The Second Generation

Sara shrugged. “She wouldn’t have been the first, and likely not the last. But, according to what I’ve heard, Zeboim, daughter of Takhisis, was enamored of Ariakas, became his lover, and bore him a son, named Ariakan. Ariakan fought in the ranks, under his father’s command, during the War of the Lance. He is a skilled warrior who fought courageously in battle. When he was captured, more dead than alive, by the Knights of Solamnia, they were so impressed with his courage that, although he was their prisoner, they treated him with every respect.

“Ariakan was their prisoner for many years, until they finally released him, mistakenly thinking that—in these times of peace—the man could do no harm. Ariakan had learned much during his enforced stay with the knights. He came to admire them, even as he despised them for what he considered their weaknesses.

“Shortly after his release, Ariakan was visited by Takhisis, in the form of the Dark Warrior. She commanded him to start an order of knights dedicated to her, as the Solamnic Knights are dedicated to Paladine. 'Those who are boys now will grow up in my service,' she told him. 'You will raise them to worship me. I will own them, body and soul. When they are men, they will be prepared to give their lives in my cause.'

“Almost immediately, Ariakan began to recruit boys for this unholy army.”

Sara’s voice sank. “Ariakan was the man at the door.”

“Blessed Paladine!” Tika murmured, stricken.

“He had found out about Kit’s son.” Sara shook her head. “I’m not sure how. Ariakan claimed that Kit had told his father about the boy. I don’t believe that. I think . . . I think it was the wizard Dalamar, evil Master of the Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas, who led Ariakan to us—”

“But Dalamar would have told me,” Caramon protested. “He and I are... well—”

Sara stared at him, her eyes wide.

“Not friends,” Caramon said, thinking the matter through, “but we have a mutual respect for each other. And the boy is my nephew, after all. Yes, Dalamar would have told me—”

“Not likely!” Tika sniffed. “When all’s said and done—he’s a black-robed mage. Dalamar serves the Dark Queen and himself, not necessarily in that order. If he saw that Steel might prove valuable...” She shrugged.

“Perhaps Dalamar was only following orders,” Sara whispered, glancing fearfully out the window, into the night. “Takhisis wants Steel. I believe that with all my heart. She has done everything in her power to take him... and she is close to succeeding!”

“What do you mean?” Caramon demanded.

“It is the reason I am here. That night, Ariakan made Steel an offer. Ariakan would make Steel a dark paladin.”

Sara reached for her cloak, held up the brooch of the black lily in a trembling hand. “A Knight of Takhisis.”

Caramon was aghast. “Such an evil order doesn’t exist.”

“It does,” Sara said in a low voice, “though few know it. But they will. They will."

She sat silently shivering and, at length, drew her cloak back around her.

“Go on,” Caramon said grimly. “I think I see where this is heading.”

“Kitiara’s son was among the first Ariakan sought. I must admit he is shrewd, is Ariakan. He knew exactly how to handle Steel. Ariakan spoke to the boy man-to-man. He told him he would teach him to be a mighty warrior, a leader of legions. He promised Steel glory, riches, power. Steel was entranced. He agreed, that night, to go with Ariakan.

“Nothing I said or did, no tears I shed, moved Steel. I won only one concession—that I could come with him. Ariakan agreed to this only because he figured I could be useful to him. He would need someone to cook for the boys, mend their clothes, clean up after them. That... and he took a fancy to me,"

Sara finished softly.

“Yes,” she added, partly ashamed, partly defiant, “I became his mistress. I was his mistress many years, until I grew too old to please him anymore.”

Caramon’s face darkened.

“I understand,” said Tika, patting the woman’s hand. “You sacrificed yourself for your son. To be near him.”

“That was the only reason! I swear to you!” Sara cried passionately. “I hate them and what they stand for! I hate Ariakan. You don’t know what I have endured! Many times, I wanted to kill myself. Death would have been far easier. But I couldn’t leave Steel. There is good in him, still, though they’ve done all they could to trample out the spark. He loves me and respects me, for one thing. Ariakan would have rid himself of me long ago, but for Steel. My son has protected me and defended me—to his own detriment, though he never speaks of it. He has watched others rise to knighthood ahead of him.

Ariakan has held Steel back, all because of me.