Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

themselves the heir’s honor guard would have ridden in orderly enough fashion, but mixed with the wagons and servants, they only added to the tension and confusion. The humans in the caravan were on edge because of their lack of numbers, the drakes because they knew they headed for the domain of a ruler who had openly hunted their kind. The horses distrusted the roving eyes of their draconian counterparts, all flesh eaters, while the riding drakes had to strive to keep up with the better-trained, more intelligent steeds.

“Such a madhouse!”

The warlock gazed down at his wife, who had come up to the side of his own mount. “I hope we can reach Talak by the appointed time. This caravan is about ten times larger than I wanted.”

“But as small as I could manage to make it, what with all of the ‘requirements’ I was given. I hope you’re not angry about my staying behind, Cabe.”

“With the Green Dragon and Darkhorse to accompany us, I doubt that there will be too much trouble. You’ll meet us in Talak, anyway. I wish I had a reason for foregoing this trip.”

“Yes . . .” The emerald-clad witch glanced surreptitiously back at the Manor. Cabe, following her lead, caught sight of Valea, clad in her finest, gazing at the throng below from one of the upper windows. There was no doubt as to who it was she was searching for among the gathered drakes and humans. The warlock had to fight down fatherly fury.

“She’s watched everything from every window,” Gwendolyn continued, as much ill at ease with the situation as her husband. “I’m fairly certain that Kyl has seen her, but whether he has acknowledged her at all, I could not say.”

“I don’t know which would be worse,” Cabe muttered. “I don’t like him playing games with my daughter!”

“Well, this will be the longest that Kyl’s been away from here. I could not let an opportunity like this pass by. Now would be the best time to talk to Valea and see if I can rid her of this nonsense.”

Cabe’s horse began to shift back and forth in growing impatience. The mage regained control over his animal. “I take back what I said. I don’t envy you your task. I think I prefer trying to keep a caravan of anxious drakes and humans together. There are few creatures in the Dragonrealm as stubborn as our Valea! And such an intelligent girl, too.”

“Yes, and unfortunately we both know where she gets it from, do we not?”

Expression innocent, the warlock asked, “Where?”

He was saved from Gwen’s retort by the sudden appearance of Aurim. Their son was being left in charge of much of the Manor, which both pleased and frightened him. Cabe could read these emotions in the way Aurim acted. The younger Bedlam reminded Cabe of what he had been like at that age, not that that was difficult. Physically, there had not been much change in the elder Bedlam. Cabe looked only a few years older than he had been when first thrust into sorcery.

“Is there anything amiss, Aurim?” the young warlock’s mother asked.

“Nothing, Mother. Just came to wish Father well.”

“Don’t forget that your mother will be departing in a few days.” Cabe studied his son carefully. “Try to familiarize yourself with everything before that so that if you have any questions, she can answer them.”

“I’ve only lived here my entire life, Father!”

“It’s different when you have to manage this place,” Gwen reminded her eldest. “We have an entire community here.”

Aurim nodded, still a bit put out by what he thought was a lack of faith on his parents’ part. Noting that, Cabe did his best to reconcile things. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. We wouldn’t leave you in charge if we didn’t believe that.”

Neither Cabe nor Gwen added that they were also leaving Benjin Traske behind to keep a watchful eye on the young mage. That had proven to be a much more difficult decision than they had expected, for the scholar had apparently assumed that he would be riding with the caravan. While Cabe had been searching for Darkhorse, the huge man had even confronted the Lady Bedlam about it. It was, so Gwendolyn had said, the first time she had seen Benjin Traske come close to anger. Only when he had heard her out did he suddenly calm. The Bedlams had always understood the protective attitude Traske had toward his charges, but they had never realized its extent until then. Knowing that Darkhorse and the Green Dragon were to accompany the heir to Talak had evidently helped much to ease the tutor’s mind.

What would we have done without Benjin Traske all these years? Cabe pondered. It was chiefly because of the tutor that the first elements of the school of magic, located in Penacles, were finally coming together. The man was an exceptional organizer, and although he was not himself a mage of any strength, Traske understood the underlying theories about magic, especially after so many years with the Bedlams. His aid continued to prove invaluable. Cabe supposed that it was because teaching was teaching, no matter what the subject. A good scholar could turn his skills to almost any topic.

Gwen suddenly glanced past her husband. “Lord Green approaches. I think the caravan may be ready to leave.”

“At last?” the warlock quipped. Aurim grinned. Cabe looked down at his golden-haired son. “We know you’ll do fine, Aurim, but don’t be afraid to ask your mother questions before she departs.”

The younger sorcerer nodded.

Cabe Bedlam leaned down and kissed his wife for a long moment, which made Aurim grimace in embarrassment. Cabe chuckled.

“I regret ssseparating a family,” came the voice of the drake lord. “But we are ready to depart asss soon as you desire.”

“Now is as good a time as any.” The warlock sighed. “Where is His Majesty?”

“Hisss mount is being readied even as we ssspeak. The horses would not remain ssstill for him and so he has decided on a riding drake.”

Cabe could not blame the horses for not wanting Kyl to ride them. When mounted, the dragon heir’s heritage often rose to the forefront; Kyl put his animals through paces that wore even the hardy riding drakes ragged. Horses, although swifter and with more stamina, did not have the thick hides and dull stubbornness of the reptilian mounts.

“Have a safe journey,” Aurim said.

Looking up, Cabe saw that his daughter had vanished from the window, yet there was no sign of her among those who had gathered to see the caravan off. He disliked leaving without saying goodbye to Valea, but if that was the way she was going to act, then so be it. The warlock hoped his wife would be able to talk some sense into their daughter, but Cabe doubted it. Valea was in the throes of first passion, something that common sense and parental guidance had little sway over. He could only hope for the best.

“Friend Cabe, we had bessst be going.”

He nodded, his eyes still lingering on the empty window. “The sooner the better.”

“What about Darkhorse?” asked Aurim. “He’s supposed to be going with you, isn’t he?”

“It wasss agreed that the demon steed would meet usss en route,” the Green Dragon hissed. There was a note of anxiety in his voice. “He hasss matters with which he must deal first.”

Those matters concerned the traps the shadow steed’s mysterious foe had set. Darkhorse had wanted to make certain that none still existed. He had also wanted an opportunity to search for any clue that might reveal the identity of his enemy. The eternal had agreed to meet the caravan the second night out. Swift as Darkhorse was, it did not matter where the others would be on that evening; he would find them. Kyl had acquiesced with no argument. It seemed that he was more concerned that Darkhorse be with the caravan when they reached Talak, not before.

With some reluctance, the warlock had allowed Darkhorse to go alone. He knew that a Darkhorse forewarned was proof against most threats, but there was still the fear that one of the snares might prove too much even for the eternal. If the shadow steed did not appear on the decided evening, Cabe was going to search for him, dragon heir or no dragon heir.

Once more he bid farewell to Gwendolyn and Aurim. Valea had still not made an appearance and he doubted now that she would. I hope Gwen can do something about her. . . .

He rode alongside the Dragon King as they returned to the waiting caravan. Caught up in his own thoughts, a habit he seemed destined never to break, the warlock was surprised by a comment from his companion.