Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

“I will return him to his companions.”

Everyone looked at Darkhorse, whose attitude so far had been surprising. He had sided with a drake and now offered to see that same drake back to safety. It was almost amusing. Osseuss was at least as fearful of the eternal as he was of the guards.

“Are you certain you wish to do that, Darkhorse?”

The ebony stallion chuckled. “I thought I had just said so! Do you doubt my word, Your Majesty?”

“Never.” The queen smiled. “Thank you, then.”

“I am your servant!” Darkhorse trotted up to the still-anxious drake. The captain of the guard-and the rest of the guards, for that matter-retreated as the shadow steed neared the prisoner. “Come with me, dragon!”

Osseuss looked to his master and mistress for confirmation.

“Go with him,” Cabe responded. “There’s nothing to fear.”

It was clear that the servitor could have argued that point, but he nonetheless obeyed the warlock. The circle of guards gave way for the duo, the nearest soldiers wisely deciding to lower their weapons as Darkhorse trotted by.

Erini watched the strange pair depart, then summoned the recalcitrant officer to her. “I want you to know that your loyalty is commendable, Captain. These next few days will be difficult for all of us. Caution is good, but we must never lose control.”

There were many things that the guardsman probably wanted to say in response, but this was his queen and so he could only obey. The captain saluted her. “I understand, Your Majesty.”

“You may resume your duties, then. I wish you the best of luck. This will be a taxing situation for you and your men, but I have every confidence in your abilities.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The captain organized his men and led them off in record time. Only four soldiers still remained, the personal guard of the queen herself.

“I thank you, Erini,” Gwen said when the captain was gone.

“It was a mistake; I saw that, too. I was glad that you were there to verify it for me, however. My skill at sorcery will never be as great as either of yours.”

“Yours is formidable enough. You have done us proud.” The queen had been the Bedlams’ first student and, so far, their most promising. The handful of spellcasters that had been brought to Penacles were, for the most part, folk who would never be able to do much more than light fires with a glance or lift small objects into the air. There were one or two who might go beyond that, but so far no one who had the potential to even remotely approach the power of either the witch or the warlock.

This did not mean that such did not exist. Cabe could count four whose powers were adequate at the very least. Three of those worked for King Lanith of Zuu. The other was a wanderer, a blond beauty who had used the name Tori and who had, at one point, attempted to seduce Cabe. Considering the way these four had turned out, the sorcerer wondered whether or not it was a good thing that so few others of any measurable might had appeared so far. The present crop of spellcasters was not by any stretch of the imagination a shining example of what a new age of sorcery might offer the world. Too many people already feared those like the Bedlams, who had done them no harm at all. If more like Lanith’s lackeys appeared, the reputation of sorcery would only be tarnished further.

Queen Erini had blushed slightly at the compliment. “I thank you for your confidence in me, Gwendolyn.” Her expression changed almost immediately. “But enough about that. I am glad that both of you are here. If you will excuse me for one moment. . . .” She turned back to her daughter and the remaining sentries. “I believe it is almost time for your lessons, is it not, Lynnette?”

The little princess made a very unladylike face, but under the queen’s steady gaze she finally nodded. “Yes, Mother.”

“I thought so. Then you had best be on your way-” Erini raised a hand as her daughter started to run off. “Not like that and not without some company. Also,” she added in softer tones, “it would be nice if I could have a hug first.”

Smiling, Lynnette rushed over to her mother, who leaned down and took the girl in her arms. They held one another tight, then Erini reluctantly allowed her daughter to slip away. Lynnette curtsied to the two mages, then returned to the guards. One pair followed the princess as she started back toward the palace.

Queen Erini sighed as she watched her only child depart. “It gets hard to watch them grow up so fast! I remember when she was but a baby!”

The Bedlams were quiet but sympathetic, understanding all too well the sensation the queen was experiencing.

“Enough of that!” The slim woman looked at her two old friends. “I am glad you happened along, because I have need to talk to you. Melicard has agreed to the ceremony taking place soon after the formal reception but has not set a specific day and time. Do you have any suggestions?”

Cabe looked at his wife, who smiled back at him. Turning her gaze back to the queen, the Lady Bedlam replied, “We were just discussing that very subject before we heard the soldiers!”

“And what did you decide?”

The warlock could not resist. “My wife the royal counselor thought that the day after tomorrow would be best. It would allow a day of calm for all of us after the excitement of tonight’s reception.”

Erini could not hold back her smile. “The royal counselor may be correct. I was thinking along the same lines. What time of day would the royal counselor suggest?”

“To be fair,” began Gwendolyn, giving Cabe a piercing but playful stare, “I think the royal counselor’s husband should contribute on that matter.”

“And what do you say, royal counselor’s husband?”

Unschooled in the eccentricities of proper royal behavior, Cabe had no idea what time of day would be appropriate for such a solemn ceremony. Thinking of his own preference, he hesitantly answered, “In the morning?”

Erini considered this for quite some time. Cabe hoped that he had not erred in some way. Better to face an angry Dragon King than try to muddle his way through the idiosyncrasies of the monarchy.

“Yes, the morning might work. I have always thought that there was something captivating about the first few hours of the day, something touching the soul.”

The warlock relaxed.

“I will take your suggestions to my husband. If he finds them agreeable, then they will be presented to Lord Kyl and Lord Green.” The queen hugged them both. “Thank you, both of you. I always know that I can depend upon your sage advice.”

“We’re glad to help in any way we can,” Cabe returned. Gwen echoed his sentiments. Erini was a good friend.

“The day after tomorrow,” repeated the slim monarch. “In the morning. Early, so that the wonder of a new day will touch us all . . . those of us who can appreciate morning, that is.”

“How fare the preparations for the reception this evening?” asked the Lady Bedlam, changing the subject.

“Everything is moving swimmingly. I have been planning for this day since it was first suggested some time back. The food will be ready. The ballroom is being prepared even as we speak. All the arrangements are proceeding exactly as I hoped.” Some of the queen’s high spirits faded. “Now, if only the guests could be so obliging. Not everyone thinks that peace with drakes is a good thing.”

Drakes eating and drinking alongside the cream of Talak’s leadership. Cabe tried to hide his own anxiety from Erini. It was one thing to have a private supper between the two rulers, but the reception invited so many new and unpredictable elements into the situation.

“I’m sure that they’ll-”

“Erini! Are you all right?” called a frantic voice.

They turned to see the king come rushing across the lawn. Behind him and having difficulty keeping pace with the distraught monarch were Baron Vergoth and Melicard’s personal guard.