The sightless eyes still seemed to watch him. Huma turned to Magius for explanation.
“There were three more, but they perished in the grove. Somehow, battered and torn as it was, this one made it to the field, where he,” Magius indicated the earth elemental, “finished it. The damage is done. Galan Dracos knows where I am and probably knows that you are here as well. I have no choice.”
Huma listened, unsure what Magius was leading to.
“Come with me.” They returned to the other room, and Magius walked over to a wall on which hung a high, gold-trimmed mirror. It was oval, decorated in elaborate scrollwork. Magius tapped the staff on the floor and said, “Show me.”
“There. The peak in the center.” A huge mountain loomed in the foreground. Recognition came swiftly. It was the same mountain so prominently displayed on one of the two great tapestries. “When I was tested in the tower, I saw that—the mountain. I remembered it well, for it was the final site conjured. I did not know it was real until I found this place, and the tapestry in the hall. When I saw it hanging on the wall, I knew there was more truth to the scenes in my Test than even my instructors knew. This mountain means something to the war. It conceals something. It is the one puzzle I cannot fathom. I don’t even know its exact location, but it is west of here—southwest possibly.”
He turned to Huma and held out the knight’s weapons, though his hand had been empty moments before. “The minotaur also has his weapons back. The elemental will lead you to the underground passages and to horses that I have kept for emergencies.”
The tower suddenly shook.
Magius whirled around and stared at the mirror. “Show me!”
The mountain scene vanished, to be replaced by a visual of the citadel, surrounded. A huge, black dragon with a rider. Other dragons, red, nearby.
“Moons of Krynn!” Magius smiled bitterly. “Am I worthy of the attention of Crynus himself?”
“Crynus!”
The mage looked at Huma and the bitter smile deepened. “Oh, yes, you two have met. Had I the time, I would tell you much of importance concerning him and the Black Guardsmen. As it is ...” The tower shook again and the ceiling began to crumble.
“Arion!” In summons to the spellcaster’s urgent call, the misty servant formed before them. “Take them to the stables! Hurry!”
“Maaasssteerr.”
“Magius, let me help.”
“Help me?” The mage smiled. “I once stood at the side of Galan Dracos. I was second only to him among his gathering of mages. It will take more than dragons to stop me.”
A powerful gust of wind thrust Huma through the doorway even as he pondered how truthful Magius was being. Not just about his abilities, but his reasons. Would Huma ever know for sure?
“Huma!”
“Kaz!”
The minotaur came bursting down the dark corridor, heedless of any threats. True to his word, Magius had returned the minotaur’s weapons, including the huge battle ax.
The massive warrior’s first words were quite predictable. “What madness has he brought upon us now?”
“Only the warlord, six dragons, and Paladine knows what else.”
More masonry crashed down.
Kaz raised the ax high over his head. “By my ancestors for thirty generations, I will not die crushed under rock!”
“Fooollss! Fooolooowww!”
“That thing—”
“—is our guide out of here! No more words!”
They hurried after the air elemental, which now seemed to possess startling speed. It was glowing slightly silver now, so there was no chance of losing it in the dark corridors.
The stable proved to be more like a cave with ventilation. There were half a dozen horses, ranging in all sizes, but all well-muscled and sleek. While the two chose their mounts, the air elemental vanished.
“Where are we?” asked Kaz.
Huma leaped on his chosen horse, a tall, silver mare, and glanced toward the cave entrance. “West of the grove, I think. The hall tunneled underneath it.”
“Good. One small difficulty out of the way.” The minotaur climbed aboard his own animal, a beast at least as tall as himself.
Another jolt shook the cave. Huma freed the other animals; he would not leave the horses to die if the cave collapsed.
“Yaaah!” The horses were swift, and for ten minutes Huma and Kaz rode without looking back.
Behind them, the two could hear the cries of the dragons as they tore at the defenses of the citadel and its master.
What use was there in fighting a battle that could not be won? Still, Huma knew that the next battle would be his.
They broke through a clearing, and Huma dared to look back then. “Riders!”
There were at least eight of them, ebony-armored figures on coal-black steeds like creations of the Abyss. Black Guard. Huma’s hand strayed to his sword to assure himself that it was still there.
Something else broke through after the riders. Pale, canine things with sightless red eyes. Six or seven, perhaps. Dreadwolves.
Suddenly, the earth before the dark riders burst up with tremendous fury. One rider succeeded in keeping his balance and two managed to evade the explosion, but the rest vanished momentarily behind the huge mound, which Huma recognized as the earth elemental. A point in the favor of Magius, thought Huma. The mage had sent one of his most trusted servants to assist his old friend.
The dreadwolves had enough warning to dodge the milling confusion, though one fell victim to a horse that lost its balance. The others continued the chase.
A tree limb struck Huma in the arm, and he turned around just in time to avoid a low branch. Kaz rode a few yards to his right, his larger form causing him some grief. The horns on his head snagged branches with worrisome regularity. Kaz hung on grimly, though.
Huma glanced back whenever terrain permitted him, but the same sight always greeted him. The dreadwolves, at least, moved with a constant pace and did not seem to tire. Only six of the ebony riders had regrouped and managed to keep pace.
“We can’t...” A branch struck Kaz in the face as he tried to speak. “We can’t keep on like this. The horses will perish.”
Huma agreed. They were pushing the animals at a killing pace. Huma came to a difficult decision.
“Split up! Ride to the north!” He had to point to get his idea across. Kaz frowned but accepted. Huma indicated he would ride to the south. Lacking a plan of his own, the minotaur obeyed.
When Huma gave the signal, Kaz pulled his horse sharply to the right, nearly taking off his own right arm as the animal was forced to twist around a tree. Huma watched him vanish and then pulled tight on the reins of his own mount.
The animal was near to collapse. It slowed as quickly as possible, stumbling several times in the brush. Huma did not wait for it to come to a stop before leaping from the saddle. He landed feetfirst and scurried for the shelter of the trees.
The dreadwolves were fast closing, and Huma barely had time to ready himself. Among the items in the stable-cave, he had found a small, wooden shield, and this he had strapped to his free arm. The broadsword was out in one smooth, silent motion. He prayed that the dreadwolves would run after the horse first. It was the only way he would have a chance.
He was determined to stall them long enough for Kaz to flee. Huma knew it likely would cost him his life, but he could foresee no escape for either of them unless one remained behind. He could not ask that of even Kaz.
The first of the dreadwolves came running past. Single-minded to the point of obsession, the ghoulish creature followed after the abandoned horse, which had now realized its plight and was racing off again. It would not get far, and Huma was disgusted that he had to sacrifice any animal for this.
Two more dreadwolves raced by. Another followed. There were at least two more. Huma steadied himself and tried to maintain his patience.