Siege At The Settlements (Book 6) by Craig Halloran Read Free Book Online Page B

hair from his face. He coughed. “I have questions I want answered.”
    “Brenwar is handling that,” Bayzog reminded him. “You need to keep your blood down. The poison still works its magic yet.”
    Nath snarled and grunted.
    The healthy gleam he always had in his face had faded, but it had been much worse a day ago. The mortal wound had put Nath into a coma of sorts. They had applied salves and administered potions but nothing took at first. Anyone else struck by the blade would have certainly died from it by then.
    “Have you made anything of that blade yet?” Nath said. He reached over, coughing, and grabbed a jug of water. “How did that sluggard come to acquire it? It’s almost as if that blade was designed for me.”
    Bayzog plucked the blade out of a nearby table. “It’s a Dragon Skinner. You know them well. Usually, the Clerics lend them out to poachers, with strings attached, of course.”
    Nath sneered and held out his hand. Dragon Skinners were made by the Clerics of Barnabus from enchanted and carved dragon claws. It was said that a well-forged one could peel an eyelid from a gnat and the edge was difficult to notch or chip.
    “Let me see it.”
    Bayzog hesitated. His friend had been in bad shape, the worst he’d ever seen him. Yet it didn’t seem possible that such a small blade could kill him. It was several inches long with a stout blade and handle with two notches on the end. He handed it to Nath, who eyed it with suspicion.
    “Strange. I remember it had a glow to it. Like a firefly.” He flipped it around in his hand and thumbed the edge.
    “Nath!”
    “What? It can’t still be poisoned, can it?” He coughed again. Harder this time. His face flashed in pain. He stuck it back in the table. “I hate those blades. And those Clerics.”
    “Me too,” Bayzog agreed. He lifted his robes over his toes, sat down in a chair by the bed, and thought about the dragons they’d seen flying away the night of the battle. At the time, he had assumed they were flying off because they no longer were under the power of the crystal amulet. But given the evidence now, he wasn’t so sure. “I think we have some problems that need discussing.”
    “Go on,” Nath said.
    Bayzog leaned forward with his black brows furrowed.
    “They’re on to us. Why else would they let someone like Dormus have an enchanted Dragon Skinner? The evil curse of a Cleric of Barnabus is what poisoned it. The evil courses through the blood and right into the heart. It can kill,” his eyes flicked up at Nath’s, “or corrupt.”
    “I’m fine, Bayzog,” Nath assured him.
    Bayzog wanted to believe it. Nath’s behavior had been nothing short of brave and exemplary of late. Still, it seemed Nath had taken the bait. Placed everyone in danger. He’d been sent to scout, but something had gotten to him. He should have waited. Bayzog let it go. He’s done well. I’ll trust him for now. He reached inside his robes, grabbed something, and tossed it on the bed. It was a shard from the amulet. The light was dim that once glowed.
    Nath picked it up, inspected it, and said, “What do you make of this?”
    “It’s crystal from beneath the cities that float above the rivers.”
    “What? Floating cities?”
    “They’re near the river cities far in the west. I’ve never seen them, but I’ve come across the histories plenty. These crystals store magic and hold it a long time. I believe the Clerics of Barnabus have cast spells in them that control and charm the dragons.” He leaned back. “At least, the dragons who are not willing.” He ran his fingers over the wound on his head. “The dragons, to my good fortune, weren’t entirely evil.”
    “But they had black tails,” Nath said. “Are you saying the black-tailed dragons aren’t all evil? They didn’t have black tails before.”
    It was a good question. Bayzog wasn’t entirely certain about it either. Dragons, good or evil, had personalities of their own. Just because