Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol II - By Richard A. Knaak Page 0,185

choices, the enchantress returned to the brilliantly illuminated artifact and quite casually tossed the two new crystals into the center. Propelled by her power, the blue one immediately shot ceilingward. The clear crystal, meanwhile, struggled against the spiral pattern, which seemed to resist its addition with an almost living determination. Supported by Melenea’s will, however, the clear gem soon overcame opposition and took its place within the structure of the one spiral.

Her own additions had made perfect sense to her father once he had inspected the final results, but the younger Zeree, even after several seconds of careful study, could not comprehend what purpose these new pieces served. She said as much to Melenea, who gave her a smile that warmed Sharissa so because of the care that she read in it.

“It will become obvious over time. I promise you that. Now, there’s just one more thing. I’d like you to remove the crystals that would contain knowledge of the sighting where poor Dru vanished.”

That was easy enough. Happy to be once more an active part in her father’s rescue—and happy to understand what she was doing this time—Sharissa joined Melenea by the artifact. With deft skill, she summoned forth the magical gems in question, smiling as they broke away from their positions and fluttered to her waiting hand. While that went on, she brought forth replacements from the protective case. The newcomers fit into the places vacated by their predecessors with perfect ease.

Her skill earned her the praise of her friend. “How wonderfully deft you are, Shari sweet! Had I a daughter of my own, I could not be so proud as I am of you! Dru has raised you so well!”

Sharissa blushed deeply under the barrage of compliments from someone who was not her father.

“Now,” Melenea added, holding out one smooth, pale hand. “Give me the crystals and we can be on our way.”

“‘On our way’?” Sharissa almost dropped the gems. “Where are we going?”

Taking the younger woman’s hand in her own, the enchantress replied, “This is best done back in my own sanctum, dear love. I have methods I doubt Dru even knows… and I think you would be quite a bit safer there if blustery Barakas sends Gerrod back with a few more of his endless supply of relations. You see what I’m talking about?”

Sharissa did. No one really knew that Melenea was aiding her. The Tezerenee would hound her father’s castle, wasting time in which the two women could study the crystals’ findings. It made perfect sense to her and once more Sharissa was grateful for having the help of so good a friend as the caring enchantress.

“There are notes Father compiled that we’ll need. He has them in his private chambers, but I’ll be able to get them easily enough.”

“That’s fine. While you do that, I’d like the opportunity to inspect this chamber for anything else of importance to our goal.” Melenea squeezed Sharissa tight for a brief time. “Soon, you’ll see Dru again!”

Separating, Sharissa rushed from the room, the quicker to retrieve her father’s work and return. Her mind had slipped from the present moment to her eventual reunion with her father. It was because of those dreams that she passed the shadow without noting how it differed from the rest.

“Sharissa.”

She stumbled and fell back against one of the walls, disbelieving what she had heard. Her eyes scanned the corridor behind her, at last sighting the shadow that was no shadow.

It unfolded before her, revealing what she had known but had hoped was only her panicked imagination.

“Gerrod!”

“Zeree, listen to me! Sirvak tells me that—”

Sirvak! The familiar had betrayed her? How was that possible… unless Gerrod, cunning as Melenea had said, had somehow overwhelmed the beast’s mind, making it a creature of his. “Stay away from me, Tezerenee!”

“Little fool! Your father protected you too well! You have no concept of what Vraad mentalities are like! If you only—”

Sharissa, taking advantage of his pontificating, rushed past him back in the direction of the chamber where she had left Melenea and safety. Not expecting such bold, nonmagical action from her, likely because he assumed her a weak, sobbing child, Gerrod was caught by surprise. His reflexes, a product of his upbringing, were exceptional, however, and he barely missed grabbing hold of her arm.

“Sharissa! No! Come back! Talk to Sirvak!”

She paid him no mind, knowing that the familiar would puppet the hooded Vraad’s words. Her only hope, she decided, lay in Melenea and escape from the castle.

As