James Wyatt: Dragon war

Ashara cleared her throat. "My House, the Arcane Congress, and Kelas worked together to construct the Dragon Forge. At first, we-House Cannith-believed that it was simply a new source of magical power, something that would increase our production, create new weapons. Kelas offered it to us in exchange for our support in his attempt on the throne. We were not initially aware of the role that Gaven's dragonmark would play in the use of the Forge, and we-well, I overlooked the risk of the fiend's evil corrupting the power."

"But the Forge was actually a weapon," Cart said. "It created that storm we saw and sent it toward the Reaches. So Kelas planned to use it against the barbarians?"

"And the Eldeen Reaches would shower praise on their Aundairian liberators," Aunn said.

"So that's what the queen was here to see," Ashara added. "A demonstration of this new weapon Kelas offered her. But why…"

"Why should Kelas offer the Forge to the queen if his goal was to overthrow her?" Aunn said.

Ashara nodded. "Exactly."

"To win her confidence, her trust. To make Thuel look bad, shown up by one of his underlings."

"Thuel?" Cart asked.

"Thuel Racannoch," Aunn said, "the head of the Royal Eyes. Sea of Fire, I've just committed treason by telling you that." He pressed his hands to his temples, trying to sort out the jumble of thoughts. "Why is Jorlanna involved in all this?" He looked at Ashara, who frowned. "Why chase after power in Aundair, rather than trying to unify House Cannith? She already has holdings in the Reaches and Thrane as well as Aundair. Why limit herself?"

"Well," Cart said, "if Aundair retakes the Reaches, she hasn't lost much, has she?"

"She's playing a dangerous game," Ashara said. "She's making such a break with tradition that she could lose some of her own enclaves, leave them open for Merrix or Zorlan to step in."

House Cannith was fragmented, Aunn knew. It hadn't split like House Phiarlan had, with the Thuranni family forming its own house, but many people believed it was just a matter of time. Jorlanna controlled the house enclaves in the northwest, but Merrix d'Cannith held sway in the south from his headquarters in Sharn, and Zorlan oversaw the house operations in the east. Anything that tipped the balance of power among the three factions could lead to a true schism, or to one baron finally claiming victory over the others. Ashara was right-it was a dangerous game.

"But I don't think that's all," Ashara said. "I think it has to do with the Dragon Forge."

"How so?" Aunn asked.

"Well, what if Jorlanna could rule a nation that didn't need the other dragonmarked houses? What if Aundair had its own lightning rail and airships, its own banks and security, its own message stations, all operated by the Cannith family?"

"Using dragonmarks stolen from the other houses," Aunn said. "With the Dragon Forge."

"Exactly."

"So it's not a question of choosing national power over the economic power of a dragonmarked house. She wants both."

"Who wouldn't?"

Aunn drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. "So what about the dragons? What was the dragon king doing here?"

"Malathar was interested in the Prophecy," Cart said, "and in Gaven's mark. Kelas spoke of the Forge as a refinery, separating the gold of the dragonmark from the dross of Gaven's flesh."

"Kelas certainly had an interest in the esoteric side of it all. This torc, the Ramethene Sword, the Prophecy-they were all part of it."

At Aunn's mention of the Prophecy, Cart turned his head to look at Gaven, and Aunn's eyes followed. Gaven hadn't moved.

"I think there's only one person left alive who can help us sort out that part of Kelas's plans," Aunn said.

"But in the meantime," Cart said, "Aundair is at war."

"And we're still stranded in the middle of the wilderness," Ashara added, "four days from Arcanix or Vanguard Keep and not likely to be welcomed in either place."

"I'm sure we can find supplies in the camp," Aunn said. "Certainly enough for a short journey."

Ashara frowned. "But all the soldiers who fled the camp when we fought Malathar are sure to make their way back eventually, with their eyes on the same supplies."

"We'll need to be careful," Cart said.

"What were you two talking about?" Aunn said. "Before I came back?"

Ashara's face turned red again and she looked away.

Cart answered, "Xandrar."

"Xandrar? That's at least ten days from here. And the wrong direction."

"What do you mean?" Ashara said. "Where were you thinking of going?"

Aunn blinked. "I… I suppose I assumed we were going back to Fairhaven, sooner or later."

"Why?"

Why? Aunn realized that he didn't know. He always had returned to Fairhaven-was it simple habit? His mission accomplished, he'd return to the Royal Eyes and await his next orders? What would happen now that Kelas was dead? Would he go to Thuel and tell him of Kelas's treason? Warn him that the queen's life might still be in danger? Wouldn't Thuel just throw him in prison or have him killed?

When he had killed Kelas, Aunn had dealt the final blow to his old life. And he didn't know yet what his new life would be.

"Wherever we're going," Ashara said, "how do we take him with us?" She nodded toward Gaven.

"I can carry him," Cart said.

"Even you'd get tired with that much weight on your shoulder for ten days."

"No, I wouldn't."

"So we get him to Xandrar," Aunn said, "or Fairhaven, or wherever we're going-then what?"

"I hoped you had an answer in mind," Cart said.

"I don't. I don't have any answers." He stood up. "I need to think."

"Think quickly," Ashara said. "People will start trickling back to the camp any time, now that the storm has died."

Aunn stalked away from the pair and found himself beside the blue-gray monolith again. He leaned his head against the cool, smooth stone and tried to think. Only a short time ago, he'd been filled with a sense of purpose-a driving force that spurred him into action, the goal of destroying the Dragon Forge and ensuring that the evil of the Secret Keeper didn't escape into the world. Not only had he been driven into action, he felt he'd been helped along in that action, supported and guided by the Messenger. He'd been helped in the Labyrinth, given purpose by the Traveler or Kalok Shash or the ghost of Dania or some other presence. He needed to find that same sense of purpose. And that same source of help.

Help me, he thought. Please.

Be not afraid. I will be with you.

Had he heard the Messenger's voice again in his thoughts, or just remembered it speaking before? He couldn't tell. He put his hand to the torc at his neck, and felt a tingling chill course through his body.

It was still there, he realized-the magic that had fueled the Dragon Forge. It sprang into his mind, not a knot or weave of magic, but a raging fire, alive and unbound. It still burned in the heart of the monolith, and in the silver torc around his neck, and in himself. It was magic as he'd never seen it before, power he could taste but didn't dare touch, a force and a presence that left him awed and humbled.

Slowly a purpose took shape in his mind again.

"I'm returning to Fairhaven," Aunn announced. "I'll take Gaven with me-there has to be a mule or horse around here that can carry him there for me. You two don't have to come-maybe it'd be best if you don't. I can hide myself, but I'm not sure I can hide you."

Ashara's eyes widened. "And what are you going to do in Fairhaven?" she said.

"Aundair's in danger, thanks to me. I need to warn them, to make sure the queen and her generals take the threat of the barbarians seriously. I also need to find help for Gaven. And I want to find out more about Kelas's plans. There were others involved in his plot, and someone else might be ready to pick up where he left off."