Lord Of Dragons (Book 2) (2 page)

His face contorted into an expression of pain and regret, and she knew the captain was terrible at games of chance that required him to bluff, for his face showed what he felt, and it was clear that the man had some troublesome dealings with Master Oberon.

"The man is a shrewd businessman, let's put it that way. You'd be wise to be careful with him, he's a jackal with keen senses always sniffing for fresh blood. And yes, you should be wary and suspicious, but I'll be honest with you, you're far better dealing with him than the other snakes and vermin of the foul city of Glar Bay. They'll cheat you and chew you up and spit you out for dead. But I'm most worried about you, little pretty one, 'tis a nasty place for one so young and untainted as you to be entering. I don't believe you'll survive, not with just the two of you."

Sebine didn't doubt his words, and this only added more worry to her thoughts of what lay ahead. Somehow she believed that once they arrived in the Malathian Kingdom they'd have a better chance at reaching Shaar'el, but they didn't know much of their culture and traditions, and they might be looked upon as spies if the Malathians declared war.
We'll just have to sneak in before war breaks out,
she thought, and wondered how quickly this Master Oberon could arrange transportation to Erelim. If only they still had their dragons, they'd reach Shaar'el in days rather than the long weeks it was certain to take...

"Why are you helping us?" Tael said, staring at Captain Greivish as if he doubted his motives.

The captain scoffed at Tael and wagged his head in disgust. "Do I look like I'm helping you, young lordling? I couldn't give a flea's arse for the likes of you, I only offered to ensure you never see young Sebine here raped in the streets by a band of thugs. You'd be wise to learn to gain the respect of others beneath yourself. This whole trip you've acted all high and mighty and above everyone, while your friend has taken the time to get acquainted with nearly every member of my crew, myself included. You've been moping about the ship as if you've lost the world and woe is you... What's wrong with you?"

A flicker of anger crossed Tael's face and Sebine hoped he would control himself. She was pleased to see him exhale and calm down. "I suppose you are right, captain. You and your crew deserve my apology. We did suffer a terrible loss back there in Karth, but I should count myself lucky for still being alive." He gave Sebine a look of appreciation. "But you're wrong about me being a lordling, I'm just a man with two dead parents and a wizard for a grandfather. I've no titles nor claim of any lands or gold. I'm a simple man who's fortunate enough to have Sebine's friendship. And that is worth the world to me."

Sebine felt her heart flourish in love for him. The captain seemed appeased at Tael's words, and nodding his head, spoke once again. "Any man would find themselves fortunate to have her friendship. But mark my words, friendship is a hard thing to gain and an easy bond to break. Don't be foolish like the loads of other men before you. Break new ground and sow the seeds of faithfulness and trust. You'll find the reward slower to reap, but the fruit sweeter in the end."

The ship neared the city, and in the silence surrounding the captain's words, Sebine wondered about Tael and whether his heart would remain steadfast and unyielding in the face of opposition. Although he had gone through much trouble in his life, his grandfather had managed to protect him from the harsh realities of life. Now that they were out on their own, would he survive or wither under the pressure? For she was sure that they would not find the days ahead easy. Especially when they faced the untenable prospect of negotiating with Master Oberon...

Chapter Two

MASTER VHELAN REGRETTED leaving Princess Sebine back in Karth with only the wizard to explain his reasons for leaving. And he doubted Master Shalinor would convey his words in their entirety to the Princess, for he was sure that any master of the Arcanum was certain to paint a Hakkadian sorcerer in the worst possible light.
 

A troubled sigh escaped his mouth as he scanned the palace rooftop in the fading light of day, wishing there was another way to eliminate the King's threat against his people. Although Mistress Lassendre was a powerful sorceress, even a fearsome one, he knew that none of them were of any match against the dark power of the Princes of Naverstrom. Which was why Master Vhelan had tried to keep away from that foul lair, despite the fact it was the Hakkadian home now for over two hundred years.

There she was, standing upright and fierce next to her dragon, and aiming a hand at him in a kind of invitation. His wife was like no ordinary wife, maniacal and headstrong, and unafraid to murder in order to accomplish what she wanted. He loved her for that. Despite the fact that her tainted mind now wanted to kill him.

"So you've decided to return," she said, and her eyes mocked him for his weakness. "It would have been better to let me be destroyed. Now you've lost your dragons and your advantage, and are utterly at the King's mercy."

He wagged a finger at her in a playful gesture, and released a stream of golden light that caressed the crown of her beautiful black hair. A green mist evaporated from her head, and he knew that she was cured.
 

"I don't seem to have lost any dragons. Look, they're right over there. And as for my advantage, I see the score tied with one point on each side. Except what the King doesn't know is I hold better cards and better maneuvers and I am not afraid to cheat. And speaking of cheating, what did you learn?"

Mistress Lassendre stretched out her arms and embraced him, and he could smell the faint odor of death on her robe, the familiar scent of darkness, the smell of Naverstrom. And that made his blood go wild with anticipation.

"The Princes are planning a celebration of blood under the next full moon...dwarven blood." She separated from him and held his arms with those delicate hands of hers that had so often cast spells of terror and destruction. He longed to see her enraged again on the battlefield. "It seems the creatures possess an appetite for dwarven flesh, which is no surprise considering their elven lineage. The question is, why turn them against the Dwarven Kingdom?"

"Perhaps there is a power or relic they are seeking, or weapons forged in their ancient fires. How tall are the abominations?"

She stared at her dragon. "More than half his height...around fifteen feet tall. And I think you are correct, they are seeking armor and weapons for their vast army. They are giving the dragonkin an ancient name, draenyx, discovered from the old library in the lonely, cool cavern off Naverstrom. From what I've heard, the draenyx possess the speed and wisdom of the elves amplified with the strength and mental powers of dragons. An unstoppable army. Not even the elves will be able to resist them. The whole world will fall and prostrate themselves at the foot of their power."

"Is it really so dire?" For the sake of his people, Master Vhelan hoped that his wife had some bright spot in her report.

"Actually there are far worse things going on in Naverstrom." She glanced around, concern in her eyes. "Why do we tarry here? The King and the others might come and discover me freed?"

Master Vhelan grinned and spread his short arms wide. "Then let them come. Do I look concerned? Now that you are safe with me nothing can trouble my mind. But you see, I am a greedy man and do not give up so easily on that which I am lord over. My dragons and my coven. I have already summoned the dragons to me and my fellow Hakkadians, and they will come. Until they come we shall wait and play the game, and let us see if the King dares to show his face to me. I think not, knowing we have destroyed a relic that protects him. Has he not fled to Naverstrom to consult with the Princes? Alas, I sense his dragon Keraxes is far, far from the capitol."

A wave of relief flooded over Mistress Lassendre's face and the tension seemed to melt from her shoulders. She whirled around, untethered from concern, and her raised hands filled the darkening sky with silver strands of shimmering light.

"Is it true?" she said, her eyes incredulous. "Would the King leave the capitol so quickly after a siege has threatened his Kingdom?"

"The King is a fool, and in his foolishness he is often wise. But sometimes that foolishness is mere folly. This is the case. He believed the spell cast over you by the Princes of Naverstrom was unbreakable, and in that power he believed I would bend the knee and once again obey him. There is the root of his folly."

The sky revealed whispering wings in flight as the remaining dragons landed around them, save for the great Keraxes. Master Vhelan aim his hands to greet the conquered Hakkadians, and surrounded, he wondered whether he could win in such an outnumbered situation.
 

"You have kept your word and returned to us," said Master Rennal, one of his elder sorcerers and once most trusted ally. "Now surrender and come quietly down to the lair, as we have much to inform you of our assignment."

If he were to cast the healing spell over the man, then certainly the others would strike him down in quick succession. But it was a calculated risk as Master Vhelan hoped the shield would last long enough to stop them. He flourished his fingers and the golden light surged over Master Rennal's head and a delicate green mist wafted into the dark sky. To his surprise, the other sorcerers didn't immediately attack, they merely gaped at Master Rennal, as if waiting for orders on what to do next. Was the mentalist magic of the Princes of Naverstrom really so hierarchical? Once they commanded their minds did they always look for direction from a leader?

He looked around at the familiar faces of the remaining sorcerers and cast quick curing spells at all who went to move against him. A shield sprung up and blocked his spells, and Master Vhelan knew the battle would prove difficult. Mistress Lassendre came close and with their backs pressed against each other, faced their opponents. The cure had also taken on Master Rennal, and the man sidled over to them and joined forces. There were over twenty Hakkadians rallied against them, far too many for the three of them to defeat. Especially since it seemed they were armed with the power and secret magic of the Princes. Magic that Master Vhelan had tried in vain for years to discover.

"Allow them to cast the first spell against us," he whispered, and the three of them bunched together and kept their eyes fixed on the advancing Hakkadians.

"Surrender to the power of Princes Xanthes, and your lives we will spare." The voice came from an unfamiliar Hakkadian girl, likely one of the youths tainted by the foul air of Naverstrom. The girl's eyes were dull and black, like the eyes of a goat staring at you in twilight.

"Have you lost the spirit of what it means to be Hakkadian?" Master Vhelan kept his voice soft and unchallenging, wanting to tug at the heartstrings of their opponents.

The girl spat and a scowl twisted her once pretty face. "There are no Hakkadians. The Hakkadian people died two hundred years ago when they entered the caves of Naverstrom. Do not attempt to school me, Vhelan, for you'll find schooling an ancient immortal a rather impossible task."

 
So the girl was possessed by Prince Xanthes... Master Vhelan had seen a few instances of this in the past, but the occurrence was very rare. Why of all times would he choose to do this? Was he threatened by the fact that the sorcerer had cured two of his compatriots? Or that he had discovered the secret of the cure against their mentalist spell? Not that it would remain effective for long. The Princes had a way of always changing their spells and adapting to deal with any resistance.

"Why are you sending your draenyx against the dwarves?" Master Vhelan believed in directly throwing the truth he knew against his opponents, and judging their response.

The girl actually hissed and spittle flew from her mouth. She flicked her fingers and a wave of green smoke enveloped them, but the shield Master Vhelan had set reflected the poisonous air back towards their opponents, sending the Hakkadians scurrying away in fear.

"Did that runt of a wife tell you?" The Hakkadian girl shot out a blast of wind and poison wafted up into the sky. "The draenyx are none of your concern, sorcerer. And the dwarves have no means to resist our army. They're far better miners and crafters than fighters."

"I think the Dwarven King might disagree with you. They've given the elves a hard enough time over the last several thousand years. You don't suppose it was all due to their superior weapons and armor? Or perhaps this is what you desire for your army of abominations?"

This time the girl's eyes flared with an acid green fire and her clawed fingers shot electric-green bolts at Master Vhelan. The spell tested and tore away at the shield, until the green arcs formed strange scintillating beasts that ate away at the shield in a frenzied, frothy rage. He knew the shield would fail after a few seconds, so he counterattacked and blast the Hakkadian girl with a simple stunning spell and followed by casting several curing spells against three of his other elders. It would be futile to try and cure the girl, since she was already on the side of the Prince.