Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

by Richard A. Knaak

  “Where is Darkhorse?” the Lady Bedlam asked suddenly.

  “I don’t know.” Cabe could sense his presence somewhere in Talak, but could not fix on one location. Still, it seemed as if the eternal was suddenly making his way to-

  There were shrieks from just beyond the king and queen. Both human and draconian sentries readied their weapons, prepared for the worst. Kyl, speaking softly to an elegant if somewhat plain-faced countess, turned slowly toward the direction of the cries.

  The shadow steed had finally made an appearance.

  That there was not more panic was due to the earlier presence of mind of the queen. Erini had very carefully warned her subjects of the coming of the legendary creature. Most of those gathered here had long been aware of her peculiar friendship with the creature from the Void, and while many of them were aghast at such a relationship, it was well-known that Darkhorse had saved the lives of both the king and queen.

  Still, one could not blame anyone for becoming startled at the abrupt materialization of a huge, ebony stallion. Two women fainted and several more guests, both male and female, looked ready to join them. Darkhorse, as usual, ignored the effect his arrival had had. He trotted across the marble floor, his hooves making no sound and leaving no marks. When he finally stood before Melicard and Erini, the eternal dipped his head in both greeting and respect.

  “My greetings to Your Majesties,” he rumbled.

  His respectful attitude toward their monarchs helped settle in part the nerves of the other guests. A few even eyed the eternal with satisfaction. The warlock sipped his drink again, thinking they see Darkhorse as an ally of Talak, a weapon to use against the drakes. He glanced at Kyl, who also seemed quite pleased that Darkhorse had come to the reception. The emperor-to-be was quietly studying the reactions of the Talakians. Grath whispered something in his ear that made Kyl smile and nod his head. Is this what you wanted, then, Kyl? To make Talak feel that it has nothing to fear from the new Dragon Emperor because they’ve got allies such as Darkhorse to aid them if need be?

  If that was the case, then Kyl was even more devious than Cabe had imagined.

  Things slowly returned to something resembling normal. It was almost humorous to watch some of the guests constantly look from the dragon heir to the eternal and then back again. This was likely the most unusual reception any of the Talakians had ever attended. It would make for tales to tell. As the warlock continued to observe, he saw that with Darkhorse’s presence now an accepted thing, people were beginning to approach Kyl. The handsome drake was less of a shock compared to the eternal. Now he was simply exotic. True, his teeth were a bit sharp and he spoke with the characteristic sibilance of his kind, but the rest of his appearance made him worthy of any royal court.

  He had already charmed most of the women he had talked to, but this time Kyl was careful not to aggravate the men who were with them. For the most part, the young drake was in his element and whenever it seemed he might falter, Grath was there to whisper in his ear or even add a rare word of his own to the conversation.

  Yet, Cabe still did not feel confident about the night. Perhaps it was simply because this was Talak, hated enemy of the drakes. . . .

  You share my fears, then? came a voice in his head.

  He knew that it was Darkhorse, but it still gave him a start. Gwendolyn looked at him, but Cabe only smiled and made a comment about the wine. If Darkhorse desired to talk to him alone, then he would respect the shadow steed’s wishes . . . to a point. There was little the sorcerer hid from his wife.

  You may tell her what you wish when I am through. I certainly have nothing to hide from the Lady of the Amber, remarked the great stallion. Darkhorse was one of the few who still called Gwendolyn by that title, but he was careful not to use it in her presence. For roughly two centuries, she had been kept sealed in a prison of amber, the legacy of Cabe’s mad father, Azran. The Lady of the Amber was almost as great a legend as Darkhorse himself, but few knew that Gwendolyn Bedlam was the same woman.

  What do you want?

  Several yards away, Darkhorse continued to speak with Erini. It was astounding the way he could hold two conversations at the same time without ever becoming confused. I have found something of interest . . . or perhaps I should say that I found nothing and find that of interest!

  Cabe held back a sigh, hoping against hope that this was not to be one of the eternal’s murky explanations. There were times when the shadow steed could leave him more befuddled than informed. What exactly are you talking about?

  There is no trace, no sign, of the sort of sorcery such as what was used to bait the traps that almost snared me and did capture you!

  That did not surprise Cabe, and thus should not have surprised Darkhorse. I haven’t noticed anything and I doubt that there is anything to notice. Melicard knows better, Darkhorse! He wants peace, too. The days of genocide are over. Cabe hoped they were. You should have told me that you were looking for some sign of guilt. I could have told you that Melicard is innocent. Erini could have told you that!

  To the naked eye, there was still no hint that the eternal was doing anything other than conversing with the queen. Yet, in the sorcerer’s mind, the shadow steed practically roared with impatience. But that is what I mean! Of course you cannot sense any trace, but neither can I! Me! I should be able to find some trace; no one knows the Vraad . . . or especially Shade . . . as well as I, yet I find absolutely no evidence here!

  It was to be one of the stallion’s murky explanations. And that means?

  Someone else is responsible.

  As worldly as the eternal was, he somehow still retained a childlike attitude in many things. Cabe hmmphed, but fortunately Gwen did not notice. There are others who despise or fear the drakes. Zuu, for example.

  No, it was not Zuu. I have been there.

  Cabe still had no idea as to how Darkhorse could be so certain about his findings, but he knew better than to argue that point. Well, there can’t be too many remnants of Shade’s legacy, can there?

  I do not know. With that, the eternal broke the link.

  So that’s what he’s been doing, the warlock mused. Using his invitation to make a thorough check of this place. Cabe was glad that Darkhorse had found nothing in Talak. It would have crippled the possibilities for peace if Melicard was discovered returning to his old ways. Not only that, but it would probably have also meant the end of his marriage to Erini. That bothered him almost as much as the threat of a return to war.

  Cabe despised the intrigues of government. Sorcery was so much simpler, so much more straightforward, in comparison.

  “What do you suppose is happening there?”

  Gwen’s question concerned a young noble who was speaking with Grath. They appeared to be having a somewhat heated discussion, at least where the human was concerned. While what Grath was saying was not audible, the drake’s demeanor indicated reason and calm. Yet, each word seemed to incense the noble.

  Stepping between his brother and the human, Kyl muttered something to the Talakian.

  The noble replied.

  Kyl, hissing loudly, started to swing a fist at the man.

  “Trouble!” Gwendolyn breathed.

  Before either of them could move, Grath took hold of his brother’s arm and prevented the blow from landing. Unfortunately, the noble took the aborted assault as excuse to draw a ceremonial knife from his belt. Even from where he stood, Cabe could see that the blade was as well-honed as any normal knife.

  “Jermaine!” Melicard called. “Stop!”

  Both the king’s men and Kyl’s honor guard began moving toward the struggle. Neither Bedlam could get a good enough view of those at the center to dare a spell. It was possible that the wrong reaction would leave either the dragon heir or the noble open to attack. The death of either would shatter the peace, no matter what the original reason for the argument.

  Jermaine, the noble, slashed at Kyl. Grath’s hand blocked the attack, but not without incurring a jagg
ed cut. One of the courtiers behind Jermaine grabbed the noble’s other arm. Jermaine struggled free, then took a step toward his adversary.

  The entire situation threatened to get out of hand . . . if that were any more possible. The two honor guards had already taken up positions around the combatants, old hatreds causing both of them to choose their own kind. A full-scale battle was brewing.

  “I’m going to try to pick Kyl out of there!” Gwendolyn hissed. “I don’t understand why the fool hasn’t done so himself!” Although the warnings against using drake magic were supposed to apply to the emperor-to-be as well as his retinue, it was doubtful that Melicard would have held Kyl responsible for using his sorcery in self-defense. Still, perhaps the drake felt it was safer to fight by hand rather than risk the defenses of Talak.

  Then, just as it seemed that everyone was converging on the battle, a blast of thunder shook the entire room. It was so intense that everyone froze, many perhaps thinking that an earthquake or siege had commenced.

  “Children, children! Behave yourselves now!”

  It was Darkhorse. His stentorian voice echoed throughout the room.

  “Milady,” he continued, now looking at the queen, “I regret to say that I may have cracked your floor down to the foundation! For that, I do apologize.”

  Queen Erini was barely able to hide a smile. She nodded to the shadow steed. “You are forgiven, I think.”

  “My gratitude for that.” The ice-blue, pupilless orbs focused on the king. “Your Majesty, the situation is now in your hands.”

  Melicard reacted immediately. His expression unreadable, the lord of the mountain kingdom marched toward the struggle. Two courtiers held the noble named Jermaine by the arms. Kyl and the others watched in silence as the tall king stopped before them and stared.

  “My Lord Kyl, I hope you will forgive this distasteful display. It should never have happened.”

  The dragon heir exhaled. The fire in his eyes faded. He eyed the noble, then his brother. Something passed between the two drakes. To the king, Kyl replied, “It isss underssstandable, Your Majesssty! Mossst regrettably underssstandable.”

  “I will have someone see to your brother’s hand.”

  “Let me.” The queen stepped forward. There was a murmuring among the guests.

  “The wound is slight,” argued Grath. “There is no need.”

  “Nonsense!” Erini took the drake’s hand. She inspected the wound, then cast a disappointed glance toward Jermaine. The noble had the good sense to look at least a bit ashamed.

  It would have been simple for any spellcaster of reasonable strength to heal the flesh wound. Grath himself could have done so, given a little time, but Cabe understood what the queen was doing. Talak was responsible for the wound and so Talak, in the form of Queen Erini, would heal it.

  Meanwhile, Melicard had turned on the young noble. “Have you anything to say, Jermaine? What was this all about?”

  Jermaine’s mouth moved, but no sound came out. One of the courtiers holding him cleared his own throat and quietly said, “If I may, Your Majesty; I think it was a misunderstanding.”

  Pulling his attention away from the queen’s ministrations, which had already caused the wound to seal, Grath announced, “Yes, that was all.” Curious eyes turned his way. “A very great misssunderstanding. We were discussing the future relationship of our two kingdoms-”

  The king raised a hand, silencing the drake. “That will be sufficient. I know this lad and I know how he thinks.” The disfigured monarch paused. “I know very well how he thinks. Baron Vergoth!”

  The baron stepped out of the assembled throng. “Yes, my liege?”

  “Will you see to our unruly guest here?” The king indicated the petulant Jermaine.

  “One moment, Your Majesssty,” interrupted Kyl. “What do you plan to do with him?”

  The two lords confronted one another. In level tones, the king asked, “Did you have some particular punishment in mind, Lord Kyl?”

  “I had no punishment in mind. I underssstand hisss way of thinking. There isss much reason behind it, consssidering the passsts of our two racesss. I would rather hope that you will take that in mind and treat him accordingly. Better to work to break down old hatredsss rather than reinforce them. The latter will only ssslow the peace we both desssire.”

  Melicard stared at the drake as if seeing a different person there. He visibly mulled over what Kyl had said. “I cannot very well reward him for shaming Talak, but I understand your point. Very well.” Melicard turned to Jermaine. “You know what I could have done to you for endangering the kingdom?”

  “Yes, my liege. I . . . apologize for everything. I would make some restitution.”

  “You will. I’ll see to that. I will have you work to help make this peace real, lad. We cannot let it be said that Talak was incapable of changing when the chance was offered to it. We’re not merely speaking of peace with the drakes, you fool, but also with the other human kingdoms. Who would trust us if you had more seriously injured-possibly even killed-one of those to whom I have granted protection under a banner of truce?”

  “I had no intention of killing him, Your-”

  “Which excuses nothing.” Melicard folded his arms. “Baron Vergoth and some guards will escort you from this palace. Tomorrow afternoon, you will return here, at which time I will tell you how you will make amends for this. Is that clear?”

  Jermaine went down on one knee, his eyes downcast. “Yes, my liege.”

  The king turned to Vergoth. “If you please, Baron?”

  “Aye, Your Majesty.”

  The impetuous noble was led silently off. The other guests whispered among themselves. Cabe read a variety of emotions among them. There were many who felt that the king had been more than generous, considering the importance of the affair, but there were also several who revealed sympathy for Jermaine. The warlock made a mental note of the names and faces of the most conspicuous of the latter just in case.

  Once more, King Melicard turned to his special guest. “I apologize again, Lord Kyl, for this disastrous incident. Despite what anyone might imagine, such behavior will not be tolerated. The next one who shows such colors will not benefit from your good will.”

  “I underssstand and appreciate your wordsss, Your Majesty.”

  “He is healed, Melicard,” Erini informed her husband just then. She held Grath’s unblemished hand toward the king so that he could see for himself.

  “Very good!” The king raised his arms to the assembled folk. “My friends! This incident is at an end! Please return to what you were doing! There is still food and drink!” Melicard nodded toward the emperor-to-be. “There is still a peace to plan.”

  Slowly, the guests spread out again. Kyl and Grath joined the king and queen, who were on their way to thank Darkhorse for his timely assistance. Gwendolyn looked at Cabe. He nodded his understanding. The crimson-tressed enchantress followed after the monarchs. Conversations sprouted up elsewhere. People began to relax, albeit not too much. The drake and Talakian sentries returned to their assigned positions, but not without last glances toward one another.

  For all practical purposes, the reception returned to normal, though every conversation now tended to revolve around what had happened. Drinking also slowed as many became fearful that a drop too much would cause them to say the wrong word to the young drake lord.

  “That was very fortunate, friend Cabe.”

  The warlock looked up into the half-concealed face of the Green Dragon. He had completely forgotten about the Dragon King. Now he wondered where the drake had been during the altercation. The emerald warrior had taken no part in the event, not even when the life of his lord had been in jeopardy.

  “It could not have happened better than if we had planned it,” the drake went on. “The moment Melicard stepped forward to put an end to it, I realized that it would be better if I remained behind. Let the king of Talak take responsibility. The significance of that would not be lost on t
he other guests . . . and how true that turns out to be! Yesss, things have moved to cement the ties between our two races!”

  “I’m just glad that no one was hurt.”

  “Of course!” The Green Dragon looked slightly offended. “I would not have wanted that, either, but I had confidence in the outcome of the sssituation.”

  Cabe was glad that one of them had been so confident. There were times when, despite the years he had known him, the warlock found the Dragon King an enigma. The mistake, he suspected, was trying to see the drake’s desires in terms of human ideals. There were similarities, but also significant differences. Very significant differences, at times.

  The sorcerer took a sip from his goblet and let his eyes wander toward where Talak’s rulers and the future Dragon Emperor were speaking with one another. Kyl had been raised among humans, but while he more resembled one of Cabe’s kind than something akin to the Dragon King, he was still a drake . . . wasn’t he?

  Was he neither? Kyl and the others had been very young hatchlings when the mad Dragon Emperor had fallen, young enough to still be influenced and molded to other ways. Knowing that the only way for them to survive-and for his own race to continue as a power equal to the rising humans-the Green Dragon had taken it upon himself to create this unusual situation.

  It had not been an easy task. There had been many humans and even some drakes who had threatened the young heirs over the years. The avian Seekers had actually even kidnapped them once in an attempt to use them as leverage against the Ice Dragon. Yet, despite all the dangers, despite those who still sought to end the possibility of a new Dragon Emperor, Kyl had grown to adulthood. However, no one, not even Cabe, was certain as to what the young drake would be like once he assumed the throne. How much of his personality was influenced by his guardians and how much was influenced by his race’s history?