“My brother told me what I did not see at first, that I had fallen prey to what has happened to only a few others in the past. I had lived among you for so long that I had come to love as you do.”
“Why?”
She frowned, unsure exactly what he was asking, and then replied, “You embody the very beliefs of Paladine. You are brave, kind, never hateful. I came to love you for you, nothing else.”
“Ah, the happy lovers.”
The cold, triumphant voice woke Huma from his stupor. It could not be, not here . . .
Galan Dracos, looking much as he had earlier, materialized before the knight and the dragon maiden and smiled. “I would have made my presence known sooner, but I did not care to interrupt such a beautiful scene.”
Gwyneth gave a cry that no human could have been capable of and would have struck him, but Huma was already moving and barred her way. The knight succeeded in taking only a few steps before his leg gave out and he fell to the ground. Only then did he remember that the figure before him was an illusion. He silently cursed his own stupidity.
The renegade laughed. “I’ve come to add to your miseries, Huma. I’ve come to repay you for the loss of Crynus. I must admit, his insanity grew unpredictable in the end. But he was my best commander and I shall miss him. Pity.”
Kaz and Bennett, alerted by the voice of one they knew all too well, came racing around the corner. The illusory Dracos raised a hand and they halted, as if striking a wall.
“An eye for an eye, you pathetic mortal.” Dracos raised his hands, and something began to materialize before them. It was not until it was nearly fully formed that Huma recognized it.
“Magius!”
They had tortured him. His face was a bloody pulp, and one eye was swollen shut. His robes were in tatters, and Huma was surprised to see that they were white, not red. One arm was bent at an impossible angle, and neither leg seemed in the least functional. Magius forced himself up with his good arm.
“Hu—Huma.” Several of his teeth were missing. “I was right—in the end.”
Dracos smiled indulgently. “He babbles like that occasionally.”
With great effort, Magius turned around and spat on the garments of the renegade. Galan Dracos became furious and stretched an open palm toward his captive. Magius screamed as his body rippled from the renegade’s torture.
Gwyneth moved forward. “Test your spells against me, Galan Dracos.”
The phantasm smiled nastily. “I have more power than you could believe, but I do not choose to use it now. I have merely come to show Huma the foolishness of his dreams of victory.”
Huma rolled forward, desperately trying to reach his tortured friend.
Magius shook his battered head. “Don’t, Huma. There’s no reason anymore. Defeat Dracos. That’s all I ask.”
Dracos raised both hands toward Magius. “Your time is up, my friend.”
With a gesture, the renegade sent shafts of green light at his captive. The shafts seemed to pass through Magius, and he screamed as if each were a steel lance. He wavered just a moment, then toppled forward to lie in a heap, very real, at Huma’s feet. His death was no illusion. Huma shouted and struggled to move. The others stepped forward, but Dracos was already fading out of existence.
“The price of defiance, Knight of Solamnia. The price you all will be paying before long unless you embrace my mistress.”
“No, renegade,” the knight said, raising himself high. “If anyone pays a price, it will be you.”
He could not tell if Dracos heard him, for the last was said to empty air.
Bennett and Kaz stumbled forward. The minotaur was the first to speak. “Huma! Are you all right?”
Without answering, Huma looked intensely at the crumpled form of Magius.
“If you seek vengeance, Huma, I will gladly stand at your side.” Kaz had never cared for the magic-user, but he had, in the end, gained respect for him.
Huma shook his head. “Vengeance is not the way.” He raised an arm. “Help me over to him.”
They did. It was odd, but now Magius looked at peace. He certainly had never looked this calm in life.
Putting the mage’s head down softly, Huma gritted his teeth and rose by his own power. Bennett and Kaz waited to assist him, but he waved them off. When he finally stood, Huma turned to face the three.
“I need your help —all three of you. It is time that the balance be restored. It is time that Galan Dracos and his dark lady learn that where there is evil, there must also be a balance with good. Magius was living proof of that. In his time, he wore the robes of all three Orders, ending with the white of Solinari. From evil to good, the pendulum swings both ways. It is time it swung to our side.”
“You intend to seek out the castle?” asked Bennett.
“I do. I ask your help and that of any surviving from our band. If you hesitate, I will understand, for it is surely suicide.”
Kaz seemed ready to burst with indignation. “If you expect me to turn from any battle, especially this one, you know nothing of my people. I may not be a Knight of Solamnia —” he ignored the sharp look from Bennett “ —but I know when I must fight. I will join you.”
Bennett nodded. “I will come. I am sure those who can still ride will say the same.”
“Give me a few minutes alone, then. Bennett, please tell the Grand Master what has occurred here. I would like him to give Magius a proper funeral no matter what occurs.”
“As you wish.”
Both the minotaur and the knight departed. Huma stared at the body of Magius, remembering simpler times. He was interrupted by a female voice.
“What of me, Huma? We were interrupted by this tragedy. I do not ask for a response to my feelings; I do not even hope that you can return my love. I will say this: In the matter of Galan Dracos and Krynn, I am still your partner. When you fly into the maw of the Dragonqueen, it will be I who will carry you.” She waited for a response. Huma could say nothing. “I will be waiting, ready when you are.”
He heard footsteps then. They faded until he could hear nothing more. Huma did not move from the spot until clerics from the temple came to carry Magius to a place where his body could rest.
Huma limped toward the group. All of the original members who could still ride were ready. There were eight men in all, and eight dragon steeds. Lord Avondale could not accompany them because of his wounds, but he was there to see them go.
Huma spoke first to Avondale. “Any word on your men?”
“Bogged down, but still very much alive. Your Grand Master has released the ground forces. They are advancing. The ogres have ground to a halt.”
Huma nodded numbly. He heard only part of what the Ergothian was saying. The renegade’s killing of Magius had been a desperate act, an attempt to break Huma’s spirit. Indeed, he felt broken and confused as he entered into this, his important and shining hour.
“Wish us luck, cleric.”
“I’ll do better than that.” Avondale reached up to his own neck and tugged on a chain. As he pulled it over his head, a medallion, buried under his armor and clothing, came into view. “Lean forward.”
Huma did. Avondale placed the medallion around his neck. “You are more deserving of this than I.”
The knight took the medallion in one hand and gazed at it. A representation of Paladine stared back at him. The medallion seemed comfortably warm in his hand. “My—gratitude.”
“Do not thank me. Find Dracos!”
Huma nodded and rose. The others were all mounted. Huma walked over to the silver dragon. He started to say something to her, thought better of it, and mounted. Someone handed him his lance. He noted that the footman’s lance was again strapped onto the silver dragon.