arm affectionately on her