The Dragon Rider (The Alaris Chronicles Book 2)

by Mike Shelton

  “Yes,” the young man said.

  “Too bad,” the steward said. “You are to be taken to the barracks.”

  Bakari spoke up for the first time. “I was told I would be taken to Onius.”

  The steward rounded on him, his face and foul breath only inches from Bakari’s nose. “And why would I let a runaway see one of Kanzar’s wizard council members?” His face was not familiar to Bakari, and he figured the steward must be one of Kanzar’s men.

  “Because I am a wizard, sir.” Bakari tried to act calm.

  “You don’t look much older than a boy,” the steward said, “and an unsightly, dark-skinned one at that.”

  Bakari blinked hard and tried to hold his tongue, but he had been through a lot lately and wasn’t in the mood to be insulted now. He summoned a thread of magic and broke his bands. Then, waving his hands in the air, Bakari sent the rope to tie itself around the steward. Bakari took the steward to a small column and tied him there, hands behind his back, facing away from the other three young men, Kharlia, and himself.

  The steward yelled. So Bakari gagged him but realized they might be in bigger trouble now. Others might come, maybe even wizards, and Bakari wouldn’t be able to stand up to all of them. Being here this early in the morning would mean having extra time until any reinforcements came. It was probably all that had saved them so far.

  “Run,” he told the other three young men. “Go outside and back into the city, and be more careful.”

  “Thank you, sir,” one of the young men said and then bowed before running off. “You really are a wizard.”

  Bakari snorted a laugh. A wizard, a dragon rider, and maybe a king, he thought, and I can barely get past a steward. Then he smiled to himself, despite the danger of the situation, for he knew the entire layout of the castle: secret passages and all. He had it all memorized.

  “Bak, we need to hurry.” Kharlia grabbed him and began to run outside with the other young men.

  Bakari pulled his hand back and stopped them from running. “This way, Kharlia.”

  Bakari pulled Kharlia over near a floor-to-ceiling tapestry on the wall. Looking to the right and to the left, to make sure no one was coming for them yet, he slid behind the tapestry and pushed on a specific brick. Then a portion of the wall swung inward, and Bakari and Kharlia jumped through, closing the wall back up again.

  Listening for a moment in the darkness, he now heard other voices, responding to the steward’s yell. The voices began arguing, and then he heard the voice of the steward again.

  “He is a runaway wizard with a girl,” the steward said. “Both dark and dangerous.”

  Bakari smiled to himself, glancing up at Kharlia. Dark? Yes. Dangerous? Hardly. Now, if he could summon Abylar, that might cause some fear. So he reached out with his inner bond. Feeling that Abylar was sleeping, Bakari mentally poked him a few times.

  Abylar. Abylar! Wake up! He was finally able to rouse the sleeping dragon.

  Explaining what had happened, Bakari said, Abylar, come close to the city, and wait for me to summon you. Bakari would need to see Onius first.

  “What now?” Kharlia asked, still gripping his hand tightly.

  As the voices faded, Bakari brought up a light; though he would hardly need it to get through the hidden passages, Kharlia would need to see.

  “This way.” Bakari began to run through the secret passage and up two flights of stairs. “Onius will be quite surprised!”

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  Bakari and Kharlia were standing in the secret passageway outside of Onius’s private rooms. They could hear two voices talking.

  “You shouldn’t come here, Gideon,” Onius said, his voice low and threatening. “You endanger our plan and my position here.”

  “Your position?” Gideon replied, his voice a deeper, older-sounding sneer. “And what position is that, these days, oh great wizard? Are you Kanzar’s right-hand man, a traitor, a kingmaker, or a loyal counselor to the Chief Judge?”

  Bakari and Kharlia listened intently. They didn’t know who the other man was, but this was indeed a dangerous discussion to have anywhere, let alone in this castle.

  “You go too far!” they heard Onius say. Then Bakari and Kharlia heard something crash to the floor. “I have been counseling the leaders of Alaris for decades.”

  “And I have been running the underground here even longer,” Gideon said.

  Breathing in deeply, Bakari realized that this other man must be the head of the thieves’ guild. What was Onius doing with him?

  Then it was quiet for a moment.

  When the conversation resumed, Onius was speaking more softly. “Things got out of control. That’s why I came to you. We are on the same side in this, Gideon. I know that I have things to atone for and that I can’t predict what will become of me after all of this is over—if I live that long—but Alaris cannot survive with Kanzar as king.”

  “My men are taking greater risks here,” they heard Gideon say. “The trouble they stir up is dangerous. Already, some have been caught.”

  “I will take care of their families for them—I told you that,” Onius said. “You didn’t need to come here. This is dangerous. If Kanzar finds out what we are doing here, I don’t know if I can control his wrath. The man is so unstable already.”

  “How much longer until he falls?” Gideon asked.

  “I don’t think it will take much more,” Onius said. “It depends on how his attack at Corwan went.”

  Bakari grinned at Kharlia. With the mage light between them, he could see concern on Kharlia’s face. Kanzar wouldn’t be very happy with what had happened in Corwan—that’s for sure. Bakari had known Kanzar since Bakari was five years old. The man had always been polite and respectful around Bakari, even encouraging him on his studying when Bakari was younger. So Bakari had always looked up to the wizard. But Bakari knew now that Kanzar was consumed with the need for power and that his greed had taken Kanzar over the edge.

  “And what happens to the city after Kanzar falls?” asked the guild leader. “A city in anarchy is only good for business for so long. What do you intend to do then?”

  “You know the authority I hold. I will do what I must do,” answered Onius gruffly.

  A long silence followed.

  Then, barely audible, Onius whispered, “But don’t look to me as your next king.”

  “What are you not telling me, old wizard?”

  “Nothing. Nothing concrete,” Onius said. “There are others vying for the kingship, but there is also a rumor floating on the wind of the rise of a dragon.”

  “A dragon!” Gideon snorted. “Fairy tales and folklore.”

  “Maybe,” conceded Onius, “and maybe not. There is a long tradition of dragon riders preceding the rise of a dragon king. And both seem to appear at times of immense peril.”

  “Like I said: fairy tales.”

  Silence followed this, and Bakari felt his heart pounding. He took a few steps back, taking Kharlia’s hand, and wondered what he, a dragon rider, was doing here, in the heart of the enemy camp. Bakari still couldn’t tell if he should trust Onius or not. If rumors were already spreading about Abylar, then Bakari needed to be careful. Now there was Miriel to think about, too. She was still young and could be hurt easily.

  And don’t forget about the other dragons, whispered Abylar to Bakari’s mind. We must hurry. Their time is almost here, and we must be there to match each rider to their dragon.

  Bakari nodded to himself. There was that, too. The other dragons. Could he find them in time to stop this war, which could ravish the land?

  Just be ready to come and get me soon, he told Abylar.

  I am close, Abylar said. I will be there when you need me.

  “Abylar is close.” Bakari said to Kharlia.

  “What are we doing here, Bak? This is dangerous for you.” Kharlia glanced back toward Onius’s rooms, and Bakari realized that it had grown quiet on the other side of the wall.

  “I ju
st need to talk to Onius.” Bakari motioned to the door. He stepped forward and pushed his hand against the wall, preparing to open it, when, at that same time, it opened inward instead, almost knocking him and Kharlia over.

  In front of them appeared the man Bakari supposed was Gideon, the leader of the thieves’ guild. Without warning, the old man pulled out a knife and lunged at Bakari, at the same time calling a warning to Onius.

  Bakari moved to the side, shielding Kharlia with his body, but the knife still cut across his forearm. The wound burned horribly, but it didn’t stop him from bringing up his hands in front of him as he began to form a wall of air.

  “Onius,” Bakari called out. “It’s me!”

  Onius stuck his head into the small passageway. Then his eyes bulged larger, and he reached a hand out to Gideon and said, “Stop.”

  All four stared at each other for a moment in surprise, Kharlia moving back out from behind Bakari and standing next to him.

  Onius then turned to Gideon. “Leave. I will take care of this.”

  Gideon frowned, then slithered off through the dark passageways. Onius pulled Bakari and Kharlia into the room and, with a stern frown, studied the blood running down the young wizard’s arm. Without a word, Onius pulled Bakari over to a washbasin to clean the wound.

  With a soft shove, Kharlia moved the old wizard out of the way and reached into her bag, pulling out a yarrow leaf to stop the bleeding. Then, ripping a piece of cloth off a small towel, she wrapped Bakari’s arm, then moved over to stand by his side.

  Onius glared down at Bakari and Kharlia.

  As Bakari examined the old wizard, he wasn’t sure what to say or how much to tell Onius. The old counselor wizard was at least eighty years old but appeared younger. His long, graying hair and swirling blue robes made sure that no one missed knowing he was a wizard. He looked the part from head to toe.

  Then, with a quick step forward, Onius put his arms out and brought Bakari in for a long hug.

  “Bak, where have you been?” Onius asked. “Last time we saw or heard of you two was in River Bend.” He paused his questions as he brought Bakari back out in front of himself. Then Onius asked, “How much did you hear in the passageway?”

  Bakari was nervous around the wizard. Onius was a legend in Alaris, counselor to many chief judges. Should Bakari admit what they had overheard? Or, could they even trust Onius? Would he help them?

  “Why give that man the use of the passageways?” was what Bakari asked instead. He needed a few more minutes to collect his thoughts.

  Onius lowered his eyes for a moment. Finally looking back up, he met Bakari’s gaze. “Dangerous times, Bakari. We all do what we must.”

  Yes, we do, thought Bakari, and he found strength now through his bond with Abylar. So Bakari pulled himself up straighter, but he was still quite a bit shorter than Onius. Then Bakari said, “Kanzar’s men failed in Corwan.”

  Onius’s eyes bulged, and Bakari saw more wrinkles on his forehead than he remembered seeing there before. “How do you know?” Onius asked. “Where have you been?”

  “I was there,” Bakari said, evading the second question.

  “So are Alli and Mericus,” Kharlia said.

  “And Judge Azeem’s battalion returned from going toward Orr soon enough to help also.”

  Onius nodded. “So, Mericus defected from Kanzar’s group after all. I didn’t know if he would actually have the strength to do it or not.”

  Bakari frowned. “I’m not sure if I can trust him or not, but Mericus did seem to help secure Corwan, and Alli trusts him, and I do trust her.”

  “Yes. Yes.” Onius seemed to be thinking about something else. “Mericus is capable.”

  “And, where do you stand, Onius?” Bakari met the counselor’s eye.

  “Getting bolder now, are we?” Onius asked, then waved his hand, indicating that he meant no offense. “You seem different, Bak—no glasses and a new hair style—but there is also sadness in your eyes.”

  Bakari took Kharlia’s hand in his, and his mind went to Erryl and the guardians. He pushed these thoughts away. He couldn’t afford to think too deeply on that right now.

  “I have seen a lot, Onius.”

  Onius nodded and then walked over and grabbed a glass of wine. Drinking it down quickly, he then offered, “Bakari and Kharlia, would you like a portion?”

  Bakari glanced at Kharlia but, seeing her expression, he declined for both of them. He needed a clear head right now.

  Before anything else could be said, a knock came to the door. Onius frowned, took a step forward, then turned back to Bakari and Kharlia, motioning them to hide behind another door, in his bedchamber. Kharlia nodded and pulled Bakari in after herself.

  Bakari could hear a servant speaking at the door, informing Onius that Kanzar was coming to see him.

  “There seems to have been a disturbance this morning,” the servant explained, “in which, it is rumored, a young wizard had tied up a steward and then escaped from him.”

  Onius closed the door and then quietly called Bakari and Kharlia back out.

  “Kanzar is coming here?” Kharlia seemed to look around for an exit. “I’ve never met the man, and I don’t intend to now.”

  A moment of silence filled the room. Bakari thought about what to do.

  “You never answered our question, Onius,” Kharlia broke the silence.

  Onius gave a quick glance around the room, then the corners of his mouth turned down. His eyes flashed at Kharlia. “Why does everyone question my loyalty?”

  Seeing this, Bakari let his own anger build. He had seen too much loss and fighting in recent days. “Don’t jump on her, Onius. Maybe your loyalty is questioned due to your own actions. You gave up the Chief Judge and worked behind his back to strengthen Kanzar and his King-men.”

  Onius’s face grew red with anger. Then, in one quick moment, it changed and lost all its color. “Bakari, please. You have no idea how bad I feel. I never realized Kanzar’s full intentions. I had not been around him recently then. The Chief Judge is a good man, which is why I warned him and didn’t kill him as Kanzar wanted me to. You must believe me. I am doing what I can to fix the situation.”

  “Like working with the thieves’ guild?” Kharlia said.

  Glancing from her to Bakari and then back, Onius nodded. “Yes, like working with the thieves’ guild. I am trying to breed instability here so that Kanzar can’t focus on his war. It’s working, for that man is at a tipping point now.”

  Bakari looked at Onius, a man he had respected his entire life, and then breathed out a sigh. “It’s good to hear that, Onius. The Chief Judge is building an army in Orr. He will attack here soon. The elves are also involved.”

  “You’re getting around quite a bit for a young scholar, aren’t you, son?” Onius said as if fishing for more information.

  “I can’t tell you all, Onius,” Bakari said. “Not now. But you must trust me.”

  Just then, Bakari heard a faint echo of a voice calling for help once again.

  Roland! Bakari knew that they needed to leave.

  Abylar, come now!

  Bakari had too many things to worry about: Celestar, Orr, Corwan, Elvyn, the Citadel, and—not least of all—his ancestral kingdom of Mahli.

  Drawing strength from Abylar, he prepared himself to give his last words of command to Onius. Then, in a tone full of authority, he said to Onius, “Hold on, and keep doing whatever you can here to destabilize Kanzar. Help is on the way. I’ll be doing all I can to stop this war, but I need to gather more help. I’m going to the Citadel now, to help Roland. He’s in some type of trouble there. Get word to Orr or Corwan if you need anything, and I will receive it.”

  Kharlia smiled encouragingly at Bakari, but Onius just stood there and nodded, apparently not used to being given orders from others. But Bakari had not been speaking as a level two scholar wizard but as a dragon rider. Even though his status was still unknown to Onius, Bakari’s new authority came through, nonethe
less.

  Yells came up from outside the castle, and Onius frowned and then moved over to his balcony. Opening its double doors, Onius went out, and Bakari and Kharlia followed him, walking together to the edge of the balcony.

  Turning back to Onius one final time, Bakari said, “Gather those who are faithful around you, Onius. War is coming, but hopefully I can limit the damage. I hope to see you again.”

  Then a knock came at the door, and Bakari knew they needed to leave immediately. Turning, Bakari saw Abylar coming down from up above the castle’s roofs. His enormous, beautiful, and noble blue dragon lowered himself down until his back was even with the balcony, a wing held out for them. Bakari held Kharlia’s hand as they climbed onto the railing and then walked out on his wing, moved quickly to Abylar’s back and settled themselves in the saddle.

  “Bakari!” Onius said, his eyes opened wide. “You are the dragon rider?”

  Bakari shrugged his shoulders. “Yes, sir. That’s me.”

  Then the door to the wizard’s chambers flew open, and Kanzar ran in with heavy steps toward the open balcony, a permanent scowl on his large face.

  As Abylar lifted himself up into the air, Bakari gave Onius one last look and said, “Good luck.” Then he waved.

  “Tell Roland hello for me,” Onius said and then added, in a softer voice, “and tell him I’m sorry.”

  With a rush of air, Abylar took off in the early morning light just as Kanzar stepped out onto the balcony. Without a moment’s hesitation, Kanzar threw a bolt of lightning toward them and the young dragon.

  Dodging it deftly, Abylar turned in a wide circle and spit out whirring flames of blue fire into the morning sky.

  The frustrated bellows of Kanzar were drowned out by the cheers of wonder and optimism from the people of Cassian below them, on the ground. They were seeing a dragon and its rider for the first time in living memory. Bakari hoped that maybe his appearance that day would spur action and excitement among the people—a catalyst for them to know that things would get better.

  Abylar dipped his wings in the air to wave to the people, then shot off in the clear blue sky, carrying Bakari and Kharlia away safely toward the Citadel.