Margaret Weis - Dragons of the Hourglass Mage

"So how does Ariakas fit into this?" Kit asked, confused.

"The Emperor wanted the dragon orb your brother has in his possession. Ariakas saved Iolanthe from the death squads, though not from love. He told her that if she valued her own life, she would have to kill Raistlin. Ariakas went with her to make certain she did as she was told and to obtain the dragon orb."

"But Iolanthe, instead of attacking Raistlin, turned on Ariakas," said Kitiara.

"I am told that if it were not for the intervention of the Nightlord, at the behest of Her Dark Majesty, the Emperor would have died of frostbite."

Kitiara threw back her head and laughed.

Gakhan permitted himself a smile and a flick of his tail, but that was all.

"Has Ariakas thawed out?" asked Kitiara, still chuckling.

"The Emperor has been restored to health, my lord. He will arrive in Neraka tomorrow."

"What happened to Iolanthe?"

"She fled, my lord. She left Neraka with Orren and the rest of Hidden Light."

"It's a shame I underestimated her." Kitiara shook her head. "I could have used her. What about Raistlin?"

"He has vanished, my lord. It is assumed he also left Neraka, though no one knows where he went. Not that it matters," said Gakhan with a shrug. "He is a marked man. The Emperor wants him dead. Queen Takhisis wants him dead. The Nightlord wants him dead. If Raistlin Majere is still in Neraka, he is a monumental fool."

"And whatever my brother is, he was never that. Thank you for the information, Gakhan. I must think about all of this," said Kitiara.

The bozak bowed and departed. One of the aides came in to light a lantern, for night had fallen, and ask her if she wanted supper. Kit ordered him to leave.

"Post a guard outside. No one is to disturb me this night."

Kitiara sat staring at the flickering flame of the candle, seeing Ariakas's brutish face. He believed she was conspiring against him.

Well, she was.

And he had no one to blame but himself. He had always encouraged rivalry among his Highlords. The knowledge that each Highlord was in danger of being replaced by a rival kept them all on their toes. The flaw in that was that some Highlord might decide to slit another Highlord's throat and that throat could be Ariakas's.

Ariakas distrusted all his Highlords, but he distrusted her the most. Kitiara was popular among her forces, far more popular with her troops than Ariakas was with his. She saw to it that her soldiers were paid. Most important, Kitiara was looked upon with favor by the Dark Queen, who was not viewing Ariakas fondly those days. He had made too many mistakes.

He should have won the war with a few swift and brutal, crushing blows, ending it before the good dragons entered to fight on the side of Light. He should have taken the High Clerist's Tower before the knights could reinforce it. He should have relied on dragons, who could attack from the air, where they had the advantage, and far less on ground troops. And he should not have allowed Kitiara to ally herself with the powerful Lord Soth.

Takhisis was undoubtedly regretting having chosen Ariakas to lead her dragonarmies. Kitiara seemed to feel Her Dark Majesty's hand on her shoulder, pushing her toward the throne, urging her to take the Crown of Power.

Strange… Kitiara really did feel a hand on her shoulder.

"What the-"

Kitiara jumped to her feet and drew her sword all in the same swift movement. She was about to strike when she saw who it was. "You!" she gasped.

"The monumental fool," said Raistlin.

Kitiara held her sword poised and regarded him through narrowed eyes. "Why are you here? Why have you come?"

"Not to kill you, my sister, if that's what you fear. You were going to kill me, that is true, but I am willing to put our quarrel down to sibling rivalry."

Kitiara smiled, though she did not sheathe her sword.

"I'll keep my weapon handy just in case you feel the stirrings of sibling rivalry. So why are you here, Baby brother? You are in danger. You've made powerful enemies. The Emperor wants you dead. A goddess wants you dead!" Kit shook her head. "If you're expecting me to protect you, there's nothing I can do."

"I expect nothing from you, my sister. I came with something for you."

Raistlin stood with his hands hidden in the sleeves of his robes, his cowl thrown back. The lantern light flickered in the strange hourglass eyes.

"You want the Crown of Power," he told her. "I can help you take it."

"You are mistaken," said Kitiara gravely. "Ariakas is my Emperor. I am his loyal subject."

"And I am the king of the elves," said Raistlin with a sneer. Kitiara's lips twitched. "In truth, I am concerned for the Emperor's health."

She ran her index finger along the groove in the sword that allowed the blood to run down the blade and keep from fouling it. "Ariakas wears himself out with affairs of state. He should take a rest… a long, long rest. So what do you have in mind? How can you help me?"

"I have many arrows in my quiver," said Raistlin coolly. "Which I choose to use will depend on the circumstances in which I choose to use it."

"You blather like the king of the elves," said Kit irritably. "You won't tell me because you do not trust me."

"It's a good thing I don't, my sister, otherwise I would be dead by now," Raistlin said dryly.

Kitiara stared at him a moment; then she sheathed her sword and resumed her seat. "Let us say I accept your offer. You help make me Emperor. What do you expect in return?"

"The Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas."

Kitiara was astonished. "That monstrosity? It's cursed! Why would you want that?"

Raistlin smiled. "This from the woman who lives in Dargaard Keep."

"Not for long," Kitiara said. "You can have your cursed Tower. I don't suppose anyone else would want it." She put her elbows on the table and regarded him expectantly. "What is your plan?"

"You must get me inside the Temple tomorrow when the council meets."

Kitiara stared at him. "You are a monumental fool! You might as well just walk into a dungeon cell and lock yourself up and be done with it. All your enemies will be there, including Queen Takhisis! If she or any of them discovered you, you would not survive long enough for death to rattle in your throat."

"I have the ability to conceal myself from my mortal enemies. As for the immortal, you must persuade Takhisis that I am of more use to her alive than dead."

Kit snorted. "You thwarted her plot to destroy the gods. You betrayed her trust on more than one occasion. What could I possibly say to convince Takhisis to let you live?"

"I know where to find Berem Everman."

Kitiara caught her breath. She gazed at him in disbelief, and then she leaped to her feet and seized hold of his arms. He was bone and skin, no muscle, and she was reminded of the sickly, little boy she had helped to raise. As if he were that little boy, she gave him an impatient shake.

"You know where Berem is? Tell me!"

"Do we have a bargain?" Raistlin countered.

"Yes, yes, we have a bargain, damn you! I'll find a way to get you inside the temple, and I'll talk to the Queen. Now-tell me, where is the Everman?"

"Our mother gave birth to only one fool, my sister, and that was Caramon. If I tell you now, what is to prevent you from killing me? To find Berem, you must keep me alive."

Kitiara gave him a shove that nearly knocked him down. "You're lying! You have no idea where Berem is! Our deal is off."

Raistlin shrugged and turned to go.

"Wait! Stop!" Kitiara gnawed her lip and glared at him. Finally she said, "Why should I go along with you?"

"Because you want the Crown of Power. And Ariakas wears it. I have read about this crown, and I know how the magic works. Anyone who wears the crown is invincible to-"