Lord Of Dragons (Book 2) (24 page)

"Not all of them," Master Vhelan spread his arms wide and his Hakkadian allies strode alongside in a symbol of their support. "We've broken free from our bonds of slavery. Now give us the Mirror of Halien'shur, and see us departed through the portal to Shaar'el. And rest knowing that at least for a time longer, the world is still safe from the dark plague of ever-night."

The old priest narrowed his eyes in an expression of stubbornness. "It is only a matter of weeks before Shaar'el falls. We've heard rumors of King Braxion and the shipbuilders of Cranth building a mighty fleet for his army. Where will you go after Shaar'el? How will you protect the Malathian relic as well as the Tome?"

"We will journey north to the ancient ruins of the Saarian Empire, for we hope to discover some power—"

"You will encounter Master Shalinor and Princess Theria, as they have already left for Shaar'el and seek a similar quest." The old priest softened his expression a bit, and motioned for them to follow. Master Vhelan asked Mistress Lassendre to join him, and the remaining Hakkadians stayed and guarded the relic.

"Where is it you lead us, old priest?" The sorcerer craned his neck to discover a small, silver shrine nestled in the corner of a side room.

"Few ever bothered to worship here at this small shrine, though the wise and the truly devout seek out this one shrine above the others, as it holds great power." The old priest kneeled before the shrine and with trembling hands went to open the silver doors and retrieved something small and shimmering inside. He turned and handed Master Vhelan a golden orb pulsing with the black runes of the Saarian script.

"We received this orb as a gift from the high priest of the Saarian religion. He said it would provide an immense, otherworldly power to those that touched it, and even grant clarity and wisdom to those that found themselves near it. I had almost forgotten the real use of the orb, as the high priest had only casually mentioned that it was also a key that granted entry to their temples, should we ever find ourselves visiting their cities. Sadly, after what happened to the dark elves and the disappearance of the Saarians from their land, and the rumored curse, we never saw a need to return."

"Not until now," Master Vhelan said, and received the golden orb from the priest. "These characters give warning,
Enter not into our sacred temples without first knowing the name of our gods and seeing them with your own eyes.
So it is a good thing you did not return to visit the Saarian Empire."

"Will the golden orb aid you in your quest?" The old priest studied him with hopeful eyes.

The sorcerer nodded and clenched his teeth together at the immense, strange power pouring into his body from the golden orb. It most certainly did help in their quest, and likely without it, they would all be doomed...

Chapter Twenty-Seven

THE WIZARD STUDIED Sebine with dangerous eyes, a blue rune shimmering in the air between them, a ward activated by her foolishly cast spell of stunning at the wizard. Her chest heaved under frenzied breathing, her hand still outstretched at the wizard. Why had she done something so stupid as attack Master Shalinor? She had found a rage spouting in her heart at the wizard's insult of her father, but now soberness washed over her mind as she felt the tension in the air send goose pimples across her skin.

"Please stop fighting," Tael hissed, and flew in between Sebine and his grandfather. "Why can't we just talk about this calmly? Grandfather, why don't you explain what you mean by Sebine's father? She doesn't really know much about him other than he is a dark elf and he gave her the Ring of Galdora."

"I'm afraid I can't allow her to act that way," the wizard said, and with a snap of his fingers Sebine felt the world go soft and lazy, as if her mind were lulled by warm milk. She could still see and hear everything, but she found she had no desire to do anything other than just drift along. "Regardless of her violent temper, she needs to learn respect. Perhaps the Hakkadians have spoiled her in their coddling, but the wizards of the Arcanum would never have allowed such behavior. Come along, Princess, up, up and away we go. I'll remove the spell when I feel you've calmed down."

Sebine felt herself being tugged along as they flew up and over to a large balcony lined with roses and citrus trees, and soon she sauntered across the stone floor as if drunk, giggling in wonder at the strange, hovering lights that came to life as the wizard entered the cavernous room filled with many books and low, comfy reading chairs and a workbench covered with clay rune tablets. With heavy steps, she found herself compelled to venture over to the workbench where she fingered an empty rune tablet and a scribing tool.

"How very interesting," Master Shalinor said. "Her natural inclination is to go to the runes? Yet I highly doubt she has studied runes as I know the Hakkadians do not possess such knowledge. Was she exposed to runes along your voyage?"

"Not that I know of. Is her father interested in runes?" Tael caught eyes with Sebine as she turned to study him. At the mention of her father, the Princess had felt a splinter form in her euphoric state of mind.

"Her father is indeed a rune master, though he knows nothing of Arcanum runes, and I know only a little of the elven runes." The wizard strode over and gave Sebine a concerned look. "Though from his reputation, her father is the most powerful sorcerer in all of Drazal'tan, and the power of his runes are widely feared."

"Is she better now?" Tael ran his fingers through Sebine's hair and she found herself purring in delight. She didn't want him to stop, so she leaned closer to him found her eyes growing heavy at the warmth of his body and the fatigue now overtaking her mind.

"She will sleep well tonight and in the morning we can talk when she is refreshed." The wizard turned to leave the room. "Take care of her, grandson, and I will see you both in the morning."

Tael led Sebine towards a room off to the side with a wide, low bed covered in a silk blanket, and smiled to himself as he took her shoes off and guided her under the cool sheets. She wanted to tell him to lie next to her, but her mouth felt muddy. He seemed to understand her desire, and took off his shoes and slid in next to her. Her prickled skin craved his heat and she wrapped herself around him, feeling the warmth seep into her body. Soon she found herself drifting off to sleep.

In the early hours of day, the plaintive cry of a morning dove roused Sebine from her slumber. She kissed the peaceful face of Tael and swept back a strand of hair from his ruddy cheek. How she adored him, even in all his foolishness and mistakes, she still loved him. With quiet footsteps she sneaked out of the room, desperate to find a bath to cleanse herself from their long voyage across the dusty desert.

She peeked outside the door to their chambers, and spying a maid rushing along a tree-lined way, found hope springing up in her heart.
 

"Excuse me?" Sebine waved the servant girl over and smiled as her pretty face flowered into a curious expression. "Could you guide me to the baths? I arrived late last night from Rez'el and am in desperate need of fixing myself up." Princess Sebine bobbed her tangled hair as if indicating her horrible state.

The youthful maid glanced around in confusion as if uncertain how to proceed. "I apologize for failing to recognize you...perhaps you could help my memory?"

"Oh, I forgot, yes, Master Greyth Shalinor told me that only nobility were allowed here, and I'm obviously not nobility of the Malathian Kingdom. I'm Princess Sebine of Valance, here on a visit with the wizard. Maybe you could just point me in the right direction?"

The maid blushed and gave Sebine a low bow. "My apologies, Your Royal Highness. Please follow me to the baths. We just didn't expect you to arrive so soon."

"Did I wake too early?" Did the wizard tell no one of their arrival? Sebine feasted her eyes on the velvety cobalt blue of the sky still dotted with a few stars. The sun would be rising soon.

"No, Your Royal Highness, you will likely find other ladies bathing, as it is their custom to rise before the men and sleep after the men. The women of Shaar'el desire industriousness as a character trait above all others, and prize the admiring eyes of their husbands and fathers. What are the ladies like in Valance?"

Sebine followed the girl down stone steps, and found a wry smile filling her face. "The ladies of the royal court of Valance are quite indolent and enjoy a lavish lifestyle. One of many reasons why I find myself journeying far from Trikar. Though I do miss the strawberry creme cake at my favorite cafe."

"You will find many delicious sweets and teas here in Shaar'el, and crafted to your liking as we send our chefs and bakers to many places in the world to master the various cooking styles. The nobility of our Kingdom has wide and refined tastes." The girl glanced back and gave her a devilish smile. "I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here, you are very beautiful and the young princes will most certainly find you appealing."

The girl led Sebine inside a steamy room filled with many servants helping various royal women prepare for their bathing. The invigorating air was scented with rosemary and lime. "Shall I help you get ready for your bath, Your Royal Highness?"

At Sebine's arrival, several of the older women had studied her disheveled hair and dirty clothes with an expression of contempt on their wrinkled faces. "I would sincerely appreciate your assistance."

"I'm sure the royalty of Shaar'el would be so very interested in meeting a princess of the Kingdom of Valance." The young girl helping Sebine had raised her voice as if making a pronouncement to the bathroom. This had an immediate effect on the royal women, and caused a cascade of chattering and whispering across the misty room.

"Yes, as I am most anxious as well to make their acquaintance." Sebine allowed the maid to untie the robe she had acquired in Rez'el, and ignored the attention of the other women as the girl led her to a hot room smelling of eucalyptus, with small glistening blue and gold tiles covering the surface. A shower of water poured from the ceiling and danced over her naked body as she stepped under the stream. A euphoric sigh escaped from her lips as she stretched her mouth towards the rushing water. All the fatigue and tension and dryness from their long voyage across the desert washed away from the softness and heat of the fragrant water.

The girl used a stiff brush dipped in salt and oil to scrub the dirt from her body. Soon her skin turned a ruddy pink and the sand and grime under her toenails and nails washed down the wooden slats. Sebine gaped at the amount of dirt that had accumulated, and wondered why Tael had told her so many times each day how she was so beautiful.
 

"This is for your hair," the girl said, and lathered in two handfuls of something creamy and smelling of coconut and honey. "You have lovely long hair, but it has been many days across the desert, and we need to clean the oil and brush the tangles. How did you survive in the wild so long with those fanatics?"

"I was with my best friend, Tael." At the girl's raised eyebrow, Sebine gave her a small smile. "I guess you could call him more than a friend."

"I see." Thankfully the girl went silent, but still cast curious glances her way as she rubbed the cream through her hair. "And where is this best friend of yours?"

Sebine let out a stifled giggle. "Still sleeping...I'm always the one who wakes up first."

"So you sleep with this friend of yours?" The girl finished rinsing the cream from Sebine's hair, and gestured for her to sit on a stool in the corner. When Sebine failed to respond, the girl changed the subject. "You have a lovely figure, Your Royal Highness. Many of the girls of Shaar'el would be envious. So tall, and lean, and firm. Like a noble deer of the forest? I believe that is an appropriate expression, but as we have no deer in Shaar'el, I have never seen one. But you seem like one to me."

"What is your name, sweet girl?" Sebine flashed her an appreciative smile.

"I am called Jasmia, Your Royal Highness. And since you have favored me with your choice, I will be your personal servant during your stay here in Shaar'el. As long and as often as you need me." The girl blushed under Sebine's curious inspection. Jasmia was perhaps two years younger than Sebine, but already had shapely hips and full, round breasts that bulged under her thin, cotton top. Unlike the thick, formal attire of the servants in Trikar, the servant girls here dressed in quite revealing clothes, and Sebine spied Jasmia's small, smooth waist as the girl raised her arms to rub sweet-smelling oil into her hair.

"You are very pretty, Jasmia. I am pleased to hear that you will be helping me here in Shaar'el." The picture of Tael lying naked in that witch's bed flashed unexpectedly in Sebine's mind. "Just beware of my friend, he is like candy to girls and very handsome, and I'm sure he would find you most appealing..."

Jasmia gave her a wicked smile and traced her fingers along Sebine's neck. "Worry not, Your Royal Highness, I will be
most
devout to you and you alone. Your word will be the only one for me to obey."