Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III

VI

The greeting the caravan received at the gates of Talak could best be described as grandly cautious.

The gates opened while they were still some distance from them, which Cabe read as a subtle hint from Melicard that he did not fear his guests. Knowing the king as he did, the warlock was certain that was true.

Banners hung from everywhere and the sight gave pause to more than one drake in the caravan. The flag of Talak, as designed by Melicard himself, consisted of a long, sharp sword crossing the stylized head of a dragon. The crippled king had designed it during his first years of power, when he had begun his vendetta against the race that had plagued his house so long. The vendetta was at an end-so Talak’s monarch had promised-but the flag remained as a constant reminder of the king’s hatred.

“Talak hasss very high wallsss,” Kyl commented to no one in particular. In truth, there were few kingdoms with walls as impressive as those surrounding the mountain state. They would have been even more impressive if Cabe had not been aware that they had failed to stop the drake armies.

There were other defenses now, defenses that made up for the failure of the walls. Should there be a new conflict between the drakes and Talak, the dragon warriors would find the high walls the least of the city’s shields.

Trumpets began to blare. From seemingly nowhere, people from the outer villages materialized on the sides of the road leading into Talak. There was some cheering, but overall the mood remained one of caution. More than a few of the villagers eyed the members of the caravan with suspicion. Most knew little about the heir to the dragon throne, but more than a few readily identified the Dragon King who rode beside him. Responses were mixed, albeit never approaching the point of anger. That Green had generally been a friend to humanity did not matter so much as that he was recognizable as a Dragon King.

Cabe’s appearance also initiated some response, most of it simple puzzlement. His robes and the slash of silver in his hair marked him as a sorcerer of some distinction and any who followed the doings of the king and queen surely had had opportunity to learn his name. Cabe even heard “Bedlam” whispered by several people. They probably wonder why I ride with devils. . . .

Despite the size of the caravan, the presence of so many drakes, including a Dragon King and a future emperor, and the appearance of a master mage, it was Darkhorse who elicited the most response. Trotting alongside the caravan, yet far enough away so that no one might think he was some servant of the drakes, the massive, ebony stallion could not help but draw the attention of those who, for the most part, had considered him little more than legend. A few probably had seen him before, Cabe knew. The shadow steed had visited Queen Erini too many times not to have been sighted now and then. Still, it was one thing to catch a swift glimpse of the huge, equine form and another to watch Darkhorse trot casually toward the city gates with no one attempting to stop him. A wall of silence preceded the eternal with onlookers staring open-mouthed as he passed, then babbling to one another as Darkhorse moved on. Nothing, not even the future emperor of the drakes, could outshine the shadow steed.

Which was perhaps, the watchful sorcerer concluded, one of the other reasons that Kyl had wanted him along. With so many overawed by Darkhorse, the presence of the young heir would be slightly less fear-inspiring. They would remember Kyl, of course, but perhaps not in the same light as the elder folk would recall his unlamented father.

He succeeded in using Darkhorse after all! Cabe shook his head. He hoped the eternal would not realize that.

As the caravan neared the city walls, there erupted from the open gateway a troop of mounted soldiers. In rapid succession, they lined up on each side of the road, armor glinting, lances raised in ceremonial greeting. Melicard’s royal guard. There were at least fifty, by Cabe’s count, all veterans.

“An honor guard,” said the dragon heir. “How consssiderate of Melicard.”

Cabe listened for even the slightest hint of sarcasm in Kyl’s voice, but found none. The warlock’s gaze again rested on the soldiers from Talak. Despite the decorative, eggshell-shaped armor they wore, these men were warriors. Strong, tenacious warriors. Contrary to the ways of many other kingdoms, Melicard’s royal guard was not just for show. The guard was made up of his finest soldiers, all willing to give their lives for him.

The Green Dragon raised a mailed fist, the signal to slow but not halt the caravan. While this was being accomplished, two well-decorated commanders broke from the ranks and rode toward the royal party. They looked to be a few years older than their men but no less fit. One wore a short, black-and-gray beard that covered part of a round, wrinkled visage, while the second, clean-shaven, sported two ragged scars on the right side of his face. As the newcomers’ weapons were still sheathed, the Green Dragon allowed them to ride closer.

After questioning glances aimed toward the distant figure of Darkhorse, both men acknowledged Kyl. In rather patrician tones, the clean-shaven one said, “Our Majesty’s fondest greetings to you, my lord! I am Baron Vergoth and my companion is General Yan Operion. We are to be your escort to the palace, where King Melicard and Queen Erini await you. Unless you have any objections, we can lead you there immediately.”

“Have preparations been made for His Majesty’s retainers?” asked the Dragon King.

“Places have been set aside for everyone. We do not think that you will be disappointed.”

Green looked at Kyl. The emperor-to-be inclined his head, but otherwise did not respond. The Dragon King, however, seemed to understand what the younger drake was trying to convey, for he turned back to the two soldiers and, with a nod of his own head, replied, “Then, you may lead us now.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Cabe marveled at the politeness of the soldiers. Not a trace of their enmity toward the drakes showed through. Kyl might have been the king of Gordag-Ai, Queen Erini’s father, so well were the men of Talak behaving. Melicard must’ve talked to them after Erini talked to him!

The baron glanced at the general, who turned his steed around and immediately returned to his place at the head of one of the two columns. Vergoth signaled an officer in the other column. The soldier saluted and barked out a command. With impressive precision, the column turned to face the gateway and began rearranging itself, becoming a spearhead of sorts with the officer in the lead.

When the baron saw that his men were ready, he turned his attention back to the drakes. “If Your Majesty and Your Majesty’s people will follow me . . .”

Kyl signaled for Vergoth to proceed. The Talakian soldier saluted him and turned to face the gates. As Vergoth called out the command to move, the Green Dragon raised his fist and motioned for the caravan to follow suit. Urging their animals forward, the drakes and the wizard trailed after their escort, with Darkhorse continuing to stay far to one side of everyone.

Only the column belonging to the baron moved. Cabe studied the second column, especially its commander. The general eyed the moving caravan dispassionately. He briefly met the gaze of the warlock, but then continued on with his inspection of the visiting delegation. Cabe Bedlam had met both the baron and the general prior to this occasion, but usually on state business and only for brief periods of time. Neither man actually led the royal guard, but for this visit, Erini had no doubt deemed it proper that Kyl be escorted by men of proper rank. Melicard would have chosen these two because of his trust in their ability to turn the situation around should the drakes be determined to cause trouble.

The second column had still not moved even after Cabe and his companions had reached the last man. The caravan, then, was to have an escort riding behind it as well as ahead. Melicard’s faith in the drakes was very definitely limited.

They entered Talak.

Each time he visited the mountain kingdom, the blue-robed mage could not help but admire the peculiar architecture. Talak was a city of ziggurats, stepped pyramids often looming high in the sky. The largest, of course, would be the palace, the tip of which he could already make out. The rest of the city was only a little less impressive, however. Every gate seemed to include first a visit to a marketplace. The caravan’s path took it through a people-filled, bustling combination of tents, stalls, and permanent buildings. Even the arrival of the drakes’ emperor-to-be did not stop most merchants from continuing to try to hawk their wares to the onlookers and even, in a few daring cases, members of the caravan. Cabe laughed and shook his head as one woman tried to convince him to purchase a roll of gaily-colored cloth. She followed along until he was at last able to convince her he had no interest, at which point she allowed him to move on while she attempted to assault one of the human servants farther back in the column.

Risking a study of the dragon heir, the warlock was interested to note the struggle going on in the handsome visage of the young drake. Kyl was fighting to keep his fascination with the city from becoming visible. His eyes, however, kept darting back and forth to admire one strange sight after another. The drake had made a few short visits to Penacles, which was closer, but had never been to the mountain kingdom. Cabe was aware that Kyl had believed Talak to be a rougher, less attractive abode. The dragon heir had expected a wind-blown, murky kingdom populated by sinister figures bent on the destruction of his kind. It was evidently becoming something of a shock to discover that these folk worshipped life and the enjoyment of it. There had been a period, from the years shortly after Melicard had assumed the throne to the time of his marriage to Erini, when Talak had come close to being the dark abode Kyl had expected. It was chiefly due to the queen that Melicard had not become the twisted monster his father’s insanity and his own mutilation had nearly created.

They passed more and more permanent buildings, tiny duplicates of the taller ziggurats. People clad in the bright, loose-fitting clothing that was most common in Talak contrasted sharply with the armored soldiers keeping order. The crowds grew more excited as the drakes entered deeper into the city, but no one tried to create a disturbance. The warlock was pleased about that, although he knew it was all Melicard’s doing. The king might be a good man, but he ruled with the proverbial iron fist.

The markets gave way to more permanent businesses, then to stately homes. The nearer they drew to the palace, the more elegant the travelers’ surroundings became. This did not mean that the crowds became any thinner. On the contrary. Here were the folk who controlled much of the kingdom’s commerce and politics. To them, the coming of the drakes, especially Kyl, was at least if not more relevant than their queen’s initial arrival. Cabe recalled Erini describing her journey through Talak and smiled grimly at the notion that the aristocracy and wealthy merchant class considered the newcomers of so much more import. Of course, years ago, when the young princess had arrived, most of the powerful had expected her to take one sharp look at the disfigured king and then flee in disgust and horror. Erini had certainly surprised them.

Cabe dismissed the thoughts as the palace of the king and queen of Talak at last loomed before them.

The gates surrounding the palace grounds were open. A contingent of the royal guard, half stationed on each side of the gate, came to attention. Two heralds raised horns to their lips and announced the arrival of the visitors.

Kyl gripped his reins tightly. Cabe would have sought to encourage him, but the Green Dragon was swifter. He leaned close to the heir and pointed at the palace, as if explaining some fact about it. Cabe was not close enough to really hear, but it was clear to him at least that the Dragon King’s words had nothing to do with architecture. Kyl at last nodded and relaxed his grip. Lord Green straightened again and pretended as if nothing had been amiss.

The warlock turned his attention briefly to Grath. Kyl’s brother was taking in all of the splendor with much less difficulty than his elder sibling. Cabe was impressed. Grath was no more traveled than Kyl. Perhaps it helped to know that most eyes were not on him.

On the uppermost step of the palace entrance, looking calm and unconcerned, were King Melicard and Queen Erini. With them were members of the king’s staff, looking not at all as unconcerned as their monarchs. There was no sign of the young princess, Lynnette, but it was not necessary for her to be here.

Melicard I of Talak was a tall and striking man. His hair had begun to turn to gray and there were lines etched into his angular features, but no one doubted his strength. He had a commanding presence; Cabe knew of few men who were not warlocks who were as overwhelming as the king. None of those few, however, could match Melicard’s unique appearance.

Both the monarch’s left arm and much of his face on that same side were silver.

In the early years of his reign, Melicard had begun his vendetta against the drakes. Two of his specific targets had been both Kyl and Grath. In order to combat sorcery that might be used to defend the hatchlings, Melicard had gone to the Seekers for aid. The avians had given him power of his own, in the form of magical medallions. Melicard had put them to good use at first. Then, during one attack, a medallion in his possession had shattered . . . discharging the stored power.

He had almost died. The injuries could be healed to a point, but the face was permanently scarred and nothing could save the arm. Seeking a semblance of normalcy, Melicard had sought out the rare, magical elfwood, a type of wood that could be trained to mimic whatever it was carved to resemble. A partial mask of the silver substance now covered every scar, even replacing most of the mangled nose. More astonishing, the elfwood arm moved with almost as much fluid grace as the original had.

The elfwood had been the beginning of the king’s recovery, but his marriage to Princess Erini of Gordag-Ai had truly saved him.

The queen still looked as young as on the day she had first ridden into Talak to be the betrothed of the dark and mysterious king who ruled there. She was the fairy-tale princess come to life, with perfect features highlighting a pale, oval visage. Sun-drenched tresses almost comparable to the gold of Aurim’s own head flowed behind her like a second cape. She was slim and somewhat petite, which caused more than one unknowing person to assume that the queen was a delicate, fragile person who relied upon the towering strength of her husband.

Such fools did not last long in the royal court of Talak. Erini complemented Melicard. It was Erini’s love more than anything else that had made the king what he was. The queen was also not one to sit quietly and let others make decisions concerning her kingdom. Melicard and his bride ruled on an equal basis, although he would not have denied that she could sway his opinion to her thinking with but a smile.

Her ability to rule both her kingdom and her husband aside, Queen Erini possessed one more ability that made her a force to be reckoned with. Outwardly, the only evidence of that ability lay in the fact that she did not look much more than eighteen despite being more than a decade older than that. Melicard looked to be almost three times her age.

The queen of Talak was a sorceress. She had not wanted to be, but the power would not be denied. It had manifested shortly before her arrival in the mountain kingdom and had, Cabe knew, been instrumental in saving both her and the king from the machinations of Mal Quorin, counselor to Melicard and secret servant to the late, unlamented Silver Dragon. Like all other mages, she wore silver in her hair. At present, however, her crown and some subtle styling served to all but hide the telltale streak.

The king and queen waited in regal silence as Baron Vergoth led the column to a position before the steps of the royal palace. Cabe took the opportunity to once more admire the building and grounds. Melicard’s palace, the largest structure in sight, was a sprawling ziggurat surrounded by a beautifully landscaped park. In the high season, flowers of all colors and scents blossomed everywhere. There were small groves of fruit-bearing trees and even a stream whose source was underground.

Despite the splendor of the grounds, the palace was by no means designed simply as a feast for the eyes. The ziggurat was well-defended, with arrow-slits as the only visible evidence. Many of the defenses were magical in nature or simply hidden. Talak itself was also protected by spells, but it was rumored that conquering the entire city would be simple in comparison to attacking the palace. Cabe could sense great power surrounding him, but he knew better than to probe. That was a good method by which to set off any of a countless number of spells. Even the warlock, who knew the king and queen well, was not privy to all of their secrets.

The caravan and its escort came to a halt. Cabe and the others dismounted. At the same time, Melicard and Erini, accompanied by their people, began to descend the steps of the palace.

Baron Vergoth led the warlock and his companions forward, save for Darkhorse, who chose to stay back for reasons no one dared ask. The two parties met at the bottom of the steps. The baron saluted his monarchs. “Your Majesties!”

It was as if the caravan and the rest of the population of Talak had disappeared. Now the world consisted only of the two small groups.

Melicard looked over the group before him, his eyes alighting briefly on first Cabe and then Kyl. “Welcome, honored guests, to our home! Welcome to Talak!”

Cabe had almost expected the Green Dragon to speak for his group, but Kyl surprised him by stepping forward. He bowed to both king and queen, adding a smile for the latter, and said, “You do usss great honor, Your Majesssty! We thank you for your hossspitality and hope that thisss meeting between usss will be the firssst major ssstep toward permanent peace between our two racesss.”

“That we wish also,” the queen returned. “But come! You’ve journeyed some distance to be here, and I do not doubt that many of your people could do with food and rest. If you do not object, I will have someone show your retinue to their quarters. We have set aside part of a wing just for them.”

“That would be mossst kind of you.”

“As for yourselves, special accommodations have been arranged for all.” Erini smiled at Cabe. “Master Bedlam will be familiar with the rooms we have given to him and I think he will be able to vouch for their comfort.”

“They’ve been nothing less than perfection, Your Highness.”

Her smile blossomed. “I am happy to hear that! Lord Kyl, if you like, I will be happy to escort you and your companions to those rooms. Then, after you have had a chance to refresh yourselves, perhaps you will join my husband and me for a light supper. The others, are, of course, also invited.”

Becoming daring, the young drake suddenly reached for the queen’s hand. Melicard and his men tensed, which made the drakes with Cabe also stiffen, but Kyl simply took Erini’s hand, turned it palm down, and kissed the back lightly. He matched her smile with a brilliant one of his own-the type that the warlock had most recently noticed directed toward his own daughter. “You are both a graciousss hossstess and a mossst beautiful lady. I would be honored to have you essscort us. Your other sssuggestionsss I alssso find most agreeable. But name the hour for the sssupper and we shall be there.”

For the first time, Cabe noted traces of suppressed emotion play across the face of Melicard. The flesh and elfwood countenance of the king briefly twitched in disgust and anger, but Melicard quickly and quietly subdued the escaping emotions. In a calm voice, he turned to the warlock and said, “While my wife escorts His Majesty to his rooms, I would like to take the opportunity to discuss a few minor details with you, Master Bedlam. If you have the time, that is.”

And it would be best if I did have the time, wouldn’t it? the mage thought wryly. He hoped that the king’s temper would remain in check. Now was not the time for Melicard’s hatred and jealousy to rise to the forefront.

“I’m at your service, Your Majesty.”

“Fine.” The monarch turned to Kyl. “My lord, I hope you find your rooms satisfactory. If there is any need we can fulfill, please do not hesitate to ask. I look forward to the supper and hope that it will be but the first step toward the peaceful relationship both of us desire.”

Erini frowned to herself, then suddenly glanced past Kyl and the others. “But we are being remiss! There is one more who should be there!”

From behind Cabe came the stentorian voice of Darkhorse. “I do not eat nor do I require a place to sleep, gracious queen! Yet, if my presence is desired, I will come to your supper!”

He’s offering them the chance to forego his company. Whether the eternal’s reasons for making the offer were selfish or because he thought the two sides would be better able to negotiate without his presence to disturb them, Cabe Bedlam could only guess. Still, the very idea of offering the choice went against what the shadow steed had said to the warlock among the ruins of Mito Pica. Cabe wondered what the stallion had in mind.

Before the king and queen could say anything, Kyl spoke up. He looked at Darkhorse as if offended. “By all meansss, you mussst join usss! In fact, I will go ssso far asss to insissst.”

“Yes,” added a more reluctant Melicard, “it would be remiss not to include you.”

His wife was pleased. “There! That’s settled, then. Baron Vergoth, would you see to it that someone helps those with the caravan to settle in to their chambers? Also, something must be done about separating the riding drakes from the horses.”

“As you desire, my queen.” Vergoth saluted his lord and lady, then Kyl. “If you will excuse me. . . .”

Queen Erini separated herself from the king and made her way to Kyl’s side, where she took the heir’s arm. “Now, then, Your Highness, if you and your companions will follow me, I will take you to your own rooms.”

Kyl was all courtesy. “You are too kind, my lady.”

The two of them started up the steps, with Lord Green, Grath, and the two guards trailing close behind. Four royal guardsmen followed the party. Melicard watched them go, then turned back to the warlock. “Shall we adjourn to my private quarters, Master Bedlam?”

Cabe did not answer him at first, instead turning to where Darkhorse had been standing. “What about you-”

The shadow steed was gone. Scanning the area, Cabe could not find the eternal among the soldiers and servants.

“He vanished at some point between the moment it was decided that he would join us at supper and just now, when I turned my gaze back to you.” Melicard’s tone was cautious. “I will never understand that creature. Do not even you have any control over him?”

“Darkhorse does what Darkhorse chooses to do.”

A half-silver frown crossed the king’s unique visage. “I had noticed that. I still hoped.”

The caravan and its escort had begun moving again. Cabe watched for a moment, then reminded the king, “You wanted to talk to me, Your Majesty?”

“Yes.” The king of Talak looked around at his staff. “The rest of you may return to your duties.”

The departure of the dignitaries left the two alone save for a second set of guards whose task it was to protect the king at all times. Melicard acted as if they did not exist. The heir to the throne of the mountain kingdom since his birth, he was very much used to the near-constant presence of bodyguards.

“This way, if you please.”

Following the tall, regal figure up the steps of the palace, Cabe asked, “Has my wife arrived yet, Your Majesty?”

“I commanded those responsible to notify me the moment she does. Likely you will know before anyone else does.”

That was probably true, but the warlock liked to ask, just to be certain. Gwendolyn had said she would arrive early in the evening of this very day, but exactly when had been debatable. Cabe hoped that she would appear before supper. He wanted her there if it was at all possible.

As they reached the top, Melicard casually asked, “What are your personal observations concerning this supposed emperor?”

The intrigued sorcerer arched an eyebrow. “Is that one of the minor details you wanted to discuss with me?”

A pause. “One of them, yes.” The king fixed his true eye on his companion. Even after so long, it was sometimes hard to believe that the other one was not real, despite its silver shape, for the elfwood so well mimicked Melicard’s original face that the false eye followed the direction of its counterpart with perfect precision. The disfigured monarch had never said otherwise, but Cabe occasionally wondered if he saw better than he pretended.

Mulling over the king’s request, the warlock finally replied, “I’d be happy to give you my observations concerning Kyl.”

Melicard actually appeared a bit startled. “I thank you.”

The mage shrugged. “I would do the same for him in regard to you. Likely, I will whether he asks or not.”

“That would be . . . fair.”

Although he was able to hide it from the king, Cabe was vastly relieved by Melicard’s lack of protest. Had the gray-haired ruler commanded him not to speak to Kyl, it would have created a precarious situation. Despite his position as one of Kyl’s guardians, the warlock was desperately attempting to be neutral when it came to the talks between the two rulers. If either side felt that he leaned toward the other, it could only make the situation more perplexing . . . not to mention dangerous. It was even more difficult since, despite Melicard’s constant formality, Cabe considered both king and queen good friends.

The question is, the sorcerer thought as he followed Melicard into the palace, how long before I do take sides? Or have I done so already?

He hoped that Gwen would make it in time for supper.

Kyl was pleased with himself.

“I did very well, would you not sssay ssso, Grath?”

The dragon heir stood in the midst of the sumptuous suite that had been turned over to him by the very charming queen, who had just left his company not a moment before in order to make the final arrangements for the informal supper. Had his interests not been focused elsewhere, Kyl would have utilized his full charms on Queen Erini. It was clear that she controlled her husband, so whoever controlled her could have whatever he desired. Concessions, perhaps.

“You did well,” Grath admitted. Unlike his brother, he maintained a quiet, almost reclusive air. Seated in a plush, gold-and-purple chair on one side of the vast room, Grath watched his sibling continue to preen. For the first time in days they were alone, Kyl’s guards having taken up residence outside the entrance to the suite.

“I wasss grace and charm. I treated our two-faced hossst with the ressspect and care that he could hardly have expected from . . . how wasss it he put it long ago? . . . from ‘a blood-thirsssty lizard that sssometimes walked on two legsss’?”

“He was, I believe, talking about Toma,” Grath corrected.

“He wasss talking about all drakesss, regardlessss of which of usss he ssspoke of at the time!” The emperor-to-be stalked toward his brother and leaned over the chair. He smiled slightly as Grath shrank back. The other drake was not frightened, merely cautious. Both of them knew how valuable Grath was to him. When Kyl had a question, his younger sibling was generally there with the answer. The arrangement pleased the dragon heir. He had the best, most loyal of all advisors, one who had no designs on the throne himself. He would rather bury hisss head in hisss precious booksss than rule a race!

Yes, a perfect arrangement.

“We should prepare for the supper,” Grath suggested quietly. “You have to press your advantage.”

Kyl’s handsome face momentarily revealed anxiety. The confidence that his performance at the steps of the palace had built evaporated somewhat. It would not be long before supper. He had the advantage now, having confused King Melicard’s assumptions about the new Dragon Emperor. Queen Erini was especially pleased with the elegant young visitor, of that he was confident. What, then, was the best way to further capitalize on his success? With the mountain kingdom on the very doorstep of his own domain, he needed the good will of the king and queen . . . at least until the clans of Gold were once more a power to be reckoned with. That, however, would take a few years.

Kyl studied his brother’s eyes. “You have sssome possible sssuggestion. I know that look.”

“I think . . . I think you should make some sort of grand gesture, Kyl.”

The emperor-to-be straightened. “A grand gesssture? I thought I had sssimply by coming here!”

Grath steepled his hands. “I mean a persssonal gesture to King Melicard himself, Kyl.”

A personal gesture. The elder drake could see the potential in that. Done properly, it would completely undermine the last vestiges of the human monarch’s misgivings. “Tell me what you think might be a worthy gesssture. Tell me what you would do. . . .”

“It came to me while I was reading about Talak and King Melicard in general.” Grath looked down, as if uncertain as to whether his suggestion would be worthy of his brother’s time.

Kyl had no such doubts. His brother had not failed him yet. Giving his advisor a reassuring smile, the heir to the dragon throne urged Grath to continue.

The encouragement appeared to be all the younger drake needed to spur him on. Looking more excited, Grath said, “It concerns His Majesssty’s father, Renneck IV, and our distant brother, the late Duke Kyrg . . .”

“Rennek and Kyrg?” Kyl could not see the connection.

The other drake leaned forward. “Thisss is what I think you should do, Kyl. . . .”