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

times for that as well.
    "You're safe here, Tam. That much I can give you. All the Guardians of Fiallyn Mor take oaths to protect those in their custody, oaths sworn to the Elements themselves. Your father visits the Anchor points as well, not only to see that all is going as it should, but so that he might rest."
    Tameron let his hands drop, and swallowed back tears. "Thank you." For so long he'd blithely assumed that the world belonged to him, and that all the faces looking at him were friendly ones. Oh, he'd been warned about the malice behind some facades, but he' d never truly feared other nobles before tasting the poisoned cup in the Council Chamber.
    "Now come over here," she said. "You've been ill for too long. I'll send you into a deep sleep, and you'll feel better after that. There's more to the healer's art than you know."
    He knelt before her as she placed her long, white hands on his head. He felt so weary. The Guardian's murmurs were like a half-forgotten lullaby, the kind Esa used to sing him when he was a child.
    "Softly comes the night at end of day," she whispered softly. "Leave off your cares and let them fly away..." Tam swayed back and forth a little as his eyes began to close. Maybe it was his own weariness and not magic, but he thought he could sleep better here than anywhere else.
    His aunt let her hands dro p to his shoulders, patted him, and then spoke out loud as the shimmering cloud disappeared. "Go to bed and sleep. I'll tell your escort that I've found the poison, but you're still weak from its effects. They respect you for your endurance, while some are even angry that no one's helped you. You have more friends than you think. Oh, I wish your father had sent you to me earlier!"
    Tameron would have kissed her hand if it had bee n allowed. He rose to his feet and bowed. The Guardian told everyone they were dismissed. Stine and Randor assisted him up a short flight of stairs to a bedroom. He lay on the bed while Randor departed for a moment. At least she'd promised to answer the rest of his questions.
    His servant returned with a large cup full of some brown liquid. It tasted odd, but he drank it anyway. He was so thirsty, and had been ever since --since that night. If he couldn’t trust the Guardian, he may as well give up.
    He rapidly drifted into sleep. Voices wove in and out of his blurry, confused dreams. Stine's gruff tones wound around memories of sword drill and riding on patrol last spring. Randor's familiar mutter made him feel safe no matter what other visions he had, while his aunt's soft voice reminded him of Esa caring for him when he was sick. Do I have a shield around me like the one the Guardian mentioned? he wondered. She never really told me if magic affected me or not. What does it mean if it doesn't?
    He slept on, willing to let her worry about it for now. Then he finally woke up. His eyes felt sticky from sleep, and it felt good to clear them. Then he looked at his wrists. The lanchets were gone! The scars left behind were still raw-looking, but would probably fade. 
    Tam sat up as he heard voices, though there was nobody in the room. It wasn't from outside his door, either. Maybe he really did have magic, and it'd taken all this to uncover it? Or maybe the Guardian had found his shield, and removed it! He was willing to risk being vulnerable to the spells of others if he could only work some of his own.
    He swung his legs over the bed and nearly fell from dizziness. Judging by the light coming through the double-paned window, it was morning. He yawned and stretched. He tensed as the voices stopped. Maybe he was still half-asleep and had just dreamed hearing things.
    Then people began to speak again. Tameron hung onto the bedpost and got to his feet. He turned his head. The sounds were just a bit louder to one side, and became clearer in a corner across from his bed. He could almost make out words as he went to his knees and pressed his ear to the floor. The wooden tile of