"I hope you realize that they couldn't possibly have been working alone," Solveig said. "Do you really expect that they just happened to make their attempt on the one night in months that you were vulnerable? Someone told them you were going to be isolated from your armor for a few hours."
"I can't believe that Kharendaen or the Parliament of Dragons could be involved."
"I don't believe it either," she said. "Kharendaen loves you too much to betray you, even if the parliament had asked it of her. But keep in mind that you have enemies who are not dragons, and some of them have attacked you before. For one thing, you can't be very popular with the Alphatians these days. They might even know how to enlist a renegade dragon in their schemes. If so, now that the attempt on you has failed, the king might be in a great deal
of danger just now. At least those two are dead."
Thelvyn didn't really know whether or not the second assassin had escaped, although he expected that to be the case. But the damage to Solveig's chest kept her from speaking anymore, and so he left her to rest while he retired to the silence of Kharendaen's lair. Since the gold dragon hadn't yet returned, he settled himself into a large chair next to the cushions of her bed. His shoulder hurt and he felt tired, but he couldn't stop himself from brooding about the events of that night, especially his own mistakes. Kharendaen came in a short time later; he heard her closing the yard gate before she crouched to slip through the door, which she closed and locked behind her.
"They were real dragons," she said as she settled herself into her bed, her neck turned so that she faced him. "I suspect they were both black dragons, and I think the one you fought was an elder, perhaps the leader of a band of renegades. He did escape, by the way, although you injured him enough that he will not be back any time soon."
"Solveig thinks the king is in danger now," Thelvyn said. "She also thinks they must have had someone here who told them I would be vulnerable tonight."
"I believe she is correct on both accounts," Kharendaen agreed. "But it would be difficult to guess who the informer might be, if indeed it was anyone you know. Anyone who saw you being fit for your clothes would have been aware of your plans."
"She also pointed out that the Alphatians would have reason to be afraid of me, if they have the impression that I might be involving myself in a war against them."
"I cannot say," she answered. "Often renegades will hate and fear other dragons so much that they will make alliances with the enemies of dragons. I suspect that to be the case here, rather than the possibility of renegade dragons acting against you alone. But tonight was the best chance of defeating you they will ever have, and I suspect that the matter has resolved itself with the failure of this attempt. I have sent word to Jherridan to be especially on his guard."
"Would they have needed help in assuming human form?" Thelvyn asked. "I've never heard of dragons doing that."
"I am uncertain about this part," Kharendaen explained. "Many dragons, especially the greater breeds like reds and golds, do possess the ability to take human or elvish form at will. But your attackers were black dragons, a lesser breed. The Parliament of Dragons fears you enough that they might attempt such an act, but they would have sent more powerful enemies against you than a couple of black dragons. The one you fought was a wizard, and he may have had the ability to transform himself and his companion into human form."
"Are you able to take human form?"
"I could," she agreed reluctantly. "However, my duty to the Great One forbids it."
Thelvyn settled himself more comfortably into the chair. "How did you know that I needed you?"
"The Great One warned me in a vision," she explained.
"It's nice to know that everyone is watching out for me," Thelvyn remarked. "My own patron seems to have let me down on that one. Still, the fault was entirely my own. I acted stupidly."
"You cannot deny all pleasures in your life for the sake of your duty or security," Kharendaen told him. "The chance you took was a reasonable one, and you could not have known that your enemies had gone to such lengths to attack you at one of the rare times when you were vulnerable. But I think you should rest now. Tomorrow will bring new problems, I am sure, not the least of which will be the complaints of your injuries."
CHAPTER SIX
Kharendaen might well have been a prophet when she predicted the next day would be a troubled one for Thelvyn, except that her prophecies were matters of simple logic. The day began with problems, the first being that there was a dead dragon in the middle of the street in one of the most fashionable districts of the city. The problem wasn't so much how to remove the body, but whose responsibility it was to do so. The city guard, the king's army, and the sanitation department were all arguing the matter, and everyone was understandably reluctant to begin cutting up the carcass to haul it away. Since black dragons were among the smallest breeds, Kharendaen offered to lift it into a large freight wagon if one could be brought to the site. As a cleric of the Great One, she felt a certain responsibility for the proper removal of dead dragons, even those who had tried to kill her friends.
Thelvyn's problems were much more serious. He arrived at the palace to find that the king's guard seemed to be preparing for war. Of course, he realized that the king
might look upon that as a reasonable precaution under the circumstances. Taeryn met him just as he entered.
"The king wishes see you," the young valet said. "I was on my way to tell you."
"I thought I should get here as soon as I could," Thelvyn answered.
"The tall lady is going to be fine?" Taeryn asked anxiously.
"Yes."
Taeryn led him quickly to the king's chamber, where he wasn't surprised to find Jherridan and Byen Kalestraan already in the middle of a furious debate. Thelvyn was inclined to think that they were overreacting. He had been the subject of assassination attempts when he first became the Dragonlord, and it had not been considered a matter of national emergency.
"So, there you are," Jherridan declared as he entered. "I was told that you may have been wounded."
"I received an injury to my left shoulder," Thelvyn explained as he settled stiffly into a chair where he could face the others. "Kharendaen worked her magic on it, so I should be back to normal in a couple of days. I have it bandaged in a way that will allow me access to my armor."
"At least you can defend yourself," Jherridan remarked. "What about Solveig? A guard came for my healer, and he seemed very concerned."
"Solveig has had a very bad time of it," Thelvyn explained. "The healer said she'll recover completely, but it will take time."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Jherridan said. "Solveig is a most remarkable lady, and the two of you make a perfect match."
"Perhaps a little too perfect," Thelvyn replied. "I don't think you should expect too much from that. Solveig was merely entertaining herself a bit last night. She has a very subtle sense of humor."
The king rose from his chair to began slowly pacing the floor. "Thanks to the ambassador and his amorous daughter, I feel as if I were the one they tried to assassinate last night. My only comfort was the thought that the barbarian woman had caught you. But that's the least of my problems. We must demand an accounting of this from the dragons. What does Kharendaen have to say about it?"
"I don't need Kharendaen to tell me not to attach too much significance to what happened last night," Thelvyn said, for once making no effort to stand simply because the king had. "There have been assassination attempts against me before. The difference this time was that I carelessly allowed myself be caught in a vulnerable situation. Someone knew that I would be vulnerable and took advantage of that. I don't believe it was merely an unfortunate coincidence."
"No, there is no question of that," Jherridan agreed. "It appears obvious there is a traitor among us."
"I'm not so certain that there is a traitor," Thelvyn insisted. "A spy watching my movements could have observed me being fitted for clothes and boots
, and it would have been simple enough to figure out what I was going to use them for. Unfortunately, I could never make a secret of the restrictions I have getting into my armor, since that explains my appearance. Otherwise, I'm not too sure just who would have known about it ahead of time and would have gained any advantage by betraying me. I recall that even Kalestraan was quite surprised at my attire last night."
"Your dragon would have known," Kalestraan said, speaking for the first time. "You were attacked by dragons enchanted into human form. Can you be certain that she has not betrayed you to dragon assassins?"
Thelvyn shook his head. "Kharendaen has no reason to betray me when she has so many opportunities to kill me herself. I slept in her bed last night. I often do. If she wanted me dead, I would not be here now."
Jherridan paused in his pacing to consider that briefly and nodded in agreement. "I have to admit that she seems unlikely to be a part of any conspiracy to kill you. What does she have to say about the attack?"
"She found out that the dead assassin was a black dragon," Thelvyn explained. "The black dragons are one of the lesser breeds, and many of them are renegades. I honestly believe that they were working alone. The renegade dragons fear me most, since, by the terms of the truce, they are the only dragons that I am free by the terms of the truce to slay. Granted, renegades may also be willing to work with other enemies for pay if nothing else."
"But someone would have had to enchant them into human form," Kalestraan pointed out.
"Not necessarily. Kharendaen told me that most of the greater breeds of dragons have the ability to assume human or elvish form, and the assassin I fought was a powerful wizard. Under the circumstances, one of them might have even been the spy, in human guise."
"It seems to me that you are going out of your way to defend the dragons," Jherridan remarked coldly.
"I don't see any evidence whatsoever to accuse the Nation of Dragons of being behind the attack," Thelvyn insisted. "And even if they were, the attempt failed, and they know I'll be too cautious for them to catch me by surprise a second time. I don't see any point in stirring up trouble with the Nation of Dragons over a matter that is ended, and which probably did not even involve them."
"We have no reason to fear the dragons," Kalestraan said. "You have the advantage over them."
"No, quite the contrary. They have the advantage over me," Thelvyn said. "They must know it, but their fear of the first Dragonlord has kept them from forcing their advantage so far. The first Dragonlord seems to have had the mobility to chase down dragons as well as the power to defeat them. I did not inherit that same mobility. I don't even know what it was. Kharendaen has provided me with a degree of mobility, but she isn't going to serve me in any war against the Nation of Dragons. And there's nothing I can do about a dragon who doesn't want to fight me when I'm standing on the ground."
"But you would still be in a defensive position," Jherridan said.
"I doubt that I would be very effective. The dragons could use their mobility against me. If they attacked this city, they could burn down a large portion before I could even get there. All they have to do is to stay beyond the reach of my weapons and they can do what they want with impunity."
Jherridan shook his head. "I can't ignore the attempt on your life. The appearance is that the dragons have broken their truce, and I must believe that until it can be proven otherwise. You've already told us that the dragons have reason to feel they have some complaint with us for having possibly stolen their treasure. As I see it, they would have to remove the Dragonlord before they could safely move against us. For that reason, I am forced to take this attack upon the Dragonlord to be an act of war. I declare that all dragons within the realm and in the Wen-darian Ranges must depart, or they will be fought to the death. It is my decision that plans should be made at once for the Dragonlord to lead an army into the northern Highlands."
Thelvyn frowned, greatly displeased. "You are aware that Kharendaen will have no part in this. If we move against the dragons, then there will no question that the truce has been broken. By the terms of the truce, she will be required to depart."
"That is not our concern," Kalestraan said. "We cannot have a spy for the Parliament of Dragons in our company."
Thelvyn did not reply at once, still frowning. "You have forced me into a very difficult position. Whatever you do is entirely your concern, but I am not your subject, and you cannot order me. If I do not take part in this and remove myself from the Highlands, then I have not broken my truce with the dragons. In that way, the conflict will be confined only to the Highlands."
"Are you refusing to obey me?" Jherridan asked, standing with his arms crossed.
Thelvyn rose to leave. "Perhaps I should say that I will be taking this matter under consideration. My duty as the Dragonlord is to the world, not just to the Highlands. If I think you are wrong in your attack on the dragons, then I cannot help you. Indeed, if you get yourself in trouble, then I may not be able to defend you. I hope you are completely aware of the consequences of your actions. At the very least, you are throwing away five years of work on your alliance against
Alphatia."
He left the king and Kalestraan to reconsider their plans. He could see that they had been expecting him to handle the dragons for them, and he wanted it understood that he was unwilling to have any part in their plans and also could not hope to fight the entire Nation of Dragons alone. If they had to fight the dragons without him, he reasoned they would not be so quick to want to. Thelvyn decided not to return to the palace for a while, to make certain that they understood he was serious about exercising his independence.
Whatever happened, Thelvyn knew, he had to be very, very careful. He was suddenly in the middle of the worst trouble since the attacks of the rogue dragons five years before, potentially far worse trouble. It would be far better to have a falling out with King Jherridan and the Highlands
than with the Parliament of Dragons.
*****
Thelvyn was in no mood to find himself in the middle of a pointless war. He was worried about Solveig most of all, but he was also concerned for Kharendaen and whether he might lose her. More than likely, he would have to leave his home in the Highlands in order to protect his position of neutrality. Among his lesser annoyances, his injured shoulder was also bothering him. It was a constant reminder of his foolishness, a mistake that had nearly cost Solveig her life.
While he and Kharendaen both had been expecting trouble to come of the attack, neither of them had anticipated this. King Jherridan's actions were extreme, even irrational, if he thought that he could declare war against the Nation of Dragons when he had not even been able to defend his land against the rogue dragons five years before. But Thelvyn knew the Flaem well enough that he didn't find this turn of events unusual. They were typically a rather unemotional lot, but they didn't bear assaults to their pride well, especially their belief that they were superior to all others, men or dragon. Jherridan was indeed capable of driving his country to destruction, since his pride didn't allow him to anticipate the possibility of defeat.
Thelvyn needed to return home to consult with Kharendaen at once. Since he wasn't able to negotiate directly with the Parliament of Dragons himself, he very much needed her to speak for him. He found her sitting outside, beneath the trees, and she rubbed her nose affectionately against his chest the moment he arrived. He quickly explained the situation. The great gold dragon took it very seriously indeed.
"This is insane," she complained, sitting up on her haunches. "Five years ago, the rogue dragons were acting entirely upon their own. But if the Flaem plan to attack dragons living peacefully in lands they are entitled to inhabit, then the Nation of Dragons will surely consider it an act of war."
Thelvyn settled himself stiffly on the bench beneath the tree, shaking his head helplessly. "I know Jherridan is capable of being completely irrational, but I'm beginning to wonder if he had some assistance in jumping to conclusions. Byen
Kalestraan was sitting there offering advice and opinions. He wants the resident dragon thrown out of the city as a spy, although that seemed to come as a surprise to Jherridan. He acted as if you were my property."
"Your king has always been aware of my advantages," Kharendaen said.
"He's not my king," Thelvyn declared. "I've threatened to leave. I pointed out to him that my only real duty as the Dragonlord is to maintain peace with the dragons, not keep them subdued no matter what. If he still insists upon chasing the dragons out of the northern mountains, then I'll leave the Highlands rather than seem to approve such plans."
"I fear that it may not be that simple," Kharendaen told him. "Your duty could become rather complicated at that point. The dragons might hold you responsible. Any attack upon them by other races will be seen as a breaking of the truce on your part, although technically that is not correct. The dragons may even expect you to defend them from attack in order protect your part in the truce. Would you be willing to go to war with the Flaem?"
"My word, that could get complicated," Thelvyn said thoughtfully. "But I've had to consider this once already with the Alphatians. If the dragons are being unjustly attacked, then I would have to defend them. My duty, at least as I see it, seems to be to prevent the dragons from going to war, no matter how. The Flaem are not my people, and I feel no need to take their side when they are obviously wrong."
"That's still getting ahead of ourselves," Kharendaen reminded him. "Our first concern must be how to keep this war from even getting started."
"I can only do my best," Thelvyn agreed. "I was wondering if I should send you to the Parliament of Dragons. If they could formally deny any part in the attack on me, I could use that to undermine the king's plans for war. At the least, I need to know what their reaction is going to be and what they expect of me."
D& D - Mystara 02 Dragonking of Mystara Page 13
