Legends of the Dragonrealm: Volume 04

by Richard A. Knaak

  Aurim heard the horse move forward. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught partial sight of a brown stallion and its rider, a tall figure clad in a simple brown outfit with a riding cloak. Strands of blond hair dangled from the rider's hood, but his features were otherwise obscured. "It seems the best way. The place is no longer desolate. Why should we avoid such an unpopulated stretch when it gives us the straightest route home?"

  "Why, indeed?" Saress was still not pleased. Suddenly her gaze shifted to Aurim. "Then again, why take so long to get back to Zuu? Why not make use of new options . . . or at least test them out?"

  "What're you talking about, sorceress?"

  "He's strong, Captain. He's everything we thought he was and more. He parted the river to impress me, the dear boy."

  For a moment the soldier was silent. Then, "He did that?"

  "And I, for one, think he's capable of so very much more." The enchantress stared Aurim in the eyes. "Aren't you, Aurim? All you needed was a boost of confidence and I gave that to you with a few subtle spells and more than a few loving looks." She laughed lightly. "Yes, I think you can do it."

  Aurim knew what she wanted of him, and knew that now he could probably give it to her. He did have the concentration and confidence, both of which had been built up by a serpent in human form. Yet if he was so powerful, how could he have been so easily snared? Why could he not escape?

  It's not always a matter of power, his father had once said. It's also a matter of using your power in the most effective manner.

  Saress was not as strong as he; he knew that. However, she had a far better grasp of her abilities than he did and she had used them to her best advantage.

  "Gather the men, Captain. Our dear new companion is going to take us back to Zuu in the best dramatic fashion. Lanith will love it!"

  "You're not serious! I'm not going to—"

  "I've had enough argument." Saress waved her hand in the direction of the soldier, who stiffened in the saddle. "You'll get your voice back after I've proved my point." To Aurim, she added, "You will listen to everything I say, won't you, darling?"

  To his surprise, he answered her. "I will."

  "That's a good boy. This is what I want of you. You'll take everyone here—the two of us, my friend the captain, and his three playmates and all the horses—all the way to the royal grounds of Zuu."

  Again Aurim spoke against his will. "I've never been to Zuu. I don't know the kingdom."

  She took him by the arm. "Don't you worry, Aurim. I will give you a destination."

  Reaching up with her free hand, she touched his temple. Instantly, the image of an open courtyard materialized in his thoughts. A huge stable covered one side of the yard and the tall walls of what had to be the king's palace or castle made up much of the remaining view. In the walls were carved the images of men on horseback. A banner fluttering from the top of the stable bore the head of a charger.

  "Is that good enough?" Saress asked him.

  "Yes." It was. He wanted to deny it, but could not. "Then take us there now, my darling Aurim."

  Unable to resist, Aurim concentrated. He was finally the sorcerer he had dreamed of becoming . . . and now his dream had become his nightmare.

  Chapter Six

  It was more than three hours before Cabe stirred, three hours in which Darkhorse could do nothing but think and glare at the magical grass.

  "Darkhorse?" Cabe's voice was weak, but in this quiet place carried well.

  "Cabe! By the Void! I had begun to fear that you would never wake!"

  "Dark—where are we?"

  "In what was once termed the Barren Lands!"

  "The Barren Lands?" The mage stared, taking in the trees, the birds, and, most of all, the endless sea of grass. He nodded. "Yes, I can feel it. These were the Barren Lands once. I've been here a couple of times since it changed; I'd recognize the sensations I feel anywhere."

  The shadow steed felt nothing, but did not question his companion. He was simply overjoyed that Cabe was awake and well. At least, he hoped Cabe was well. "Are you all right, then?"

  The human touched his side. "I think so." He shut his eyes for several seconds, concentrating. "Yes. Yes, I am. Thank you."

  "I . . . I did not mend you, Cabe."

  "No? Then who did?"

  "It was . . . a female. A sorceress. In Zuu you once knew her as Tori."

  "Tori?" Cabe's expression went from complete befuddlement to dawning recognition. "Tori. She was here? She mended my injuries? I don't remember anything other than escaping that trap."

  "And that was done with her aid, too, Cabe. She assaulted it from the outside. Then, after you caused the earth to rise up and hinder some of our pursuers—"

  "I did that?" The sorcerer shook his head. "I don't even recall doing that. I think I may remember holding on to you for dear life."

  "She called to us. Told us to ride in a certain direction. I did. A blink hole materialized directly before us, leaving me little chance to avoid it. When we finally exited, though, it was to arrive here . . . several hours later."

  "Several . . ." Cabe looked up at the sun. "I didn't even pay attention to the fact that it's setting! Gwen! She'll be worried! Did you contact her?"

  Darkhorse could scarcely look at his friend. "I feared to do so. There was good reason—"

  "I think I understand. You can explain everything else later, then. We have to get back to Penacles." As Cabe started to rise, he seemed to lose his footing. The sorcerer immediately sat back down. "Maybe I'd better do this a little slower. Looks like I needed the rest after all. Thank you for watching over me, Darkhorse."

  "I am sorry I could do no more. Tori said it was wise to let you rest and I agreed."

  The spellcaster rose again, this time with more care. "We'll have to talk about her and everything else after we reassure Gwen and the others." He blinked. "I didn't even think to ask you how you were doing. That spell trap seemed designed for you."

  "It was. As you said, though, that is something else we can speak of after we assuage the fears of your wife, Cabe. As for me . . ." The eternal rose up on his hind legs. The grass spread away from him as far as it could. Darkhorse laughed as he dropped down on all fours again. "I am Darkhorse! How could I be anything but perfect?"

  Cabe did not question his answer although it was clear that he did not entirely believe him. Darkhorse was still a bit weak, but not nearly so much as before. He had recovered enough that racing across the Dragonrealm would be a fairly simple task. They could be in Penacles just before sunset. Still soon enough as far as he was concerned.

  The sorcerer mounted, groaning slightly in the process. "Maybe it would be best if we just rode back, Darkhorse. I don't think that I could stomach another sudden shift in location just yet. Is that all right with you?"

  "Did the female miss some injury? Are you ill?"

  "No, nothing like that." Cabe positioned himself for the ride. "It seemed to me that it would just be a good idea."

  "As you wish."

  "It really is a beautiful, peaceful land now," commented the human. "I'm surprised it's still empty. I'd think anyone would love to settle in a place like this."

  Darkhorse held off comment. The sooner he was away from this land, the better. The grass still seemed too interested in the pair, constantly touching both of them whenever possible.

  The grass, though, was hardly a threat compared to what they had already faced . . . and would face soon enough again. Lanith was indeed a danger to the fragile peace of the Dragonrealm if he had such power to control. Even Darkhorse was willing to admit that anyone who could set such a snare was a foe with which to be reckoned.

  An intelligent force . . .

  There was indeed much that they had to discuss after their return to Penacles.

  Lady Gwendolyn Bedlam stood at the entrance to the Gryphon's palace, either relieved to see them or ready to throw something, Darkhorse was not certain which. Only when the sorceress finally met them at the bottom of
the palace steps did her mood become more evident.

  "Cabe! You're all right! Why didn't you contact us?" Her expression darkened. "What have you been up to?"

  The sorcerer slid off Darkhorse's back. The eternal tried to quietly step back, the better to escape the brunt of any explosion, verbal or magical. He had a healthy respect for Cabe's wife.

  Cabe tried to calm her. "It took longer than we expected to investigate the barony. We had to be careful, too, what with the possibility that any of Lanith's mages might be in the vicinity. I'm sorry we had to keep you anxiously waiting, Gwen."

  Her gaze darted from her husband to the shadow steed. "Is that all? Nothing terrible happened?" She folded her arms. "I don't think that I believe you."

  "I assure you, Lady Bedlam—"

  "Never mind, Darkhorse." Cabe sighed. "I can't lie to you, Gwen. I don't know why I tried to make it sound as if nothing had happened. We'd have to tell you everything soon enough, anyway. Something did happen. I don't even know all of it. There's much that Darkhorse still has to tell me."

  "Then the best thing for all of us," declared the voice of the king of Penacles, "is to retire to my chambers and discuss this in privacy."

  The Gryphon stood several steps above them, having arrived so silently that even the eternal had not noticed him. He was perhaps one of the few creatures who could consistently surprise Darkhorse, although, to be fair, Darkhorse was one of the few creatures capable of consistently making the monarch uneasy.

  It did not take Cabe very long to relate his story. The others listened carefully, Gwen's expression turning darker as the tale of the spell trap unfolded. By the time the sorcerer was finished, her hands had folded into such tight fists that her knuckles were bone white.

  "You nearly died, Cabe! If not for Darkhorse—"

  "It wasn't Darkhorse, darling. Not exactly."

  "If I may . . ." The Gryphon poured himself a goblet of wine. He had made certain that his guests had been given both food and drink, especially the still-weary sorcerer. The king raised the goblet and sipped, his features momentarily shifting to that of a handsome gray-haired man with patrician features. The Gryphon could completely shift form for long periods at a time, but preferred the one with which he was most familiar. "Let us simply hear Darkhorse. Then we can take it from there."

  The Bedlams nodded. Darkhorse debated leaving out some aspects of the adventure, especially the part concerning their feminine rescuer, but knew that Cabe would never allow him to do so. That in mind, he threw himself into the telling, making certain that no part of it, however small, was left out. Darkhorse even related his own sensations during the struggle in the sinister trap and his mistrust of their rescuer afterward.

  His mention of Tori brought forth a variety of reactions from the trio. The Gryphon looked merely curious. Gwendolyn Bedlam kept her expression neutral but her narrowing eyes were a clear indication of what she thought of the mysterious woman's interest in her husband. As for Cabe, he first looked uncomfortable, then thoughtful, especially when the eternal mentioned that their benefactor had used a false name.

  "I wonder who she is?" he commented after Darkhorse had finished.

  "I would very much like to find out." Lady Bedlam gazed at her husband, who wisely kept silent.

  "The identity of this goodwilled enchantress aside," interjected the Gryphon, "what she and the lord of the Dagora Forest have said worries me greatly. What sinister force is it that Lanith has at his beck and call? A mage of great power? Why is he or she not leading the horse king's Magical Order, then? That position, according to my reports, is still filled by a woman named Saress, who shares more than her sorcerous abilities with Lanith."

  "I had a thought earlier, Lord Gryphon." Darkhorse shifted uncomfortably. "I thought that perhaps it might be Shade."

  "Shade is dead, demon steed. You saw to that yourself. He is truly and honestly dead. Do you think that he could have kept himself hidden for so long? That was never Shade's way, good or evil."

  Cabe agreed. "Besides, you searched nearly every inch of the Dragonrealm. Shade was a Vraad, a last lingerer from their time. He had the most distinctive magical trace of any creature in this world, including you. One of us in this room would have noticed his presence."

  Darkhorse did not entirely agree, knowing better than anyone how powerful the warlock had been, but he acquiesced. "I do not really think it was Shade, but I felt the need to mention it. However, it could very well be a Dragon King! Zuu is not that far from the domain of the Crystal Dragon . . . and none of us know much of his doings."

  "No." Cabe's response was quick. "No, it's not the Crystal Dragon . . . take my word for that."

  "But Darkhorse does make a good point, Cabe Bedlam. What about the others? Storm and Black to be precise." The Gryphon stroked his savage beak. "Better yet, Sssaleese. Yes, his fledgling federation would benefit if attention was drawn from it for a time by everyone's interest in Lanith's crusade. A treaty between the pair would also aid him. Sssaleese needs materiel, food. The Dragon Kings haven't been very happy with his presence and I know at least one has pushed Emperor Kyl to take some action against him. Kyl's held off. Sssaleese is strong enough to create a situation. The refugees from the broken drake clans believe in him. He gave them something that the Silver Dragon promised but then failed to deliver. Kyl is surely keeping that in mind."

  "Sssaleese may be involved with Lanith, but I somehow don't think he's this force." Cabe sighed. "The Green Dragon didn't speak of the force as if it were one of his own kind. He talked as if it were something he could not identify. I think if it were Sssaleese, the lord of Dagora would've discovered that. The drake lord was honestly uncertain."

  "So what we are left with is what we had at the beginning. A mysterious, intelligent magical force that may or may not be related to Lanith's Order of sorcerers." The king rose and began pacing back and forth like an anxious cat. "There were things I came across in the empire of the Aramites. Age-old forces left by the founding race of our world. I know that some of them could reach this land if they desired, but I've never noticed any sign. Lanith might also have made some pact with the Seekers or the Quel, but I doubt either the avians or the underdwellers would work with any human long."

  Gwendolyn Bedlam cleared her throat. "Perhaps you should consult the Libraries."

  "At this point, Lady Bedlam, that might be more trouble than it's worth. I wouldn't even know what to look under . . . intelligent evil forces? Mysterious entities? Even if an answer was in there, it would be in some godforsaken riddle or poem that we'd have to piece together. I don't have the patience for the Libraries of Penacles right now. However, I do have access to some other volumes that the last Dragon King here gathered during his reign. There may be something in them."

  "There might also be something among the books and scrolls at the Manor," suggested Cabe. "Something that perhaps will help us detect and define this force without it noticing."

  "So it seems we now know our next step." The Gryphon eyed Darkhorse. "You have no idea where this enchantress vanished to, do you? She's given us some information; I do not see why she just doesn't join us."

  Cabe's mate did not look at all pleased with the suggestion, but only Darkhorse noticed. The shadow steed explained how she had vanished without leaving any discernible trace.

  "Her powers seem almost as mysterious as this force working for Lanith," the lionbird commented. "Someday we'll find out more about her, but that can wait."

  The Bedlams rose together. "We should return to the Manor as soon as possible, then." Cabe looked for confirmation from his wife before continuing. "We'll keep in contact whether we discover anything or not."

  "I have agents out in some of the surrounding regions . . . and some other resources that I've yet to tap. Between all of us, we should be able to uncover some answers, Cabe."

  "I, too, will do my best to ferret out some answers." Other than hunting for the enchantress, however, Darkhorse did not know what he co
uld do short of invading Zuu. He sincerely doubted that either Cabe or the Gryphon would appreciate an effort like that, though.

  "Aurim!" Gwen's outburst caught them all by surprise. "I nearly forgot about Aurim! We have to tell him what's happening so that he doesn't wonder what's happened to us!"

  "Well, that's easily taken care of, darling. Where is he?"

  "Not in the palace. I think. . I think he's with the young woman named Jenna."

  "She has been staying at Gullivan's, Cabe," the eternal added. "Shall I go retrieve him?"

  "No, I'll simply link with him." The master sorcerer closed his eyes, but the look of confidence on his plain features gradually shifted to one of uncertainty and puzzlement. Finally breaking off his attempt, Cabe glanced at his wife. "That's odd. I don't sense him anywhere."

  "That cannot be!" Aurim's mother shut her own eyes. After several long, silent seconds, she, too, gave up. "He should be in the city. He should be."

  "He may be shielding himself from us, darling. After all, he probably wants privacy."

  "Perhaps . . ."

  Darkhorse stepped forward. "I will look for him, friends! It is likely, as you say, that he wanted privacy. Have no fear! I can cover Penacles much faster than either of you. You may return to the Manor if you so desire. When I have your son in hand, we shall return there."

  "What do you think, Gwen?"

  With some reluctance, she nodded. "Thank you, Dark- horse. I'm sure it's nothing, but with all that happened to Cabe and you, I cannot help but worry a little."

  "Perfectly understandable!" Already the shadow steed wanted to be on his way. His preference was always action over discussion. Now, at least, he could do something important, however minuscule it was compared to the overall situation concerning Zuu. Darkhorse had no doubt that Aurim and Jenna were somewhere nearby, acting as all young human adults seemed to during the early stages of a relationship. That did not at all mean that he condoned the younger Bedlam's carelessness, however. Aurim's position and abilities demanded that he not hide his presence from his family even in a kingdom where they were very respected. There was always some risk.