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

blank,’ she said to me. This means that only one choice brings victory. She pointed to the sixth that was marked with a single rune. Death. A short time after that, Skylan died.”
    â€œBut the runes told your future, not his,” Kahg observed.
    â€œOur wyrds are so tightly bound together that if he is dead, then I am dead,” Aylaen replied. “I need Vindrash—”
    â€œLook to the north,” Kahg said urgently, interrupting. “Just above the horizon.”
    Aylis, the Sun Goddess, lit the sinuous coils of three winged serpents that had sprung from the sea. The serpents twisted in the air, darting here and there, as though searching for something.
    â€œAelon’s serpents. They are looking for you,” said Kahg. “Now you know why Vindrash was afraid to speak.”
    The serpents dipped down over the waves, whipping back and forth across the ocean, then dove into the water, sending up a great spray. Aylaen waited tensely for them to reappear, but the sea stretched on, empty and endless.
    â€œAsk Vindrash,” Aylaen pleaded. “Ask her what I am supposed to do.”
    â€œVindrash herself does not know what to do,” the dragon returned caustically. “How can she tell you?”

 
    CHAPTER
    5
    Raegar stood in front of the window of his grand palace, gazing out at the city of Sinaria far below, basking in the light of Aelon that flooded his bedchamber. He was in an excellent mood. He was Emperor of Oran, the most powerful nation in the world. He lived in a magnificent palace, he dined on sumptuous food, he had all the gold he could spend. His people loved him. His enemies feared him. His wife, Treia, was pregnant with his son.
    True, there were some dregs in his cup of sweet honey wine. He had lost his grand dragonship, Aelon’s Triumph , in a battle with the Dragon Kahg, who had set the ship on fire and then sunk it.
    Still, Raegar was pleased to reflect, even that disaster had worked to his advantage. He had been the sole survivor, and with none left alive to contradict him, he told the story of a desperate battle against overwhelming odds from which he had emerged the victor. Only two knew the truth: the Dragon Fala, who had rescued him from the ocean, and Aelon.
    His god had not spoken to him since, though Raegar had given her temple a valuable, beautiful jeweled chalice in thanksgiving and he been assiduous in his visits to her altar. He was not particularly concerned. Aelon might be angry with him, but she needed him. She would come around.
    He poured himself a glass of wine and summoned a slave to dress him in robes of purple trimmed in gold. This done, he ordered the man to bring his breakfast. Raegar was once more gazing out the window, sipping his wine, when he heard the girl who had entertained him last night stirring beneath the sheets.
    He walked over, smiling, and was about to yank off the silken coverlet when the girl rolled over. The god Aelon regarded him from the pillow, cool and unsmiling.
    Raegar staggered back, shocked and stammering.
    Aelon threw aside the sheets, sat up, and stepped out of bed. She was fully clothed in robes of white lamb’s wool. Her hair was braided and fastened with jeweled pins. She wore two gold serpent bracelets and a heavy gold necklace formed of seven serpents, each with a glittering ruby eye. Walking up to Raegar, she took the cup of wine from his hand and drank.
    Raegar began to sweat.
    â€œWere … were you here all night? Were you … the girl…”
    Aelon spat a mouthful of wine into his face. “Are you saying you cannot tell the difference between making love to some human whore and your god?”
    Raegar blinked wine from his burning eyes.
    â€œNo, no, I … I … I…”
    â€œShut up,” said Aelon. “Clean your face.”
    She turned away, saying over her shoulder. “You swore to me you would be faithful to your wife.”
    Raegar mopped