Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

ago, only to find the Lady Gwen rather anxious as to your own whereabouts. It seems you were due back long before.”

What he saw was true, then. Staring up into the night sky, Cabe shook his head. “As far as I know, it’s only been a few minutes since I was trapped. It wasn’t until I was freed from the cage that day suddenly became night!”

“A pretty ploy! I think you were not supposed to realize how long you had been held a prisoner. I have heard of such spells, cunning things, really!”

“But what purpose would it serve?”

“What purpose?” The shadow steed chuckled. “I’ve no knowledge of that, save that perhaps someone did not wish you to realize that time was slipping away from you.”

Time slipping away. . . . Could someone have wanted Cabe to miss the audience with King Melicard? Why-“No . . . not me. I should have remembered.”

“Remembered what?”

“When I was first trapped, I wondered how anyone could have known I was here. I’d already ruled out the idea that this was an old spell left over from the destruction of the city.”

“Of course,” Darkhorse rumbled. “I would have noticed it before this, coming here as often as I do! In fact- wait!” He sniffed the air, for the moment acting much like the animal whose form the eternal had long, long ago taken a fancy to. “I smell something familiar. . . .” Ice-blue orbs flared. “Shade! I smell Shade!”

“Or something like him,” Cabe cut in. “Something Vraadish.”

“No, this is Shade . . . but the trace is so very old.” The shadow steed dug one hoof into the ground, gouging out miniature valleys. “I am reminded of another snare, different in practice but similar in bait. One that I almost stepped into but a day or so ago. . . .”

“A day or so?” The warlock recalled one of his previous destinations. Without preamble, he launched into his experience at that site, specifically the brief trace of magic that had reminded him also of the late, lamented Shade.

When he had concluded, Darkhorse dipped his head in an equine version of a nod. “That was the very same site! That trap was not nearly so well-planned!”

“So someone is trying to capture you.”

“And, as I have already said, trapped you instead! I little like those who presume to complicate my existence, but when they also endanger my friends . . .” The ebony stallion pawed at the ground. His eyes gleamed. The magical forces that were Darkhorse pulsated. “Woe betide them, Cabe! They will find that I am not a very forgiving soul!”

The warlock was thankful that he was not the one responsible. The enemies of Darkhorse took on the role at their own risk. Darkhorse did not forget those who thought to play havoc with him or those he counted his companions. Thinking out loud, Cabe muttered, “I wonder who it could be?”

It was the wrong thing to say.

“Who, indeed?” The shadow steed’s laugh was mirthless. “I could think of several. Certain drakes, for instance, or even once the monarch of a particular mountain kingdom. As I said, I do not forget!”

And Kyl wants him at the audience in Talak. . . . Had Gwen told the eternal of the dragon heir’s request? If yes, did Darkhorse intend to be there? If no, how was Cabe to make the request now, with Darkhorse’s suspicions roused? The shadow steed might view both sides at the audience as possible foes; it was clear from past conversations with Darkhorse that he did not trust the emperor- to-be. Kyl was offering an olive branch, but would the shadow steed see it instead as a blade?

“We should return to the Manor,” he finally said, deciding that the change in scenery would only benefit him when he asked the question. Perhaps, with Gwendolyn there to aid him, Cabe could convince his old companion to make the journey to Talak.

“Yes, the Lady Bedlam will be doubly worried if we both do not return.” Darkhorse shook his head, sending his mane flying wildly about. “No, I would not miss it for the world!”

“Miss what?”

The eternal chuckled darkly. “Why Talak, of course! Was that not what you sought me out for? To ask me if I would agree to Prince Kyl’s little plot and appear at the audience between Melicard and himself?”

The startled mage grimaced. “I was afraid to ask if Gwen had said anything. I didn’t know what you might say.”

“Well, you may rest assured, friend Cabe, that I will not miss this little party. Not at all!” That said, the demon steed straightened. “Now, let us be off before the Lady of the Amber decides to go searching for you on her own!”

The image was enough to shake Cabe Bedlam at least momentarily from his ruminations. If there were other traps awaiting Darkhorse, then Gwen might be in danger if they delayed any longer. Then again, something would have to be done to assure that no one else fell prey to whatever traps, if any, remained.

As Darkhorse summoned up the power to transport the two of them back to the Manor, Cabe’s thoughts returned to the shadow steed’s earlier words. Darkhorse looked forward to the meeting between Kyl and Melicard, but not because of any hope for peace in the Dragonrealm. Old suspicions were rising to the forefront, suspicions regrettably based in fact. As well as he had gotten on with the king of Talak for the past few years, neither could forget their initial encounter. Did Darkhorse suspect Melicard of plotting anew? The disfigured ruler of the mountain kingdom could have many reasons for wishing to capture the eternal, including a strike against the new Dragon Emperor.

That he even thought of the possibility of subterfuge on the part of Melicard suddenly dismayed Cabe. It occurred to the warlock then that his companion was not the only one plagued by suspicions. Even he had begun to wonder.

The world faded away as the shadow steed’s spell took hold. As emptiness briefly swirled around him, the sorcerer found himself wishing that his problems would disappear as easily.

IV

Despite all, the day at last came when it was time for the journey to Talak to commence. Putting together the caravan had proved a monumental task, but under the capable direction of Gwendolyn Bedlam, it was at last accomplished. There were more than a dozen wagons, all with the long-unseen banner of the Dragon Emperor fluttering above them, servants of both human and drake origin, and an honor guard large enough to fight a war.

The last had been most worrisome. Cabe understood that the drakes did not wish to arrive at the gates of the mountain kingdom without some show of their might, but the number of drake warriors accompanying the caravan was astounding. Most of them were soldiers of Lord Green, who journeyed with his future emperor, but a few were the grown hatchlings of drakes who had served Kyl’s sire. There were two in particular who stayed close to the heir, a pair of golden warriors who had been brought to the Manor at the same time as the young princess. From the first they had seemed to understand their role as bodyguards, never assuming that they were playmates. It had been amusing at first, watching adolescent warriors doing their best to protect their cousin, but watching them now, Cabe found them only imposing. He had never gotten to know Faras and Ssgayn despite attempts to do so; they did not feel their place was among royalty, which evidently included powerful mages. When with Kyl, who seemed to find them amusing, they were even more silent than Grath. Faras and Ssgayn resembled the elder drakes, but in the dark could have passed for human. Anyone who had seen them fight, however, would not be able to make that mistake. The two fought as only drakes could, with both sword and fang.

Gazing at the army he was to join, Cabe Bedlam began to wish it had been possible after all for Kyl to simply materialize before Melicard and Erini. The caravan was as unwieldy a thing as he had ever ridden with. By