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. All color drained from Derek's face; he hastily dropped the
maiden's arm. The Ice Folk around me fell back slightly, knowing
the bear's sharp, protruding claws had the power to rip out Derek's
throat in a second. The frigid air fairly crackled with tension,
broken only by Derek's ragged breathing.
"D-d-down, bear," the elf maiden finally managed to stammer.
But the creature remained suspended over Derek. Realizing that
she alone had the power to persuade it, Laurana bravely reached
up a slender hand to pat the beast reassuringly. "Down!" she com-
manded more firmly. The bear hesitated for a moment, then,
reluctantly, it dropped back to all fours, eyeing Derek and giving
one last snarl. Though obviously relieved that the bear no longer
threatened him, Derek's face burned red with humiliation.
So THAT'S why this slender young female is a leader of men, I
thought to myself. The bear has chosen her. I saw Harald take note
of this, too.
At that moment, a bearded man whose presence I had overlooked
stepped gingerly past the bear. I judged him to be older than most
of his companions but younger than myself. He spoke to the elf
maid in mild, firm tones and I could tell, from her respectful
attitude, that he had long been her counselor. "Derek is right about
one thing, Laurana, my dear: we have no time to waste. Tanis may
already be waiting for us in Sancrist."
"I have not forgotten, Elistan," Laurana said softly, a strange,
almost wistful look in her eyes
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