Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

suggestion, my lord, but I do not. Remember this, though. Talak will be opening itsss gates to you no matter how you arrive. It will be the first time they have done ssso willingly, and that in itself is a coup for you!”

Perhaps it was the way the Dragon King said it, as opposed to his actual words, for Cabe was both pleased and surprised to see Kyl accept the suggestion.

“Very well. Assss long assss it isss underssstood who it is who will be emperor.”

Lord Green bowed. “You may rest assured on that matter.”

Kyl shook his head and smiled, revealing his sharp teeth. “What would I do without the two of you? My Lord Green. Massster Bedlam. You two have been the father I lossst!”

Cabe forced back a grimace, recalling his part in the downfall of the former emperor.

Evidently he did not completely succeed, for Kyl glanced at him. “You did what you had to do and I have come to underssstand that, Massster Bedlam! The battle wasss forced upon you, after all! I bear you no animosssity. I am not my father; I am Kyl.”

Not trusting himself to find the correct words, Cabe nodded what he hoped would appear a thankful acknowledgment. He had heard such remarks from Kyl over the years and yet still could not bring himself to believe them. There was always that hint of something in the dragon heir’s tone . . .

. . . or maybe it was just his own distrust.

Grath, who had remained a silent shadow for most of the time, leaned over and whispered something to his brother. Kyl’s piercing eyes widened, then narrowed. His lips curled slightly, never a good sign as far as Cabe was concerned. That smile usually preceded some sort of mischief.

“Thank you, Grath, for reminding me.” The emperor-to-be returned his attention to his two visitors. “A notion occurred to me but a short time ago, a notion I meant to dissscussss with you when next the sssubject of thessse royal visssitsss arossse.”

“What might that be, Your Majesty?” the Green Dragon asked, a slight edge to his voice. No one but the warlock seemed to notice it, though.

“We would like the eternal, the demon ssssteed, to join usss for thisss journey.”

“Y-” The Dragon King could go no farther. Both Cabe and he stared at the dragon heir as if all sense had left him.

Kyl leaned back. “Explain, Grath.”

Nervous, the other young drake said, “My brother . . . my brother feels that the presence of Darkhorsssse is esssential. It deals with many situations. First and foremost is that both Queen Erini of Talak and Toos the regent of Penaclesss are familiar with the shadow steed. Not only familiar, but on good terms with him. His appearance at the meetings with Melicard and Toos should assuage any misgivings they might have over the arrival of so many drakes. No one caresss to cross the eternal’s path.”

“Really, Your Majesssty-”

“We are not finished yet, my Lord Green,” Kyl said quietly.

Grath hissed in anxiety as he resumed. “There is also one personal but highly important reassson for the presence of Darkhorse. My brother feelsss that, in this time of forging a new peace in the Dragonrealm, peace must also be made with the eternal himself.”

“It isss time for all animosssitiesss to die,” Kyl interjected. “Even I mussst admit to sssome failure when it comes to the great ebony ssstallion! Now, I would offer a peace between usss! Now, I would like to be able to call Darkhorssse friend!”

“Your Majesssty is aware, I hope, that King Melicard bears little love for the shadow steed. It isss his bride, the queen, who isss so fond of Darkhorse.”

“All the better, then, Lord Green.” Kyl’s long, tapering fingers formed a steeple. “It will give the human an opportunity to make hisss own peace with the black one! Talak would certainly benefit and Melicard would earn the persssonal gratitude of hisss lovely queen, who I know hasss alwaysss regretted the tension between her husband and her loyal friend!”

The Dragon King looked at Cabe, sending the warlock a silent appeal for help in this matter. Cabe was at a loss, though. He could see some reason behind the suggestion. Darkhorse had ever been a most deadly enemy of the drake race. At present, an uneasy truce existed, in great part due to Darkhorse’s respect for the warlock’s own position as guardian of the late Dragon Emperor’s young. Only when attacked did Darkhorse now unleash his might upon the drakes.

Kyl had never before suggested such an overture, making Cabe suspect that perhaps Grath was responsible. Of course, the younger drake had always gotten along much better with Darkhorse than the emperor-to-be had.

“Darkhorse might not desire to come,” he finally pointed out. Beside him, Green exhaled slightly. Evidently the Dragon King had decided that things were complex enough without throwing the shadow steed into the situation. Darkhorse was a matter that could wait as far as he was concerned.

Kyl did not think so. “If anyone can persssuade him, it isss you, Massster Bedlam! Give him my reasssons for requesssting thisss. Tell him that I know that we have not dealt well with one another before thisss and that I think it isss very much time that we made the effort.”

Again there was the nod of the head, the sign that Kyl would not be swayed in this matter. He knew also that he could trust Cabe to make the request of Darkhorse. The warlock sometimes wished that the half-elf who had raised him had not been so brutally honest. Cabe would make the request, no matter how uncertain he was as to the wisdom of it.

He could only hope that Darkhorse laughed at it. Adding the eternal to the meeting between the two monarchs threatened to replace the carefully organized affair with a haphazard, tense confrontation.

Was that what Kyl wanted?

“I’ll see what I can do for you, Kyl. Darkhorse can be anywhere; you know that as well as I do. It may prove impossible to locate him in time, much less pass on your request to him.”

“I have faith in you, Massster Bedlam.” The drake rose, each movement graceful and swift, like a cat. “My Lord Green, if there isss nothing elssse requiring my immediate attention, it isss time for my riding lesssons. Masssters Ssarekai and Ironshoe have been teaching me some of the more sssubtle differencesss between handling a drake and riding a horssse.” He scratched his chin. “I have been thinking of riding one of the latter when I enter Talak. Much more graceful and regal than a riding drake, albeit not nearly ssso deadly looking. I have not made up my mind which would be preferable.”

The master of the Dagora Forest shook his helmed head. “No, my liege. I have said what I came to sssay. I thank you for your time and trouble.”

“Not at all.” To his brother, Kyl added, “Grath, I will need to sssee you later.”

Both drakes bowed to their future emperor. Cabe settled for a respectful appearance. He could not bring himself to bow, no matter how agitated he sensed the Green Dragon had become upon noticing the human’s action. The dragon heir did not even seem to notice. He simply turned away and vanished into the labyrinth.

After a pause, the Dragon King straightened. He looked down at the warlock. “You should bow when he leaves, friend Cabe.” When his companion would not answer him, the dragon turned toward Grath. “Well, my prince. Do you still desssire to speak with me? I have a little time to spare before I must depart for my kingdom.”

“If I would not be disturbing you, Lord Green.”

“Of courssse not.”

Cabe, not desiring any animosity to remain between himself and the one Dragon King he trusted, suggested, “My children made mention of Mistress Belima before, my lord. I can assure you that she’s found time to make some of the meat pies you find so fascinating. That may be because they’re also Grath’s favorites, I believe.” A look from the young drake indicated complete agreement. “Perhaps you would care for a light meal. I’m certain that Grath would be interested.”

That lightened the mood. They all knew of the young drake’s near obsession with the pies. It was considered something of a miracle that Grath remained so fit.

The Green Dragon willingly took the peace offering. “That would be quite sssatisssfactory. Perhaps I can