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The
Hedge Maze outside the Citadel of Light
Palin did not have much
hope that the draconians would lose him in the maze, but he did hope
that the maze's own powerful magic would protect him and Tas, perhaps
hide them from the eyes of the monsters. His hope was going to be put to
the test. More draconians had joined in the pursuit, driving now by
anger and the desire for revenge.
"Stop a
moment," Palin said to Tas, who had no breath left to answer. He
nodded and gulped air.
The two had reached the
first bend in the Hedge Maze. No point in going farther unless Palin
knew whether or not the draconians were going to be able to come after
them. He turned to watch.
The first several
draconians dashed inside the Hedge Maze and almost immediately came to a
stop. Branches spread across the path, stems shot up from the ground.
Foliage grew at an astonishing rate. Within moments, the path on which
Palin and Tas had walked was overgrown with shrubbery so thick the mage
could no longer see the draconians.
Palin breathed a sigh of
relief. He had been right. The magic of the Hedge Maze would keep out
those who entered with evil intent. He had a momentary fear that the
draconians might use their wings to lift themselves over the maze, but,
as he looked up, flowering vines twined overhead to form a canopy that
would hide him from sight. Fro the moment, he and Tas were safe.
"Whew! That was
close!" said Tasslehoff happily. "I thought we were goners
there for a moment. You are a really good wizard, Palin. I saw Raistlin
cast lost of spells, but I don't believe he ever caused draconians to
sizzle up like bacon before, thought I once saw him summon the Great
Worm Catyrpelius. Did you ever hear about that one? Raistlin--"
A roar and a blast of
flame interrupted Tasslehoff's tale. The bushes that had so recently
grown to block the draconians burst into bright orange flame.
"The dragons!"
Palin said with a bitter curse.
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