Part 30 (1/2)
”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 a.s.suage 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 rea.s.sson 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 grat.i.tude of hisss lovely queen, who I know ha.s.ss 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, Ma.s.sster Bedlam! Give him my rea.s.ssons 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 pa.s.s on your request to him.”
”I have faith in you, Ma.s.sster 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. Ma.s.ssters 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 a.s.sure 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 alssso use the opportunity to convince the woman to return to my servicesss.”
”You'll face the full population of the Manor if you try that, including some very adamant youngsters!”
”Then, I shall sssimply have to visit more often.”
”Shall I lead us back now, Master Bedlam?” At mention of the meal, Grath had become animated again. Yet again, Cabe marveled at the transformation the younger drake went through each time he and his brother separated. It was as if there were two Graths.
He almost wished there were. If Kyl were only more like Grath, Cabe knew that he would feel better about the upcoming visits. Yet, it was more likely the drakes would accept someone like Kyl. Grath might just be too human for them. In truth, the warlock knew that despite his misgivings concerning the dragon heir, Kyl was more likely to be able to control the Dragon Kings than his younger sibling.
Now if only someone could control Kyl, the warlock thought, then instantly regretted even considering the notion. That was one of the dangers both he and the Green Dragon feared. Once upon the throne, would Kyl prove to be the emperor that was needed, or would he fall victim to the twisted advice of one or more of the deadlier Dragon Kings?
Cabe belatedly realized Grath was still waiting for an answer to his question. The blue-robed sorcerer waved a hand at his charge, forced on a smile, and said, ”Lead on! I'm beginning to feel a bit hungry myself!”
”This way, then, Lord Green. Master Bedlam.”
As they followed the drake, Cabe's eyes strayed to the empty bench. Gone instantly were considerations concerning dangers to the ascension; instead, the warlock recalled two young folk sitting much too close to one another. The image reminded him that he had a personal reason for seeing Kyl safely through the visitations and the coronation. Kyl in his role as Gold, Dragon Emperor, would be far away, so far, in fact, that he might as well be on one of the moons. Cabe knew that what he wanted was selfish and likely prejudiced, but it was more than what Kyl was that made the master sorcerer desire him far from Valea. It was also who the dragon heir was, meaning the mind behind the exotic countenance. Perhaps it was simply the fear of a concerned parent, but he did not trust whatever intentions the handsome drake might have for his daughter. Telling Valea that, however, would avail him naught. She was just old enough to understand and just young enough not to listen. There were tales, some of them with much credence to back them up, of drakes and humans marrying and raising young. It was possible, according to what Cabe knew. Possible but unthinkable.
Maybe I'm just imagining things. Maybe my own fears are making me see something that isn't there. Yet, Gwendolyn, too, had expressed such worries. Could they both be imagining it?
This was not the time for personal matters, he told himself. As dear as his family was to him, the fate of the entire realm waited on the outcome of this venture with Kyl and the throne. Whatever was or was not happening between his daughter and the drake had to be secondary.
Cabe hoped he would be able to remember that in the weeks to come.
III.
”WELL, IT TOOK some pressure from both Erini and his daughter, but Melicard has finally agreed to the suggestions made by Kyl.”
Cabe, seated, nodded absently as his wife talked. Normally, Lady Bedlam garnered his full attention, if only because he adored her so. Gwendolyn Bedlam was to him a forest G.o.ddess, a fire-tressed creature of the wild. She stood across from him now, a vision in green, her hair with its silver streak rippling nearly to her waist. The emerald riding outfit she wore perfectly accented a stunning figure. Her glittering eyes matched the color of her clothes.
Seeing that she was being all but ignored, the statuesque enchantress walked gracefully toward her husband, finally stationing herself directly before the warlock in an attempt to break him free from whatever spell held his mind.
Cabe looked up. ”What is it?”
”Have you tired of me after all these years?”
His brow furrowed.
She knelt by his chair, one hand touching him softly on the arm. ”You're starting to find other things that interest you more than I do.”
He took hold of her hand and squeezed it. ”Don't be silly. Nothing means more to me than you and the children.” Cabe took the hand and kissed it. ”Young or old, beautiful or not, you know I'll always love you.” A smile briefly touched his face. ”I just hope that you'll always feel the same way.”
”You shouldn't have to ask.” Her own smile faded a little as she recalled what they had been discussing. ”You heard what I said?”
”Melicard's agreed. It took some doing?”