Dragon and Phoenix by Joanne Bertin Read Free Book Online

would have been simpler. “It was that important? So why trust you with the secret?” he asked, keeping the skepticism from his voice with an effort.
    A shrug. “Iokka was desperate; he had other things on his mind. We’ve helped each other before. He had little time and less choice.”
    “And this Taren is the one you escorted here?” Linden asked. In Otter’s mind he said, If his father is so against Raven’s getting anywhere near Yerrih, it’s surprising he let the boy go.
    I’m wondering about that , was the slow reply.
    Ah . Aloud, Linden said, “So it was Taren who told you about the … truedragon held captive in Jehanglan?”
    This time he couldn’t keep the doubt from his voice. Bind a truedragon? No and no and no yet again. Such a working wouldn’t need a band of mages. It would need an army of them.
    And that was an impossibility. There was truth behind the old children’s tale about the six silly mages arguing the best way to churn cream into butter. Mages were a notoriously independent and fractious lot. One might as well try herding a business of ferrets as convince a band of mages to agree on a working; it would be as likely to succeed, far less frustrating, and much more amusing.
    No, this was the stuff of a madman’s ravings. It had to be.
    “You think me a fool for believing there’s a truedragon held captive in Jehanglan, don’t you?” The anger was back.
    Linden drew breath to answer, not certain how to soften his words or even if he should. But before he could speak, another voice broke in.
    “If that’s the tale, Raven, then there are more fools about than you, I think.”
    Maurynna came up to them, Lleld a scant half pace behind. The smallest Dragonlord’s eyes were wide, and for once she was silent. Indeed, she looked too stunned to speak.
    That did not bode well. Not at all. Linden drew a deep breath.
    Maurynna finished, “There’s five truedragons just landed.”
     
    With Murohshei and Tsiaa following, Shei-Luin went to the wing of the palace that housed the imperial nursery. The guards at the entrance gaped at her; then, remembering that such as they were not allowed to look upon a concubine of the emperor’s, they looked away in confusion. When one made to drop his pike across the entrance to block it, she struck his wrist with her fan.
    “I come for my son,” she said coldly.
    The pike moved aside slowly.
    But one of the women inside had heard. Lady Hami, wife of Imperial Minister Musahi, came to the door.
    “You’re not supposed to be here,” she said with a frown. “Lord Xahnu’s nurse will bring him to the gardens.”
    “No,” Shei-Luin said. “I shall bring my son myself. Now stand aside, so that I may go to him.”
    “But—!”
    Shei-Luin stared her down. Though Lady Hami’s lips thinned to a tight line, she moved aside. Shei-Luin entered the nursery.
    The main chamber was a bright room, with walls painted with images of the Phoenix. In one corner sat musicians, playing softly to soothe whatever childish tantrums might arise. Maids scurried about, picking up toys.
    Standing in the center of the room, directing the maids, stood Xahnu’s nurse, a woman of middle years. She held the Phoenix heir on one hip.
    Xahnu caught sight of his mother and crowed with delight. The nurse turned, frowning when she saw Shei-Luin.
    “I’ll take my son,” Shei-Luin said, holding out her arms. Xahnu lunged for her.
    The nurse pulled him back. “It’s not done so,” the nurse huffed. “I am his nurse, and—”
    Shei-Luin smiled, all silk and steel. “And I say that this day is a holiday for you. Give Xahnu to me. Or must I speak with the Phoenix Lord?”
    Fear entered the nurse’s eyes then; it was well known in the palace that Shei-Luin was the jewel of the emperor’s eye. One did not make an enemy of the First Concubine—not if one could avoid it. She passed Xahnu to his mother.
    Shei-Luin kissed her son’s forehead as his sturdy arms wrapped around her neck.