Doom of the Dragon by Margaret Weis Read Free Book Online

of the Vindrasi people to ever sail these waters, the first to travel so far from their home.
    â€œAcronis and Farinn must think I have gone mad,” said Aylaen softly. “They don’t understand, and I can’t explain.”
    She spoke to the Dragon Kahg as if he agreed with her, although in truth she had no way of knowing what the dragon was thinking or feeling. Despite the fact that she was a Bone Priestess, with the power to summon the dragon, Kahg had refused to communicate with her.
    She knew only that Kahg was following her orders to take them to the land of the Stormlords, and she knew this only because Acronis, using his mysterious navigational instruments, determined that was the dragon’s destination. Acronis marked their progress daily on the map he kept with his instruments in a wooden chest in the hold.
    He had taught Aylaen how to make sense of the squiggles and lines that represented the world on the map. He had shown her the place on the map that represented the land of the Stormlords and every day he showed her the dot on the map that represented the Venejekar . The ship was drawing closer and closer.
    She stole a glance at Acronis and saw him standing near the corpse, regarding her with sympathetic understanding. He was so kind. He had a right to an explanation, if nothing else.
    â€œKahg, please tell me the truth,” Aylaen said to the dragon. “Is Skylan truly dead, as Acronis and Farinn believe, or is he alive, as I feel in my heart?”
    She saw the dragon’s eyes swivel in her direction, bathing her for a moment in a fiery red glow. But it was not the dragon who answered.
    â€œSkylan isn’t dead!” Wulfe said angrily. “I keep telling you.”
    Aylaen looked around, startled, to see the boy crouched on the deck behind her, keeping a wary eye on the dragon. Wulfe maintained that the Dragon Kahg did not like him. For all Aylaen knew, that might well be true.
    â€œI should give you a bath,” said Aylaen, knowing from past experience this threat would frighten Wulfe off.
    He did not run away, though he did back up a step, ready to flee at the first sign she might try to grab him.
    â€œThe two Uglies want to dump Skylan in the sea. You won’t let them, will you?” Wulfe asked. “The oceanids say that if you try, they’ll stop you.”
    Aylaen turned to face him, crossing her arms over her chest, huddling beneath her cloak.
    â€œAre you using your magic to keep Skylan…” Aylaen paused. She could not bear to say “from rotting.” She bit her lip and said, after a moment, “To keep Skylan with us?”
    â€œI don’t know how to work magic!” Wulfe cried. “Leave him alone! He’s not dead! You’ll see!”
    The boy dashed away, his bare feet slapping across the deck that was wet from sea spray. He fled to the ship’s stern where, leaning over the rail, he began to talk to the waves, sharing his grievances with his oceanids.
    â€œThe Uglies are going to dump him in the sea!” he called to them. “You must go find Skylan and bring him back!”
    Aylaen saw Acronis walking toward her and she sighed and went back to staring out at the sea. The sun goddess had returned from her nightly wandering to share her warmth and light with the world. Aylaen watched the light spread across the waves.
    â€œAylaen,” said Acronis gently, coming to stand beside her, “I know the pain you are suffering. I felt the same when my Chloe died, a pain so terrible and wrenching I tried to kill myself to end it. For your sake and the sake of the rest of us, you must face the truth. Skylan is dead. You need to let him go.”
    Aylaen stood with her arms folded across her chest, holding herself together, digging her nails into her flesh to keep from giving way to her grief and fear. If once she lost control and fell apart, she might never be able to pick up the pieces.
    â€œIf he were dead,