Sept 2002
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just borrowing them. The
story, however, is mine.
A New Beginning
Chapter 1
Gilthanas looked around the cave and nodded. He didn't remember
the way there, but the cave was impressive. It was huge, bigger than
he'd thought it would be, and many relics from an age past were
scattered around with mountains of other treasures. He turned his eyes
to the dragon as the monstrous blue settled into his place, his head
near the elf.
"What endeavour do you need my help for?" he finally asked, looking
straight at the dragon. Never had he thought he'd be brought to the
treasure cave of the mighty blue overlord.
"Do you remember the Dragon Highlords, elf? They were not too far
in the past."
Gilthanas sucked in a breath, "I could not forget them. They
planned to enslave my people and drove us from our homeland."
Khellendros nodded, his eyes losing focus, "Do you remember the
blue highlord, elf? Do you recall Kitiara Uth Matar?"
"Yes. She slew Sturm Brightblade while my sister was watching.
She also nearly took Tanis from my sister. Though I assure you I would
not have objected at the time."
"Kitiara was my rider. I was once known as Skie," Khellendros told
him.
"Skie!" Gilthanas exclaimed, "The world had thought you dead for
many years. I still don't see why you are in need of my help."
"Kitiara's soul is trapped in the grey," Khellendros explained,
"It's a place of magic and one that I was able to travel before the gods
left Krynn. I came back to find the world changed. Before I could
enter it at will and did so, searching for the soul of my equal. For
Kitiara was my equal in every way. I found her and returned to find her
a proper host but the way back was blocked before me and I am unable to
return. I need you to find me a way."
"I don't have a clue where to start," Gilthanas told the dragon,
his heart crying out for yet another delay in his journey.
"I will reward you well, Gilthanas Solostran, if you can reunite me
with my rider."
"What kind of reward?" he couldn't stop himself from asking.
Khellendros pulled his lips back in a draconian grin, "Anything
your heart desires, sir elf. Clothes to live in, steel to spend,
weapons of such fine make that you can not find them anywhere on Krynn
anymore. Armor should you want it... or perhaps I may be able to help
you locate Silvara."
Gilthanas' head snapped up, "You have every intention of killing
her," he accused, "I want no such help from you if I am to find her only
to lose her."
Khellendros shook his massive head, crossing his forearms beneath
his chin, "She makes no move to claw out her own territory in mine, I
have no desire to add one silver's energies to my own. It is the least
I can do, elf, if you help reunite me with my rider. The trade is fair.
I give you means to find your love if you help me retrieve mine. And on
my honor I will no harm her unless she attacks me first."
Gilthanas looked at him speculatively, "I though you cared about
protecting your lands and hoarding your wealth and gaining power."
Khellendros laughed, the sound almost knocking the slender elf off
his feet, "The Red cares about those, I only care when I must. To avoid
being taken over by her I must grow and become powerful, as with the
other Dragon overlords. I care not for your Silvara, elf. I will do as
I must to keep my domain but my true purpose has always been finding
Kitiara and bringing her back. It will remain so until she is my rider
again. In return for your services I will put my large network of spies
at work in finding your dragon. If she lives and if she is out there,
one will find her. Do we have a deal?"
Gilthanas squared his shoulder and nodded, "I have no choice but to
take the small hope you offer me. We do."
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just borrowing them. The
story, however, is mine.
A New Beginning
Chapter 1
Gilthanas looked around the cave and nodded. He didn't remember
the way there, but the cave was impressive. It was huge, bigger than
he'd thought it would be, and many relics from an age past were
scattered around with mountains of other treasures. He turned his eyes
to the dragon as the monstrous blue settled into his place, his head
near the elf.
"What endeavour do you need my help for?" he finally asked, looking
straight at the dragon. Never had he thought he'd be brought to the
treasure cave of the mighty blue overlord.
"Do you remember the Dragon Highlords, elf? They were not too far
in the past."
Gilthanas sucked in a breath, "I could not forget them. They
planned to enslave my people and drove us from our homeland."
Khellendros nodded, his eyes losing focus, "Do you remember the
blue highlord, elf? Do you recall Kitiara Uth Matar?"
"Yes. She slew Sturm Brightblade while my sister was watching.
She also nearly took Tanis from my sister. Though I assure you I would
not have objected at the time."
"Kitiara was my rider. I was once known as Skie," Khellendros told
him.
"Skie!" Gilthanas exclaimed, "The world had thought you dead for
many years. I still don't see why you are in need of my help."
"Kitiara's soul is trapped in the grey," Khellendros explained,
"It's a place of magic and one that I was able to travel before the gods
left Krynn. I came back to find the world changed. Before I could
enter it at will and did so, searching for the soul of my equal. For
Kitiara was my equal in every way. I found her and returned to find her
a proper host but the way back was blocked before me and I am unable to
return. I need you to find me a way."
"I don't have a clue where to start," Gilthanas told the dragon,
his heart crying out for yet another delay in his journey.
"I will reward you well, Gilthanas Solostran, if you can reunite me
with my rider."
"What kind of reward?" he couldn't stop himself from asking.
Khellendros pulled his lips back in a draconian grin, "Anything
your heart desires, sir elf. Clothes to live in, steel to spend,
weapons of such fine make that you can not find them anywhere on Krynn
anymore. Armor should you want it... or perhaps I may be able to help
you locate Silvara."
Gilthanas' head snapped up, "You have every intention of killing
her," he accused, "I want no such help from you if I am to find her only
to lose her."
Khellendros shook his massive head, crossing his forearms beneath
his chin, "She makes no move to claw out her own territory in mine, I
have no desire to add one silver's energies to my own. It is the least
I can do, elf, if you help reunite me with my rider. The trade is fair.
I give you means to find your love if you help me retrieve mine. And on
my honor I will no harm her unless she attacks me first."
Gilthanas looked at him speculatively, "I though you cared about
protecting your lands and hoarding your wealth and gaining power."
Khellendros laughed, the sound almost knocking the slender elf off
his feet, "The Red cares about those, I only care when I must. To avoid
being taken over by her I must grow and become powerful, as with the
other Dragon overlords. I care not for your Silvara, elf. I will do as
I must to keep my domain but my true purpose has always been finding
Kitiara and bringing her back. It will remain so until she is my rider
again. In return for your services I will put my large network of spies
at work in finding your dragon. If she lives and if she is out there,
one will find her. Do we have a deal?"
Gilthanas squared his shoulder and nodded, "I have no choice but to
take the small hope you offer me. We do."