Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol II - By Richard A. Knaak Page 0,269

their assent to whatever plan had been put forth. Dru could understand no other part of what was going on save that there had been a full revolt against the creatures who had once been the unquestioning masters.

Not a revolt, manling, though some would like to believe it so, said the guardian who favored Dru.

The darker one stirred, but it did not respond to its opposite.

The mock dragon continued. Your people must make one last journey to a place where they can grow in strength and mind. Once you have been placed there, we will leave you be. It is not right that we interfere.

Except when necessary, the wolf whispered in Dru’s mind. Only when necessary. It sounded too much like Melenea in tone and personality. He wondered whether it was touching upon his own memories, forming for itself a personality. Only those guardians who had actually spoken with him seemed to radiate any image of self. The rest were like ants, identical in feeling and response despite earlier claims of individuality.

The guardians had made their decision. He would have to return to Nimth immediately and inform those still there, but if—

They know, his guardian interrupted. All Vraad save the Tezerenee now know. Such was how it was decided.

“What do you even need us for?” he shot back, unable to keep the helplessness and the bitterness from his voice. Why had he struggled so hard just for this?

Because if you had not, we would have chosen not to interfere and the Vraad race would have died out, a failure for the second and final time.

Founder law, the wolf chuckled.

“You’ll need me for the Tezerenee,” Dru suggested out loud, so that all could hear. “Barakas will trust me more than anyone else here, even his kin. He’ll know that the Tezerenee can rejoin the Vraad race without fear of reprisal.” Hopefully, he added to himself.

It may be that the guardians had caught the last, for the mock dragon’s tone lightened a bit. It could not be done without you… and this one as well.

Gerrod stirred and what little of his face was visible was pale with fright. “Me?”

You, came the very final reply.

With that, the world blinked, sending Dru, who had almost expected this, and Gerrod, who had not, to a place of carnage… where they found themselves standing before the startled yet fearsome gaze of the Lord Barakas Tezerenee.

XXII

“DRU ZEREE. GERROD. I hardly thought to see either of you again.”

“Yes, it’s a pity, isn’t it, Father?” the patriarch’s son retorted.

“You’d do better than to speak that way to me.”

Dru ignored the exchange, surveying the carnage that the surviving clan members had still not succeeded in clearing. Bodies dotted the area, both Vraad and Seeker. Not surprising, the Tezerenee had taken their toll on the attackers. They would not survive a second major assault, however, not as reduced in numbers as they were.

“Lochivan came to you, didn’t he, Zeree?” the Lord Tezerenee asked, his eyes burning as he noted Dru’s interest in his losses. “He has lost his nerve.”

“He’s regained his sanity, O conqueror father!”

“Gerrod, be quiet.” Dru wondered why the guardian had chosen to include the hooded Vraad in the confrontation. For that matter, there was no sign of the guardian itself. He could sense its presence, but it had not yet made itself known to Barakas. Why?

The younger Tezerenee quieted. His father glared at the two, as if actually wondering why they had come. Having silenced, for the time being, the argument, the robed sorcerer chose to press on. “We’ve crossed, Barakas.”

“Obviously.” Several armored figures, now aware of the newcomers, had been drifting toward the trio. More than one pointed at Gerrod. Dru began to understand why the shrouded Vraad was with him. Gerrod was one of them, but had been abandoned back in Nimth. Now, he stood in their midst, facing his father. He served as a beacon, something they recognized from a distance that they knew should not be here.

“Not like you,” Dru continued. “We found a true path, one that allowed us to cross physically. More are coming. The entire Vraad race will soon be across.”

The patriarch’s face was as pale as bone. “You have my congratulations and my growing impatience. Why don’t you tell me why you’re truly here? Terms for surrender? Is that what you want? Do you think we will turn our lives over to those who would love nothing less than our living hides stretched across racks where they could inflict us