The Dragon Ring (Book 1) by C. Craig Coleman Read Free Book Online

fidgeted the next morning. “You’re gobbling down a lot of food Bodrin. Leave something for the rest of your family. You sure do like to eat.”
    “Saxthor, you’re possessed when you’re working a plan. I barely chew my food. If I don’t eat now, I’ll starve today so hush.”
    “Hurry up.”
    “We’re taking plentyof snacks, too.”
    Saxthor fidgeted. Bodrin assured himself his hunting knife was at his side. With rations packed, the boys set out for the Sentinel Pine and told no one of their plans, as was their custom.
    * * *
    Earwig stormed around on the Earwighof’s battlements worried more and more about Saxthor. The wind blew through her wiry hair and whipped her scorched curls into her mouth as she raved on. Even the vultures circling the estate took note, rose higher on thermals above the sun-heated turrets, and soared off to the safety of The Crypt in the distance.
    “He was born prematurely, isn’t an attractive child – too skinny,” Earwig said to Radrac. Both paused as Earwig stared at a large blob of vulture poop splattered on the balustrade beside her. She snarled at the feisty birds and continued her rant. “He’s never shown notable leadership among the court children. Yet he has a small but loyal following, strength of will and purpose I’ve failed to acknowledge, too.”
    Glaring at the rat, her head jerked, her eyes narrowed and she kicked at him. He ducked. Radrac waddled along behind the raving witch, but kept his distance in her shadow.
    “I have an idea.”
    The hag stooped low to discern the small worn steps of the spiral staircase leading back down into Earwighof’s cold, stuffy gloom. Anyone in the palace could hear her big boots scraping on the steps all the way down to the subterranean basement where Minnabec spent his days. She crept up to the door like a cat stalking a wary mouse.
    Minnabec was in his office, a cramped room behind the wine cellar at the back of the Castilyernov Earwighof’s basement. His dried-up shell sat dwarfed in a dusty, oversized chair at the enormous desk. He drooled as he counted and caressed his gold, stolen through his office as Administrator of the Royal Estates. Black smoke from tallow candles in wall sconces mixed with the ever-present dust. The resulting smog swirled around the desk and the solitary lamp. The room’s haze veiled his spouse as she approached. Earwig spotted Minnabec through the door crack.
    Sheer greed drew this weak creature to the evil controlling him, she thought.
    His spineless nature made it easy for her to bend his will to hers. They’d become as one, with Minnabec as devoid of feelings for his sister as she was. While she’d crippled his niece and nephews psychologically, Minnabec robbed the family and kingdom without remorse. She was certain even his withered self must be ashamed, but he continued to plunder unrestrained and seemed content to do so.
    Her eyes narrowed and focused on the door opening. A slight creaking fractured the silence. He’d let the hinges rust so the sound would warn him, but absorbed with the gold, he failed to notice. She spit on the joints and nudged the door enough to slip inside.
    Today was different. She needed his unwitting compliance in her attack on his nephew. Spells of this strength required the victim’s blood or a close relative’s and a convenient uncle would do, the witch decided. She passed through the door with her sterile smile plastered across her painted face.
    “Have you had a nice day dusting your gold, my dear?”
    Startled, he jumped and gasped in reaction to her syrupy tone of mock endearment. The telltale fake smile and unnatural pleasantry gave Earwig away at once to her delight and his horror.
    “What do you want?”
    Earwig plunged her dagger into Minnabec’s gnarled hand. It writhed like a skewered spider; the wrinkled fingers scratched in vain. The blade nailed his hand to the desktop before he could bolt, but he shot up, shrieked and sank back down. The