armor. He was chagrined to see how
far he'd let himself go. His formerly strong athlete's body was
soft as a maiden's. He stopped on the landing to rest and heard
the kender launch back into his speech.
"Caramon Majere traveled back in time. He saved Lady
Crysania from the Abyss.' She'll be here, Caramon. She'll fly
here on the back of a silver dragon. Goldmoon will be here, too,
and Riverwind will come and their beautiful daughters and Sil-
vanoshei, the king of the United Elven Nations, will be here,
along with Gilthas, the new ambassador to the United Human
Nations, and, of course, Laurana. Even Oalamar will be here!
Think of that, Caramon! The Head of the Conclave coming to
your funeral. He'll be standing right over there next to Palin,
who's head of the White Robes, but then I guess you already
know that, him being your son and all. At least, I think that's
where they were standing. The last time I was here for your fu-
neral I came after it was all over and everyone was going home.
I heard about it later from Palin, who said that they were sorry.
If they'd known I was coming they would have waited. I felt a
bit insulted, but Palin said that they all thought I was dead,
which I am, of course, only not at the moment. And because I
missed your funeral the first time, that's why I had to try to hit
it agam.
Gerard groaned. Not only did he have to deal with a kender,
he had to deal with a mad kender. Probably one of those who
claimed to be "afflicted." He felt badly for Caramon, hoped the
old man wasn't too upset by this incident. Caramon would prob-
ably be understanding. For reasons passing Gerard's compre-
hension, Caramon seemed to have a soft spot for the little
nuisances.
"So anyway my speech goes on," the kender said. " 'Caramon
Majere did all these things and more. He was a great hero and a
great warrior, but do you know what he did best?' " The kender's
voice softened. " 'He was a great friend. He was my friend, my
very best friend in all of the world. I came back-or rather I came
forward-to say this because I think it's important, and Fizban
thought it was important, too, which is why he let me come. It
seems to me that being a great friend is more important than
being a great hero or a great warrior. Being a good friend is the
most important thing there is. Just think, if everyone in the world
were great friends, then we wouldn't be such terrible enemies.
Some of you here are enemies now-' I look at Dalamar at this
point, Caramon. I look at him very sternly, for he's done some
things that haven't been at all nice. And then I go on and say, 'But
you people are here today because you were friends with this one
man and he was your friend, just like he was mine. And so maybe
when we lay Caramon Majere to rest, we will each leave his grave
with friendlier feelings toward everyone. And maybe that will be
the beginning of peace.' And then I bow and that's the end. What
do you think?"
Gerard arrived in the doorway in time to see the kender jump
down off a table, from which vantage point he'd been delivering
his speech, and run over to stand in front of Caramon. Laura was
wiping her eyes on the comers of her apron. Her gully dwarf
helper blubbered shamelessly in a comer, while the Inn's patrons
were applauding wildly and banging their mugs on the table,
shouting "Hear, hear!"
Caramon Majere sat in one of the high-backed booths. He was
smiling, a smile touched by the last golden rays of the sun, rays
that seem to have slipped into the Inn on purpose just to say
goodnight.
"I'm sorry this had to happen, sir," said Gerard, walking
inside. "I didn't realize he would trouble you. I'll take him away
now."
Caramon reached out his hand and stroked the kender's top-
knot, the hair of which was standing straight up, like the fur of a
startled cat.
"He's not bothering me. I'm glad to see him again. That part
about friendship was wonderful, Tas. Truly wonderful.
far he'd let himself go. His formerly strong athlete's body was
soft as a maiden's. He stopped on the landing to rest and heard
the kender launch back into his speech.
"Caramon Majere traveled back in time. He saved Lady
Crysania from the Abyss.' She'll be here, Caramon. She'll fly
here on the back of a silver dragon. Goldmoon will be here, too,
and Riverwind will come and their beautiful daughters and Sil-
vanoshei, the king of the United Elven Nations, will be here,
along with Gilthas, the new ambassador to the United Human
Nations, and, of course, Laurana. Even Oalamar will be here!
Think of that, Caramon! The Head of the Conclave coming to
your funeral. He'll be standing right over there next to Palin,
who's head of the White Robes, but then I guess you already
know that, him being your son and all. At least, I think that's
where they were standing. The last time I was here for your fu-
neral I came after it was all over and everyone was going home.
I heard about it later from Palin, who said that they were sorry.
If they'd known I was coming they would have waited. I felt a
bit insulted, but Palin said that they all thought I was dead,
which I am, of course, only not at the moment. And because I
missed your funeral the first time, that's why I had to try to hit
it agam.
Gerard groaned. Not only did he have to deal with a kender,
he had to deal with a mad kender. Probably one of those who
claimed to be "afflicted." He felt badly for Caramon, hoped the
old man wasn't too upset by this incident. Caramon would prob-
ably be understanding. For reasons passing Gerard's compre-
hension, Caramon seemed to have a soft spot for the little
nuisances.
"So anyway my speech goes on," the kender said. " 'Caramon
Majere did all these things and more. He was a great hero and a
great warrior, but do you know what he did best?' " The kender's
voice softened. " 'He was a great friend. He was my friend, my
very best friend in all of the world. I came back-or rather I came
forward-to say this because I think it's important, and Fizban
thought it was important, too, which is why he let me come. It
seems to me that being a great friend is more important than
being a great hero or a great warrior. Being a good friend is the
most important thing there is. Just think, if everyone in the world
were great friends, then we wouldn't be such terrible enemies.
Some of you here are enemies now-' I look at Dalamar at this
point, Caramon. I look at him very sternly, for he's done some
things that haven't been at all nice. And then I go on and say, 'But
you people are here today because you were friends with this one
man and he was your friend, just like he was mine. And so maybe
when we lay Caramon Majere to rest, we will each leave his grave
with friendlier feelings toward everyone. And maybe that will be
the beginning of peace.' And then I bow and that's the end. What
do you think?"
Gerard arrived in the doorway in time to see the kender jump
down off a table, from which vantage point he'd been delivering
his speech, and run over to stand in front of Caramon. Laura was
wiping her eyes on the comers of her apron. Her gully dwarf
helper blubbered shamelessly in a comer, while the Inn's patrons
were applauding wildly and banging their mugs on the table,
shouting "Hear, hear!"
Caramon Majere sat in one of the high-backed booths. He was
smiling, a smile touched by the last golden rays of the sun, rays
that seem to have slipped into the Inn on purpose just to say
goodnight.
"I'm sorry this had to happen, sir," said Gerard, walking
inside. "I didn't realize he would trouble you. I'll take him away
now."
Caramon reached out his hand and stroked the kender's top-
knot, the hair of which was standing straight up, like the fur of a
startled cat.
"He's not bothering me. I'm glad to see him again. That part
about friendship was wonderful, Tas. Truly wonderful.
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