NO TRACE OF Duke Toma was found. The next several days pa.s.sed without incident, save that specters of the Manor continued to appear in burgeoning numbers. Every member of the Bedlam family experienced at least one, with Cabe taking the brunt of the ghostly a.s.sault. Not a day went by that he did not witness two, sometimes three, manifestations. Most he was familiar with, but again there were the new ones. He himself experienced the unsettling sight of watching his image cut into his thumb.

The Toma image reappeared only once. It followed the same pattern as before, then vanished. No one observed the blade Aurim had described in his notes.

The journey to Penacles was mere days away now. The short span of time between the visits to the two human kingdoms had been intentional from the first, but now Cabe wished that he could have another week to prepare himself. Toma's mysterious invasion still bothered him. Worrying about the renegade drake and his continuing concern over the way Valea was acting around Kyl combined to make the sorcerer too weary even to think about the journey ahead.

Thus it was that when an emissary of Penacles arrived unexpectedly at the borders of the Manor grounds, Cabe Bedlam almost refused him entry. Only when he discovered who that emissary was did he agree to let him pa.s.s through the invisible barriers that protected his domain.

They met in the garden, the warlock immediately bowing in the presence of his old friend.

"I am no longer king, Cabe, so please stop that; it's rather embarra.s.sing."

"Toos would be glad to turn the throne back over to you, Gryphon."

"Too true," the former monarch of Penacles returned. The Gryphon was, in his own way, as fascinating a being as Darkhorse. Manlike in his general form, he otherwise shared much in common with the Seekers, especially his countenance. The Gryphon, who had no other name, resembled the very creature of legend. His visage was that of a predatory bird, in this case a majestic eagle. Yet, the eyes were closer set, falling somewhere between bird and human. The lionbird, as he was nicknamed, also bore the aspects of the feline part of the creature he so resembled. His mane was thick and long and only at the bottom did it taper to feathers, although that sometimes changed depending on his mood. Underneath the cloak and loose clothing he wore, the Gryphon's form was more animallike than one first suspected. His legs were jointed like those of a cat, and on his back were tiny stubs, vestigial wings. The Gryphon's hands were more human than those of the Seekers, but his claws were as sharp as a cat's, at least on his remaining eight fingers.

Cabe eyed the maimed hand out of the corner of his eye. It was a legacy, a magical wound from the war that the Gryphon fought overseas. The war had gained for him a bride and their two children; yet it had taken away so much as well, stealing from him the eldest of those children, the warrior-child Demion. All knew that the lionbird would have rather lost both hands or even his own life than his eldest child. As it was, he and the cat-woman Troia now doted on their second son.

"Your visit's a surprise, but a pleasant one, Gryphon. I have to admit, though, that I don't know why you're here."

One of the servants brought them drinks. The Gryphon thanked her for the goblet, then raised it to his mouth. As he did, his features blurred, becoming those of a handsome, somewhat older man with fine patrician features. The transformation startled the servant, who almost dropped the wine. She scurried off before the Gryphon could lower his drink and apologize. His features had already reverted to those of the eagle.

"I forget sometimes that there are so many outside of Penacles who are not used to me."

"I think it was just the suddenness of the change. Drakes change, too, but it takes them more time."

"Perhaps." The Gryphon paced the terrace as he thought. Like the predator he was, the former mercenary could not sit still when disturbed by something. He did, however, manage to pause when he spoke. "I'm chiefly here because Toos wants to hear how things went in Talak."

The warlock gave him a conspirational smile. "I'd think that Penacles would already know more than I could relate."

"He was especially interested in your personal observations," responded the lionbird, ignoring Cabe's comment about the spies that Penacles no doubt had spread throughout the mountain kingdom. Of course, Talak had its own spies in Penacles just as they likely had them in Gordag-Ai and Zuu. Spies were a favorite pastime of rulers.

"About the entire visit or something in particular?"

"Both, actually. Let us start with your view of the stay itself." The lionbird took another sip of his drink, again momentarily transforming his features.

"Gwendolyn should be here for this." The warlock looked around, but there was no sign of his wife. He projected a summoning, but the only response from her was that she would come when she was able. Cabe decided to leave it at that. The Lady Bedlam and the Gryphon were old comrades of a sort, both being survivors from the days of the Turning War, although they had not met then. If the enchantress chose not to be here, it was not because of any lack of love. The Gryphon and his wife were as dear to her as Erini.

"My visit must be necessarily short, Cabe. I understand if the Lady Bedlam cannot be here. She could never cause me affront."

The lionbird had always struck the warlock as the sort of monarch that he had hoped Kyl would become. Sadly, the young drake had chosen among his own kind for guidance, but fortunately he had at least chosen the Green Dragon as one of his mentors.

Cabe launched into a detailed description of the journey and their stay in Talak. Mention of the Seekers made the Gryphon's mane ruffle in concern, but the emissary asked no questions. The lionbird was visibly surprised at Kyl's handling of the untrusting Melicard, especially the request for the private ceremony acknowledging to the lords of Talak the travesties performed in the name of the Dragon Emperor.

Cabe was about to point out Grath's influence in most of those situations when he felt the presence of his wife's mind within his own.

Cabe. I tried not to disturb the two of you, but would you please come to Aurim's chambers?

What's wrong?

I am really not certain. She broke the link.

"Something is amiss, Cabe."

The warlock eyed his guest. "You know?"

"You grew slightly distant and your gaze drifted. I have studied sorcery for far too long not to recognize that you were communicating with someone, likely the Lady Gwendolyn. If she feels that something is important enough to create the need to summon you, then I can only a.s.sume it is nothing good."

Rising, the warlock could only marvel at the Gryphon's guesswork. "You a.s.sume right. I'll explain later, but for now, if you'll excuse me-"

"Nonsense!" The Gryphon also rose. "If there is something wrong, Cabe, I don't plan to sit by." He unsheathed the claws of one hand. With his regal bearing and his polite manner of speech, it was sometimes easy to forget that the figure before him could be every bit as savage as his namesake.

"All right, I won't argue. You could be right." The warlock took hold of the Gryphon's arm. "We're going to Aurim's chambers."

"Lead on."

The transfer was immediate. Cabe and the Gryphon looked around, searching for any sign of danger. The room, though, appeared completely normal, save for the pensive expression on the face of Gwendolyn Bedlam.

"Always a pleasure to see you, my lady," the Gryphon said, bowing as gracefully as was possible for him.

"I apologize for not greeting you, Gryphon." The emerald enchantress continued to look slightly anxious. Every few seconds, her eyes would turn from them to gaze at some random location in the chamber. "I'd planned to, but first I had wanted to talk to our son."

"Aurim?" Cabe noticed that their son was not in the room, but before worry could overwhelm him, his wife shook her head.

"He's all right, Cabe. I haven't summoned him, yet, but I do know where he is."

The warlock relaxed. "Then what's the danger?"

She put a hand to her chin and stared into s.p.a.ce. "I am not absolutely certain if there even is any danger, but . . . but when I stepped inside, I noticed something that unnerved me." Gwen blinked, then spread her arms. "Tell me what you sense. Both of you, if you don't mind, Gryphon."

"Not at all."

Cabe cleared his thoughts and sent out a probe. At first, the room seemed no different. Aurim's presence was everywhere, which was to be expected in a place that he frequented so much. There were other, older traces, but they were so faint as to be inconsequential. Besides, the sorcerer recognized them. They could not be what his bride had wanted him to notice.

He briefly touched the presence of the Gryphon, vaguely noting the differences in their magical signatures. Since that, too, was quite obviously not what he was hunting for, Cabe moved on. He wondered again what exactly it was Gwen had noticed and contemplated asking her, if only to better aid his search.

Barely had the warlock thought that when he discovered the answer. It was an answer he could have done without.

The trace was barely noticeable. He had to concentrate hard to keep from losing the tenuous trail.

"What is it?" the Gryphon asked from beside him. His probe, too, had located the trace, but he did not recognize its origins.

"It feels as if . . . as if . . ." Cabe did not want to complete the sentence, as if that would make it not true.

"It tastes of Toma, does it not?" the enchantress demanded, arms folded tight. Like her husband, she also wished to deny it.

"Toma?" The former mercenary's voice went cold. "Toma? In the Manor?"

Hearing the hatred, Cabe quickly added, "Not now, but sometime in the past."

"But how?" demanded the Gryphon. "How could that murderous lizard have gained access to your domain?"

"We have no idea, Gryphon," the Lady Bedlam replied. She explained how they had come to know the startling truth. The lionbird listened in awe, and even Cabe felt chills as he relived seeing the renegade duke standing in the doorway of his study. Gwen went on to describe the careful search they had made of the Manor grounds, a search which had yielded nothing for all their hard work.

"But then how do you explain this?"

"The trace is very faint. I cannot explain why I noticed it, but I can see how it might have been missed before, especially since Aurim practices his spells in his room. You can feel his overwhelming presence here, can you not?"

The Gryphon nodded. The room was very much the young Bedlam's domain.

"What worries me is that this might not be the only evidence that we have missed."

Cabe had not thought of that. True, it was unlikely that he and Gwen had missed any such trace, but what about the areas that Valea and Aurim had been searching? He recalled where he had interrupted Kyl and his daughter. "We should probe the stables again . . . just in case."

"If I may be permitted, Cabe, perhaps I could do a search of my own."

"There's no need for you to-"

"Please. We have been through that before, haven't we?" The Gryphon turned to Gwendolyn. "What say you, my lady? Will you permit me to attempt a spell of my own? It promises a very thorough scrutiny of this place."

There was no hesitation on her part. "Do it. I want to be able to rest easy. I want to know."

The lionbird nodded. Without another word, he closed his eyes. Cabe could feel the stirring of power.

It was as if the Gryphon were everywhere at once. A force radiated from him, a force that spread throughout Aurim's chambers and continued on, unimpeded by any physical presence. It moved beyond the outer halls and the balcony, out beyond the very Manor itself.

The inhuman mage grunted. Next to him, the warlock sensed a renewed push that expanded the Gryphon's spell farther and farther beyond the Manor walls. The terrace was engulfed. The stables. The outer buildings, where most of those who served the Bedlams lived. Even the gardens were enveloped. The lionbird's claws unsheathed and sheathed as he worked to maintain his concentration. The spell did not require that much power, but it did require concentration if it was to be effective, especially since they were searching for what were likely very thin traces of the duke's former presence.

"The spell's reached the barriers," the Gryphon finally announced. "It can go no further without your permission."

"Let it go just beyond, if you will."

"A wise thought, Lady Gwendolyn." The inhuman sorcerer did just that. "My spell now covers the surrounding forest for almost fifty yards in every direction."

"Do you sense anything?" Cabe asked, fascinated.

"A moment." The Gryphon's voice grew distant. "This is a spell that works slowly, and by doing so more thoroughly searches. Let me . . ." He nodded to himself. "Yes, that does it. There are ancient traces of sorcery in this chamber, but they're so old that we need not worry about them. Curious! Did you two know that an aura surrounds this edifice? A very strange aura."

Both Bedlams knew of the aura of the Manor. It was, as the Gryphon had exclaimed, a very curious aura. Even Gwen, whose knowledge of such was far more complete than Cabe's own, had never experienced anything like it. However, they had long ago come to realize that whatever surrounded the Manor meant them no harm and had left it at that.

"I don't think Toma was in this room," the lionbird continued. "He reached in with his power. The trace comes from beyond, somewhere in that direction." He raised a taloned hand and pointed.

Following the Gryphon's direction, the warlock went to the balcony and peered outside. His eyes narrowed as he found himself looking down at the stables.

A figure stepped out of the nearest building, the one most directly in the path the Gryphon had indicated. Ssarekai. The drake seemed intent on heading toward the Manor, but then paused. After a moment's deliberation, Ssarekai turned his gaze upward. His eyes widened just a little as he met the stare of the sorcerer.

Cabe acknowledged him with a slight nod. Ssarekai dipped his head in what might have been an abortive bow and scurried on.

"Did you see anything?" Gwen called.

He turned back. "Just the stables. The stables and Ssarekai."

The Gryphon, meanwhile, had moved on. "I sense Aurim and another with some talent for sorcery. Not Valea; she's elsewhere. The drakes are everywhere." All drakes had inherent magic, although it varied greatly from one to another. "But no other telltale marks of the renegade save the trace in the study, of which we are already aware." He paused. "Yet . . ."

Both humans tensed.

"Nothing. I was wrong. Too hopeful, I suppose."

In one respect, Cabe found himself disappointed. Yet, if the Gryphon discovered nothing else, that did mean that the Manor was clean of all but this one trace of Toma's taint.

"There are some other odd sensations emanating from the Manor and the grounds, but they all seem to be a part of what makes this place what it is . . ."

A faint noise near the doorway caught the warlock's attention. He turned quietly, so as not to disturb the lionbird's work, and saw Benjin Traske. The ma.s.sive scholar had one hand on the knife he always wore on his belt and the other on the arched doorway. He appeared startled at the presence of the Gryphon.

Cabe put a finger to his lips. Traske, recovered from his surprise, nodded once. He did not enter, but simply remained in the doorway.

"Some of your human servants have the natural potential for sorcery, did you know that? It's been suppressed."

"I shall have to look into that when we have more time," Gwen replied.

"I can let you know which ones at some point in the future." Slowly, the Gryphon turned. He did not stop turning until he had performed three-quarters of a circle. "I think . . . that's all. I find no other vestiges of his work. They might have dissipated beyond the spell's abilities, but at the very least that would mean you had nothing to fear from them. I can find no spells or traps anywhere."

The mood in the chamber lightened. Cabe noted that even Benjin Traske, who could not have understood what was being done here, relaxed.

Without warning, the Gryphon opened his eyes. The spell dissipated with astonishing speed and simplicity. "As near as I can tell, the Manor is safe. I cannot promise that the spell was perfect in its execution . . ."

"I am quite satisfied, Gryphon." A very relieved Gwendolyn moved to the lionbird's side. She put her arms around him and leaned forward to kiss him in grat.i.tude. Cabe noticed that the former monarch managed to transform his monstrous features into the more handsome, human ones before the enchantress' lips touched his cheek. Even knowing that the sorceress loved him and that the lionbird loved his own mate, the warlock suffered a twinge of jealousy.

He extended his hand and gave the Gryphon his own thanks, adding, "It was fortunate that you arrived today. This will mean that we will be sleeping a lot easier again."

"You've done much for me in the past, both of you." The Gryphon, however, did look pleased. As he shook Cabe's hand, he finally noticed the figure in the doorway. "Benjin!"

The huge figure performed one of his miraculous bows. "Lord Gryphon."

"Will we be seeing you in Penacles when the heir comes? I would like to show you some improvements we've made with the school. I would like your opinion."

"I cannot say, my lord."

The lionbird's feathers and fur ruffled in growing annoyance at those around him. "Must I keep repeating myself? I am no longer king of Penacles! I have no t.i.tle!"

"Only in your own mind," countered the Lady Bedlam. "You might have refused to take back the throne, but everyone, including Toos, agrees that what you did for the kingdom when you did rule there deserves respect. You are the special counsel to the regent, aren't you? That in itself infers some sort of t.i.tle. I know that Troia wouldn't mind that."

He sighed. "I give in. There are those who believe that I am unusually stubborn, but Toos would still have me resume the throne even after all the time since my return to Penacles. Now there is stubbornness!" The Gryphon waved away what to him was a most distasteful subject. "You are not traveling with your former pupil to Penacles, Benjin?"

"That is for my lord and lady to decide."

The scholar gave no indication of his feelings one way or the other, but somehow his words made Cabe feel guilty for having left the man behind on the journey to visit Talak. Glancing at his wife, he saw that she, too, was having second thoughts.