Stardust (41 page)

Aurora sighed. It didn
’
t seem to matter. She could be in the middle of a horrible rain twister told of in the great legends and her thoughts would still be focused on Darton. She loved him so completely.

The wind gusted, much stronger this time, and Darton pulled her closer to his side. Up ahead, several small stones rolled down the hill, dropping noisily as they fell on the rocks below.

“
Oh,
”
Aurora stumbled and clutched his hand tighter.

“
Do not worry, my heart.
”
Darton stopped, eyeing the surrounding terrain b
efore dropping his gaze to hers.
“
T
here is no need to be afraid. I will protect you.
”

With the darkening sky behind him, lit by the jagged streaks of lightning, and the wind ruffling his thick blond mane, Darton looked like a warrior primed for battle.

Aurora shivered, a secret part of her delighted by his bold declaration.
“
I know you will protect me with your very life, but I would rather you did not have to if you don
’
t mind.
”

Darton grinned rakishly before leaning down to place a quick kiss on her startled lips.
“
Come on, woman.
”
He resumed their brisk pace.
“
You are going to get us soaked to the skin if we stand around here all day while you ogle my body.
”

“
Why you, you...
”
Aurora sputtered, laughing in spite of herself. Once again he had easily dispelled her fears.

But there was one thing she had to know.

“
Darton?
”

Her soft
question
carried to his ears on the early night wind.

“
Yes, my love.
”
He squeezed her hand gently.

“
Do you think the Sybortron is still following us? I mean, isn
’
t it possible
something might have happened to him during the great shakes of the planet?
”

Darton hated to squelch the note of hopefulness he could plainly hear in her voice, yet he did not want her caught unaware if something should happen.
“
I do not know for sure.
”
He spared her a quick glance before turning back to the increasingly perilous trail. It had not been this rough going before. The damage from the quakes had been extensive.
“
There is a slight chance
he was caught in the quakes as we were.
”

He did not tell her of the threats Slamock had made concerning the mechanical man. Because of the snake leader
’
s words, Darton was almost certain the Sybortron still functioned. For all of his mysterious ways, Slamock was not a deceiver.

Aurora correctly read the doubt in his voice.
“
Yet you do not believe this is so?
”

Darton drew a heavy breath, for once wishing Aurora was not quite so alert.

“
No, I do not think it probable. We are covering the same area which brought us over the mountain. If the Sybortron had fallen prey to the tumbling rocks, we would have seen some evidence of it by now.
”

Aurora knew the truth of his quietly spoken words and huddled closer to him on the narrow trail.
“
Then he is still out there somewhere.
”

Darton did not break stride as he answered.
“
Don
’
t worry
–
”

“
He
’
ll take care of you,
”
Talena
’
s sarcastic voice broke in.

Aurora clasped her hand over her mouth but was unable to control the giggle that escaped.

“
Damned turin,
”
Darton growled with mock ferociousness.

* * *

Traveling along the large sand dunes, Bartok was amazed
to discover
he was once again within hearing distance of the great city of Atmos. Nudging Kaika
’
s sides, he headed beneath the protective dome. At the palace stables, he left his mount with a royal guard, ignoring the expression of stunned disbelief on the man
’
s face.

“
Master Bartok,
”
he exclaimed,
“
you are alive!
”

“
Of course I am alive, you foolish man,
”
Bartok snapped. His temper was short, caused by the confusion within his mind. Was Aerman real? And Benkyar? Had the hooved being really saved his life? Or had his dreams been a mirage brought upon him by the heat of the desert wind?

He had awoken on the same rock l
edge he had crawled upon seconds
before Kaika had disappeared beneath the churning sands. Only Kaika was once again by his side, munching happily on a rare potaus plant filled with life sustaining water. Traveling swiftly, Bartok had gained admittance to the wizard. When he had told the old man that Saatan sought his counsel, he had immediately disappeared in a flash of bright red light, leaving Bartok to make his way across the perilous wasteland once again. That had been three days ago.

Bartok entered the palace and headed directly to his chambers. His tunic was covered with dust and filled with holes. Never had he felt so slovenly. As he neared his quarters, he heard voices from within. Acting upon instinct, he concealed his approach, edging closer to th
e partially opened door so
he could hear the voice of his uncle and another he did not recognize.

“
Your are a foolish old man, Saatan.
”

“
And you are an incompetent buffoon,
”
Saatan yelled.
“
I must have another amulet.
”

Bartok moved closer, wanting to see who kept company with Saatan. He could barely make out the face of the figure encased in solid black, but he recognized the robes. It was the wizard, Hadem. The very man his uncle had sent him, Bartok, to seek.

“
Even if they grew upon the rare trees, I would not have one.
”

“
I know they belong to the tribe of the Keepers,
”
Saatan said.
“
Secure me another.
”

Hadem merely shook his head at Saatan
’
s furious demand.
“
You did not know the power
you held within your hand. The stone of the amulet was entrusted to the Keepers for that very reason. The stones protect and preserve the true order of the galaxy. Once they are removed from their rightful places, death and destruction are eminent.
”

From his hiding place, Bartok saw Saatan move forward and grab the wizard by the throat. He was shocked at his uncle
’
s appearance. His body had shrunken to a mere shell of his former self, his flesh hanging from brittle looking bones.

“
Do not toy with me,
”
Saatan warned.
“
Or I will have you thrown to the castle guard dogs, wizard or not.
”

Hadem was not frightened by Saatan
’
s words; he was, however, growing impatient with his childish demands. Drawing a deep breath, he tried another tact.
“
Saatan, you drew the stone from its source on your own planet and now Yulon is almost dead. That pitiful planet Argon was dead a centrium ago thanks to your father
’
s greed and selfishness. Then you bombarded Krossos with your deadly heat rays to secure its stone. That power should have lasted you another millennium.
”

“
Why do you tell me that which I already know?
”
Saatan
’
s voice was full of scorn.

“
Then tell me, Saatan, what has happened to the stone which you took from Krossos?
”

“
I lost it.
”

The old wizard had to strain to hear the low words.
“
You lost it!
”
For the f
irst time, Bartok saw Hadem’s anger overriding the wizard’s
staunch control.
“
How could you be so foolish?
”

“
I am no fool, you arrogant ass.
”
Saatan rounded on the gray-bearded wizard, hating having his own idiocy thrown in his face.
“
I simply misspoke. It is not lost, merely misplaced.
”

“
Misplaced?
”
Hadem shouted.
“
And how do you propose to find it, this slightly misplaced stone?
”

Hadem
’
s caustic comments grated on Saatan
’
s already frayed nerves.
“
Do not speak to me in such a manner,
”
he hissed.
“
Even if I cannot locate the Krossonian stone, I know where there is another, more powerful stone.
”

Hadem
’
s attention was suddenly caught.
“
Another stone? More powerful than that of Yulon or even the Krossonian stone? This cannot be. They are the two largest planets in the heavens.
”

Saatan laughed mirthlessly at the greedy look on the old wizard
’
s thin face.
“
Yes, Great Wizard, at least twice as powerful as both of the other stones combined.
”

Hadem
’
s excitement was palpable, his hands fluttering nervously about as he walked.
“
Where is this stone? Why have you not taken possession of such a power before now?
”

Saatan walked to the large portal in Bartok
’
s chamber.
“
You forgot the fourth planet of our galaxy. It is the stone of Palermos, the most powerful of all the life stones within our universe.
”

“
You old fool,
”
Hadem cackled.
“
There is no life stone of Palermos. The ancient ones destroyed it along with Benkyar. Why else would Palermos be in such a wretched shape? Half of its land is barren wasteland, fit only for a mangy turin or two. You have been read
ing too many fairy tales to the
young servant girl who warms your bed.
”

Saatan turned back around, eyeing his old adversary with anger.
“
Do not mock me, Ha
dem. There is only one flaw which
prevents me from obtaining the stone.
”
Saatan
’
s narrow-eyed gaze was fixed firmly on the chamber
’
s stone wall, as if seeing something beyond the rock façade.

“
And what is that?
”
Hadem
’
s curious question brought Saatan out of his wanderings.

“
My nephew, Bartok, who brought you here.
”

Hadem inclined his head, indicating his understanding.

“
He also mines for the stone.
”

“
What?
”
The word exploded from Hadem, echoing around the room.
“
What does he intend to do with the stone of Palermos? If it does truly exist.
”

Saatan shook his head. Keeping his voice low, he replied,
“
I do not know what his exact intentions are. I believe he has only a small portion of knowledge surrounding the power of the stone, the riches and victories a ruler has when he wears the stone about his neck. I do not believe he knows its full capacity. But we know its true force, do we not old friend?
”

Hadem waved Saatan
’
s comment aside. He still did not believe in the existence of the stone. Many, like him, believed the stone had been destroyed, while others thought it had been buried beneath the deadened ground along with Benkyar. According to legend, the Mountain of Life had appeared when the hooved creatures lost favor with the ancient ones, sealing them, an
d the great stone away forever.