Dragonlance: Dragons of Autumn Twilight Page #6

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This never happened.

You're early this morning.

DThe children need their exercise.

DI'd love to give you some exercise.

Steady.

But Verminaard's got us pulling

doubleDduty with the army marching out.

Maybe later.

I've never seen

an uglier woman in my life.

Who is it?

We're here to take the children

for their exercise.

The little ones had a restful night.

Keep an eye on little Erik.

I think he's getting a cold.

This dragon is halfDblind and insane.

This is going to be easier

than I thought.

We'll watch out for him.

Come along, children. Come on.

Where are you going?

The courtyard is the other way.

They're getting a special treat today,

courtesy of Verminaard.

We're taking them to the roof

to look at the mountains.

Well, be careful they don't fall off.

My children's wings

haven't grown in yet.

DShe thinks they're her own offspring.

DWe'll keep them safe.

Is anyone willing to stay and fight?

A good number,

but they want to make sure

the women and children

are out of the fortress

before they turn against Verminaard.

Then we should get back to

the secret tunnel as soon as possible.

DDraconians. They found the tunnel.

DBut that's our only way out.

Except for the main gate.

You mean where

the entire draconian army is gathering?

They're too busy getting ready for war.

We can sneak right past them.

Dlt's too dangerous.

DWe're trapped like rats.

Tanis, what should we do?

DI don't know.

DNow hold on just one second.

You can't give up now.

But there's no way

we can make it out of here alive.

If the gods did return,

they've abandoned us

when we need them the most.

Wasn't it your faith in each other and in

the Gods of Light that got you this far?

Faith is your greatest weapon

against Takhisis.

Embrace it

and you'll become beacons of light

Dto lead the slaves out of darkness.

DI don't know if I can!

It's because you doubt that you fail.

You're the only hope for these people

and for the elves.

Hold on to your faith,

even in the moment of death,

and the Gods of Light

will come to your aid.

But if you waver,

the Queen of Darkness will prevail.

This is our chance,

but we have to move fast.

Shut the gate!

The slaves are escaping! Verminaard!

Verminaard.

I offered you a chance to work for

the further glory of my queen,

but you have denied her,

and now you will pay with your lives!

Let the children go!

I will destroy the men,

the women and the children!

Excellent, Lord Verminaard.

Kill them all.

Are there any you can still save?

DNo, they're already dead.

DWe can't just stand here!

DBut how can we fight a dragon?

DWith another dragon.

Verminaard's killing your children!

You have to stop him!

Destroy them all!

Where are you going?

Stand back.

I'm going to blast open the gate.

Now, what's the name of that spell?

FurDsomething...

Firs, Foof, Fireball. Fireball!

DRight.

DEveryone get down!

Fireball!

Fizban!

Feather!

The gate! Goldmoon, Riverwind, Flint,

lead the slaves out.

Take Laurana and Tika with you.

DThe rest of us will hold off Verminaard.

DBut, Tanis...

Go! You have to protect the slaves

and the Disks.

Good luck, my friend.

DMay the gods be with you.

DFollow us!

Be careful. He's a cleric of Takhisis.

Just as Goldmoon can call upon

Mishakal for the power of healing,

he can call upon Takhisis

for the power of death.

Surrender your weapons and I will ask

the Dark Queen to spare your lives.

Takhisis, destroy!

Die!

No!

Midnight!

I can't see!

Tanis, help me!

Hold!

DFools! You'll never escape.

DThe Gods of Light have returned

to destroy you and your queen,

Verminaard.

Look around you, halfDelf.

What evidence do you see

that the Gods of Light

have come back to the world?

Your gods can't save anyone.

Your faith is misplaced.

And now innocent children will die for it.

No!

Midnight!

I can't fight them off any longer.

Perhaps everyone's right.

You are too old for this.

I am not old!

Slay him, my servant.

You'll never win.

The Gods of Light will...

The prophecy is broken.

Nothing can stop the Dark Queen.

She will rule the world

and all will bow before her.

DNo.

DEven now you know it's true.

I can sense it. You doubt your gods.

Paladine, where are you?

Takhisis is real.

You can see her power for yourself.

Commit yourself fully to her,

and I will spare your life.

DNo. Never!

DThen you will die.

You can kill me, Verminaard,

but that won't change anything.

The Gods of Light have returned.

The people will unite

under their banner to destroy Takhisis!

Paladine? But the prophecy is broken!

How could you have returned?

Unwavering faith.

You thought your victory was inevitable,

but you were wrong.

The world will rise up against you.

You may have interfered with my plans

for the moment, Paladine,

but the world will be mine.

I promise you!

Takhisis, why have you abandoned me?

There was a flash of light, and then

I was freed from Verminaard's spell.

Takhisis severed her link with him.

All his power came from her.

Hey, you all right down there?

Verminaard!

My children will live!

No! Fizban!

They killed the dragons!

Run away!

Fizban saved my life, but the shaft

collapsed before he could get out.

I couldn't rescue him.

Tanis, what's wrong with me?

I've never felt like this before.

There's nothing wrong with you.

You're gonna miss him. We all are.

DThey're the Disks of Mishakal.

DYou can read it?

Yes. Why?

And so, with Paladine's blessing,

the two who stand before you

have now become one.

Riverwind and I were kept apart

by the traditions of our people.

But if we are all to survive

the rising tide of evil,

we must overcome the ways of the past.

Together we will create a new tribe

in the name of the Gods of Light!

Thank the gods!

Cheer up! We destroyed

Verminaard's army and saved the elves.

It's a great victory.

We may have won a battle,

but the war has just begun.

If we are going to have

any hope of surviving it,

we need to find the dragonlances,

if they still exist.

I thought she was so naive,

but she handled herself well

on the field of battle.

She's more courageous than I thought.

Maybe I made a mistake.

Too late.

She seems to be enjoying

the company of someone else.

Perhaps that's for the best.

I just hope Kitiara has managed

to survive all this, wherever she is.

You summoned me,

Dragon Highlord Kitiara?

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