Quest Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 1) by Cole Pain Read Free Book Online Page B

stopped to look up at the sky. The small golden dragon stitched to the front of his black tunic glimmered in the moonlight. Korin could hear the guard’s frantic thoughts as if they were his own. He too worried about the prince.
    When the guard turned, Korin quickly concealed himself. He had no weapon, only a small shovel. It wasn’t his intention to harm anyone, the guard especially, but he had no reason for being there, and if he was found there would be questions. The mere thought of divulging his knowledge sent revulsion to every fiber of his being. He didn’t want to reveal the things he had done. If spoken, the acts would become real, a part of his life he would have to face.
    The leaves rustled as the guard moved closer. Korin pressed his body against the tree, sweat and tears raining down his face as the presence continued to dissipate. He relished it, craved it, and as the presence continued to diminish, another sensation took its place: peace, profound peace.
    It had been years since he felt the peace as intensely as he felt it now, but it had always existed. It was a small ray of light in his mind that he escaped to when he was the target, or the instrument, of pain. The light had been easy to find when he was young. The older he became the more he had to fight the presence and swim through the madness to find the light. But if he found it and clutched it, no matter its size or intensity, he was able to grasp the hope of freedom and deny the presence complete control of his mind.
    The guard released a sigh. Korin tensed, heartbeat pounding in his ears. The presence was now only a small pinprick. Was it because of the guard? Korin held his breath. On the way to Zier, the pressure had lessened, or at least became easier to fight. He had never been like the other Collective. They hungered for the pain, fought for survival with madness in their eyes, and were loyal to the one who commanded them. When he was given a suspicious look he became an actor, and his act had fooled everyone for over twenty years.
    He closed his eyes and let the peace penetrate him. He clung to it, breathed it as if it were air. A moan escaped his lips. For the first time in his life the presence was gone.
    Korin knew he needed to meet the man behind him. The man may very well be his salvation. Korin gathered his strength, relaxed his muscles, and stepped from the tree.
    Only the empty night greeted him.
    The guard was hurrying back to the castle. Korin drew in a breath to call out, but the breeze snatched his voice and his words faded into the evening. The peace quickly dissipated and the presence once again tightened its grip. Fear shook him as he leaned into the tree and slowly slid to the ground. Wrapping his arms around his knees, his body shook with sobs.
    “You fool. Did you think you were through fighting?” he said to the night. Looking down at the small shovel at his belt, his reason for being there came back in a rush. With the residuum of peace inside, his conviction deepened. Let Ista find out. Let her call him while he was trying to discover a way to end it. If she did, so be it. He would die fighting. Was death worse than life? He shivered. Death had always terrified him. Death would put him with the Watcher forever.
    He shook those thoughts off and recalled the perfect peace he had felt only a breath ago. He would have to find the guard again, but for now he had a task to complete, the first he had actually assigned himself. He looked out into the night, letting a small hope rise inside him. Maybe tonight he would escape the pain.
    He darted to the next tree, then the next. Soon he was in the graveyard, walking among the dead. Careful to keep in the shadows, he made his way down the rows of mounds until he came to a freshly dug grave. Korin dropped to the ground and began to dig.
    - - -
    Ramie looked up when the library door opened. A small, mousy boy entered, keen hazel eyes surveying the room with incredible wariness. His