Dragons Shining by Michael Sperry Read Free Book Online

well.....  Assuming it’s you I will go on. An elf slipped into town in the dead of night and left me this sealed note from our friends at the Horn. It was a long journey for him. We are doing well here. Our charge has surpassed all expectations in his studies and skills, and is brilliant as well. Since the Horn’s charge is past puberty, we will be making plans to re-unite them within a year. Also, ours must visit the Mount and Zn. I have so informed the Horn. I estimate the gathering in about two years at the most. They will be young; yet powerful enough for the early stages I am confident. Please give my regards upward.
     
    Here is their note: "Greetings Elder Wizard. We trust thee fares well, and your charge. We have an alarming development. Our charge has identified vampire ghoul signs on a deceased dwarf, one of four found in the deep tunnels. There is another development. She has cast spell code 33ASKb upon Xn, you know the old, decrepit one, and she was unconscious for three days after. She seems even stronger now, however. The girl and the boy need to meet, the sooner the better. Let me know. It has started, so we must hasten our plans. We may not have more than a few years now before the armies march.”
     
    “Albrite, what spell is that and who are Xn and Zn?” Kirklan had deciphered the rest on his own.
     
    “Xn is Zana, the female Vampire Dragon. She is the oldest dragon save for Znost, her mate. Briana may not even know yet that Zana and Znost have been waiting for their masters for ten thousand years. Even so, she cast the immortal spell upon Zana, I guess because she sensed the old dragon was dying.”
     
    “Her mount then, I trust, and I thought that spell was the most difficult in all of magic.”
     
    “Yes, Sire. And yes that was the most difficult spell ever cast in all Magi memory: so far. It has never before been successfully cast upon another than the caster. She should have been killed. Everyone else who tried that has died along with whoever they were trying it on. Owen must do something similar for Znost, who is also dying I fear. Perhaps in dragon form they are much stronger with magic. This is a first, so we are unsure of their capabilities.”
     
    “So then, she did this for a dragon, not knowing if she would live through it? Hah. We need not worry about her, Albrite, or Owen, if he carries through. It would mean they both value others more than themselves.”
     
    “You are right for now, Sire, but we will all be truly tested in the years to come. Oh, I have heard there are twelve dragon yearlings, my lord: Six male and six female. This is a perfect count for the coming Lords.”
     
    “So we are given the rope to either hang ourselves or climb the mountain. I am for climbing, Albrite, how about you?”
     
    “Certainly, Sire. We shall climb. Oh, here come the boys. The weapon masters are through with them for the day. I lost track of time.”
     
    Bruce and Jason came running up to them, panting. They were sweating and dirty from weapons training. Both had a few bruises and cuts. They fought hard always.
     
    “Hello Father, and Albrite”, they both said at the same time.
     
    Jason let Bruce continue. “Father, may we go camping this evening and then hunting tomorrow? Jason saw a fine stag when we were riding over by Waller Creek a few days ago.”
     
    “Who is we, Bruce?” asked the King.
     
    “Well me and Jason... and you of course, if you like.”
     
    “Ha. Well I have some visitors to entertain this evening. Baron Josef and Selsy are coming to visit. They will be staying through tomorrow morning, and they will have Jennifer with them, by the way.”
     
    “Jennifer”, said Bruce, with interest. “Uh, Jason why don’t you go after that stag? I think I will stay.”
     
    “I think he passes that way every three days by the tracks he leaves. Don’t you want to take him later then?”
     
    “You go ahead, Jason. Something else might get him, and I want him over