Doom of the Dragon by Margaret Weis Read Free Book Online Page A

I would know it,” Aylaen said. “I would feel it, here.”
    She clenched her fist over her heart. Acronis cast a meaningful glance at Skylan’s body, pale and cold and still. Aylaen knew what he was thinking, for she was thinking the same. He was dead. Dead. Dead. She would live all the rest of her life without him.
    â€œAylaen, you don’t have to do anything. Farinn and I can—” Acronis began.
    Aylaen cut him off. “Are we are on course for the land of the Stormlords?”
    Acronis regarded her with such caring and understanding that she wanted to run to his arms as a child to her father, and sob until the burning pain was gone.
    Instead she repeated harshly, “Are we are on course?”
    â€œI presume we are,” said Acronis. “We were yesterday. I have not taken my readings today.”
    â€œThen do so and let me know,” Aylaen said.
    She turned away, back to the sea.
    Acronis stood still a moment, then walked over to a sea chest that he kept on deck. Taking out his instruments, he performed whatever mysteries he performed with them to determine the location of the Venejekar in this vast ocean with no land anywhere in view.
    Aylaen closed her eyes and leaned against the dragon’s neck.
    â€œI don’t know what to do, Kahg,” she said. “Acronis is right. Skylan is dead. He died in my arms. I felt him draw his final breath. Yet I know my husband so well, he is so much a part of me, that sometimes I think Wulfe is also right and that Skylan is not dead. But if so, what has happened to him? Where can he be?”
    Aylaen put her hand on the bone that hung from the nail on the prow. As Bone Priestess, she used the bone, given to them by the Dragon Kahg, to summon him.
    â€œI have prayed to Vindrash, begged her to answer me,” Aylaen continued. “All is silence. I don’t understand. The goddess has always come to me before in my time of need. Why does she avoid me now?”
    â€œBecause Aelon is searching for you,” said Kahg.
    Aylaen looked at him, startled by this sudden and unexpected response. “Aelon is looking for me?”
    â€œVindrash fears if she speaks to you,” Kahg explained, “Aelon will hear her words and know where to find you.”
    â€œHas Aelon grown so powerful?” Aylaen asked, doubtful.
    â€œAelon has grown powerful,” Kahg replied in grating tones. “Vindrash speaks through me. The Dragon Goddess bids you to remember the time you cast the rune stones in the house of the old woman you know as Owl Mother.”
    â€œThat gives me no comfort,” said Aylaen. “When I was with Owl Mother the mad god, Sund, threatened me, ordering me to destroy the Five dragonbones of the Vektia. ‘Know this, then, Daughter,’ he said to me. ‘If you bring the power of creation into the world, you yourself will lack it. Your womb will be barren. No children will be born to you! This I have foreseen.’
    â€œHe said my sister, Treia, is carrying Raegar’s child. Sund claimed their son will become Emperor of the Oran nation and he will grind his boot into the necks of our people. He said he had foreseen this future and that it would come to pass if I did not destroy the spiritbones in my possession.”
    â€œApparently his threat did not work, for you have three of the Five and you have not destroyed them,” said Kahg.
    â€œI didn’t believe him,” Aylaen said. “He claims to see this future, but the wyrds of men are twined with the wyrds of gods to form a tapestry made up of myriad futures. Sund sees but one among the many.”
    â€œAnd yet, you cast the rune stones to see your future. Why did you do that?”
    â€œI know it was foolish, but I wanted to know if Sund’s prediction would come true, if I would be barren.”
    â€œWhat did the stones tell you?” Kahg asked.
    â€œOwl Mother read them. ‘Five of the stones are