Where was the night? Where was the moon? According to the sun's position it was roughly an hour after dawn. The shadow steed did not like the abrupt changes. Only sorcery could have twisted his world so much, making night into day.

Yet even the shift from darkness to light did not bother him as much as the presence of the gently swaying gra.s.s. Each blade that touched his legs made him want to jump back.

"It won't harm you," said the familiar feminine voice. "It won't harm anyone but certain drakes. You can thank your sorcerer friend for that."

A human female now stood among the tall gra.s.s. Despite being clad in a simple brown and white peasant outfit, the newcomer was impressive. She filled the blouse and bodice in a manner that Darkhorse knew would have garnered the attention of any male other than a blind one. Her features were slightly elfin, but a bit more full, more human. She had hair almost as golden as that of Aurim, save that hers appeared natural whereas his had been altered by an early juvenile attempt at sorcery. There was no visible streak of silver in her tresses, but he could sense that she was most definitely a sorceress or witch.

Her eyes glittered, but when the shadow steed tried to identify the color, he found it impossible. Sometimes they appeared emerald, sometimes golden, and sometimes . . . sometimes they were as red and narrow as those of a drake warrior. Who was this woman?

"I'm sorry," she added, smiling mischievously. "The blink hole wasn't supposed to work like that. I thought for a while that I'd lost you, but then it finally opened on this side."

"Finally?" Darkhorse snorted. "If that was a blink hole, I do not think that I have ever seen another one that took hours to cross through!" He looked again at the sun. "Is it truly the next day?"

"Yes." The smile faded. "But we can talk about that after I've taken care of him. Let me get him off of you."

"I think not!" He backed a few steps away, glancing quickly around at the gra.s.s. It did nothing but sway gently in the light breeze.

"I know what you're thinking. These are no longer the Barren Lands, as you can see, demon steed." She smiled again. "Cabe Bedlam is responsible for that. It's known that he and the Brown Dragon, the savage drake lord who ruled here, rode into this desolate region and only one of them departed alive. Sometime shortly after that, the gra.s.s and trees sprouted from the parched soil and everything became as it had been before the Turning War caused the creation of the Barren Lands in the first place. Cabe Bedlam brought life back to this domain. He'd hardly be in danger from it."

"Perhaps, perhaps not, human! This may no longer be the Barren Lands, true, but this is hardly an idyllic field! Among the green hills and oh-so-lovely trees of this new wonderland lie the bones of most of the drakes of clan Brown! This grand pasture strangled them to death, little sorceress! Every one of them! It took from them to build this deadly paradise and I do not doubt that it hungers still! Where did you think that it got the sustenance to revive itself, hmmm?"

Now her eyes briefly flashed crimson again. "I understand what happened, perhaps even better than you. The spell worked against the drakes of clan Brown because it was their master who tried to sacrifice your friend. He wanted the same results, but by using the blood of the grandson of the Dragon Master who'd caused the creation of the Barren Lands in the first place. The land is at peace now, though." She reached out a hand. Several of the stalks twisted against the wind to gently caress her palm. "I know. I've lived here long enough."

"Then you are foolhardy." Nonetheless, Darkhorse knew that he really did not have any choice but to allow her to treat his companion. Hours might have pa.s.sed for the rest of the realm, but for Cabe and him, it had only been moments. Cabe could not help himself and Darkhorse was too weak to do much more. He could neither transport them to Penacles nor safely attempt to heal his companion's injuries. The female had been helpful so far. Perhaps it was taking a risk, but the eternal had to trust in her.

He would be watching everything she did, however. If even her slightest action seemed questionable . . .

"Very well. Take care of him . . . but know that I will be watching!"

"I'm sure you will." She waited for Darkhorse to kneel, then, without the slightest sign of fear of him, she carefully pulled Cabe from his back.

The gra.s.s moved toward the sorcerer, but just as Darkhorse was about to act, he saw that the blades had ma.s.sed under his companion and were aiding the female in lowering Cabe to the ground. Those blades that were no longer needed retreated while others slipped under to form what appeared to be a soft bed.

"It's fortunate that you shielded him when you did. He has at least two cracked ribs, but I don't think much more than that," she whispered. Her hands moved upward, the fingertips gently touching the spellcaster's chest. "But his body's strong. He's in very nice form."

The tone of her voice suggested that her comment was not entirely clinical, but Darkhorse let it pa.s.s. Now that he saw her with Cabe, he suddenly knew who she was-and that knowledge disturbed him. Their previous encounter remained in his mind for one very good reason. It had taken place in Zuu.

"Step away from him"-the name she had used previously sprang to mind-"Tori."

She obeyed, not quite so confident now that he knew her ident.i.ty. "We never really met. You shouldn't know me."

"I know you from a glimpse and also from detecting your presence when first you tried to seduce Cabe Bedlam. You are from Zuu, witch! You are one of Lanith's dogs!"

The last seemed to stir resentment in her. "I'd never be one of Lanith's puppets! I leave that to Saress and that popinjay Ponteroy! I'd never have anything to do with any of them!"

They might have sunken deeper into the argument, but then Cabe stirred. It was only for a moment, but it was enough to turn Darkhorse's concern to the more immediate problem. "I am taking him back to Penacles! Move away!"

"I won't. Look at you, Darkhorse. You might be able to knock me aside, but you're still too weak to travel by any other means than running That spell trap was designed specifically for you. It had to be. I was trying to see what it and the others were for-"

"Others?" He had sensed nothing.

She gave him a knowing smile. "Others. The area around the castle is dotted with them, but I've seen riders and their mounts pa.s.s through the traps without disturbing them. Only when you came across a trap did it spring. It was meant for you, demon steed, even if it also caught your friend in the process." The sorceress returned her attention to Cabe. "Now let me take care of him before his injuries grow worse."

Darkhorse relented, but he watched closely as the female delved into her work. She appeared to be earnest in her efforts, her hands carefully running over the areas of the injury. He sensed subtle uses of power over the ribs as she worked to mend them. Secretly, Darkhorse was grateful that it was not his task; he had been concerned about his clumsiness. Human systems were so delicate, so fragile. He might have caused more harm than good.

Cabe's expression gradually relaxed and his skin, which had grown so pale, was now pinker. He breathed with less difficulty now. Darkhorse probed with his power and found no trace of the injuries.

"He needs to rest now." As she rose, the gra.s.s shifted to better comfort the unconscious figure. Other stalks caressed the enchantress's arms.

"Thank you . . . Tori." The eternal eyed the lively gra.s.s with lingering distrust. How could it know the difference between a human and a drake warrior? Why would it protect one and kill the other?

"I did it because I wanted to, so don't thank me. Besides, it's probably my fault you came here in the first place. You got my message, didn't you?"

"You sent the message to Penacles?"

"It was the only method by which I thought that I could eventually reach Cabe." She smiled wistfully at the slumbering mage. "A pity I didn't latch on to him before he met the Lady of the Amber."

Darkhorse eyed her. "You are not quite the same female that Cabe encountered in Zuu."

"Things have gotten worse in Zuu. I can't even stay there anymore. I like fun, not war." She pretended to pout.

The shadow steed judged that Tori, if that was truly her name, was a person of masks. She pretended to be frivolous when that served her, serious when the situation called for it. At other times, he suspected that she switched back and forth without warning, putting those around her constantly off-guard. That, combined with apparently substantial abilities, made her formidable.

"Why Cabe? Why him? What do you expect of him?"

She started to put a hand on the sorcerer's arm, but Darkhorse's sudden glare made her pull back. "Because I've never known someone with the power he has. He's amazing. I don't think that there's another spellcaster who can match him power for power . . . and yet he keeps it all under careful control." This time the blond woman defied Darkhorse, lightly caressing Cabe's arm. Her expression was not light, however. If anything, worry now dominated. "He's the only one I can think of who has the power to deal with the thing in Lanith's palace."

"Thing?"

"Yes, thing. I wasn't certain until . . . until recently, but there's a power, a force, in Lanith's palace. . . an intelligent force. . ."

A power, a force . . . It was almost the same description that the Dragon King had used. She might have been eavesdropping, although that was doubtful since among the drake lord, Cabe, and himself, Darkhorse did not think that even someone as clever as the woman who called herself Tori could have remained undetected. She had also added something to the description. An intelligent force . . .

Intelligent? What did that mean? He wished that Cabe would wake so that he could ask him his opinion. Cabe and his wife were so much better at puzzling out such things. So, for that matter, was the Gryphon. He needed to get Cabe to Penacles. By this time, Lady Bedlam and the king of Penacles had to be worrying about them. "Can Cabe be moved?"

"I'd wait a little longer, just to make certain that I haven't missed something. He also needs some rest. Give him a couple of hours at least, demon steed."

Hours? Darkhorse had to let the others know what was happening, but he dared not try to contact Penacles from so far away. If Lanith had some powerful unknown mage working for him-that was the only answer Darkhorse had so far come up with to explain the "intelligent force"-then such far- reaching communication could not be trusted to be private. Darkhorse saw no sense in alerting Lanith as to their present predicament.

"An unknown mage . . ." he muttered. Could it be that the warlock Shade was alive? Shade had been both bane and hero to the realm over his centuries-long life, depending on which of his incarnations had been active. Many had thought that they had killed the warlock, only to discover afterward that he had been immediately reborn. Shade was permanently dead, though. He had to be. It could not be him.

Could it?

"I have to go now," the female announced. "There're things I have to do."

"Such as?"

"I have to search for someone, someone important to Lanith who hasn't been around lately. That could mean trouble."

The shadow steed snorted. "Could you be a little more specific, Lady Tori?"

His use of the t.i.tle amused her. "'Lady Tori.' I'd like that if Tori were my real name. Maybe I'll still use it sometime." She looked down at Cabe. "For him I'd have been Lady Tori for the rest of my life."

"You are evading my question, little one, and are also far too late. As has been pointed out, Cabe is married, happily, I will add, and has children, too."

"Yes, and one of them is now a man, isn't he?" Her eyes sparkled, reminding Darkhorse momentarily of a Vraad, one of the race of sorcerers who had been the precursors of the present human population. "I've heard he's handsome." She dimpled, a sight no doubt designed to melt the heart of a human male but which only served to intensify Darkhorse's distrust. "Is that true, do you know?"

"If things are progressing as I believe they are," the ebony stallion responded, "then you are probably too late to snare the younger master as well. He has recently met one that I think has caught his fancy." He pawed at the ground. "Now! Perhaps you might clarify what you said . . . and also, I think, you might tell me your true name-"

"He's recently met someone, you say?" The golden-haired woman's expression darkened. "Interesting . . ."

"I said-" Darkhorse got no further. The enchantress had vanished as abruptly as she had first materialized. He barely felt her depart. There was no sense trying to track her. In some ways, the female was more skilled than many of the other spellcasters that he had encountered over the centuries. There was also a peculiarity to her magical trace that he could not recall having encountered in another being.

Cabe shifted. The shadow steed wanted to wake him, but he knew that there was merit in what the enchantress had said about letting his companion rest. When Cabe was awake and fit to travel, the pair would immediately return to Penacles . . . and then Darkhorse would discuss with his friend their mysterious benefactor.

Aurim knew that his mother was anxious about his father's return, but he had grown up watching one or both of his parents vanish somewhere on some important mission, each time returning, and so he was less concerned than she was. He did worry, but what was there that his father and Darkhorse could not together defeat? They were two of the greatest powers of the Dragonrealm.

What was more important to him was seeing Jenna. Aurim was glad that his parents had not asked him to go back to the Manor. He suspected that Darkhorse had told them of his growing interest in the merchant's daughter, which was good. At this point, if his mother had requested that he return to the Manor to help his sister, the younger Bedlam would have refused. He was old enough to do so, too. They no longer had any hold on him. Aurim was his own man.

Jenna waited for him, but not at Gullivan's. She had suggested a change of scenery, a place where the two of them could better be alone. The river Serkadian, just a mile west of Penacles, had what she said were some wonderful idyllic spots, perfect for people trying to clear their thoughts and relax. While Jenna had been speaking in terms of sorcery, which was the supposed reason for the meeting, Aurim was more interested in the romantic aspects. He already knew that he wanted the relationship to blossom into something permanent. It was already impossible to think of life without her.

As Aurim rode, he tried to think of the proper things to say to her. She was a merchant's daughter, someone who had no doubt grown up hearing clever, fancy words from everyone around her. He, on the other hand, while somewhat familiar with the courts of two major kingdoms, had never paid much attention to protocol and such. Aurim knew few clever words and even fewer fancy ones. Everything that had so far run through his mind had sounded clumsy, oafish. His parents were no help. They had been married so long that even the simplest words seemed to relay meaning between them.

"What can I say to her?" he muttered as he neared the river. Lush trees lined much of the edge. There was a settlement north of here, but far enough away that it was unlikely anyone would disturb them. Here there was nothing but wild fields dotted with yellow and blue flowers and the occasional song of a bird perched high in the trees. A perfect setting, but not if he could not say the proper words.

"What do you want to say?"

Aurim started, not having realized that someone else was nearby. Jenna rode up to him from behind a small copse of trees, smiling all the while. She was clad in a bright blue and red riding outfit, another typical statement of fashion from Gordag-Ai. Her beauty made it even more difficult for him to think. "Jenna! I . . . wasn't . . . you startled me!"

She giggled. "Silly, that's what I wanted to do! I saw you coming and couldn't resist. Now what were you talking about?"

"Nothing. Nothing." Aurim tried not to squirm in the saddle. "Did you find a good place to stop?"

"I did. Just over there by that open part of the riverbank. Have you ever been here before?"

"I've hardly ever been to the river at all. Mostly I've seen the city. We're hardly ever in Penacles for very long."

She did not reply to that. They rode to the location she had chosen and, after taking care of the mounts, sat down on the soft gra.s.s. Jenna smoothed her riding outfit, then looked at him expectantly. "Did you do as I suggested?"

Aurim nodded. "I didn't tell anyone what we were doing. I decided to keep my progress a surprise, just like you said."

"They'll be so thrilled when they see." The young woman took hold of his arm and squeezed gently. "Just think what they'll say when you show them how you can perform without losing control of your powers!"

"You've done well, too," he countered. "You've learned quickly for such a short time."

"I think we've got much in common, Aurim. We both just needed someone who understood our lack of confidence. We needed each other."

He was certain that his face was burning. Jenna had shifted nearer as she had spoken and now only inches separated their bodies. The young mage grew more and more nervous.

"I want you to show me how well you're doing."

"What?"

The merchant's daughter rose without warning. She smiled down at him, then pointed at the river. "I want you to try something for me. Will you?"

Aurim struggled to his feet. "Jenna, I-"

"Look at this!" She cupped her hands before him. A moment later, a ball of blue light formed just above the palms. Jenna stared at it. The ball rose a few inches, then sank to its previous position. It then began to spin around. After a few rotations, Aurim's companion blinked. The sphere faded.

Her success thrilled him. In only a short time she had increased her control over her abilities far more than either of them would have thought possible. "That's wonderful, Jenna!"

"And I owe it all to you!" She hugged him. "Now, let me see how good you've gotten!"

"I-" He did not want to disappoint her. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to stop it." She pointed at the huge, rushing river.

The spellcaster was not quite certain that he had heard correctly. "You want me to . . . stop . . . the river?"

"Of course." Jenna moved closer until their bodies touched. She looked up at him, expectant. "I know you can do it. I really do."

Aurim's angle gave him a view of more than her arresting face. Embarra.s.sed, he took a step back. Jenna did not let him completely escape, however. The young woman took hold of him by both arms and would not release him.

What could he do? He could no more refuse her than stop eating. His head tingling, Aurim finally nodded. "All right. I'll give it a try . . . but I can't promise anything."

"I know you can do it!" She leaned up and kissed him. While he was still recovering, sienna added, "Remember, you're the son of Cabe Bedlam and the Lady of the Amber! You're more powerful than either of them!"

For the first time, he actually believed that. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more his confidence grew. He could stop the river. Well, he would not actually stop the entire river, but what he had in mind would prove effective enough.

"What would you think if I created a dry pa.s.sage through the river?" Aurim saw that he had her interest. "The water would keep flowing . . . it would just. . . um . . . miss the area where the pa.s.sage would be."

"That would make all the time we've spent together worthwhile." She squeezed his arm, her eyes bright with antic.i.p.ation. "Are you going to start now?"

In response, Aurim stepped away from her and faced the Serkadian. It seemed simple enough now. He looked beyond the normal world, reaching into one of the levels where the essence of sorcery was visible. The lines were everywhere. Aurim tapped into them, drawing up the power that was both in and around him. He stared at the onrushing water.

/ will do it! If he had any lingering doubts, one last glance at her face was enough to douse them. Before his heightened will, even the powerful forces of the river had to obey. Slowly at first, then swifter, a strange depression formed. The depression spread from one side of the riverbank to the other for roughly four or five yards. The water level on both sides of the gap did not alter in the least.

The depression grew deeper and deeper. On each side a wall of swirling water stood firm. As far as the river was concerned, the gap did not exist. That was the way Aurim planned it; he did not want someone either upstream or down growing curious about sudden changes in the water level. Word would then get back to the king and his parents, none of whom would have approved of this spell even if they had been happy that he had finally conquered his uncertainties. He could always tell them later, sometime after he had already proven to them that he was now capable of completely utilizing his vast abilities.

His spell squeezed the last of the water away. The river continued to flow smoothly along, sorcery enabling the water to leap instantly from one side of the depression to the other. Anyone standing between the two magical walls would hardly even get damp. Even though he had been certain that this time he would succeed, Aurim was impressed. Now his parents would be proud of him.

"I was almost afraid to hope," Jenna whispered, "but you did it. You are powerful."

"I know it's not quite what you wanted, but-"

"Oh, no!" Her face was aglow. "This is far better than even I expected! You've done excellently, Aurim!"

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him hard. Aurim felt a tingle run through his body. He almost lost track of the world around him.