She frowned. "Just wait. Trenlen, tell him what you heard."
The stable owner recovered enough to explain, "Two of my daughters are in the palace guard. Brave warriors, brave lasses. They're loyal to my liege Green just as I am." His eyes narrowed in concern. "It's by their own choice they took such a position. They knew that it would help us keep an eye on Lanith. I've always been proud of them."
"I understand," returned the eternal, trying to maintain his patience. "They are to be commended. Yet, what news do you have?"
"Two things. One that I have known for a long time. That the king talks to himself at times, ignoring all others. Shadows seem to follow him, too. Maybe the work of his mistress, Saress. The other news I learned only two hours before you arrived. Saress arrived earlier with a young and—from my daughter's slightly biased description—handsome man who seemed to walk around as if half-asleep. He did whatever the enchantress told him to do."
So there was verification at last. The horse king did have Aurim Bedlam. "And is there more?"
"My eldest daughter was on duty when they brought the lad in. The king questioned him a little. Offered him a place in the Order. The lad said he'd try to escape if he could. In fact, from what my daughter said, it looked like the boy was already fighting their control."
Aurim had been fighting back? Perhaps there was hope. Perhaps Aurim had even already escaped. Darkhorse pressed, "Then what happened, Master Trenlen?"
"I don't know. The king dismissed everyone, including Saress. The last my girl saw of your friend and King Lanith was His Majesty facing the lad as if he didn't have a care in the world."
"Very odd. Is Lanith also a spellcaster?"
Yssa snorted. "Him? There's been no trace of sorcery in Lanith's family for as far back as anyone can recall. Until his interest in gathering sorcerers, this was one of the parts of the continent where you were least likely to find a spellcaster of any competence. The past monarchs of Zuu relied on the people's prowess with arms and their riding skills."
The shadow steed dipped his head in agreement. The people of Zuu had always been proud of their heritage. It had been a surprise to many when Lanith had chosen to augment his armies with sorcery.
A pair of men entered the stables, the same young groom accompanying them. Trenlen immediately reached out and rubbed Darkhorse on the neck. "Are you sure you won't sell him for less than that? I'd like him, but I can't afford so high a price."
Taking up the conversation, Yssa shook her head. "Not for a coin less, Trenlen. Take it or leave it."
Darkhorse watched the newcomers talk with the lad, then retrieve a pair of dusky horses. A minute later all three had departed.
When they were alone again, Trenlen exhaled. "We can't talk for too much longer. There'll be more folks in and out of here. Always gets busier toward evening."
"I have still not heard much of great aid to us," insisted the shadowy stallion. He glanced beyond the stable owner to assure himself that no one, especially one of the grooms, might suddenly surprise them again. "Do you know where Aurim Bedlam is now or not?"
"If my daughter is correct, he is being kept in a chamber below the throne room. It's a place where the king goes when he desires to be alone. . . or, as some say, to talk to himself without staring eyes around."
Yssa removed a small piece of paper from a pouch. "Trenlen's given me this. A crude map showing where this chamber is located in regards to the palace grounds." She unfolded the map and showed it to the eternal. The detail was sparse, but sufficient to give him some idea of where they had to go. "Will this be enough, do you think, Darkhorse?"
He eyed the large man. "You are certain of the accuracy of this map?"
"On my life and that of my daughters."
"It will do, then, Yssa. We must not wait any longer. I fear for Aurim."
Trenlen eyed the pair. "What will you do? You can't just go charging into the palace!"
"Leave that to us, Trenlen," the sorceress replied. "But it would be good if perhaps you could watch the doorway for a few moments. Make sure that no one comes inside."
The man still looked uncertain, but at last he nodded. "Aye, I can do that. Good luck to you."
As Trenlen walked away, Yssa whispered to Darkhorse, "It's best that he doesn't know any more than he needs to. We've risked his position just by coming here."
"I agree." The eternal shifted position. "Mount. We will be in and out of the palace before Lanith knows what is happening."
"Are you certain you can do this?"
"I am Darkhorse! Of course I can!"
She smiled. "I love your confidence."
From the entrance came the sounds of argument. The loudest voice belonged to Trenlen. Darkhorse glanced at his companion. Trenlen had gotten to the entrance just in time, but judging by the others' insisting tones, there was no telling how successful he would be in keeping the newcomers out. By rights, the man could not keep customers from their mounts. He risked his business by doing so, not to mention raising questions better left unanswered.
An idea occurred to Darkhorse, one that would solve a small problem nagging him. "Yssa. I need a little more time for this. You had better help Trenlen delay them. Give me but two minutes, then hurry back. They must not enter, or they might see something they should not. I am going to have to create a very particular type of blink hole."
She looked uncertain, but finally agreed. "I'll do what I can."
"Then hurry." The shadow steed nudged her forward. Yssa ran toward the entrance, not looking back. Darkhorse watched her for a second, then backed into the most shadowy corner of the stable.
The woman was capable and had already helped him much, but what Darkhorse intended he had to do alone. He could not risk another 's life nor could he risk his own concentration. The shadow steed had enough to concern him without also worrying about Yssa's safety. He had resigned himself to her presence, but secretly had hoped for some excuse to leave her behind for her own good. Now he had the opportunity.
The moment she was out of sight, Darkhorse acted. He did have to make a blink hole to enter the palace, but not one as complex as he had indicated to Yssa. Still, one part of his explanation to her had been true; no one else could be allowed into the stable while he was creating it. Blink holes ofttimes opened up with a bright flash that no one could have missed.
Darkhorse pictured the layout of the palace, combining what he knew of its exterior with what Trenlen's map revealed. It gave him a more than adequate path to create. Even if Aurim proved not to be in the chamber, Darkhorse expected to be able to sense the lad once he was so near. Cabe would have called him overly optimistic, but the shadow steed did not see it that way.
The hole opened up instantly, a glaring circle of light in the darkness of the stable. Several horses stirred, some of them kicking at their stalls or trying to pull free. Then, with one glance toward the entrance of the stable, Darkhorse sloughed off his disguise and darted inside. As he entered the blink hole, he thought he heard someone call out, but by then it was too late to stop him.
Darkhorse wasted no time trying to reach his destination. He wished that he could have used a quicker teleportation spell, but the shadow steed wanted some advance warning should there prove to be a defensive spell between himself and his destination.
A moment later, that proved to be a fortuitous decision, for Darkhorse nearly collided with a peculiar field enshrouding the entire palace. It was a complex warning spell, one that would have alerted everyone in the building had the shadow steed simply tried to transport himself inside. The field was an admirable effort on someone's part, probably that of Saress. None of the other spellcasters was likely this competent.
Despite its complexity, however, Darkhorse was not deterred. He had faced far more cunning spells. The knowledge gathered over centuries easily enabled him to cross through without causing even the slightest ripple.
He materialized in the chamber without difficulty, only to find that it was empty. Yet, D
arkhorse still sensed the lingering presence of the young sorcerer. Aurim had been here not long before. It was very possible that he had missed Cabe's son by as little as an hour. Darkhorse, his sight completely adjusted to the gloom, glanced at his surroundings. The room was sparsely decorated. There were a few old tapestries on the walls, tapestries that were tattered and moldy, as if the chamber had been forgotten for several years. A single chair stood in the very center of the room, the only piece of furniture in sight. Dust covered everything but the chair and a path from the only door.
A slight tingle coursed through him. Something, some trace, reminded him of the past. . . but of what part of his past Darkhorse could not say. He searched with his power, but whatever it was was overwhelmed by Aurim's recent presence.
If the lad was not here, then where? The shadow steed reached out beyond the confines of the chamber, seeking the young sorcerer in every direction. Lanith would want to keep his prize nearby.
His probes met with no success, although once he thought he sensed Aurim. The trace vanished before Darkhorse could get a fix on it, though. He was forced to extend his search. As yet he had not sensed Saress or any of the other spellcasters, but the farther afield he had to search, the greater the risk that one of them might notice him.
Aurim, where are you? Darkhorse started to fear that Lanith had killed the young sorcerer, perhaps because Aurim would not agree to be his vassal. It was the only explanation that he had for not being able to locate the golden-haired spellcaster.
Darkhorse?
The mental plea was so tentative that at first the eternal did not realize what it was. Darkhorse sought out the source, but once more he was unsuccessful.
Darkhorse? Is that you?
Aurim? It felt like his friend, but still the shadow steed could not locate him. Where are you?
In a dungeon! Aurim sounded frightened yet relieved. They've got a spell on me that won't allow me to use my powers to escape! Darkhorse, they tried to take control of my mind!
Recalling how distraught Aurim had been when he had discovered that Duke Toma had once played with his memories, the eternal understood just how upset his young companion had to be now. Very few things frightened Aurim Bedlam as did the idea of another manipulating his thoughts. Have they hurt you?
No, but they'll be back to try again soon! Darkhorse, you wouldn't believe the power that Lanith controls! It—
You can tell me later, Aurimi The important thing now is to help me locate you so that we can depart this terrible place! You must concentrate! Concentrate as hard as you can so that I can find your position!
I'll try! The sorcerer ended the conversation, but did not sever the weak link. Instead, Darkhorse felt an increased sense of Aurim's presence. The younger Bedlam was powerful and even despite the handicaps his captors' spells had put on him, his will was great. In fact, it was more focused than Darkhorse could ever recall. If one thing good had come out of the kidnapping, it was Aurim's increased control over his will.
Slowly the eternal homed in on Aurim's location. Deeper down, as he had expected, but far more to the north. That placed Aurim near the vicinity of the Magical Order's living quarters.
Darkhorse had already risked discovery the moment he had abandoned Yssa and the protection of her medallion. By entering the palace he further increased the threat, yet he had no choice. I must act the moment I know exactly where they keep him! We must be gone within seconds!
He sent a subtle probe in the general direction of Aurim, trying to detect the nearby presence of Saress or any of the others. Darkhorse sensed nothing, but briefly he experienced a peculiar echo effect, as if his probe had turned around and detected his own presence. The effect was momentary and he shrugged it off. What was important was to rescue Aurim.
Darkhorse? Are you still there?
I am, Aurim. Prepare yourself Are you chained?
Yes. They're iron chains. If I could use my powers, they wouldn't matter.
Any guards?
No. They didn't feel I needed one.
That was good. One less hurdle. Darkhorse readied himself. Very well, Aurim. Here I come!
The short distance was nothing in comparison to his earlier treks. Darkhorse vanished from the one chamber, almost instantly appearing at his destination. He felt a brief disorientation that caused his vision to blur, but the sensation passed.
"Darkhorse! Are you all right?"
"Aurim?" The shadow steed twisted around, finally locating the sorcerer. Aurim Bedlam was chained against the far wall of his cell. Torchlight shone weakly through the bars of the small window in the cell door, just enough illumination to reveal the haggard, pale features of the young spellcaster.
With a snort of disgust for his companion's captors, the eternal stepped closer and inspected the chains. They were, as Aurim had said, simple iron chains. Under normal conditions, the lad should have been able to remove them without any trouble, even considering his past lack of control.
A simple glance by Darkhorse caused both bracelets to quietly open. Aurim rubbed his wrists, smiling in gratitude.
"We must be away from here immediately, Aurim! Mount up and I will take us back to your parents"
The sorcerer quickly obeyed, saying nothing. Darkhorse concentrated. No blink hole, this time. He needed the swiftest if least secure teleportation spell he knew.
The cell faded away. The vague outline of what Darkhorse knew to be the gardens of the Manor formed around the pair. They were nearly home.
That was when something pulled them back. "Darkhorse!"
He could not reply to his friend, so caught up was he in trying to fight the forces acting against them. Whatever power Lanith had raised, it was stronger than he would have believed. It was also the most unusual force Darldiorse had ever fought, for it seemed to come from a number of sources even though it acted as if it came from only one.
Lanith's sorcerers working in concert? Darkhorse could not believe that the ragtag bunch could summon such strength even together. More important, he doubted that they could coordinate their efforts so effectively. This attack was being guided by a masterful force.
An intelligent force . . .
His struggles went for naught. Darkhorse and Aurim finally rematerialized, but their new location was neither the Manor nor the dungeon. The shadow steed and his companion now stood in the center of the very same dust-laden chamber that Darkhorse had first visited in his search.
This time, however, it was not uninhabited. A single torch posted in the wall by the door illuminated the room enough so that they could readily see King Lanith sitting in the lone chair. The horse king's eyes gleamed as he stared at the ebony stallion. It was a possessive stare, one that unsettled Dark- horse more than it should have.
"At last. . ." Lanith smiled wide. "Magnificent!" Darkhorse attempted another spell. The same force that had brought him here crushed his attempt.
The horse king stood. "You're even more amazing than I could've believed! Truly you're worthy of being my mount!"
"Worthy of what?" Despite their predicament, Darkhorse could only laugh. "I? You think me your mount? You are more than mad, King Lanith!"
The monarch of Zuu paid his retort no mind, instead looking up past the shadow steed. "Aurim."
A pair of hands, Aurim's hands, touched the eternal on the neck.
Darkhorse lost all control of his form. His legs stiffened as if frozen and he found he could not even move his neck. When he attempted to alter his shape, nothing happened.
"He is yours, Your Majesty." The voice was Aurim Bedlam's, but there was a coldness to it that the shadow steed had never heard before. Darkhorse felt him dismount as he added, "Just as planned."
"Very good. Very good."
Aurim! the shadow steed silently called. Aurim! His call went unheeded, though. Either the sorcerer did not sense it or he had no desire to respond.
The young man stepped before him, then performed a mock bow. "I'll leave you now, Darkhorse, so
that an old friend can have a word with you."
Without waiting for permission from Lanith, Aurim Bedlam, smiling pleasantly, vanished.
"Well," the king of Zuu commented to the chamber walls. "You did it. You promised and you delivered."
A giggle echoed throughout the chamber, a giggle that grew stronger with each second. Shadows formed by the king, shadows that began to solidify into one form.
"I told you I would, great majesty, oh, yes, I did! Did you think I would fail you? Never, never . . ."
Had he been able to move at all, Darkhorse would have shivered. He knew the voice. Now the eternal even sensed the growing presence of its source, a thing that he had thought long, long trapped in a place from which it could not escape.
It cannot be . . . it cannot be him . . .
Yet as the shadows became a tiny, ebony puppet that floated at eye level, Darkhorse could no longer deny the truth. Unbidden came the name that he had tried to forever eradicate from his memory.
Ice-blue eyes stared at ice-blue eyes. "And so the story continues . . ." The ebony being giggled despite having no mouth. "And what a part I have set aside for you, my brother, my self."
Yureel . . .
Chapter Nine
Yssa sensed the spell even as she tried her best to aid Trenlen in stalling the two ranchers seeking to retrieve their mounts. Darkhorse had opened the way to the palace, which meant that she had to find some method by which to send the men away so that she could quickly return to him. The longer the hole remained open, the more chance there was of stirring the interest of the Order despite the talisman.
It was Trenlen who finally solved the problem. He put a companionable arm around each of the pair, saying, "Really, friends, it won't take long. The man's horse is skittish. He bought the thing in Gordag-Ai and you know what kind of horses they breed there." This brought some grudging nods from the men, both of whom, from what the enchantress understood, were members of a family controlling one of the largest breeding ranches of Zuu. "Why don't you come inside and we'll have a drink on me. I'd say that by the time we finish, the man and his horsell be out of our hair. Isn't that right, darling?"
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