Legends of the Dragonrealm, Vol II - By Richard A. Knaak Page 0,416

was how I ended up in all this madness, tracking the trail he left behind.”

Looking at Darkhorse, Sharissa was horrified to see that he was becoming transparent. “Darkhorse! What’s happening to you?”

“I… fear that I have almost exhausted my… myself. My being. The drag-onlord… was… not lacking in his… his enthusiasm when he punished me!” He eyed Barakas, who stared at the trees without seeing them. “I cannot say I regret his present circumstances! I would wish him worse, but I know you would not care for such hate!”

“I can understand your bitterness, Darkhorse. Don’t think I can’t.”

“Perhaps. That does not matter now. Give me but a moment and I will send you on the final leg of your journey.” The ebony stallion slowly rose, and his form solidified a bit.

She was not certain she understood. “Where are you sending us?”

He snorted. “Where else? Home to your father and his mate!”

“But…” Her eyes met Faunon’s. “But what about you?”

“What about me?” the elf asked, moving closer. In the background, she saw Gerrod turn in open disgust.

“Can you make it back to your people?”

“If I was going there.” He gave her a weary smile. “I thought I was going with you.”

It was what she wanted to hear, but she still could not accept his decision.

“You probably won’t be able to return here! The ocean voyage is deadly!”

“I have no reason to return, Sharissa. The elders were hardly even interested in my expedition. As far as they were concerned, this was the latest in a series of new masters of the land, nothing unusual. They agreed to our going more because they knew we would go anyway than because they really cared.” He cut off any further objections with a long kiss.

Sharissa reluctantly broke away. “Then there’s nothing holding us back. Darkhorse can—”

Gerrod, buried so deep in his cloak that his features were almost indistinguishable, interrupted. “I have a boon to ask of you, Sharissa.”

“What?” Now that it had been decided that they were all leaving, she wanted to be done with the spell. To see her father and stepmother… to live a peaceful existence, at least for a time…

“Take care of my father. In his present state, he is useless to all, even himself. Someone needs to watch over him.”

“And what about you, Vraad?” Faunon asked, turning a critical eye on the warlock. “Where will you be that you cannot care for him?”

“Here. I am not going with you.”

Even the elf was stunned by the answer. Sharissa took a step toward Gerrod, but he retreated a like distance. Finally, she was able to ask, “But why? Why would you want to stay here?”

The sorceress had no way of knowing if he looked her in the eye or not, so dark were the shadows summoned up by the deep hood. “My interests lie here. My studies and such. Besides, my presence will only be a further strain on the powers of the demon horse.” He shrugged, trying to be nonchalant where Sharissa could see by his very posture he was the opposite. “I have nothing I need return to.”

Knowing Gerrod as she did, Sharissa understood the futility of trying to argue him out of his decision. Yet, she tried to come to him again, wanting to at least bid him a proper farewell and thank him for all he had suffered for her sake. The warlock would have none of her thanks, though. When she took another step, he shook his head.

“No time! He grows weaker and weaker, and all of us should be gone before the dragons or something else finds us.”

At mention of him, Darkhorse steadied himself. He did not look at the hooded Tezerenee, but rather at those who were going.

“Where will you go, Gerrod?” Sharissa asked, wanting, at the very least, that much from him.

He would not give her that satisfaction, only saying to her, “I have an idea.” The warlock raised a hand in farewell. “Good luck to you, Sharissa. I shall always remember you and your father.”

“The time has come!” the eternal announced. “This will be our only chance, so prepare yourselves!”

Sharissa slipped her hand into Faunon’s and drew the silent Barakas to them with her other. She met the elf’s smile with one of her own, but then turned to stare at Gerrod one last time.

The warlock was already gone.

“Ger—” she started.

The world winked out of existence—and winked back in the next moment.

“We are here,” announced a very weary voice. “I’m sorry. This is the