Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

Kyl signaled to Grath, and the two began to walk unprotected among the Talakians.

“I don’t know whether he’s amazingly brave or simply majestically foolhardy,” said Gwendolyn as she rejoined Cabe. “We had best keep a careful eye on him.”

“He does wield power of his own.”

“Yes, but this is Talak.”

His wife had a point. If ever there was a place where the people would be prepared against dragon tricks, it was the mountain kingdom. “What’s he hoping to accomplish by doing this?”

She took a sip from her goblet. “That only Kyl and maybe Grath know. Kyl says that he wants the people to really know him, to understand that he should not be feared the way his father was.”

“The Talakians don’t fear him as much as they hate him.” It was a sweeping statement, even Cabe would have been willing to admit that, but it held more than a grain of truth. The most evident hate was that of the older soldiers and aristocrats, the ones who could still recall the days before the last Dragon Emperor’s death. Baron Vergoth could be numbered among those, although he was much more expert at hiding that hatred than many of his contemporaries. The warlock did not care for the way the baron’s eyes followed the dragon heir. Had looks truly been able to kill, Kyl would have been dead now, a blade in his throat. Vergoth, fortunately, was too loyal to his king.

“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