Hatchling (Tameron and the Dragon) by Jean Lamb Read Free Book Online

brothers and sisters dead, I would have thought..."
    "Oh, believe me, they tried to convince him!" Sigaldo said harshly.
    "But that doesn't make sense. If he had other children, he wouldn't have to depend on me." Tameron was confused. He'd grown up knowing that most mages fulfilled their Duty to either sire or bear four offspring with partners chosen by the Council or the College, with hope that at least two of them would have powers. In return, they gained the freedom to choose someone they loved as their life partner. Ordinary people married as they liked, or as their families told them to. His father probably had a match in mind for him to help keep the peace. Perhaps even Lady Kiliane to keep the Sandegas sweet! Her image flashed in his mind.
    "But he does depend on you. He is much older than he looks, Tameron, and so am I. He decided you were worth the trouble. As for some of your other questions, I promise to answer those at another time."
    Tam noticed how carefully she'd avoided most of them. What would happen to him? He wasn't even old enough for the festivals at Midsummer. "Am I going to be an ordinary person and marry someone for good, or am I expected to do the Duty of a mage by the College? Or both?"
    The Guardian bowed her head. "I don't know," she said. "It's possible that all your own children will have magic, so I doubt the College would be content to have you choose just one partner if that's the case. However, that doesn't make you useless for anything else. Half the population of Fiallyn Mor has no skill in magic, either. Some of them join the raiders you fought against earlier this year because they have no hope. Your father has plans for the day when all of us have some powers, but that's far in the future. Now he sees you can serve as a symbol of all that is best about the common people, as well as providing him grandchildren who may be stronger in the Elements than he is. The powerless won't be so likely to rebel when they see you treated with honor, while some mages may not oppress them so much if they know they might have to answer to you."
    He'd never thought of that. Maybe he wouldn't be just a figurehead after all. "How?" he asked. He remembered the shouts of those who'd demanded that he leave the Council Chamber and not disgrace it with his common flesh.
    "Such people often rule Outside. In fact, some lands beyond Wizardwall forbid mages to command others at all. Sometimes for good reason. It's hard to focus on the needs of others when magic is constantly calling."
    Tam bent forward in the chair, suddenly exhausted. "I don't have any to give up," he snapped, "so it should be easier for me, I suppose." He felt sorry as soon as he'd spoken. The Protector often had severe headaches during Council season, and complained that not being able to use his great powers contributed to them.
    "In that way it will be easier," the Guardian said softly. "In other ways it will be much harder for you."
    "How long will I last when some wizard is angry at me? Maybe he'll just put a glamor on me so I'll do what he wants me to," he wondered out loud. Unless he was truly free from magic's power. Then he remembered the poisoned cup in the Council Chamber. "If I live long enough for anyone to care..."
    "Then you must take precautions," the Guardian said. "Commander Stine can teach you what you need to know to protect yourself. As for the rest, you must learn to rely on yourself alone. I wish you didn't have this lesson so soon." Her voice had despair in it.
    "What a choice! I live in fear or I will die." Tameron covered his face with his hands.
    The Guardian was silent. Then she finally spoke. "If it's any comfort, your father is sometimes just as terrified as you are. Even his great magic can't always stop his enemies from trying to break his own shields. If he makes them too strong, he can no longer see out of them and he is as mind blind as you are. If he doesn't make them strong enough, he pays a terrible price at