Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol. III (67 page)

Now at last it was Kyl’s turn.

He signaled Grath, who carried a bag similar to the one the king had been holding. The younger drake reached into the bag and pulled out not a wreath, but rather two bundled packages about half the length of his forearms. Grath gently opened each bundle, revealing what at first appeared to be a pair of roses. He held out the roses to his brother, and as the dragon heir reached for them, they caught the light.

The roses glittered. The sight was breathtaking. Only now did those gathered realize that the scarlet flowers were not real, but rather
sculpted
from some magnificent crystal. In every detail did they match or, as impossible as it seemed, surpass their real counterparts. It was almost possible to believe that sniffing one of the sculpted roses would reveal a tantalizing fragrance.

No one spoke as the drake stepped forward and placed one rose before each of the two plaques.

Straightening, Kyl broke the silence. “May thesssse lasssst as a sssymbol of both regret and hope, King Rennek, Queen Nara. Long after the beauty of a true rossse would have faded, let the not ssso cold beauty of thessse pieces show my pain at what my kind hasss done to thisss kingdom. Let it alssso symbolize my promissse to the lords, both passst and presssent, of thisss mountain kingdom that the days of terror are now forever passst. I cannot remake all of what wasss lossst thanks to my sssire and hisss predecesssorsss, but I shall do what I can; that I ssswear in memory of all of you!”

There was more after that, much of it concerning regret to Rennek in particular for the atrocities of Kyrg and Toma, who in the name of their sire and emperor, had been willing to do most anything, no matter how vile. Kyrg had paid the penalty at the siege of Penacles and no one had seen Toma in years, but the memories of the terror the duo had spread remained vivid to those who had been involved, including Cabe. Kyl’s words faded as the warlock pondered the evils of the drake dukes and their master. He knew that he would not rest easy until he was certain that Toma had followed his brother and his emperor to oblivion.

The young drake finished. It was an elegant and worthy speech, no matter what the true reasons behind it. The king was too intelligent a man to fall prey to pandering, but it was impossible for him not to be affected by something such as this. Erini had tears in her eyes.

Kyl turned to Melicard. “I hope I have acted with sssensitivity toward your esssteemed progenitorsss, my lord. If you find the rosesss not to your liking, I will replace them with sssomething elssse.”

“The fire roses were . . . appropriate,” replied the king. His voice shook a little. “I’ve not seen such beautiful work in years.”

“The skill isss almossst lossst. A ssservitor in the Manor knew how to make them, but had not done ssso since coming there. When I was made aware of sssuch skill, I had him make thessse two with the original intention of them being given as farewell giftsss to your lovely queen, but that changed when I dissscovered I had no proper token to bring to thisss ceremony. I hope you will forgive me, Queen Erini.”

“Of course I will. They shall have a place of honor down here, Lord Kyl,” the queen said, her eyes still a bit moist. “I will see to it.”

“I thank you. Perhapsss when I return to the Manor, I will be able to convince Osseussss to make another pair for you.”

“Osseuss?” Erini glanced at Cabe and Gwendolyn. “A good thing then that we were able to prevent a terrible injustice. It would be a tragedy for the world to lose such an artisan!”

Cabe, who had never been aware of the servitor’s talent and wondered how Kyl had come to know, had to agree. The roses had been the crowning touch to the drake’s performance, a perfect complement to the carefully crafted, yet emotion-turning speech he had given. Even Grath and the Dragon King had been touched by it. Roe was staring at the dragon heir as if seeing him for the first time.

There was nothing more to be done here, but it was several seconds before Melicard appeared able to organize his thoughts. His gaze darting back to the roses, he commanded, “Have someone watch these closely, Roe. I want nothing to happen to them. I also want you to personally devise the best way to keep them safe here. They must
never
leave.”

“Yes, my liege.”

Again there was silence. At last, Erini seized control of the situation from her husband. “I think it’s time we return to the palace. I have arranged for a midday meal in the gardens. I hope that will meet with your satisfaction, Lord Kyl?”

The drake bowed. “Mossst assuredly, Your Majesty.”

“Good! Master Roe, if you would be so kind as to lead us back to the gate?”

“As you wish, my queen. Please follow me, everyone.”

The master groundsman started down the corridor, Melicard and the others following. Gwen took Cabe’s arm, both of them more than happy to be departing this place. They waited while Kyl, Grath, and the Green Dragon followed the royal family, then fell in place behind the drakes.

As the party wound its way toward the steps, the Dragon King suddenly looked back at the warlock. He said nothing and but a moment later returned his attention to the trek. With the only true light emanating from the staff that young Roe carried, it was a struggle to see the expression on the half-hidden face within the dragonhelm, but Cabe was almost certain that he had read in the eyes of the drake lord a deep sense of satisfaction at the outcome of this ceremony. Things, as the Dragon King had put it at the reception, could not have happened better than if they had planned it.

Strangely, the warlock could find no comfort in that thought.

IX

THEY’RE BACK
!
VALEA’S
heart rose as she heard the rattle of wagons and the voices raised in cheerful greeting. Ursa, sitting beside her, glimpsed the expression on her companion’s face, but said nothing. Valea knew that the drake was aware of how her human friend felt about her brother. Ursa herself associated little with either male. Drakes were more divisive; females tended to associate with females and males with other males, save in matters of mating, of course. That was changing as living among humans affected the drakes here, but the change was a slow one that would need generations.

Ursa had never spoken against Valea’s desires, which the young sorceress had decided meant that while she might not approve, the drake was also not going to interfere. That was probably for the best. The novice witch would have felt terrible if the friendship the two had developed over the years was destroyed by this.

She waited for Ursa to rise, but when the drake made no move to do so, Valea finally flung herself from her chair and rushed to the window. For the past few days, she had spent nearly all of her free time either in her chambers or in the gardens—anywhere that allowed her seclusion. Other than Ursa and the very understanding Benjin Traske, she found the company of others to be cloying, especially when that other was Aurim, who seemed to think that while he was in charge he was their father and mother combined. Around other folk she could not let her thoughts drift, could not dream of Kyl and the future she wanted.

Now she did not have to dream. Kyl was back . . . and in triumph, of course. Valea had expected no less from him. She peered out the window and watched as the caravan entered the Manor grounds.

There
he was! Riding at the forefront. Father and Lord Green rode with him. Valea’s mother and Grath close behind. Kyl was in high spirits. Everyone seemed to have a smile on their faces, although her father’s was slight. Even Darkhorse was there, but the eternal’s presence did not thrill her as much as it had when she had been younger. She still loved the shadow steed’s company, but being what he was, he could never understand the emotions coursing through her. It was very likely that if she told him of her dreams, of her belief that Kyl might flout everything and make her his bride and queen, Darkhorse would act just like her parents. Everyone knew that he despised drakes.

“Do you see them?” asked Ursa, finally coming to the window.

“Yes! There they are!”

Her alluring companion followed Valea’s gaze. “Things certainly seem to have gone well.”

Ursa’s perfect profile caused a brief twinge of jealousy in the young witch. She was aware how beautiful and exotic the drake seemed to males of both races. Then she consoled herself with the thought that to Kyl
she
was exotic. He was used to the magical splendor of female drakes and Ursa was, after all, his sister. Besides, was it not to Valea that Kyl paid the most attention? If he did not think her beautiful, then he would not have continually pressed for her favor.

Before he left for Penacles, Valea hoped to make the handsome drake admit his love.

“I want to go downstairs!”

“To be there to greet your parentsss?”

Her intention had been to be where Kyl could not fail to see her, but Ursa’s pointed question struck home. Valea was not on very good terms with her mother and father. The long and very boring lecture her mother had given to her just before departing for Talak had only underscored that. Now would be the best time to start mending that relationship. She loved them both, and even though they were wrong to think so badly of Kyl and her, Valea did not want to lose them. It would be terrible enough when they discovered that their protests had gone for naught.

A horrible notion occurred to her as she and Ursa departed the room. What would happen if Kyl did
not
acknowledge her? What would she do
then
?

It was too monstrous to imagine. Besides, Scholar Traske had almost sworn an oath to her that Kyl returned her love. Somehow, their love would come to pass. Kyl would be able to make it so. After all, as Dragon Emperor, he would be wielding more power than any other single being. He would
make
everyone accept her as his love.

Valea did not question her extravagant dreams. To her, that was the way things would occur. To have the future follow any other path was unthinkable.

They were down the stairway and at the outer doors of the Manor before she even realized it. The short trip down the steps and across the grounds to where the rest of the Manor’s inhabitants stood cheering passed even more quickly.

She chose a location ahead of the slow-moving caravan. A gap opened as people realized she was there. Valea halted as she reached the forefront, then tried to pretend that she had not run most of the way. Ursa joined her a moment later, looking just a little dismayed at the behavior of her friend. Valea ignored her completely, for Kyl was just riding into view.

He was talking with the Dragon King when suddenly his eyes swerved her direction. Valea fought down her emotions, not wanting to seem like a giddy little girl. The Dragon King followed Kyl’s gaze, but what he thought was insignificant to her. She was only interested in the handsome figure riding at the forefront.

Kyl smiled at her. Valea vaguely noted a greeting from Grath.

The riders reined their mounts to a stop. Stable hands rushed to take control of the animals. Kyl and the others dismounted, including the young Lady Bedlam’s parents. Steeling herself, Valea did not go directly to the drake, but rather greeted her mother and father first.

Of course, Aurim was already there. He had just finished hugging their father and was now doing the same with their mother. Valea was a little annoyed; trust her brother to be ready and waiting. She had wanted to be first, the better to impress upon them her desire to heal the rift that had spread between the three.

Father saw her first. He gave Valea a hesitant smile, which she returned. Truly, she hated arguing with them. It would have been so much easier if they could have gotten past their old prejudices and accepted her choice. Perhaps there was still time.

“Valea.” The blue-robed mage hugged his daughter. Without a word being spoken, the rift was suddenly closed. Cabe Bedlam could not stay angry at his daughter. Her father was like that. He had always been the easier of the two to deal with, the most willing to bend. That was not to say that he was not stern with her at times, but it was generally easier to sway her father than her mother.

The enchantress was already with her, arms encircling her daughter. Valea returned the warm greeting, adding a smile nearly identical to that of her mother. Whereas Aurim and their father somewhat resembled brothers, Valea had long ago come to grips with the fact that she and her mother would forever seem more like two nearly identical sisters. It was, admittedly, a tiny bit annoying to think that a male, especially Kyl, might find the elder Lady Bedlam more attractive, but fortunately that did not seem to be the case with the drake. He had already proven which of the Bedlam women he preferred. Besides, everyone knew that her parents were inseparable.

“How have things been?” her mother asked.

“Well enough.” There really was not more to say, but parents never seemed satisfied with such short responses. “I spent most of the time at my lessons or with Ursa.” There was enough truth in that answer to make her feel as if she had not been lying. Telling her parents that she had spent the last few days thinking only of Kyl would have quickly reopened the chasm.

“Welcome back, my lady.”

Valea had not realized that Ursa had followed her this far. She momentarily feared that her friend would betray her by expanding on the truth, but then Ursa simply repeated her greeting to Valea’s sire. The Lord and Lady Bedlam returned the drake’s welcome, which then seemed the end of the matter. The novice witch breathed a little easier.

Cabe Bedlam turned to talk to Aurim, no doubt wondering how her brother had fared in his role as lord of the manor. Valea desperately sought some reason to leave her mother. She wanted the chance to welcome Kyl back before he vanished to his rooms.

It was too late. Glancing in the drake’s direction, she saw that he, Grath, and Lord Green were already starting to walk away, the heir’s shadows, Faras and Ssgayn, close behind. Perhaps it would have been better after all to risk her folks’ ire by greeting Kyl first. Now her one opportunity was lost.