.:. Disclaimer .:. I don't own anything from Dragonlance, even though I would definatly like to!! Kender aren't mine...as you may know...
.:. Dedication .:. Leia Avenrose, and all those who enjoy my stories...
~~~Endless Roads, Endless Belongings~~~
Chapter 1: The Pigs Wings, Palanthas.
Dagmere Thistletrot skipped down the cobblestone streets of the New City side of Palanthas, his topknot swaying side to side atop his head. He whistled to himself and the occasional onlookers eyed him and kept their hands on their belongings. Kenders were known to occasionally find things that fall into their pouches but aren't theirs. When accused of finding an object belonging to you they casually reply. "How did this get in here? You must have dropped it! It's a wonder that I was around to pick it up for you and return it to you safetly." Wherever Dagmere went there would always be a crowd of people claiming that he had the exact replica of that object.
Dagmere slipped into a rather popular tavern called The Pig's Wings He slipped through the crowd, and his hands dipped into several unlucky customer's pockets. Humming gleefully he made his way to the last table; near the swinging door that led to the kitchen. He jumped into the darkened booth and folded his hands above the table, his feet not touching the floor. He swung his feet so that his leather boots would softly tap agianst the wood.
"Dagmere Thistletrot, so we meet once more." came a husky yet somehow familiar voice from the shadows.
Dagmere raised his liquid brown eyes and peered into the shadows in the corner; a barmaid went through the swining door splashing light in the corner where the voice had come from. Dagmere squinted at the shadows in the corner.
"Ardvacus!" Dagmere exclaimed " I haven't seen you since our last adventure! Remember that? When we were down with the Dargonesti as prioners and we had to free ourselves because they-"
"Dagmere!" Interupted Ardvacus leaning forward revealing his furry snout which defined him as a minotaur.
Most minotaurs on Krynn were known for their hostile tempers and cruelness. They were also known for their brute strength and muscular bodies, many feared them. Kenders, the only race prone to fear could look a minotaur in the eye and recite insulting after insulting remarks.
"Where is Tamies? I told him to meet us just after sundown. It is now well past sundown!" Ardvacus' growled slamming a clenched fist onto the table while he glanced around the tavern.
Dagmere looked cheerfully to his friend, never letting his smile falter he said," He'll come Ardvacus."
"And here I be." another familiar voice drifted to Dagmere's ears.
Dagmere snapped his head around and greeted his old friend warmly. Tamies patted Dagmere on the head and took a seat beside him. Dagmere began to chittering about some adventure that he had gone on recently, both Ardvacus and Tamies nodded and prented that they were listening.
Tamies was thin and nimble, just as many theives. He was tall and his sapphire blue eyes and sandy brown hair and good looks usually charmed the ladies."You are late." Ardvacus growled once he was able to find a break in Dagmere's story.
Tamies shrugged," I had things to take care of. Theiving if you will."
"What a nice trinket you have there." Dagmere's brown eyes sparkled in the light of Tamies' trinket which held his black cloak together.
"Ah Dagmere Thistletrot. You may look but you most definatly cannot touch."
Dagmere pouted," Oh but I will take good care of it! I won't bring any harm to it. I would just like to feel it in my hands, feel the golds softness."
Ardvacus sat back on the bench, "I am surrounded by theives!" he groaned.
Dagmere turned his attention from Tamies' trinket back to Ardvacus.
"I am most certainly am NOT a theif!" Dagmere cried balling his fists together, his face flushed and he was breathing heavy.
Dagmere jumped atop the small bench and stood over Ardvacus. The room became deathly quiet, all eyes were on the kender. A barmaid with long wavy black hair and plump rosy cheeks came up to the table.
"We do not allow kenders in the Pigs Wings. It is agianst policy, now I am asking nicely for you to leave." The barmaid twisted her apron in her hands nervously glancing at the hulking minotaur in the corner.
"The theif is with me. He is my responsibility, I take all for his actions." Ardvacus said through clenched teeth. Dagmere began huffing and puffing, his face was a dark red.
"Sit down Dagmere." Tamies put a hand on his friends shoulder.
Dagmere didn't move just kept his eyes on Ardvacus.
"He said sit down." Ardvacus growled reaching over the table and pulling the kender down by his collar. The barmaid bobbed her head and began to turn away but Ardvacus' hand snapped out and firmly grabbed her arm. She trembled with fear at the strong minotaurs grip. Ardvacus tore his gaze from Dagmere and looked to the barmaid which he held in his right hand.
"Dwarf spirits for the human and me." Ardvacus ordered in his usually husky tone.
The bar maid nodded her head and pulled away from the companions table, fear visible in her eyes. Ardvacus glared at Dagmere and released his collar. Dagmere slid to the bench beside Tamies withough saying a word.
"Why did you call us here Ardvaus?" Tamies sat back comfortably on the bench, obviously ready for a long conversation.
"I've heard tales aboutt the Khalist Mountains. Tails of a white dragon with a great amount of gold. The white dragon known as Selvanthe livea at the very peaks of the Khalkist Mountains."
The barmaid returned with two frothing mugs of strong dwarf spirits. She set the mugs down infront of Tamies and Ardvacus. Ardvacus ignored her while Tamies thanked her and flashed a charming smile, the barmaid smiled back and turned away flipping her hair. Tamies watched her go with delight.
"We are not here to flirt with the barmaid." Ardvacus scolded.
Tamies grinned," I can't help if all the ladies love being charmed by my good looks."
Ardvacus rolled his dark blood red eyes and looked over to the quiet kender; which always meant the worst.
"What did you do now Dagmere?" Ardvacus asked suspicously.
"What!," Dagmere squeaked, "I didn't do anything!"
"About this dragon, Selante was her name? What did you have planned for us now Ardvacus?"
Ardvacus grinned and gulped down his ale, he wiped his snout with the back of his hand. A familiar glint twinkled in his eyes, as Tamies spotted the glint he knew they were in trouble.
"It's Selvanthe not Selante. I have a plan to get the dragon's hoard, we'll be richer than any one on Krynn!" Ardvacus stated.
Tamies frowned and tapped his fingers together, his sapphire blue eyes narrowed as he considered the alternatives.
"What are the chances that we come out alive?" he asked.
"Every chance my friend! We escaped the Dargonesti together. A minotaur, a kender and a theif cannot be mingled with!" Ardvacus nearly shouted.
"What say you Dagmere? Are you to join us? Tamies asked turning to their kender friend.
"I would never pass up an adventure!" Dagmere exclaimed.