It was evident that the regent did not believe what he was hearing. "That"s preposterous!"
"True, but it happened."
"Tell me everything."
They did. Toos listened in disbelief, shaking his head when they were finished.
"Madness!" he snarled. "I"m inclined to take this as a sign that we should cancel this entire affair, but that"s out of the question. Perhaps it"s so many drakes nearby. There"s not been this many dragons in the land since the siege led by Kyrg."
The others had not considered that fact . . . or, at least, the warlock had not. He eyed the Gryphon who was nodding thoughtfully. "That, too, is a possibility, but I think that there"s no doubt that Toma is somehow involved. Cabe"s conversation with the librarian was a murky one at best, but I feel that that"s what it concerned."
"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 a.s.sured 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 fa.s.sscinating game! I shall have to devissse sssomething akin to it once I a.s.ssume the throne! What a marvelousss pa.s.sstime!"
"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 ama.s.sed 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 pa.s.sed 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 att.i.tude at all surprising.
"An excellent game, Your Majesty," the Dragon King commented.
"Yesss, it wa.s.ss! 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 fa.s.sscinating, 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 circ.u.mstances, 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 compulsion.
No great revelation came to him as he stepped out. Still, the breeze that touched his face calmed him a little. He leaned on the carved handrail and peered down. People, both human and drake, went about their businesses. Off in the distance, Aurim could make out his sister and Ursa. Probably pining for Kyl! he thought with a snort. Kyl was his friend, but Aurim doubted that any relationship between the drake and his sister was a wise thing. Try telling that to her, though.
The throbbing continued unabated. Trying to keep his mind from it, Aurim continued to study the areas below. Perhaps if he took a walk through the maze. That always soothed him. If his mother had no need for him, he would do that. The garden maze had been his own personal world when he had been tiny: a fantasy realm where he had sometimes fought heroic battles and other times simply sat and enjoyed the peacefulness.
He looked to his left. The stables, as usual, were fairly active. Some of the horses were being walked. Two figures were inspecting the hoof of a bay. One of them straightened, shaking his head. Ssarekai.
Ssarekai.
"Toma . . ." he whispered, not realizing what he had uttered until a moment later. When he became aware, Aurim"s countenance paled. He did not remember everything, but he remembered something.
Toma! That night I woke . . . the stables . . .
"Ssarekai?"
He did not even recall transporting himself, but suddenly Aurim was standing before the drake. The bay whinnied and tried to shy away from him, but the stable hand who had been conversing with Ssarekai managed to maintain his hold.
"Master Aurim! You should never-"
"What happened, Ssarekai? What did he do?"
The drake looked at him as if the warlock had gone mad. Perhaps he had, but Aurim did not care. He only wanted some answers to the horrible memories suddenly filling his head. Without thinking, he reached for the servitor and pulled him close. Ssarekai did not struggle, perhaps recalling that as a mage of great potential, his young master could have as easily thrown him across the span of the Manor grounds.
"You were with him! Somewhere below my chambers! You were with Toma!"
He had never seen a drake blanch before, but Ssarekai managed to do just that. The drake shook his head and his tongue darted out and in. He was so frightened that his sibilance became even worse than Kyl"s.
"Not sssso, Ma.s.ssster Aurrrim! Not sssso! I would neverrr have anything to do with that rrrenegade, that monsssster!"
"I saw you! I also saw him-" Saw him do what? Do something, but I can"t recall what it was Toma did!
"I know nothing; I sssswear that by the Drrragon of the Depthssss!"
"Aurim!"
He ignored the call, his concern only for an answer to the scene replaying in his head. It was like reading the same page of a book over and over. He saw-or rather had sensed-the two of them below. Ssarekai himself the warlock could not really recall noticing, but he had been there; Aurim knew that now. Ssarekai had stood in silence while something had happened to Toma, a spell that the renegade himself had cast.
"Aurim!" This time the voice would not be denied. A hand clamped onto his shoulder to emphasize that fact.
Abruptly aware of what he was doing, the young sorcerer released his grip on the drake. Ssarekai hissed in relief, then stepped back just enough to be out of reach. Everyone was staring at Aurim . . . including his mother.
She almost seemed ablaze. The enchantress took hold of her son by the arms and looked him straight in the eyes. Under that gaze, he could not turn away.
"Listen to me!" she demanded. "Do you know what you"ve been doing?"
Much of the fight left him. He had come close to using his power on a trusted retainer, on someone who was a friend. He had been about to unleash his power without any thought as to the consequences.
"Do you know now?"
Aurim nodded. Only then did it become possible for him to look away. In a voice much younger, he whispered, "I"m sorry."
"I"m not the one to apologize to."
He understood. Turning around, he faced the still wary Ssarekai. Two stable hands were half-supporting the drake. "I"m sorry, Ssarekai! I really am!"
His extended hand was at first greeted with a stare. Then, the drake slowly extended his own. The two clasped hands. Ssarekai even smiled.
Although everyone else had begun to relax, Aurim was still anxious. His mother must have noticed, for she again drew his attention to her.
"Now tell me what happened, Aurim. Think it over carefully and answer me as best as you can."
Taking a deep breath, Aurim related his tale, beginning with waking up and feeling the urge to go to the balcony. The emerald sorceress"s eyes burned when he mentioned suddenly recalling the presences of Toma and, belatedly, Ssarekai. What they had been doing, he could not remember. Aurim only knew that something had been happening to the renegade.
When his story was finished, Gwendolyn Bedlam turned to the unnerved Ssarekai, who had spent the last several seconds shaking his head in denial of his young master"s condemning statements.
"You"ve been with us since the beginning, Ssarekai. I won"t judge you without first hearing what you have to say."
"I am innocent of thissss, misssstressss!"
"Calm yourself." She touched him on the shoulder, touched him gently so that he could know that she was not going to harm him. "Tell me."
Hissing, the drake sputtered, "I remember nothing of the fantastic tale Ma.s.sster Aurim related! I would never deal with the likesss of that monster Toma! Never!"
Gwen glanced at Aurim. "What night was this? Do you remember that?"
He tried hard to recall. The best he could give her was a period of time spread across four days.
Again, Gwen questioned the drake. "Do you recall anything about those nights?"
Ssarekai looked even more distressed. "Misssstressss, I generally sleep very ssssoundly at night. I recall nothing of thosssse nights!"
"Nothing?" Her hand slid an inch or two across his shoulder.
"Nothing."
"I know what I saw!" Aurim exclaimed. Now that he had remembered, it amazed him that he could have ever forgotten. How had it been possible, unless . . . unless Toma had cast some spell on him?
Toma in his mind. He recalled that now, too.
"His mind has been tampered with."
His initial thought was to believe that his mother was speaking of him. Only when he realized that she was looking at Ssarekai did Aurim understand.
"The spell is very subtle," the enchantress went on. "And unless we were looking for it, it would be almost impossible to notice. I"d wager you have something akin to it in your own mind, Aurim, but because of your power, the spell could not affect you as thoroughly as it did Ssarekai."