The wall of shields dissipated. Golgren and the others stood in the open.
“The ring is perhaps of a bit more use than you believed?” the half-breed mocked.
Tyranos angrily shook his head. “You still can’t win with that! Not when Safrag has Sirrion’s gift!”
“Safrag, yes …” Golgren thought about the Titan leader. Whatever matter awaited resolution between the half-breed and the master of the gargoyles, it was Safrag who possessed the Fire Rose. “It is a mistake I’ve made. Safrag has the key.”
“So now you intend to go after him?”
“Yes.”
The robed figure was not convinced. “I desire the Fire Rose, too, oh Grand Khan, but consider your choices carefully and ask a few questions.” Tyranos eyed Idaria. “Ask a lot of questions, like how she so easily managed to escape someone willing to plot for lifetimes to gain the Fire Rose?”
“There was nothing simple about my escape!” Idaria insisted.
“No? He left you alone with one pathetic guard easily swayed by your beauty and the giving of a name? He left Chasm chained but otherwise unguarded? I think your escape was anticipated! He wanted you to find your way back to Golgren here.”
“That is not true!”
Tyranos rubbed his jaw. “And for some reason, I feel as if you’ve left out something important about what happened, maybe why he bothered to keep you alive in the first place, as if you have been and still are of some use to him.”
The elf looked in desperation at Golgren. “I would never serve that creature!”
The half-breed’s face betrayed little of his true emotions as he answered, “I would never serve him either.” Golgren looked again to Tyranos. “And nothing matters now except to march upon Safrag, yes? To wrest the Fire Rose from him.”
“‘March upon’ him?” The spellcaster let loose a humorless laugh. He gestured at the four of them. “’Tis a sorry legion you’ll march at the head of!”
“The legions I will need, they will be ready to serve my purpose very soon if I beckon them … and you will help me, wizard.”
“I?” Tyranos looked genuinely puzzled. “And what legions are these that you speak of?”
The half-breed looked over his shoulder to the south.
The robed figure bared his teeth. “You are mad.”
Golgren nodded with the hint of a grim smile. “Yes, I am.”
Tyranos hefted the staff. “Well, we’re going nowhere for the moment. This thing has limited powers, and I’ve used it for a great many things today. I suggest temporary shelter.”
With reluctance, Golgren nodded.
The wizard turned to Chasm. “Find somewhere.”
A voice behind the half-breed commented, “To the west you’ll find what you seek.”
He turned.
There was no one there, but the voice had been that of the Solamnic.
“Something?” asked the wizard, gripping the staff like a weapon. Idaria and the gargoyle looked expectantly at Golgren.
“You heard nothing?” the half-breed asked.
“Only that damned, persistent wind,” Tyranos retorted. The elf and Chasm shook their heads.
“We go west,” Golgren declared, already starting off.
Idaria followed without comment. Chasm looked to his master, who shrugged. “As good a direction as any, I warrant.” Then with a frown, he looked back to where the citadel lay. “Better than some, actually.”
They walked for nearly an hour, wary for any sound of the return of the flock. However, though once they heard them far in the distance, the cries were headed away from them.
A smaller peak arose before the foursome. At first glance, the mountain appeared of no more interest than the rest, save that they would likely have to climb some part of it if they wished to continue in their current direction. Tyranos looked ready to say something, but Idaria suddenly cut him off.
“There! We must go there!”
Golgren eyed her, but the elf revealed no hint as to her reasoning. Yet he nodded and turned as she indicated.
And sure enough, in an obscure bend shadowed by the peak itself, they came across a narrow hole. For Idaria, there was no trouble slipping through, while the others needed to squeeze a bit.
Inside, though, they found themselves in a very serviceable cave that allowed the four to stretch out. The cave ended in a jagged wall with no passages. Some dried bones indicated it had been used at one point by some predator, but the bones were so old that it was unlikely the creature still lived there.
But in some ways more amazing than finding the cave was the discovery of a small stream of water dribbling out of the back wall. It coursed along for a few yards then spilled through a crack in the floor. Flanking the edges of the stream were more mushrooms of the edible type that Golgren and Idaria had seen elsewhere in the chain of mountains during their hunt for the Fire Rose, only they were the largest yet. There was more than enough for them to share, so the four ate greedily.
Slumber overtook them shortly after, despite even Golgren’s desire to stay awake. His last conscious glimpse was that of Idaria, whose mouth was pinched in what seemed some inner discomfort.
Thus, it was not surprising when he stirred to feel her next to him, her lips by his ear.
“My lord, I must speak.”
“Yes,” he whispered back as he gazed warily at the darkened forms of Tyranos and Chasm. “You must.”
“My lord, I said much, more even than I had intended, but still I withheld some knowledge from the wizard.”
Golgren silently nodded for her to go on.
“My lord, the shadowed one’s plotting goes even deeper. He hinted at one point that even your ascension to the throne could not have taken place without his covert actions.”
“He underestimates me. I do not underestimate him.
That will be his downfall.”
“But there-there is more-about me.”
“Yes and it is not for now.” Golgren eyed Tyranos.
“But-”
He finally met her gaze. In the dark, her eyes were almost luminescent. “We will speak of spies when this is done.”
Idaria shut her mouth. She stared unblinking at the half-breed for several telling seconds then turned her face away from him. The slave adjusted her position to lie at his side, as always.
“A promise has been made,” he whispered as he closed his eyes. “A promise will be kept.”
The elf’s body momentarily stiffened then relaxed. Idaria did not thank him, but her gratitude was obvious in her easier breathing.
Golgren briefly bared his teeth before resuming his sleep. To achieve the promise of which he had spoken, first he would have to regain his empire.
And that meant seeking an alliance with those who despised him even more than Safrag did.
“You are mad!” Tyranos growled under his breath. “I won’t be a part of such a scheme.”
Again, Golgren did not deny it: he might very well be mad. He had long before accepted that he probably was. Yet that madness also gave him advantage over his rivals. They would not always try to do what he would do.
And surely not even the gargoyles’ lord would expect such a move.
“You will take me there as I have requested,” he replied to the reluctant wizard. “You know you must.” He held out his hand. “Unless you would be willing to give me the staff?”
“Not even in trade for the signet. And if it wants to help you so much, why doesn’t it transport you?”
He did not know that Golgren had already attempted that feat. However, for whatever reason, the signet had not obliged. So Golgren needed the staff-and Tyranos, since the wizard would not part with it.
“It must be done now,” he told the spellcaster. “You cannot fear our destination that much, can you?”
They stood just outside the cave entrance. Day had not yet come, not that it would have made much difference in visibility, given the heavy shadows and clouds. Still, they had awakened early, well aware they would be better served making haste before even the slightest light appeared.