Stardust (48 page)

The four wheeled around and watched as a long, sharp claw cut through the holding bag and Talena dropped to the cavern
’
s floor, hissing the entire time.
“
Never again,
”
she said, landing on her feet,
“
will I ride in such a contraption. You are the most beastly of all males.
”
She glowered at Darton before walking to Aurora.

Darvek looked at the turin with barely concealed disgust.
“
I see you still have your friend, niece.
”

Aurora bent and picked Talena up, cradling her within her arms. The turin purred in appreciation.
“
Do not change the subject, Uncle,
”
Aurora said.
“
What were you protecting me from?
”

Darvek ignored Aurora, turning his gaze to Darton.
“
I see the furry creature holds no great regard for you either.
”

Darton grinned.
“
No, and the feeling is more than mutual I assure you.
”

“
I knew you were a man of impeccable taste and great honor,
”
Darvek nodded with pride. The two men laughed openly at Talena
’
s furious expression.

Siara
’
s growl quickly silenced the gaiety.

“
Do not be alarmed, large one,
”
Darvek soothed.
“
They are with me.
”

From another narrow opening across the room, a beautiful light-haired woman appeared followed quickly by four others. Darton recognized the king and queen of Palermos, stunned by the feeling that flooded thr
ough him. From the distance which
separated them, he could not identify the others.

As he opened his mouth to call out, another figure entered the icy cavern from the opposite direction. Darton motioned for his three companions to keep silent and take cover behind the great stone platform. From their vantage point, they could see and hear all, and still remain safely hidden.

Saatan shifted the heavy weight of the stone, bearing the burden with his left arm as he stooped to enter the frigid cavern. Soon he would be out of the Mountain and then he could make his
escape from this dying planet –
from the whole Sextenian Galaxy. He would find another plant, a different galaxy, and there, with the life stone of Palermos, he would make his kingdom. And he would rule forever.

“
Saatan, I command you to stop
.
” The authority in Jalon’s voice froze Saatan in his place.

“
Well, well.
”
Saatan stopped, brandishing the weight of the stone in his hands like a prize.
“
It appears your heroic efforts are a little bit too late, King Jalon.
”

“
Saatan, please, I beg of you, if you take the stone from the sacred Mountain, Palermos will die.
”
Selina stepped forward, her silver hair reflecting the sheen of ice which covered the cavern walls.
“
Surely you would not want to be responsible for so much death and destruction.
”

“
Selina, my dear,
”
Saatan drawled nonchalantly,
“
again you overestimate me. I did not care to take you
r life, although I now see
using the life stone of Krossos was a mistake. And I do not care to be reminded of my mistakes. Guards, seize them.
”

Before Darton or Darvek could move, the six royal guards surrounded the couple and Selina. Saatan moved forward.
“
I do not care how many lives must be terminated in order to become immortal. It is but a small sacrifice.
”

“
I cannot let you do this, Uncle.
”
Bartok stepped from the shadows and Darton
’
s indrawn breath hissed from between his clenched teeth.

Saatan laughed, the evil sound echoing across the wide space, bouncing back to repeat itself.
“
You are going to stop me? You, an insipid excuse for a nephew?
”
Saatan
’
s cruel voice mocked their relationship.
“
You don
’
t have the guts to be a hero. I
’
m ashamed that you have my blood running through your veins. Your father, Kroysol, was the same. Cowardly and good. And look how he ended up. It seems you will meet the same fate.
”

“
You!
”
Bartok shouted.
“
You are the one who took my parent
’
s lives.
”

“
He would not gather the stone of Yulon. I told him of its power but he refused. It was but a simple matter to
eliminate him. And your mother –
she would not consent to share my mat.
”

Suddenly it was as if a great veil had been lifted from Bartok
’
s eyes.
“
And the potion? What purpose did that serve?
”

“
To control you, foolish man. I knew one day you would find the map of the Cr
aton. You were always seeking something new to learn.
”
Saatan
’
s disdain flickered in his cold, cruel eyes. He lifted the pale blue stone high above his head. Flashes of light shot from the stone as it rose, spinning rapidly above Saatan
’
s hands.
“
This is the power of the gods!
”
he shouted.

Darton stepped from the wall, sword drawn.
“
Feel the power of this,
”
he growled.

“
No.
”
Bartok screamed just as a jagged bolt flared from the stone. He threw himself forward, coming between Darton and the deadly ray. The pale light struck, knocking both men to the floor. They lay still, lifeless upon the cold ice.

Before Darvek could stop her, Aurora lunged from the shadows, swirling the taua high above her head.
“
You will pay for that, evil man.
”
With a single swing of the leather thong, the stone flew forward, striking the life stone and sending it plummeting to the floor.

Saatan
’
s entire body began to glow, the power of the stone having been transferred to his body before Aurora had dislodged it.
“
You incompetent female,
”
Saatan spat.
“
How dare you interfere with my plans? Do you not know who I am? You will die for your transgressions.
”
His arms lifted as if to deliver the same deadly blow as was given Bartok.

“
It is you who is the foolish one.
”

All heads turned as sharp clicks sounded on the crystal floor. Benkyar entered the ice chamber, lumbering slowly across the slick floor.

“
Benkyar
.
”
Saatan
’
s eyes glowed with contempt, not at all surprised to see this legend of old walk among them.
“
Even you cannot stop me now. I have the power of the ages.
”

“
You have nothing,
”
the hooved creature replied. He clapped his hands o
nce and the stone glowed again
, all energy draining from Saatan
’
s body, leaving him a pathetic shell of a being.

“
It is time for us to depart from this world, Saatan. Your evil has caused enough unhappiness to last a lifetime.
”
He bent his great body and picked the fallen ruler of Yulon up by the collar of his once spotless robes. Saatan clawed at the creature
’
s arms, his long yellowed nails searching for any means of escape.

Benkyar turned to face his stunned audience, the struggling Saatan now silent within his grasp. He acknowledged the king and queen with a slight nod. His eyes scanned past Selina and Darvek, lingering ever so lightly on Aurora
’
s figure as she bent beside Bartok
’
s and Darton
’
s fallen bodies. Taking a great step, he walked toward her.

Aurora held her breath, wondering what the strange beast was about to do. Her hand tightened on her weapon.

“
Do not fear, little one,
”
he said softly. He laid one long finger upon Bartok
’
s brow. If she had not known better, she would have sworn his eyes filled with tears. Without a word, the half-man, half-beast waved hi
s hand and a large abyss opened behind him.
Without another word, he stepped forward and was swallowed by the darkness of the mountain.

Immediately, Queen Lalona rushed to Darton
’
s side, pushing Aurora aside in her grief.
“
M
y darling son, please do not be dead.
”

Darton
’
s eyes fluttered open.
“
Mother,
”
he gasped.
“
What happened?
”

“
Hush,
”
she cautioned,
“
you have been grievously injured.
”

Darton struggled to sit up, his body one huge throbbing mass of pain.

Jalon rushed to his son
’
s side as well, his aged eyes filled with tears.
“
Never did I think to see you again.
”

Clasping the king
’
s hand tightly in his own, Darton said,
“
Father, it has been too long.
”

Jalon helped him to his feet, supporting his body as the warrior regained his balance.
“
Saatan,
”
Darton said,
“
where is he?
”

Jalon beamed with joy.
“
Benkyar has taken him. The prophecy of the gods has been fulfilled. The stone has been returned and the rightful ruler of Palermos has returned from the stars.
”
Darton was engulfed in a tight embrace as Jalon and Lalona welcomed their son home.

Over his parents
’
heads, Darton met Aurora
’
s wide violet eyes and knew she realized the truth. He was Prince Darton, destined ruler of Palermos.

Unable to hold her questioning gaze, he knelt beside Bartok, his eyes saddened with remembrance.
“
My friend,
”
he whispered.

“
Do not look so grieved, my brother,
”
Bartok wheezed. The force of the ray had laid open a large gaping wound down the middle of his chest.
“
It is the least I could do.
”
He drew in a deep ragged breath, feeling the life seeping from his body.
“
I could not save you before from my uncle.
”

“
What do you mean?
”
Darton frowned, his hands pressing against the most obvious of wounds, but Bartok
’
s life blood still spilled to the floor.

“
The avalanche. When we played. It was caused by my uncle
’
s men. I tried to stop them but I was too late. Will you forgive me? My family has taken much from you.
”
Each knew he spoke of Darton
’
s forced exile to Earth, a move that had cost Darton his rightful place at the throne and a childhood within his family
’
s love.

“
There is nothing to forgive,
”
Darton said softly.
“
You were but a child as well.
”
Seeing the life ebb from his old friend
’
s body, Darton rose.

Darvek rushed to Selina
’
s side.

Selina smiled at her golden warrior.
“
All is well.
”

“
I fear you have spoken prematurely, Mistress Selina,
”
Jalon said. Even as he spoke, a large rumble rocked the ice cavern.