Margaret Weis - Dragons of the Highlord Skies

Kitiara stared at the sword. She stared at him. She smiled her crooked smile, then she collapsed in a heap on the floor, one hand crumpled under her, the other outstretched, fingertips touching the pool of blood beneath the chandelier.

Soth drew off the black cape and laid it over Kitiara, covering her to keep off the chill of night. In the morning, he would summon her dragon and see her safely on her way to her destiny. In the meantime, he would guard her sleep.

That night, for the first night since his downfall, Lord Soth forbade the elf women to sing to him the song of his crimes, lest they wake Kitiara.

“That ends our tale for today,” said Lillith Hallmark.

She had held her audience spellbound as she related the story of the momentous events that had taken place during the winter of 351 AC. She had spoken very calmly and quietly of the death of the two knights, Brian Donner and Aran Tallbow, and she had reminded her listeners that they could see the monument erected in their memories in the Hall of the Knights on Sancrist Isle. The Aesthetics who had gathered to listen to her had exchanged sorrowful glances. Lillith had never married, and all knew that her heart was buried in the tomb with Brian Donner.

The people were reluctant to leave, however, and many wanted to know what happened next. “I’ll tell just a little more,” said Lillith, smiling. “After leaving the chamber where the two knights had died, the Heroes of the Lance—Laurana, Sturm, Flint, Tasslehoff, Gilthanas, Elistan—joined with Sir Derek Crownguard and fought alongside the warriors of the Ice Folk to defeat the armies of Feal-Thas and drive them from Ice Wall Castle,” Lillith told them. “Their mission accomplished, they left Icereach, taking with them the dragon orb and another artifact they found in the castle, one that turned out to be of far greater value. They also took with them the bodies of Aran Tallbow and Brian Donner to be buried as heroes in their homeland. What happened to the Heroes there is chronicled in the book Dragons of Winter Night .

“Many years have passed since that fateful day, and the song of their adventures in Icereach is still sung on a long winter’s night by Raggart the Younger. One of the tribe’s most honored possessions is Laurana’s frostreaver, which she gave to Harald before she left, fearing it would melt if she took it with her. The frostreaver stands always in a place of honor in the chieftent.

“Following the departure of the Companions, Harald pursued the war against the dragonarmies. He brought together the other tribes of the Ice Folk, and they attacked Sleet with such ferocity they drove her from her lair. The Ice Folk occupied Ice Wall Castle and held it. Harald’s task was made somewhat easier by the fact that Ariakas could not find anyone willing to take the place of Feal-Thas. Ariakas decided he did not care much about this unprofitable region of Ansalon anyway, so after a half-hearted attempt to retake Ice Wall Castle that ended in disaster, Ariakas pulled his forces out of Icereach, leaving it to the white bears and the nomads and the wolves.

“As for Kitiara, her continuing adventures can also be found in Dragons of Winter Night . Suffice it to say here, she and Tanis would meet again. Their liaison would have unforeseen consequences for both of them, for their companions, and for final victory in the War of the Lance.”

Her story for the day finished, Lillith rose to her feet. “Thank you, friends, for coming today and learning a portion of the history of Ansalon. In our next session, we will pick up the story of Kitiara’s half-brother, Raistlin Majere, who made a momentous decision right here in the Great Library. His tale is called Dragons of the Hourglass Mage . We, the Aesthetics of Gilean, hope you will return to share this with us.”