Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

“Well, I think that I’ll try to see if they’ll let me enter, though I doubt it. In the meantime, you can rest assured that measures will be taken in this matter.”

“We know that we can trust you to do that. Toma may try to get near to our young emperor-to-be, so perhaps you might want your people to keep a special watch on him.”

“Oh, believe me; they are.”

An exclamation of triumph informed them that the game was at an end. As expected, Kyl had emerged the victor. Grath waved his congratulations from where he sat. Behind the younger brother, the Dragon King put a consoling hand on Grath’s shoulder.

“We should inform Lord Green,” Cabe suggested.

Toos studied the drake lord. “Yes, I’d thought of that. I’ll do so this evening, when we discuss the final details of this visit. You all know that there’s the required reception so the aristocrats and merchants and such can feel impressive. I’d also planned a ride out to where two of our best units are having their field exercises, but it might be best to postpone that. I’ll have to see what the lord of Dagora thinks about it.”

Kyl chose to join them then, which ended the conversation. The young drake was elated with his victory. “Did you all sssee? What a fassscinating game! I shall have to devissse sssomething akin to it once I asssume the throne! What a marvelousss passstime!”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it so much,” returned Toos, pretending that nothing was amiss. “There will be opportunity to play again, of course, but I’m sorry to say that for now matters of state must take my time. If you will excuse me, I think the Lord Gryphon will be happy to show you the armory. Penacles might be called the City of Knowledge, but we have amassed quite an interesting array of armaments, too.”

Kyl’s eyes were bright with eagerness. He had not yet calmed down after his victory. “Yesss! I would be delighted!”

“Excellent! There are also some last arrangements to be made for the events of the next few days, arrangements that will be passed on for your approval later this evening. I hope you’ll find your time here well spent.”

The regent bid them all farewell, including Grath and the Dragon King, who had just rejoined the party. Grath, too, looked exhausted from the game, but he seemed slightly less enthusiastic. Considering the outcome, Cabe did not think the younger drake’s attitude at all surprising.

“An excellent game, Your Majesty,” the Dragon King commented.

“Yesss, it wasss! Lord Green, when I am emperor, I would like your help in creating a version of thisss tournament for our own kind.”

“I will be happy to be of ssservice, although I fear our warriors might be a little more inclined to blood than these humans were.”

That did not seem to bother the heir at all. In fact, the warlock thought that he looked much too hopeful.

“If Your Majesty is ready to depart,” the Gryphon interrupted, “the royal armory requires a short ride.”

“Armory?” questioned the Dragon King.

“It isss sssupposssed to be fassscinating, Lord Green!”

The drake lord acknowledged Kyl’s words. “You will certainly enjoy it, my liege, but I must request you permit me to stay behind. I mussst really see how things are progressing with the rest of our caravan. We want no incidents such as happened with the artisan Osseuss. I would like to make certain that everyone knows what they are and are not permitted to do.”

Kyl was not about to miss the armory. He waved away the Dragon King. “Of course, you have my permission. You will report to me later?”

The Green Dragon’s tone was neutral. “Of course, my emperor.”

Once again, it amazed Cabe to see how willingly the Dragon King bent before the young heir. Green truly had to want this peace to work, for there could be no other reason for his willingness to suffer Kyl’s bouts of lordliness. The warlock sincerely doubted that he could be so understanding.

The matter dismissed from his thoughts, the eager young heir turned back to the Gryphon. “We may depart whenever you wish, Lord Gryphon.”

“Thank you.” Kyl did not notice the slight touch of humor in the lionbird’s tone, but it was all Cabe could do to keep from smiling. “Lord Green, if you’ll join us for a short time, I will find you a proper escort to lead you to your chambers.”

“That would be sssuitable, thank you.” Even under present circumstances, any drake who walked alone in Penacles risked danger. Not as great a danger as in Talak, but enough that such a risk was not to be taken.

They had only just begun walking when Cabe felt someone touch him on the shoulder. He turned to find Grath behind him, which startled the sorcerer a bit, since the younger drake always seemed either at the side of his brother or next to the Dragon King.

“What is it, Grath?”

“Master Bedlam, is Darkhorse coming? I think Kyl was expecting him to be here. He will not disappoint us, will he?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him since we returned from Talak.” Realizing that, the mage’s earlier worries came back multiplied. It had been quite some time since he or anyone had seen the eternal. Had something happened?

The young drake’s thoughts apparently mirrored his own. “Do you think he’s all right?”

“He should be. Darkhorse has a tendency to turn up at the most unexpected times. He’ll likely materialize in the midst of the reception, just like he did in Talak.”

That brought a brief smile to Grath’s handsome face, but then the smile slipped as he said, “I hope nothing’s wrong.”

The conversation ended there. Moments later, Grath drifted back to his brother’s side.

Try as he might, the warlock could not stop thinking about the shadow steed. He was certain that Darkhorse had continued on with his investigations into the mysterious traps some unknown enemy had planted.

Unknown enemy? With all else he had been blamed for, could not such cunning, magical traps have been set by Toma? It made perfect sense to Cabe, although he was willing to admit that he was paranoid when it came to the renegade. Still, it would explain a lot.

Darkhorse in the claws of Toma. . . .

XIII

The headache had not gone away even after several days. Aurim calculated that by now his father was spending his second day in Penacles. His mother planned to leave tomorrow, but not if Aurim was not well. Aurim had insisted that the headache was nothing, which was something of a lie. However, the throbbing in his head was nothing compared to the thought of looking weak.

It was a peculiar headache. For the first day, it had seemed like any other, but after that, the throbbing had taken on a strange quality. It was as if something was trying to break free. Each day seemed to weaken whatever held that thing back.

For reasons he did not understand save perhaps that it might end the pain, Aurim felt as if he wanted the mysterious force to burst free.

Eyes open, he stared at the ceiling of his bedchamber. His mother had suggested that he take an afternoon nap, something that he had not done since he was five. There was no arguing with the Lady Gwendolyn Bedlam, however, and so Aurim had retreated to his room. To his surprise, he had actually slept. Unfortunately, when he woke it was to find that the headache was, if anything, worse than ever.

He rolled over and stared at the balcony. Aurim found himself drawn to it for what must have been the dozenth time since he had stirred but minutes before.

Groaning, Aurim rose. Whatever fascinated him about the balcony drove him almost as crazy as the headache did. Maybe if I look outside, that’ll make it stop! He hoped so. Aurim was certain that he could overcome the headache, but not the headache and this peculiar