Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

least the king had sent his own regards. “I think that everyone in the Manor has been here, including Master Ironshoe several times to thank me for, as he put it, ‘putting down that mad riding drake once and for all for poor old Ssarekai.’”

“I’m sorry you missed Ssarekai’s funeral.” Despite the drake having been petrified by Toma, everyone had agreed that it would only be polite to his memory to bury Ssarekai as soon as possible.

“I’ll visit his grave later. He deserves so much more than the end Toma gave him.” Who does that leave? the warlock pondered. Could it be . . . the Green Dragon?

“Shall I tell him to come back?” The enchantress grew more concerned.

Cabe realized that she thought he was growing weary again. “No. Who is it?”

She stepped toward the door, giving him only a cautious look. “I think I’ll just let him introduce himself.”

The sorceress quickly departed through the doorway. Cabe heard her whispering to someone, but could not hear what was being said. Heavy footfalls announced the coming of the visitor.

“I am glad to sssee you better, Massster Bedlam.”

It was Kyl, but Kyl as Cabe had never seen him. The young drake was clad in resplendent dress armor that glittered like the noonday sun. A dragonhelm, a real dragonhelm, lay crooked in his arm.

Cabe straightened. “Congratulations, Your Majesty. I would gather that the meeting with Lord Blue went well and that he’s thrown his support behind you.”

“Only just thisss morning.”

That made the warlock’s eyes widen. “This morning?”

Kyl looked him straight in the eye. “I informed the massster of Irillian when I first woke after the battle that I would not even consssider a meeting until I knew that you were going to recover.” The heir looked embarrassed. “I have been here every day for asss long asss the Lady Bedlam would permit, awaiting your return to usss. Each day, I thanked you for all you’ve done.”

That stirred a vague memory. Kyl, kneeling by him. Kyl’s voice, apologetic and promising to make amends.

“She will vouch for the truth of my words, Massster Bedlam.”

“I don’t doubt you. You have my best wishes, also, Kyl. I’ve evidently been wrong about you.”

“Not entirely.” The emperor-to-be hissed. “Pleassse alssso relay my apologiesss to Valea. She will not ssspeak to me and I can hardly blame her. I did intend to ussse her asss a pawn, and for that I shall never be able to forgive myssself. She deservesss ssso much better.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

“That isss all I asssk.”

Cabe was silent for a time, then quietly said, “Kyl, I’m sorry about Grath.”

The heir shrugged and took his helm in both hands. His countenance was neutral, but his eyes bespoke his misery. “I cannot sssay that Grath-or I-were innocents caught up by Toma’s sssubtle teaching, but . . . thank you.”

“What will happen to Faras and Ssgayn?”

The drake placed the helm on his head. Even clad so, he resembled more a legendary human king than the emperor of the drake race. “They chossse in the end to ssserve their emperor, not the beguiling renegade. Their greatest crime isss a narrow view of loyalty. They will be punished, but if they remain repentant, I will find a place for them.”

Cabe had been relieved to discover that the two guardian dragons had not joined the lengthy list of those who had fallen because of Toma’s obsession. They had decided in the end to stand aside and let Darkhorse pass when it became apparent that not all was as it had seemed in the cavern. “Good.”

“I mussst go now. There are preparationsss to be made. Lord Blue isss waiting to essscort me to Irillian, where the final sssteps before the coronation can take place will be made. There isss alssso the matter of cleaning up the throne chamber again. The largessst refussse has been taken away and burned, but damage still remains. Also, a petition from the lord of this new drake confederacy demands my eventual attention.”

So much for the grand designs of Toma. Still, something else Kyl had just said . . . “Lord Blue?”

Kyl walked to the doorway before answering. When he did respond, there was a note of question in his voice. “Lord Green hasss requesssted that his brother in Irillian take over the matter. He expressesss hisss apologiesss, but sssays that he believesss Blue will be better able to handle the event. Perhapsss when you are fully recovered, you could ssspeak with the lord of Dagora and find out what ailsss him.”

“Perhaps.”

Kyl bowed, indicating his intention to depart. “May I expect you to be at my ascension?”

“The Dragon Kings might not care for that.”

“They will endure it if it isss what their emperor desiresss. I promissse you that.”

“Then, we’ll be there.”

The heir unleashed an uncharacteristically childlike smile. “Thank you.”

He departed, leaving Cabe temporarily alone. The warlock stared out the window of his bedchamber, thinking that the coronation would certainly be interesting at the very least.

“I asked Aurim to see Kyl and the Blue Dragon out of the Manor. I thought you’d like some company.”

Cabe looked at the doorway to discover his wife had returned. Gwendolyn came to the bedside and sat down next to him. The two kissed. “Thank you. How is Aurim? Has there been any aftereffect?”

“Still nothing. I think he’s safe. Once he succeeded in remembering, the spell apparently dissipated completely. Both the Gryphon and I have checked carefully for the past two weeks. Nothing remains.”

“So no last vestige of Toma to haunt us.” The drake and his evil were dead. Cabe sighed in relief for the first time. It had still been difficult to accept that the duke would trouble them no more.

“Hard to believe that it’s finally all over,” she whispered. “Peace has a chance . . . and through Kyl of all drakes.”

“Peace has a chance,” he agreed, “but it’s hardly all over. There’s a lot to do. The Dragon Kings will accept Kyl as emperor, but that doesn’t mean they’ll cease plotting. Then there’s Zuu and the new generation of mages growing up. This confederacy of drakes . . . they were allies of Toma. There’s a hundred other things that I can think of that will delay peace long past even our lifetimes.”

She gave him a playful frown. “You are without a doubt the most pessimistic optimist I have ever met. Let’s at least enjoy what we’ve achieved so far, all right?”

Cabe took her in his arms and kissed her again. He did feel more hopeful, despite his own words. Perhaps the path was still fraught with rocks and pitfalls, but there was definite hope . . . and who could ask for anything more than that?

The Dragonrealm at peace . . . it was finally possible.

PAST DANCE

Memories can be subject to change . . .

I

The shadows danced.