Read Dragonlance 10 - The Second Generation for Free Online Page A

boy. I don't believe that. I think… I think it was the wizard Dalamar, evil Master of the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas, who led Ariakan to us—"
    "But Dalamar would have told me," Caramon protested. "He and I are… well—" Sara stared at him, her eyes wide.
    "Not friends," Caramon said, thinking the matter through, "but we have a mutual respect for each other. And the boy is my nephew, after all. Yes, Dalamar would have told me—"
    "Not likely!" Tika sniffed. "When all's said and done—he's a black-robed mage. Dalamar serves the Dark Queen and himself, not necessarily in that order. If he saw that Steel might prove valuable…" She shrugged.
    "Perhaps Dalamar was only following orders," Sara whispered, glancing fearfully out the window, into the night. "Takhisis wants Steel. I believe that with all my heart. She has done everything in her power to take him… and she is close to succeeding!"
    "What do you mean?" Caramon demanded.
    "It is the reason I am here. That night, Ariakan made Steel an offer. Ariakan would make Steel a dark paladin."
    Sara reached for her cloak, held up the brooch of the black lily in a trembling hand. "A Knight of Takhisis."
    Caramon was aghast. "Such an evil order doesn't exist."
    "It does," Sara said in a low voice, "though few know it. But they will. They will." She sat silently shivering and, at length, drew her cloak back around her.
    "Go on," Caramon said grimly. "I think I see where this is heading."
    "Kitiara's son was among the first Ariakan sought. I must admit he is shrewd, is Ariakan. He knew exactly how to handle Steel. Ariakan spoke to the boy man-to-man. He told him he would teach him to be a mighty warrior, a leader of legions. He promised Steel glory, riches, power. Steel was entranced. He agreed, that night, to go with Ariakan.
    "Nothing I said or did, no tears I shed, moved Steel. I won only one concession—that I could come with him. Ariakan agreed to this only because he figured I could be useful to him. He would need someone to cook for the boys, mend their clothes, clean up after them. That… and he took a fancy to me," Sara finished softly.
    "Yes," she added, partly ashamed, partly defiant, "I became his mistress. I was his mistress many years, until I grew too old to please him anymore."
    Caramon's face darkened.
    "I understand," said Tika, patting the woman's hand. "You sacrificed yourself for your son. To be near him."
    "That was the only reason! I swear to you!" Sara cried passionately. "I hate them and what they stand for! I hate Ariakan. You don't know what I have endured! Many times, I wanted to kill myself. Death would have been far easier. But I couldn't leave Steel. There is good in him, still, though they've done all they could to trample out the spark. He loves me and respects me, for one thing. Ariakan would have rid himself of me long ago, but for Steel. My son has protected me and defended me, to his own detriment, though he never speaks of it. He has watched others rise to knighthood ahead of him. Ariakan has held Steel back, all because of me.
    "Steel is loyal. He is honorable, like his father. Both to a fault, perhaps, for as he is loyal to me, so he is loyal to them. His life is bound up in this evil knighthood. And, at last, he has been offered the chance to become one of them. In three nights' time, Steel Brightblade will swear the oath, make his vows, and give his soul to the Queen of Darkness. This is why I have come to you, why I have risked my life, for if Ariakan discovers what I've done, he will kill me. Not even my son will be able to stop him."
    "Faith, my lady," said Caramon, troubled. "What do you want me to do? Give you refuge? That is easily handled—"
    "No," said Sara. Timidly, she touched Caramon's hand. "I want you to stop my son—your nephew from taking the vows. He is the soul of honor, though that soul is dark. You must convince him that he's making a terrible mistake."
    Caramon stared at her in astonishment. "If you—his