The Faithful Traitor (Wizard & Dragon Book 2)

by Robert Don Hughes

  There was very little blood. Somehow that made it even more chilling, and Seagryn felt what remaining strength he possessed after the long day and night draining out through his rooted feet into the soil of Dragonsgate. Truly Dragonsgate — for without question, this place now belonged to Vicia-Heinox.

  Elaryl and Dark had finally caught up with him, and each grabbed him under one arm and steadied him. Strange — he hadn’t realized he was toppling over, but now he noticed the numbness in his legs. “Sheth,” he murmured as they heard the dragon screeching its triumph from somewhere in the sky.

  “You couldn’t have done anything,” Dark said, and received a glare for his trouble.

  “The Power could have!” Seagryn snapped back.

  The boy didn’t flinch. “The One Who Will Not Force us did all that could be done,” he murmured — and Seagryn knew Dark was right.

  “Yes,” he said finally. “Yes, the Power did. But Sheth refused …” The results of that refusal lay scattered over the floor of the pass, sparkling in the slanting sunlight. “The pieces — we’d better get them.” Seagryn started forward, then stopped. The dawn’s light also glinted off something coming up through the southern mouth of the pass.

  “A caravan?” he cried in alarm. “Now?” Behind him he heard Dark cackle.

  “My wedding party, come to seek me out!” the boy said, and Seagryn whirled around to face him.

  “What?”

  “It’s Uda and my mother-in-law, come to take me home. Oh, don’t worry, Seagryn,” the boy added in more subdued tones. “I told you already — no big wedding for me!”

  Seagryn heard in that moment the obvious reason why. Vicia-Heinox came screaming down out of the sky. After such a prolonged battle, wasn’t the dragon certain to be hungry? Seagryn pivoted slowly to watch as the beast suddenly furled its wings and floated the last few feet to the canyon floor. It was looking at the sparkling objects scattered all around.

  “Elaryl! Dark!” Seagryn whispered. “Follow me!” As he scrambled toward the far wall of the pass, Seagryn debated the question of magic once again. Why not cloak them all from view? Perhaps his brush with the dark presence yesterday had been an accident — perhaps it wouldn’t happen again. Perhaps that dark force resided only in the Marwilds and never visited this high mountain pass. Certainly Sheth had put up a valiant magical struggle here — and apparently the Power was not interested in providing miracles today! Finally, the Power’s gateway was lost — shattered into half a dozen fragments, two of which the beast was now holding in its mouths. Why not use magic after all? And yet — something prevented him.

  In any case, they apparently would be able to bypass the beast without needing magic. It appeared to be absorbed in the glistening objects. Seagryn hastened forward, determined to prevent the caravan from coming any farther. And when she spotted him, the leader of the group angled her palfrey toward him.

  “Kerily!” Seagryn shouted when she came within earshot. “Him around!”

  “I’ll do nothing of the sort!” the woman called back to him. “Is that my runaway son-in-law behind you? Bring him here!”

  Seagryn saw Uda now, riding behind her mother. But while Kerily threw an imperious gaze down at him, Seagryn saw that her daughter stared, gaping, at the dragon. She always had been a sensible girl …

  “Kerily, turn your caravan around and get out of here! The dragon is right over there, and he eats caravans like this for breakfast! Turn around! Get out of the pass! Go!” he pleaded.

  Kerily, however, wasn’t moved. “I know perfectly well where that dragon is. You may not be aware of this, Seagryn, but my family has worked out a — relationship — with the dragon. Now where’s my son-in-law? Dark! You come here!” She pointed to the ground at the foot of her horse, and Seagryn looked around in amazement as the boy slunk forward, his carefree demeanor fleeing in the face of her commands. Elaryl came up beside him and put her arm around his shoulder as Dark continued on past them.

  “Dark,” she murmured. “You don’t have to do this …”

  “Oh, yes, I do,” the boy shot back without looking at either of them. His face wore a dutiful expression.

  “Where have you been?” Kerily began. “Have you any idea what your sudden departure has done to my daughter, my household, and to myself — ?”

  “Mother!” Uda snapped. Kerily cut off as Uda slipped to the ground and ran forward to grab Dark around the neck. “I’m just glad he’s all right! You are, aren’t you?” She checked solicitously.

  “I am.” Dark nodded, then turned to look back at Seagryn and Elaryl and winked. Both of them relaxed. Of course — the boy knew what he was doing. He’d lived through this all before!

  “Very well, then,” Kerily muttered, fluttering a hand in a gesture that seemed to say she forgave the boy as long as Uda did. “The important thing now is to insure you don’t run off again. You,” she said, pointing at Seagryn.

  “Yes?” he frowned.

  “Marry them.”

  “What?” he gasped. “But there’s a dragon right over —”

  “I told you.” Dark grinned. “No big wedding!”

  “You mean you want me to —”

  “Go ahead!” Uda pleaded. Then she rolled her eyes toward the dragon and added, “Quickly …”

  Seagryn looked at Elaryl in confusion. She said nothing — she merely shrugged and walked around behind Uda and Dark, unbelting her tunic on the way. She kneeled behind them and bound his right ankle to her left, then stood up and nodded at Seagryn.

  He looked at Dark inquiringly. “You want this?”

  “Of course.” The boy smiled. “I never had any problem with being married to Uda. I —” He glanced over at her. “I love her. Have since the first moment I saw her … in my dreams.” Then he looked back at Seagryn and added, “Which actually occurred when I was six, though I did manage to block it out for a few years.”

  “But I thought you were running from —”

  “It was the wedding I dreaded and all those endless, horrible plans …”

  Seagryn saw Kerily frown and decided to plunge into the ceremony. “You’ve chosen to be bound together at the feet,” he mumbled quickly, wishing he could sneak a peek at the dragon, “to link your paths together in the bonds of wedlock, to knot your destinies from this day forward. Hobbling one another, walking on three legs instead of four, you are nevertheless also supporting one another, dependent upon one another. I declare you linked before this assembly and before the Power. Now untie them, Elaryl, so we can get this caravan away from here!”

  As Elaryl struggled to untie the knot she’d just made, Seagryn looked back over his shoulder at the beast. His heart leaped into his throat — it was gone!

  But where —

  A shadow passed across them, and Seagryn whirled back around to stare up as the twi-beast settled into the dust not twenty feet away. Both heads looked directly at him! Each mouth held a sparkling sliver of diamond, and now the Heinox head put his gem down in order to speak. Despite his terror, Seagryn found himself marveling at the wonderful dexterity of the beast’s lips …

  “Seagryn,” Heinox began — so he had recognized him.

  “Yes?” he responded, his mouth dry.

  “I’ve eaten Sheth.”

  Seagryn swallowed — hard. “Yes?” He couldn’t think of anything else to say. What else could one say of the passing of the greatest powershaper from the earth? Besides, Seagryn was remembering the size of the teeth beyond those dexterous lips …

  “Watch,” Heinox ordered. Then he picked up the crystal he had set in the dirt and tossed it into the air. Before it came down, Vicia, too, had tossed his crystal skyward — and the two necks twined together and each caught the other’s crystal. Again each head tossed up the crystal he held, and the necks untwined and caught them again. The dragon was juggling …

  “Juggling?” Seagryn mumbled, and looked at Dark. The boy smiled back. “Juggling,” Seagryn said to himself again, and he looked ba
ck up at the dragon. “Yes,” he murmured. “And very well, too …”

  “Why, that’s marvelous!” Kerily shouted, and the dragon appeared to smile. “Have you thought of appearing in public?”

  Seagryn whirled to look at the woman, astonished. “This is a dragon, Kerily! Not an animal act!”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” the woman murmured, watching the sparkling stones ascend and descend. “Of course, we’d have to remodel the concert hall to get him into it —”

  Seagryn heard a gulp above him and looked back up at the dragon. Heinox wore a perplexed expression. Vicia, still holding one of the stones in his lips, regarded his other head with unmistakable contempt. And one of the stones was missing. Vicia dropped the diamond he held back into the dust and snarled, “Now why did I have to do that!”

  “I don’t know,” Heinox responded honestly. “It just happened …”

  Vicia swooped down to Seagryn, causing him to leap backward several yards. “I swallowed one,” the beast snarled, his huge eyes wide with frustration, “Where can I find more of these stones?”

  “Ah — ah …” Seagryn stammered, suddenly seeing a new possibility. Had the dragon not noticed the other fragments scattered about the pass? If he could get the dragon to fly away, perhaps there would be a chance yet to rescue the remaining pieces and reassemble the gateway! “An island — that way,” he said, pointing to the northwest. “There’s a sea in that direction, and an island right off the coast. This stone came from that island,” he said, pointing at the fragment Vicia had dropped in the dirt. “I’ve been told there are piles of such stones there!”

  “Piles?” Vicia cried enthusiastically, his eyes aglow with greed. “Piles!” he shouted to Heinox, and grabbed up the stone and shot skyward. Seagryn had time to blink twice — and the dragon was gone.

  *

  “How many did we recover?” Seagryn asked Dark, and the boy held up the two he had.

  “Four, counting these.” He held them out before him, and Seagryn took them and stored them in the bag with the others. Then he turned, looked at the prophet, and sighed. “Go ahead,” the boy murmured. “You do ask, and I do tell you.”

  Seagryn nodded. “Is there any point to this? Do I even need to try?”

  “Oh, yes,” Dark said emphatically. “I told you long ago that this plan would succeed. Ultimately.”

  “You’re certain of that?” Seagryn challenged.

  “Absolutely,” Dark said. “And much of that success depends on what you have yet to accomplish.” He made no mention, however, of what that might be, nor just how long it might take …”

  “Where are you going now?” Seagryn asked.

  “Off to the woods someplace.” Dark shrugged. “Uda says they own a shack near here where we can spend a few weeks in peace. Of course, you know what this family means by the word shack.”

  Seagryn did indeed. It would doubtless turn out to be a palatial estate in the trees. In the trees …

  “And you’re going back to the tree-castle,” Dark informed him.

  “I am?”

  “You and Elaryl.”

  “But it belongs to Thaaliana —”

  “Not really. It’s almost winter, Seagryn. Lamath is in a shambles, true, but there’s nothing you can do about it until spring. Besides — you can’t very well just leave Jocelath there with Paumer, can you?”

  “I guess not.” Seagryn smiled at the ground. The idea pleased him. He’d wondered what that fortress in the trees would look like covered with snow. Then he looked back up at his friend. “And when will we meet again?”

  He saw something pass across Dark’s face, some memory of fear or pain or evil — but then it was gone. “When the time comes.” The boy smiled. “Don’t worry.” Dark took a long look over at Uda, who stood beside her horse talking with her mother, then looked back at Seagryn. This time the expression on his face was easy to read — wedding night nervousness. “Wish me luck,” he mumbled, and he walked away, pausing to give Elaryl a parting hug before rejoining his new wife.

  Elaryl looked at Seagryn, her eyes sparkling. “Husband.” She smiled. “Are we ready to go get Jocelath?”

  “We’re ready,” he answered, and he hoisted her up onto her horse’s back, giving her an affectionate pat in the process.

  “I dread this ride,” she murmured, rubbing the spot he’d just patted in anticipation of its coming ordeal. “I wish we could just close our eyes and be there!”

  “Careful, my darling,” Seagryn warned her with a smile. “Such wishes have been known to come true!”

  As they rode down out of Dragonsgate Pass toward the west, Seagryn reassured himself by counting the points of the diamond pyramids in his bag. He was already planning how they might replace the missing two …

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  GLOSSARY

  altershape: The animal shape taken by a wizard when he or she so chooses. The animal form taken reveals something of the wizard’s personality or desires.

  Amyryth: The affectionate mother of Dark the prophet, and a spiritual giant in her own right.

  Arl: A warlike state located in the mountainous region southwest of the Central Gate; its capital sits upon a promontory in the Arl Lake.

  bearsbane: A title given to anyone who has slain a bear.

  Berillitha: A female tugolith who gave her life to save Seagryn — and thus became part of the twi-beast.

  Bourne: The Lamathian village where Seagryn was born.

  Chaom: Leading warrior of the army of Haranamous and chief military advisor to Haran. A large, careful man not given to revealing his feelings.

  Dark the prophet: An adolescent with a gift of foreknowledge so exact that his name is already legend. Other than that, a normal youth.

  drax: A three-sided table game played throughout the old One Land, usually with wagers on the outcome.

  Elaryl: Blond bride of Seagryn and daughter to Talarath, well-meaning and spiritually astute, in addition to being very lovely.

  Emeraude: A large green cat inhabiting one of the spice islands in the southern sea.

  Fylynn: A female jester in the court of Haranamous. In love with Sheth.

  Garney: The small, self-important Keeper of the Outer Portal for the old One Land, or Remnant. Single-minded in his sense of duty.

  Haran: King of the land of Haranamous, which bears a part of his name.

  Haranamous: A coastal state rich in culture and farmland, located south of the Central Gate and bordered by Pleclypsa and Arl.

  Imperial House of Haranamous: The royal palace of the dynasty of Haran, brought to life centuries earlier by the wizard Nobalog.

  Jarnel: Prince of the Army of Arl and a representative to the Conspiracy from that warlike state.

  Jocelath: Maid — and best friend — to Elaryl.

  Kerl: A stolid, stalwart, gray horse meaning much to Seagryn.

  Kerily: Wife to Paumer and mother to Uda and Ognadzu. First and foremost, an artiste.

  Lamath: “Land of faith,” the large coastal land located north of the Central Gate, ruled as a theocracy by the Council of Elders.

  Marwand: A nonstate composed of bands of fierce, independent warriors battling Arl or raiding into Lamath. With no real borders, but roughly occupying the Marwilds.

  Marwilds: A vast, sparsely settled forest land to the west of the Central Gate occupied primarily by Marwandian raiders and wizards.

  Merkle: A “digger” dwelling with others of his race underneath the Remnant.

  megasin: An ancient power, able to shape rock with her will and craving human companionship.

  moosers: Hooved herd animals domesticated to provide meat and milk.

  mudgecurdle:
A furry creature looking just like a rabbit, but ejecting a horrible stench when startled. Also an epithet meaning traitor.

  Nebalath: A thin-faced wizard of some years, long the covering powershaper for the land of Haranamous. A friend to the Imperial House.

  Nobalog: A long-dead wizard who brought the Imperial House to life and taught it to converse with wizards.

  Norck: Captain of The Norck Stork, a free-trading vessel on the southern sea.

  Ognadzu: Hostile son of Paumer the merchant. Fled his father’s house and started his own sinister enterprise.

  Paumer: The most successful merchant in all the Fragments of the old One Land. An organizer of the Conspiracy, now unable even to organize his own family.

  Pleclypsa: A warm, sunny land to the south of Haranamous, bordered on three sides by the sea and populated by merchant types.

  powershaper: Anyone gifted with the ability to shape the powers, but classically only those who, among other talents, can change into altershapes.

  pyralu: Enormous, deadly insect, taken as the symbol of the Army of Arl.

  Ranoth: Wise, diminutive leader of the Council of Elders, the ruling body of the Land of Lamath.

  the Remnant: Name of the underground kingdom maintaining the ancient dynasty of the old One Land.

  Ritaven: A pleasant village on the eastern edge of the Marwilds.

  Seagryn: A powershaper regarded as a traitor by all the world.

  Sheth: The foremost wizard of his time. Secretive, charming when choosing to be, irresponsible despite great talent, and occasionally cannibalistic. Altershape, a huge black bear.