Chapter Four: YRREN'S FURY

"Aleia! Take Aury to her chambers," the King commanded. "Zale and the boy--to my meeting room." He vanished, leaving a rippling wake of anger in the air.

Queen Aleia reached for Auria and pulled her gently from the stable boy's arms into her own. Rigel's touch slid down her arms and lingered on her trembling hands. She looked into his face--her dainty mouth twitched and her eyes pleaded with him.

"Will you come see me when Father's done?" Aury's question was tinged with fear.

"I'll try." Doubt colored his words as he helped Aleia get Aury to her feet. "You know I'll be there if I can."

The Princess turned to follow the movement of her pony as Altair and his mother led Dancer toward the stables with slow, cautious steps. "She will be okay, won't she, Rigel?" Large, salty tears spilled down her soft cheeks, and Aury sniffled loudly.

The boy gave the Princess's hands an affectionate squeeze, and sent a psychic hug to reassure her. "She'll be fine, starshine. You took good care of her. She just needs time and rest. She'll feel better once she's tucked into her stall."

Aleia's quiet tones interrupted them. "It's time to go home, Aury."

Aury withdrew her hands from his, her fingertips resisting the efforts to break the comforting contact. "See you later."

The feel of her feathery touch lingered on Rigel's palms long after mother and daughter had faded into the morning air. The youngster turned to his father, who stared at the empty place where the royal pair had stood a moment before. Rigel was vaguely aware of the three sisters as they led their horses toward the stables. Clairvoyant and Clarion had gone, and an awkward silence thickened the air of the stable yard.

"Pa?"

The softly spoken word drew Zale's attention to his son. "I still don't understand, Rigel. Not fully," the man said. "But I realize now it's something more than just your stubborn streak tying you to the Princess. Her mother made me--oh, I don't know--feel something, I guess-- something between you and Auria that I never knew was there. And she's a good child, isn't she? She sure loves that pony."

"When Aury loves, she loves big." The boy's throat was tight with raspy emotion, and he coughed to clear it. "But if she doesn't like you, watch out." The corner of his mouth turned up with the hint of a grin, and his father smiled in return.

"Somehow I'd rather guessed that." The man chuckled, forcing laughter past the worry that shadowed his face. "I want to warn you, though--whatever it is that you and the Princess have goes against royal customs and tradition. Don't expect it to be an easy ride, son. But--well- -don't expect quite as much heartache from me anymore, either."

The boy reached a hand toward his father, who wrapped his large fingers around it. To Rigel's surprise, the man drew him in. Strong arms enclosed him in a rare, emotional embrace.

"Thanks, Pa," Rigel whispered when Zale released him.

The man nodded. "We'd better not keep the King waiting." He gathered his courage, and let his long strides carry him toward the palace. Rigel had to jog to keep up.


* * *


The meeting room of King Yrren took Rigel's breath away as he gazed wide-eyed around its splendor. A cathedral ceiling arched overhead. Winged horses, etched with gold, soared across its concave surface. The wood floors were polished to a sheen that glared against the eyes, muted here and there with embroidered carpets. Chairs of fine, dark wood were placed in meticulous arrangements--four had been set in a line before the enormous desk that dominated the room. The throne-like seat behind the desk was plush with velvet, offset by elaborate settings of gold and jewels.

The ancient desk--its polished surface gleaming like glass--was embossed in the center of the facing panel with the Chimopotamian Royal Seal. The golden silhouette of a pegasus horse, wings high and head raised in a trumpet of victory, flew across the surface of a great crescent moon. A five pointed star nestled between the points of the crescent--a beacon to guide the animal's flight. Rigel fixed his concentration on the familiar design, and tried to still the butterfly wings that fluttered against the lining of his stomach.

"Have a seat."

A voice near his elbow plucked at Rigel's attention. Clairvoyant sat in one of the chairs before the desk, smiling encouragement. He tried to recall if the apprentice wizard had been there when he'd entered the room. Rigel perched on the edge of the seat Voy had indicated, his back rigid and his muscles tense.

"Did you just get here?"

Clairvoyant nodded. "A minute ago. You look as nervous as a cat in a kennel, Rigel. I gather this is the first time you've been called before the King." He leaned forward to greet Zale-- who had taken the chair on the other side of Rigel--and then returned his attention to the StableMaster's son.

Rigel rolled his eyes toward the gilded ceiling. "Nervous doesn't half describe how I feel. What do you think is going to happen here?"

"King Yrren's consulting with Clarion now." Clairvoyant nodded toward a door in the corner. "That's his private office. This larger chamber is where he meets with people on an official basis. The other room's much less intimidating."

Rigel searched his friend's face. "Did he say anything to you? I mean, were you in there with them?" He glanced toward the closed door.

"Clarion asked me to come out and try to make you feel comfortable. As far as what's been said, I guess I should let the King cover that. He's very upset--frightened and worried over this danger to Aury." His expression clouded with concern. "I wouldn't be surprised. . . . "

Clairvoyant was cut short. The door in the corner opened and King Yrren strode into the room, followed by his loyal mage. At his entry, the small assembly rose respectfully to its feet. Yrren waved them all back to their seats, impatient to be on with business. Clarion settled into the end chair before the desk, his worried gaze intent upon the anxiety-lined face of the King. Yrren moved to his position in the throne-like chair behind the desk and wasted no time.

"First of all I want to make sure you realize," he fixed a stern glare on Zale's face, "That none of this changes the way I feel about your son's intentions toward the Princess Auria. My decree stands. I have reasons that go beyond what has happened today for the way I feel, and for the decisions I have made. None of those reasons are any concern of yours. Your only concern is to ensure that my wishes on the subject are obeyed. Due to the upsetting circumstances surrounding the boy's disobedience this morning, I will forgive his actions--once. From this moment on, he is to follow my decree to the letter, Zale, and you are to enforce that. Your son is not to pursue his personal relationship with the Princess. Is that understood?"

The King's words shot through Rigel like an arrow. His thoughts were reeling, and he did not hear his father's answer. A sickening lump rose in his throat as his feeble hopes died. The danger the Princess was in and the frightening events of that morning had made no difference. He felt Clairvoyant's mind brush his in an attempt to comfort him.

"I'm sorry, Rigel. He didn't say anything about that while I was in there."

Rigel's mind did not respond to the attempt to console him. He was too busy trying to get his emotions under control--trying to clear his thoughts so that he could listen--trying to resist the urge to leap from his seat and run out of the room in anger.

He reached out for Aury, and glanced around to see if anyone in the room could detect the mental contact he made with the Princess. Only Clairvoyant appeared to notice, and he respectfully turned his thoughts away.

"Rigel, I'm frightened." Aury's mind whispered into his as the channel opened between them.

"Are you okay?" he asked with concern, stroking her injury with his thoughts. "How's your head?"

"Not bad. Momma put a poultice on it that's nice and cool. It feels good. She's still here. She made me lay down, and she says she isn't going to leave me for a while."

"Good. You need her there." The knowledge that Queen Aleia was staying close by her daughter's side comforted him.

Rigel was encouraged that he and Aury could communicate without anyone being aware of the magic that passed between them. No matter what anyone did to separate them physically, their minds would continue their union. Only Clairvoyant's unique powers could detect the telepathy between Rigel and the Princess--and he was on their side.

"What's happening there right now?" Aury's question was tinged with apprehension.

Rigel did not want to tell her that her father was still determined to prevent their friendship, but he could not hide the emotions from her mind.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Father will never understand."

"It has to work out eventually, starshine. Our bond is strong enough to come through this mess. We'll wind up closer than ever."

King Yrren's deep voice broke Rigel's concentration, and he eased the intensity of his link to the Princess.

"I want to hear all pertinent facts leading up to this morning's events." The King's gaze fell on Voy. "Tell me again about this shadow."

Clairvoyant's voice was calm and soothing, and Rigel wondered if he might be employing some sort of magic to ease the tension in the room.

"Yes, Sire. Auria and I tried to bring the matter to your attention last evening. She was returning from a ride in the afternoon, and noticed a suspicious shadow in the corner of one of the stable buildings. The sighting lasted for only a moment, but it was accompanied by a premonition of danger."

Rigel spoke up, not sure whether the action would receive recognition or rebuke. He tried to keep his voice from cracking. "I saw it again this morning."

The King's attention turned directly to him for the first time, and Rigel could feel the conflict that tormented the man. Emotions flashed across his face in a confusing array. Yrren's struggle to control his reaction was betrayed by the tense line of his lips, the rigid set of his jawline. "Again this morning? So you admit that you were with my daughter on that ride. You saw the shadow yesterday also."

The boy nodded. "Yes, Sire. I saw it when Aury . . . Princess Auria did. And again this morning, after she fell from the horse. I didn't say anything then, because Clairvoyant had just discovered that the saddle girth had been cut, and things had gotten pretty confusing. It was only there for an instant--but I'm sure I saw it."

Yrren cleared his throat. His jaw tightened and he shut his eyes for a moment. He seemed to be struggling with the effort to respond to the boy without losing his temper. "Did this-- shadow--have any shape, form, movement?"

"No shape, Your Majesty, but it did move," Rigel's voice cracked despite his attempts to control it. A subtle force, like a nearly-visible shield, buzzed around him. He glanced around, searching for the source, and Clarion caught his eye. There was protection--and warning--in the brief touch that passed between them.

"As far as I know, My Lord," the old wizard said, "That shadow was the only indication that anything was amiss."

Rigel's mind darted to the dream he and Aury had shared, and he opened his mouth to speak. Before he could do so, Yrren had turned his attentions to Clairvoyant.

"What did you find when you examined that girth?"

"High magic, Sire." Voy's words were tainted with ominous undertones, and the King drew in a startled breath. Clarion spun toward him in shock, and Zale glanced around the room as if expecting some demon to leap from the shadows.

"What?" Yrren asked in a frightened exhale, and leaned toward Clarion's apprentice. "How can that be?"

"I don't know, but the imprint of that magic was unmistakable. Whoever had cut that girth had placed a blocking spell upon it so that I couldn't trace back to them. The magic was powerful. I tried numerous ways of getting past it, but I couldn't. Whoever is trying to hurt the Princess has been trained in a wizard's ways."

Rigel was trembling. His chest pounded with the desperate need to cling to Aury--to protect her. Their little mystery had suddenly escalated into a very dangerous game. When he grabbed for her mind, he found her shrouded in deep sleep, emotionally exhausted. His spirit hovered over hers like a wolf protecting its cub.

Silence held the room for several minutes, as all minds tried to assimilate Clairvoyant's frightening revelation. It was Yrren who rocked the eerie stillness.

"Then a wizard's battle it will be." His voice was hoarse with worry, and he turned his gaze to Clarion. "Do all you can, my friend. Work on this. Get past that barrier somehow. Both of you." He glanced to Voy and back to the ancient mage. "Find the demon behind the threat to my child, and when you do, bring him to me." Leaning back in his chair, King Yrren tilted his head regally and looked down upon the little gathering. His expression was dark and dangerous. "Is there anything else? No other piece to this puzzle?"

Rigel mustered his courage and opened his mouth, determined to speak before his words were swallowed by his fear. "Aury and I had a dream that she was kidnapped," he blurted out, and would not meet the looks that snapped toward him. "In the dream, she was an infant again, and we were in the nursery like we were on the day she was born. Hands appeared out of nowhere, and took her from me. She cried, and disappeared, and I searched for her mind, but I couldn't find her." He took a deep breath, and looked up. No one was breathing. The faces around him were blank with shock--every mouth agape. Rigel blinked in confusion.

Clairvoyant whispered, his voice filled with awe. "Dreamsharing? You and Aury dream together? Stars."

Clarion began to tremble with excitement. "Amazing." The ancient wizard's pale eyes searched Rigel's, wondrous respect gleaming in their depths. "Dreamsharing. I must look into this."

Zale stared at his son, shaking his head. "I had no idea. . . . " His words faded in a trembling whisper.

Yrren exploded. He leapt to his feet, and sent the enormous chair sailing backward with a violent crash. He slammed a fist into the desk. "This is not possible!" he roared, furious and out of control. "Dreamsharing is a myth. Bonding is a myth. This is . . . is . . . I won't have it!" The King paced the room in agitation, muttering oaths. He snatched the gold circlet from his brow and ran a shaking hand through his silvery hair. "I refuse to believe this!"

Rigel shrank backward into the cushioned chair, wishing he had never spoken. He'd had no idea that his admission would cause such confusion--such violent anger on the part of the King. To him, sharing dreams with the Princess had always been a simple fact of life. Never had he realized that there was anything phenomenal about it.

King Yrren turned on Rigel's father. "Keep that boy away from my daughter. Do you hear me, horseman?"

Zale nodded, his color tinged with the ashen shades of fear. "Yes, Sire. I'll see to it."

"You had better, man, or your family will be looking for a new home, and I'll be looking for a new StableMaster. Dreamsharing. Impossible!"

A shimmering flow of magic emanated from Clairvoyant as he erected a shield of protection between the terrified stable boy and the enraged monarch.

"Guards will be posted around the palace. Doubled--no, tripled in number." Yrren was out of control, his voice raised in frantic anger. "One will be with the Princess constantly, day and night. Clarion, you will instill a magical guard upon her as well. These safeguards will be to insure that no one gets near the child. No one. Neither her assailant. . . . "

A trembling finger thrust itself toward Rigel, who shrank back as if in fear of being struck.

" . . . Nor this boy." He glared at the dark haired teen, and the expression on his face was maniacal. "Stay away from my daughter!"

In a crimson flash of fury, the King vanished.