Gold Dragon Codex by R.D. Henham Read Free Book Online

fire wasn’t lit, and his clothes from last night hadn’t been taken away for the wash. Where was everyone?
    Sandon threw open the door and ran out into the hallway, catching a nearby patrol guard by surprise. “Hey, Jonas,” he called. “Where’d everybody go?”
    The guard stiffened and twisted his head around, answering instinctively, “Out in the square, young lord, with your father and the others. But … he said you weren’t to be awakened!”
    Out in the square? But that meant Baron Camiel was already meeting with Malaise—he’d decided on the tribute. Why hadn’t he brought Sandon along? Probably because he thought I’m too young to handle it, Sandon thought bitterly. Why won’t he stop seeing me as a child?
    Ignoring the guard’s protests, Sandon raced pell-mell down the stairs and into the main hall, then through the big oak doors and out into the courtyard. From there, it was a short jog to the keep wall, where he could see the village square only a hundred yards away. Indeed, out in the square stood the baron, three of his men—including Vilfrand, Sandon’s uncle. They were all dressed in their armor, swords at their sides, but none of them was readying a weapon or preparing for battle. Guildmaster Torentine stood by the baron’s side, arms crossed over a starched white apron, sunlight glinting off his bare head. On the far side, a few steps beyond them, stood the sivak draconian Malaise. She was rubbing her hands together eagerly as Sandon approached, her lisping speech easy to hear in the crisp fall morning.
    “An excellent exchange, my dear Baron,” she was saying, her blue-tinged eyes narrow with greed. “You will stand by this proposal?”
    “You heard me say it,” Baron Camiel snarled in response. “Is my word not good enough for you?”
    “Good enough for me, certainly, my lord. But I must tell my master—and he is not so forgiving to those who promise, but do not fulfill.”
    Sandon pulled up short behind Captain Vilfrand, quickly searching the area for signs of the tribute. There were no wagons, no oxen, or crates of wheat and corn. Had Malaise taken it already? But if she had, wouldn’t he still be able to see it marching down the road out of the valley, toward the blue dragon’s eager maw? He didn’t see any wagon tracks or signs of anything else. Maybe the tribute had been in steel and coins, as they’d often paid in the beginning? If so, how had his father scraped up enough money when the barony was so poor?
    Torentine cleared his throat and scowled. “Your master should learn a little forgiveness, lest he drain dry the very beast and find himself starving. You want this valley to feed Lazuli’s hunger? Then you’d better make preparations for it to last, or he’ll be headed back to the battle lines—what few there are left—and war.” Malaise hissed at the guildmaster’s impertinence. Torentinedidn’t flinch. He kept his arms crossed, muscles tensed like tight steel wires. “Or has Lazuli given up on the war, and his Dark Queen as well?”
    Ignoring the guildmaster’s taunt, Malaise snapped her head around to Baron Camiel, baring her teeth cruelly. “Very well. On behalf of my master, we accept. Such a generousss tribute requires a token of high esteem, Baron Camiel. Sssomething appropriate to show the proper respect for your offering. I would surely accept it myself, but I am too poor and humble a creature to do it justice.” Malaise’s teeth glinted, and her tongue slid over her thin lips as if she could already taste her prey.
    At last, Vilfrand looked behind him and caught sight of Sandon standing behind their small guard. He growled, low in his throat. Stepping back from the others, Vilfrand gripped the boy’s arm so hard that Sandon could feel his uncle’s fingers bruising his flesh. “What are you doing here?”
    “I’m here to watch the tribute. It’s my right as the baron’s son and heir—”
    “Quiet, Sandon!” Vilfrand shook him lightly,