Death of a Darklord

Calum nearly choked on his drink. He managed to shake his head, not trusting his voice.

"Let me buy you your next drink," Konrad said. "I'd like to request the 'Ballad of Omartrag. It was one of Calum's favorites."

He found his voice at last. "I don't know it, friend."

Konrad's smile slipped, but he regained his unusual good cheer.

Calum could not help himself, he had to ask. "You seem to be in a good mood, stranger. What's the occasion?"

"I'm engaged."

Calum fought with all the training he had ever had to keep the shock from his voice. "Whom to?"

"You wouldn't know her."

"Give me a name, and perhaps I'll write a song about her."

Konrad laughed; he actually laughed. "Elaine Claim-perhaps not a poetic name, but she's the most beautiful girl in the world."

"A fiance should always think his woman is the most lovely in the world," Calum said. He wanted to hug Konrad, to tell him how genuinely happy he was that he had found love again. And to find it with little Elaine. . Calum wished he could congratulate her, too. But he couldn't. He could never risk seeing them again.

Konrad bought him the drink even though he did not know the ballad. Calum kept slipping glances at this new, laughing Konrad. The change was remarkable.

Calum wanted to say how glad he was that Harkon had died, that Konrad had survived to find happiness at last. But he sang other songs for the patrons, and after a few hours wanted nothing more than to be out of the stifling atmosphere of the tavern. He walked outside into the late spring night, leaving Konrad in the bright laughing crowd.

Calum stood in the small paved courtyard, breathing the faint growing smells of the meadows just outside of town. A sound made him turn.

It was Konrad. He came to stand beside him, gazing down past the city walls. It was so like old times that Calum did not question, did not want to break the silence and be strangers once again.

"Did you really think I died in Cortton?" The voice was Konrad's; the words were not.

Calum turned and found Konrad's face, but the smile on those lips..

"Harkon!"

The smile widened. "At your service." He made a low, sweeping bow that looked odd without one of his plumed hats.

Calum swallowed his suddenly pounding pulse. "Are you truly engaged to Elaine?"

"Sadly, no. Konrad has grown strangely distant to our young Miss Claim."

Some tightness loosened in his stomach. At least he had not brought ruin to Elaine, as well. "Did you enjoy your travels outside Kartakass?"

A scowl fell over those handsome features. "Again, no. I stood at the border of Kartakass for days, but could not cross. I soon discovered that Konrad's body was just an additional form I could take. In a day or so, Harkon Lukas will come out of hiding and take his place among the bards of Kartakass once more. I hope you are enjoying your new body better than I am."

"Well, yes, I am. Kelric is not as strong, but I have another twenty years to practice sword work. Practice makes, well-you know."

"Yes," Harkon said, "I know." He rolled back on the heels of his feet, then forward. Hands clasped behind his back, all good-natured cheer. "I am glad you are enjoying your body. You seem quite pleased with this new lease on life."

"I am."

"Good, very good."

They stood in silence for a moment, but it was no longer companionable. Calum wanted to go back inside the tavern, to be surrounded by song and laughter and life. Standing out in the dark with the creature known as Harkon Lukas was not what he wanted to be doing.

"I'm going back inside. They're expecting another song set."

Harkon turned to him with a smile. His hand came up too fast for Calum to react. The knife caught him just below the ribs, but he did not make that final upward thrust. The pain froze Calum in place, gasping.

"If I ca