Chapter Five: CONFRONTATION

"He's crazy, that's what his problem is." Rigel's response to Clairvoyant's attempt to comfort him came forth like an angry growl. They were in Dreamdancer's stall. The stable boy squatted before the mare, kneading her injured leg with strong, gentle hands. "Ho, little Dancer-- I'm sorry, baby." His voice went tender as he soothed the pony, who had startled at his harsh tones. He dipped his hands into the warm, minty liniment, and returned to the massage. There was some lingering tension in the muscle tissue, but otherwise the leg was well healed.

Voy was quiet for a moment, as he leaned against the wall of Dancer's stall and watched Rigel work. The dark thoughts that passed through the seer's mind revealed themselves upon his striking features. "You might be closer to right than you realize."

Rigel looked up, his obsidian eyes flashing with nervous curiosity. "What do you mean, Voy?" His hands continued their work automatically, and the muscles in the pony's leg and shoulder began to relax.

Clairvoyant picked at a piece of straw, his lips pursed in intense thought, and lowered his body to sit in the cushiony bedding of the stall. His answer came forth in a cautious whisper, as if he were afraid the very air might overhear and betray his confidence. "King Yrren is stubborn, headstrong, often arrogant. But he is not irrational. Not normally. He thinks, Rigel--he's a fine leader who thinks through everything he does or says. When he flies off the handle--and I'm not saying that it doesn't happen occasionally--he does it with good reason. Right now he isn't thinking."

Rigel dried his hands on a soft, white towel. He packed an herbal poultice around the mare's foreleg, and wrapped the limb with clean linen bandages. His gaze shifted from his work to the young sorcerer, his expression tense with concern. "What are you saying? Yrren's not in his right mind?" The extreme danger of the possibility caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.

The young horseman stood, removing buckets and supplies from the stall. He retrieved a pail of warm bran mash from the aisle, and dumped it into Dreamdancer's feeder. The mare dove thankfully into the meal--her discomfort was relieved and her appetite restored. He sat in the soft straw alongside his friend, and awaited the carefully worded response.

"You presented us all with a startling revelation this morning, Rigel." Voy searched the younger boy's face as he spoke. "None of us--myself included--had any idea that you were Dreamsharing with Aury."

The chiseled shadows that etched Rigel's brooding features made him appear older than his fourteen years. "I never gave it much thought. It's just something we do--we've always done, ever since I can remember. It's just part of what Aury and I are."

"No one ever told you the significance of that talent? I suppose people have avoided talking about the bonding, not wanting to encourage it." He shifted sideways, meeting Rigel face to face. "You said what you did this morning because you thought it would provide another clue to help Aury. I realize that. But more importantly, you managed to knock the doubts right out from under the people who've been denying your relationship with the Princess. You gave us all undeniable proof that you and she are truly bonded."

Rigel's eyes shifted to the mare and back to Clairvoyant, lit deep within by surprise. "Are you serious?"

Voy smiled. "I'm always serious. Don't you hear the way Aury's always scolding me for that?" The smile faded and his face regained its thoughtful expression. "There are a lot of magics in this land. They come in all forms, in all combinations. I doubt that any two people in Chimopotamia who possess talents have them in the same combination of types and strengths. Dreamsharing is one of the rarest of these, Rigel. In fact, according to what Clarion revealed after the meeting broke up, there has been no incident of Dreamsharing for as long as he can recall."

Rigel tried to imagine how long that must be. He knew that Clarion was centuries old. He had been Palace Mage for generations of the royal family's history, and it was said that no one in Chimopotamia had lived longer or seen so much as he. The boy swallowed against the awkward lump that was rising in his throat and began to fiddle with the straw.

"You must know that those of us trained in wizardry put a lot of stock in the ancient legends. Sometimes I wonder if we aren't the only ones who actually believe most of them anymore. We know that just because a phenomenon hasn't occurred for a long time, that doesn't mean it's dead. The tales say that Dreamsharing only occurs between bonded souls--and is the ultimate proof of that bond."

Questions pounded through Rigel's mind. He stared into Voy's youthful face, wondering how the seer's countenance could seem so calm when his own spirit was in such turmoil. "So, why does this make you think King Yrren is crazy?"

"You used the word `crazy', not me," Clairvoyant said. "No, he isn't crazy--but the way he reacted to what you revealed this morning is proof that he isn't thinking straight. I can tell you exactly what his reaction to the Dreamsharing should have been. If he were behaving normally he would have gone very quiet. His face would have shown his anger, but he'd have kept his voice under tight control. He would have listened to what you said, putting the Princess's danger first in his mind, and then consulted with Clarion about the Dreamsharing afterward. Instead he became violent. There has been an interruption of his normal way of thinking."

Dreamdancer, finished with her meal, approached the boys and nuzzled Rigel's chest. The youngster wiped away the sticky mash the pony smeared on his shirt. His hand moved to the underside of her chiseled head, and ran caressing fingers up and down the concave of her lower jaw. She closed her dark eyes and pressed her face against the boy's shoulder with a blissful nicker.

"So what's causing this, Voy?"

"I think he's being influenced. The same power that tampered with the saddle and is blocking our attempts to trace it has put some sort of control on King Yrren's mind. As dangerous as the situation seemed before, this magnifies that danger tremendously."

Fear gripped Rigel's heart as the seer's words sank in. He reached for Auria. Her annoyance rang through his mind.

"I can't stand this. I have an armed guard hovering over me, watching me like a hawk. Momma says Father still won't let me see you. Rigel what are we going to do?"

"I don't know Aury, but I think we had better play along for now. We still have this contact, and you know I'll be right here if you need me. Voy just told me that he thinks whoever cut your girth has control on your father's mind somehow. This whole thing is really dangerous. Try not to mind that guard so much, starshine."

Rigel felt the fright course through the Princess's spirit as her thoughts echoed back to him. "Father's being controlled?"

Clairvoyant's mind entered the conversation, and Rigel turned to him, startled by the intrusion. "Influenced, might be a better word. The King is too powerful for actual control, but he isn't responding rationally to this whole thing. We have to be real careful. Oh--sorry for butting in."

"That's okay," they forgave him in unison.

Rigel burrowed deep into Aury's center. He sought out the emotions that tormented her, with a fierce desire to protect her from them. Fear and confusion churned her soul, and were outlined by the pain of their separation. His heart was pounding in synchrony with hers. "Try to stay alert. Let's keep in contact as much as we can. That way I'll feel like I'm watching over you, too. Have you seen your father?"

"He came up after your meeting. I could tell he was upset, but he didn't mention you or the meeting at all. All he said was that I'm going to be under an extra guard for a while. My mother told me after he left that he still wouldn't let me be with you."

Rigel turned a hopeless gaze to Clairvoyant. He doubted that even the apprentice's amazing powers could help them this time. The King of Chimopotamia himself had succumbed to the evil that was haunting them. Voy placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

Rigel tried to console the Princess. "It's just for a while. We're all going to work to get this mess straightened out, and then things will get back to normal." The uncomfortable feeling that he didn't believe his own words disturbed the deep places of his mind.

Footsteps approached in the aisle of the stable, and Rigel looked up to see four heads appear over the stall door. His brother's snowy hair poked around the corner, topping a countenance drawn taut with worry. Behind him hovered Chartreuse and the twins. Their faces were lined with fearful concern--the aura of sadness that emanated from them touched Rigel's troubled heart.

"Word just got around," Altair said. "Pa told Mother about the meeting. I overheard. The girls came to me, because they could sense something was really wrong, and no one was talking."

Chartreuse poked her head past Altair and looked from Rigel's face to Clairvoyant's. Anxiety drew her features tight. "Please tell us everything, you guys. What the heck is going on around here? Father's in a rage, Momma is worried sick, and all Aury does is cry."

Clairvoyant nodded and rose, brushing scraps of straw from his clothing. "They should know," he said, as he reached over the stall door for the latch.

Rigel followed the mage out of the stall, and secured the door behind him. They left the stable to seek the cool shade behind the building, where bales of fresh, green alfalfa had been piled along the wall. The youngsters chose the hay for a perch and Voy relayed the details of what had happened over the past two days.

Violet ran a shaky hand through her wild purple curls when the seer had finished. "Stars. This is scary."

Lilac, arms wrapped tightly around her ribs, looked from Rigel to Clairvoyant and back. "How can we help? We sure can't just sit here and do nothing."

Chartreuse spoke up, and her voice was trembling. "Maybe we shouldn't get involved. I mean, this is dangerous." The fear for her little sister sparkled like bright embers in Treuse's green eyes. As fond as all the royal daughters were of Aury, Treuse was closest to her in age and spirit. "And if Father is being controlled somehow, well. . . . " Her voice trailed to silence as the others turned to face her.

Lilac reached out and took her sister's hand. "I know it's scary--we're all afraid. I'm sure there isn't much we can do, but if there is anything at all. . . . " She turned to Clairvoyant, questions haunting her features.

"You can let Clarion or me know of anything unusual or suspicious," Clairvoyant said. "If we're all watching with whatever powers we possess, perhaps this dark magic that's threatening Aury won't be able to slip past us unnoticed."

Chartreuse nodded, her fears struggling against the desire to help her sister. "I can do that. I'll stay with Aury as much as I can, Voy. The two of us together will know if anything strange is around."

"Good idea, Treuse. In fact that will figure into my next point." Clairvoyant smiled encouragement and went on. "The most emotionally difficult--and perhaps most dangerous-- aspect of what is going on here is the separation of Aury and Rigel."

The others, including Rigel, turned frightened curiosity toward the mage. "Why is that so dangerous, Voy?"

"Think about it," the seer explained. "With the instinctive connection you have with the Princess, who would be more in tuned to anything that might be threatening her? By ensuring that you and she are separated, her attacker has cut off an important guard to her safety."

Every muscle in Rigel's body tensed as the import of Clairvoyant's words penetrated his mind.

Altair, his musical voice colored with apprehension, put words to their fears. "Separating Aury and Rigel was a deliberate act?"

Clairvoyant voiced his suspicions, his gaze intent upon the cloud-covered ground between his feet. "I believe so. I think it was the first step of a carefully laid out plan. I'm very afraid of what the second step might be. Chartreuse was quite correct when she suggested that Aury shouldn't be left alone. She has her palace guard with her at all times, but most of the men in the King's regiment have minimal talents at best when it comes to magic. While they could easily fend off a physical attack, an attack by a wizard would render them helpless. I doubt they would even feel it coming in time to get help to Aury's side. You girls," he turned to the sisters, "Are all considerable talents. The royal blood of Chimopotamia has always carried strong power with it. You'd be much better at sensing trouble than the guards would."

"Besides," Rigel added, his expression dark with fear and soft with worry for his bonded friend, "Aury's feeling real lonely at the moment. She could use the company." He raised his gaze to Chartreuse and the girl smiled and nodded.

"I think I'll see if she wants to go to the kennels with me. Momma told me that one of the gazehounds had puppies this morning. I know that will cheer her up."

"Puppies will cheer anybody up," Violet agreed, and sent her sister an encouraging smile.

Rigel turned back to Clairvoyant. "What else can we do, Voy? I mean, I don't have the powers of royal blood, but. . . . " The look on his friend's face made the words fade in his throat.

The young seer's expression had misted and his indigo eyes had lost their sharp focus. It seemed as if Clairvoyant had left them for a momentary venture to another plane. A shiver ran the length of his tensed body, and the mage blinked to clear the haze from his vision. His attention snapped to Rigel's face and he smiled knowingly. "You underestimate yourself, my friend. Your true strength has yet to be revealed--and will make itself known before long. But go on--I'm sorry to interrupt."

Rigel stared at his mysterious friend. Confusion colored the boy's words. "I, um . . . I was going to ask what we can all do to help you and Clarion track down the person responsible for this."

"You'll do nothing!" An angry voice boomed from around the corner of the barn, and King Yrren strode into view. "I thought my daughters were up to something when I saw them headed this way."

Clarion followed on the King's heels, wringing his aged hands in front of him. The old mage's eyes locked on the face of his young assistant and Rigel sensed a secretive exchange pass between them.

"How dare you drag my daughters into this?" Yrren went on, fists clenched at his side. His body quaked with the effort to hold his voice under tight control. The man was an active volcano. Molten fury boiled within the depths of him. It threatened to erupt at any moment and destroy everything in its path. Rigel trembled with the certainty that he was in extreme personal peril.

"Sir." He strained with the effort to keep his voice from shaking and replied in a respectful tone, desperate to assuage the King. "Your daughters came to me. They're just worried about Princess Auria."

"Leave them out of this," Yrren growled, "And you stay out of it, too." His electrified glare shot from one child to the next and back to Rigel. "This is not a matter for children. You've already placed the heir to the throne in danger of her life. I'll not have you threatening my other daughters as well."

Rigel could not believe what he was hearing. Could the King's tainted thoughts hold him to blame for the threat to the Princess? He felt Clairvoyant tense beside him as the threat of explosion built within, and the young wizard's mind brushed his, urging restraint. Voy's thoughts were tinged with shock over Yrren's irrational words, and Rigel caught the look of fear on Clarion's face as the old mage touched his monarch's sleeve.

"Sire, the boy had nothing to do. . . . "

"Shut up, old man," Yrren snapped and he shook off the wrinkled hand. "This boy has been trying to undermine the heirship to the throne since the day Auria was born. Who knows what evils control his mind? His motives are plain. He has always wanted Auria for himself-- always monopolized my child's affections." The King took a furious step toward the children seated on the hay.

Rigel leapt to his feet, his fear swept aside by the fierce tide of his anger.

"Rigel, no," Clairvoyant whispered hoarsely and jumped up behind the stable boy.

"I can't believe you're saying this," the teen shouted into the face of the King. Craning his neck to look the towering monarch in the eyes, Rigel was on fire with defensive rage. "I would never hurt Aury. I've never tried to take her away from you or to make her love only me. Neither Aury nor I can help the connection between us, and it isn't our fault that you've always been too pig-headed to accept it."

"Rigel. . . . " Voy warned, tugging at the youngster's arm. The boy snatched his elbow from the mage's grasp and took another step toward the King.

Yrren's face was scarlet with fury as he opened his mouth to speak.

Rigel cut him off. "It's you that's putting Aury in more danger by not allowing us to be together. And if Aury doesn't love you the way you want her to, well, that's your fault, too--not mine. You've never done anything but try to stand in the way of our bond. How can she love you completely when all you ever do is hurt her?"

Yrren was speechless. He stared agape at the insolent youngster before him, fists clenching and unclenching. Clarion grasped his arm and pulled him back a step, and Rigel could feel the magic flow from the old sorcerer as he tried to cool the King's anger. Fear saturated the air--every face was white as the assembled group awaited the eruption they were sure would follow.

The explosion did not come. King Yrren's mood shifted from crimson to black as night and his eyes narrowed to threatening slits. "Keep this boy away from my daughters." His voice vibrated with dangerous undertones that chilled Rigel's blood.

"Yes, Sire," Clarion whispered at his elbow. His sharp mind speared Rigel with warnings as he pushed the youth several steps back with a magical shove.

Clairvoyant's hand gripped his arm, and Rigel could feel the mage's psychic tug calling him to retreat. The youth's jaw was clenched. He was fully prepared to fight for his Princess and their bond should Yrren attack. Behind him, Chartreuse's breath burst forth in a series of sobs, and Rigel heard her sisters' attempts to quiet her.

The sound of his child crying snatched Yrren's attention from Rigel's angry face, and his expression altered. As compassion brushed his soul, something released its hold on him. His features dulled with confusion and he turned to Clarion. "See to it. Prevent contact between this boy and my daughters." His anger had been muted by Chartreuse's tears, and Rigel's heightened senses caught an undercurrent of regret. The King looked at the three girls sitting with Altair on the hay. Their fear of him was evident in their tear-clouded eyes. "Home. Now," he commanded in a mournful voice and vanished. With a glance of warning toward Rigel, Clarion followed his King.

Lilac sniffed back a tear. "We'd better obey," she said, her voice laced through with conflicting emotions.

Rigel had upset the girls by confronting their father. Fear, disbelief, and a tinge of respectful awe flowed across the stable yard from them. "See you," he mumbled, and the trio of royal sisters vanished into the afternoon sunshine.

Altair stood and approached his brother. The crimson hue of anger colored his words as he said, "You realize you probably just got our family banished from the Kingdom, don't you?"

Rigel refused to reply and turned away from his twin, mouth set in a stubborn line. Altair walked away, his head shaking and his shoulders slumped.

Clairvoyant carefully hid all emotion from his tones when he spoke. "Well, the fact that King Yrren didn't kill you outright is proof that he still isn't totally controlled by whatever is influencing him. Honestly, though, I wonder if it wasn't the presence of his daughters that really prevented your demise."

Rigel shot Voy an icy look. "I'm supposed to just stand here and take it forever?"

Clairvoyant folded his arms and tilted his head. He gazed for a long time into the fiery glare of the stable boy. "You know," he finally said, "In a way Yrren might be right about you being a threat to the Princess."

Anger flamed in Rigel's soul, and he fought to control furious tears as he snapped back, "And what is that supposed to mean?"

"If you like to live this dangerously as a boy, Rigel, what in the Stars is it going to be like when you're a man?"

Before the dark haired youth could reply, Clairvoyant turned from him and faded with a sparkle of faint blue light into the empty air. Rigel stood alone in the stable yard. The pressure built behind his burning eyes, and he could no longer prevent his restraints from dissolving. His body shook with a shuddering sigh as he allowed the angry tears to fall.