"I'll put the remaining wizards to work reviewing the law," Alessa offered. "Perhaps there's a precedent from ancient times for the formation of a larger conference that has the power to name a king. The obvious solution, of course, is that Thelvyn should remain king until the war with the dragons is settled, then name his own successor."
"Oh, fine," Thelvyn said sourly, then thought of something. "I have firsthand knowledge of how exclusionary Flaemish law is regarding people not of their race. The question I have is whether or not the law would permit me to be made king in any event."
"Again, we would have to research that," Alessa said, lifting her empty wine glass to stare at it. "If Jherridan had named you a citizen of the realm, perhaps so. There might be nothing said on that subject one way or the other. The question of a foreigner becoming king may have been regarded as so inconceivable that no one ever felt the need to write laws about it. But the will of the Flaemish people can supersede even Flaemish law. If everyone wants to have the Dragonlord as their king, they certainly can."
"Wait a moment," Thelvyn insisted. "I'm not arguing for my right to be king."
"The situation might be too critical for you to refuse," she told him. "There is no one alive except yourself who is respected enough to be granted the title. If the realm remains in a state of anarchy for very long, either the dragons will destroy us or else the dukes will split up the realm among themselves as they did before Jherridan took the throne, leaving the Highlands leaderless and vulnerable. If the Flaem will have you, then you must become king. Once things are more settled, then your successor can be chosen without fear of anarchy."
Thelvyn glanced at Sir George, who made a helpless gesture. "She's probably right," the old knight said. "And you already are the king in practice if not in name."
"I have the feeling I'm about to become king whether I like it or not," Thelvyn said ruefully. "I can't help but wonder how the dragons are going to react to such news. I wish Kharendaen were here."
*****
By the next morning, Thelvyn was beginning to think the dragons were the least of his problems. The death or disappearance of so many senior Fire Wizards had caused their system of magical communication to collapse. Alessa Vyledaar was able to find enough wizards who were trained in the use of the Radiance to get the system back in operation by early afternoon. The problem was that the system enabled the news of the assassination of King Jherridan and the treachery of the Fire Wizards to spread quickly through every part of the Realm. By morning of the next day, the dukes had taken over the system to express their many opinions and demands not only to each other but to Braejr.
Authority in the Highlands was threatening to collapse, but not quite yet. Even the dukes had come to recognize the benefits of a unified realm, especially in times of danger. They wanted to know who had been named as Jherridan's successor and whether the Dragonlord was going to be around to handle the problems they already had. Realizing that he no longer could afford to be subtle, Thelvyn had it announced publicly that he had been named the successor, but he wasn't willing to hold the tide permanently. He would assume duties of king only until the crisis with the dragons was over.
If the people of Braejr were any indication, Thelvyn had no cause for concern. There had already been public calls for him to accept the throne, which surprised him very much. What he failed to understand at first was the great sense of betrayal they felt, a betrayal so deep that they might never overcome it. While he had grown up excluded from much by Flaemish law, the Flaems had always felt complete trust in their law, the absolute unity of their race, and in the wizards as the defenders of their beliefs and traditions. Now all they had left to believe in was the Dragonlord, who alone had always acted selflessly on their behalf.
If he remained reluctant to accept the title of king, he couldn't escape the duties required of the leader of the Highlands. Whatever else, the problem of the conflict with the dragons still had to be addressed, and he had to move quickly if he still hoped for a peaceful solution. He had already begun conducting business at the palace, occupying Jherridan's former private chamber. As soon as he could, he called in both Sir George and Alessa to discuss certain confidential matters.
"I know you were about to leave again to continue your search for the Collar of the Dragons," he said to the old knight. "I wonder if there is any point to continuing the search. I'm doubtful we can spare the time. Alessa says Kalestraan was involved in the theft, and you could spend months trying to determine which of the renegades was involved with him. The only important question is what he's done with it, and our best chance of finding a quick answer to that would seem to be here at the Academy."
"I don't believe it could still be there," Alessa said.
"Yes, we know that already," he agreed. "But there might be some clue to its whereabouts. Sir George got only as far as the basement before."
"We were desperate," the old knight explained when Alessa stared at him suspiciously. "The only thing I got from it was a quick lesson in architecture. Now that Kalestraan isn't about to protest, I'd be very interested in
poking about among his private papers."
"I've begun searching already," Alessa said, obviously reluctant.
"Sir George is something of a professional, you might say, in finding things," Thelvyn told her.
"Yes, of course," she agreed hesitantly. "I don't have any reason to refuse, beyond a wizard's instinct for privacy. Under the circumstances, I don't think our order is in a position to claim any special privileges. Besides, Kalestraan had some secrets that I would very much like to get my hands on just now, possibly some that may prove very helpful if we do have to fight dragons."
"If there's anything to be found, we should have it fairly quickly," Sir George said. "What about that dragon of yours, Thelvyn? We can't keep him around forever when we're supposed to be at war with his people."
Thelvyn frowned. "I'd like for him to stay close for a while longer, if he's willing. We might need him to retrieve the collar, if we can ever determine where it is. Do you suppose the renegades who stole it for Kalestraan decided to keep it for themselves?"
"That could be," Sir George said thoughtfully. "I've also just realized that he might have stolen it himself, since he was able to assume the form of a dragon. His disguise obviously didn't hold up to close scrutiny, since any dragon would have recognized him on sight. But if he was able to keep at a distance, it might have been good enough for him to sneak inside the city of the dragons and carry away the collar. I still can't imagine how he knew about the collar or where to find it unless a dragon told him."
"His powers were tied to the Radiance," Alessa said. "He might not have been able to maintain the shape of a dragon outside the Highlands."
"I have to leave that problem to the two of you," Thelvyn told them. "We would benefit from having the collar to offer the dragons, but I don't hold much hope we can find it in time. I have to prepare for the worst, which now means preparing the Highlands for invasion."
"You asked me to investigate what Flaemish law has to say about your ability to serve as king," Alessa reminded him. "I've been able to discover a few interesting things. First of all, there seems to be nothing in Flaemish law that says that you have to be Flaemish to be king. Only one who is foreign-born, Flaemish or otherwise, cannot be king."
"I was born in the village of Graez," Thelvyn said. "I wasn't a full-fledged citizen, but Jherridan made me one five years ago so he could appoint me his advisor because only a citizen can be in the pay of the king."
"That seems to satisfy that requirement," Alessa agreed. "But refusing the title of king when you've been named successor is another thing. Apparently you are bound by duty, since it was the final command by the previous king. The only way to avoid it is if someone charges you with being unfit and can prove it. No such charges apply to you, I'm sure."
"But I can surrender the title when I like, and to whom I like?" Thelvyn asked.
"There ap
pear to be no obstacles to that."
"Fine," Thelvyn agreed, settling back in his chair. "Still, I prefer to wait until I discover what the dukes think before I decide anything. We can't afford the distraction of being caught up in a battle of succession while the dragons are preparing for war. The dukes can squabble over who gets to be king all they want if they're willing to allow us to run things until then."
"My concern is that the realm very much needs a new king just now, when so much our people once believed in has been betrayed," Alessa said.
"Yes, I'm aware of that," Thelvyn admitted, staring for a moment into the dark fireplace. "My other great concern just now is for the dragons. Have there been any reports from the north about any sign of movement? I don't know how soon they might learn of recent events here in Braejr, but I'm afraid they're going to look upon them as something they can use to their advantage."
"I've heard nothing about any such reports," Alessa answered. "But I have learned this: We have found evidence that the attack of the dragon assassins on the night of the ambassador's reception was devised by Byen Kalestraan. We also learned he had dealings with a band of renegade black dragons who attacked you while they were in enchanted form. That's now absolute proof that the dragons did not break the truce first."
Thelvyn shook his head slowly. "It may be too late. Now that the dragons feel threatened, they won't be quick to forgive and forget. I suspect they still want to test the limits of my abilities, to find out whether or not they really have to fear the Dragonlord. Which brings me to the next problem. I very much need that cape."
Alessa looked at the floor and sighed. "I have people working on that, but the wizards who made the cape are gone now, and they had done no work on it since you brought it back. They expected you would never need it again."
Thelvyn had never considered that he might not have the powers of the cape of flight to give him the mobility he needed to fight the dragons. "Can your wizards start all over again, and this time not tie the enchantments of the cape to the Radiance? I can't have it fail me just because I've ventured too far into the frontier."
"We can certainly try," she agreed, rising to leave. "If nothing else brings me back, then I will see you tonight."
"Tonight?" he asked, confused.
"I still live at your house," she reminded him as she left.
The matter of the cape continued to worry Thelvyn a great deal. He didn't hold any great hope that the Fire Wizards would be able to come up with anything that could withstand the magic of the dragons. Without the ability to face the dragons on their own terms, he would have to fight a far more defensive battle, withdrawing the troops from the north to fortify positions in the larger towns and cities. The dragons could easily ignore him if he had to chase after them.
He would be even more restricted if he had to deal with the responsibilities of the king of the Highlands at the same time. He was no longer free to rejoin the army in the northern frontier. He now found it necessary to remain in the central Highlands, where he could most easily direct the defense of the entire realm. That led him back to the question of whether it was best for him to agree to become king, or ask to be granted the authority only for as long as the war with the dragons lasted. Or perhaps it would be best to ask that a new king be named so he could concentrate on his pressing duties as Dragonlord. All he knew for certain was that he
would have to decide soon.
*****
The first problem Sir George and Alessa faced in finding any secrets Byen Kalestraan might have kept was determining where they should look first. Sir George wanted to begin with his private chamber. Alessa considered that entirely too obvious, but Sir George pointed out that Kalestraan had always been quite obvious in his schemes. Finally Alessa relented, although she had already searched the chamber carefully and was at a loss to know where else to look. Sir George attacked the room energetically as a challenge he appeared to enjoy, checking off in his mind an entire list of hidden doorways and drawers he knew about from his experience as a thief.
"You're young yet," he explained as he searched the edges of the mantelpiece. "You have to be on your own for a while before you begin to learn some of the really sneaky little things associated with magic. Wizards always have secret places, and they prefer magical hiding places to mundane ones. In that case, you almost have to know the type of thing you're looking for before you can find it."
"Do you think Thelvyn will agree to become king?" Alessa asked idly, content to watch patiently while he continued his search.
"Yes, I expect that he will," Sir George agreed. "He really doesn't have much choice, does he?"
"He leads a rather lonely life, doesn't he?" she asked. "I mean, he's alone in that big house most of the time while you and Solveig are away, with no real friends except that dragon."
"He gets along very well with that dragon,' as you put it," Sir George told her. "Are you asking if he's likely to need the company of someone like you? I really don't think that I would hold my breath if I were you. He's the Drag-onlord. His duty pretty well precludes any long-term plans or commitments. To tell you the truth, I really don't expect that we'll be around here very long after this problem with the dragons is over. Things are changing, and his responsibilities will probably lead him somewhere else. You probably shouldn't hold any personal expectations involving him."
"That's being candid," Alessa remarked.
"Just a moment," Sir George said. "I think I've got it."
He had been studying the door in the back of the room that led into a smaller chamber. Aside from a common latch, a lock was set into the door just above it, which could be secured from the inside by turning a small handle so that a key was needed from the outside. Turning the handle in one direction set a bolt that locked the door. Turning it all the way in the other direction didn't seem to do anything at first, until Sir George shut the door and then opened it again. This time the door opened into a completely different room, hardly more than a closet of shelves stacked with books and papers.
"Hit with your pick right here, as the dwarves would say," he remarked, quite pleased with himself. "One of the classic interdimensional tricks. Any competent thief knows all the variations on this one. This top shelf appears to be notes the old wizard kept on his political enemies. By the looks of the stack, he didn't trust anyone."
Sir George took the first stack of pages off the very top and began reading. Alessa tried to look over his shoulder, but he was too tall for her to see. After a moment, he made some noises of great interest.
"He even kept reports on his own people," he explained. "This is about one of the wizards. She's described as being thirty-four years old but looks younger, uses a spell of weight reduction, a permanent but reversible spell of infertility, and once used a spell to augment her bust."
"What?" Alessa's face reddened, and she grabbed the paper from his hand, staring at it in disbelief. "This is about me! How did he know all of that?"
"He must have pulled it out when he was considering you to serve the Dragonlord. It was on the top of the pile,"
Sir George said, riffling through the stack of pages quickly. He found one and pulled it out. "Yes, here's one on Thelvyn."
"It's pretty small," Alessa observed.
"Well, there's not much even Thelvyn knows about himself," the old knight explained. "It seems that Kalestraan was forced to guess about a good deal of what he does have. It says here that Thelvyn is of unknown race, but he is most likely a creature of magic as well as a mortal, and that he is possibly a dragon in enchanted form."
"Is that true?" she asked, bending her head forward to look at the page.
"Well, it's true that he is both a mortal and a creature of magic," Sir George said. "That's obvious enough. And given his various qualities, it's also a fairly reasonable guess that he could be a dragon in enchanted form. The only problem, as you may know, is that all creatures, including dragons, must be born in their natural form. Even true shapechange
rs have to come into the world in their real forms. Thelvyn was born as you know him, and his mother was obviously of the same race. I was there."
"Which is why you wouldn't encourage anyone to become very close to him?"
"All I can is that he's twenty-one years old—a good deal younger than you are, I might add—and he's never had any attachments with members of the opposite sex," he said, taking the paper from her hands and placing it with the others. "Please don't destroy evidence."
"Yes, we do have quite a bit to look through, don't we?" Alessa said, glancing at the stacks of papers.
"And this might be just the start of it," the old knight told here. "Now that I have the run of the place, I need to check for more such hidden chambers. There could even
be one large enough to hold the Collar of the Dragons."
By the end of that day, Thelvyn found that he had underestimated just how frightened the dukes were of the dragons. They had all been through the attacks of the rogue dragons before, and present events reminded them only too much of their previous fear and inability to defend themselves. Their responses had arrived masked by many elaborate excuses and dignified phrases, but the essence of what they all had to say was that Thelvyn should do whatever he thought best just as long as he took care of the problem with the dragons. None of them seemed at all interested in being king, and they had no other suggestions regarding his rule.
Thelvyn was beginning to see that he was only delaying the inevitable. This was end of the second day since the death of King Jherridan, and the people of the city were becoming rather concerned with the fact that their country had no leader at a time when it was at war with the dragons. He could imagine how worried the people of the north were becoming, now that their king was dead and the Dragonlord was no longer there to protect them. As much as he dreaded it, Thelvyn allowed the announcement to be made that he would be acting in the king's place, at least for the time being.
He still had to deal with the dragons, of course. Alessa had found evidence that the first attack upon Thelvyn hadn't been the work of the dragons but of Byen Kalestraan, who had been working with some renegade black dragons. The point of the attack had been simple enough and was designed to work to Kalestraan's advantage almost any way it might have turned. If the assassins succeeded, it hardly mattered to him whether or not the dragons were implicated. The only objective to all of his schemes had been to find some way to be rid of the Dragonlord and King Jherridan, leaving the Highlands in a state of chaos, which would allow him to seize power for the wizards.
D& D - Mystara 02 Dragonking of Mystara Page 26