Free Dragonlance 10 - The Second Generation by Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman

features.
    "He's Kit's son, there's no doubt about that."
    "Yes, you're right there," Tanis said quietly. "The father?"
    "I don't know." Caramon's face wrinkled in intense concentration. "It could be Sturm. When I first set eyes on him, I almost thought it was Sturm. I… I was fairly taken aback! But, then, after that, all I saw was Kit." The big man shook his head. "At least there's no elf blood in him, Tanis." Tanis had never truly suspected as much. And so he was surprised to find himself relieved… and some part of him disappointed.
    "No, he is not my son, that much is certain," Tanis said aloud to Caramon. "I didn't think it likely anyway. Ariakan might have taken the boy if he had elven blood—there are dark elves, after all—but I doubt it. Does Ariakan know the truth, do you think?" Tanis looked at Sara questioningly.
    "He might. That would be one reason he's never told Steel his father's name, warned him not to ask, added some old wives' tale about the curse."
    "Old wives generally know what they're talking about,"
    Tanis said. "Curses can take many forms. The young man's going to be in for an unpleasant shock, if nothing else."
    "And he's going to be furious when he wakes up," Caramon pointed out. "I doubt if he'll even listen to us, much less believe anything we tell him. This is hopeless, Sara. Your plan won't work—"
    "It can. It must! I will not lose him!" She glared at them fiercely. "You saw him. You heard him! He is not totally given over to evil. He might change his mind. Please, help me! Help him! Once we get him away from here, away from this dark influence—once he sees the High Clerist's Tower and remembers…"
    "Very well. We'll try," Tanis said. "After all, we've come this far. I'll take one arm—"
    "This is my work, Tanis." Caramon shouldered him aside.
    Accustomed to carrying barrels of ale on his broad back, Caramon picked the young man up bodily and heaved him effortlessly over a broad shoulder. Steel's head and flaccid arms dangled in front, his long hair practically brushing the ground. Grunting, Caramon settled the young man more securely, then nodded.
    "Let's go."
    Sara flung a cloak over Steel, grabbed a cloak for herself and her dragon rider helm. Opening the door a crack, she peered out. The rain had ceased for the moment, and the stars shone. The constellation of the Dark Queen, very near, gleamed with ominous brilliance. Storm clouds were massing again on the horizon.
    Sara motioned, and they hastened out. They met no one until they neared the stables, then ran almost headlong into a knight in black armor.
    He glanced at Steel and smiled coolly. "Another casualty? The young men threw themselves into their training this night. The clerics will earn their keep today." Saluting, the knight went about his business.
    The fortress was quiet, most of the men either resting after the night's endeavors or, as the knight had said, recovering from their wounds. Several dragons kept watch, perched atop the tall towers. Guards walked the battlements, probably more for the sake of training and discipline than because they actually feared assault. Ariakan had nothing to fear. Not now. Not yet. Few knew he was here, or what he plotted. But now I know, Tanis realized uneasily. I can carry the warning, except that it may already be too late.
    Traitor, Steel called Sara. Is she? Has she really done that much damage to their cause? He thought back to what she'd said that very night. Her main goal was to keep Steel safe. To do that, she had served evil in silence for over ten years. She had broken that silence at last, but only out of desperation, only to save the young man from the final, irrevocable commitment.
    They reached the cleared area. Sara put her hand to the brooch she wore on her breast. A blue dragon appeared in the sky, soaring toward them.
    . "If you can summon dragons," said Tanis, following up on this thoughts, "you could have escaped this place long ago."
    "You are right." Sara hovered