Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol II - By Richard A. Knaak Page 0,247

images with the exact same expression. Had looks actually been able to kill someone, there would have remained only a scorched mark where Rendel now stood.

“That’s not what I meant.” This would be delicate. If what Dru said failed to placate the bitter spellcasters, then he and Xiri would probably share Rendel’s fate. He took a long breath and then, before the restless muttering grew any louder, presented them with the carrot on the stick. “I have a path of escape for us… all of us.”

Several faces grew hopeful, but more than a few darkened. They had been betrayed once, and because they were Vraad, it was easy for them to imagine someone pulling the same ploy. Silesti’s expression was unreadable, but his skin had turned a deep crimson.

“You… intrigue us. Tell us more.”

There was a protest from within the group, but it quickly subsided after a single glance from their chosen spokesman.

Wishing he had the oratory skills of the patriarch, Dru detailed his mishap and what had become of him. The faces before him kept changing as emotions rose and fell. He said as little as possible about the guardians and their masters, deciding it was not yet time to tell as arrogant a people as his that they had been a failed experiment, but emphasized how there were those who shared their desire to survive. When he had finished, Silesti and the others conferred with one another.

Dru squeezed Xiri’s hand and met Rendel’s wary gaze. Neither could guess whether the vengeful band believed them. Dru was ready to defend both himself and Xiri with whatever it cost and Rendel would do no less for himself.

It was Silesti, as was expected, who announced the decision. His eyes kept switching from Dru to Rendel as he spoke. “If you were this one”—he indicated the Tezerenee with a savage jerk of his head—“we would already be taking our pleasure with your agonized screams. Because it is you, however, I, at least, am inclined to risk trusting you. That reptile… is there reason to spare him?”

“If you want my aid. Rendel is as trapped as we are. He knows more about the realm beyond than even I do.” That was a matter of debate, but he was not going to tell them so. “We’ll also need him when we confront Barakas… or would you care to begin your first moments after the cross-over fighting the Tezerenee?”

As angered as they were, Silesti’s people were no fools. “Others might not agree with what you say.”

“Between us, I think they’ll force themselves to listen. Isn’t life more important at this point? Do any of you want to remain in this hellhole we created?”

That was the point that none of them could deny. Even Silesti looked weary, now that the desire for vengeance was forced to subside. It was raw emotion that had kept these Vraad going. How were those with less strength surviving?

They were all looking at him in expectation, waiting to be told what to do. Why was he forced to lead them? All he wanted was to find his daughter and leave this place. When had he developed such a care for the survival of his undeserving race?

“I need help. From you, if possible. Many of the others will probably make their way here as the hours pass, and I don’t think I can control them all. We might even have to fetch some of those still drowning in self-pity and convince them that I speak the truth. That’s assuming you believe me. This is a sick jest. If I lie, you know I have nowhere to run from you. I swear I speak the truth. My life is my—” He stopped. His pledge would have sounded much too like the ones given by Barakas. Dru did not want to remind his counterparts of what had happened last time they had believed a pledge of honor. “I won’t fail you,” he finished up, wishing that he could have thought of something better to say.

“We’ve already given our assent, Zeree,” Silesti commented. “You should have guessed that by the fact that the Tezerenee had not been flayed already.”

Dru nodded in relieved gratitude. He knew what he had to say next. “I ask you to help coordinate steps, Silesti.”

The mob leader’s chest swelled. He acquiesced with a slight tip of his head. His eyes were gleaming.

The choice was the best one. Silesti’s control of the band proved he had the presence and might necessary. It