The Green Dragon: A Claire-Agon Dragon Book (Dragon Series 3) by Salvador Mercer Read Free Book Online

the forces of evil have emerged from their long slumbers.”
    “Dragons,” the trio said in unison, bringing a dark memory to Elister.
    “Yes, and perhaps more,” Greyson said. “So, time is short. We must awake the protectors, and you must all be prepared to leave first thing tomorrow.”
    The trio nodded, and Greyson turned, raising his staff and uttering the Prayer of the Mother, followed by the Chant of the Defender. There was no bright light, no flash or display of brilliance. Smoke did not billow from the druid’s staff, nor did any mystical presence appear. What did happen was that the three covered figures stirred beneath their brown coverings, causing the former students to take a step back.
    “Agon help us,” Beth said, taking in a deep breath of air, as did her companions.
    “She is,” Greyson said, turning to smile at her. “That is why she gave us protectors.”
    Slowly the figures stirred and then sat up, causing the trio to step back even further, and this gave Greyson enough cause to look at them again and shake his head. First one, and then another of the men raised their hands, covered in dark leather gauntlets, and removed their helmets. Elister gasped.
    “Dunric,” Elister said, not believing his eyes. The Ranger looked much as he had last seen him over half a century earlier. Elister had spent most of his time under the Ranger’s attentive watch, till the once young boy became a man and entered training with the others. Elister had always thought that his protector had traveled far and lived his life and then died long ago. Seeing him here, alive and well, brought back a flood of memories.
    Dunric shook his head as if clearing it from a long sleep. His yawn and stretching of his massive arms did little to dispel that idea. He noticed Elister and smiled at him. “Good morning, Elly. It’s been a long time.”
    Elister took a moment to watch as Edric and then Wulfric took their masks off, pulling their blankets aside as well, stretching their limbs and even rubbing their eyes. “How is this possible?” Elister turned to face Greyson.
    “Mother help me,” Greyson said half-heartedly. “You’d think you’d remember half your lessons by now. All servants of the Mother sleep from time to time. You’ve done the same thing, though you have hardly noticed.”
    Wulfric’s voice brought a tinge of memory to Elister, the memory of fear. “The boy doesn’t understand, Greyson.”
    “Nonsense,” the old druid replied, looking back at the Rangers.
    “Wulfric’s correct,” Edric said, standing and stretching his legs. “They may have spent decades with you, Master Arnen, but they are still like children, unwise to the world and the perils within.”
    “Now wait just a minute,” Beth said, walking around her old teacher to stand in front of the three tall Rangers as she placed one hand on her hip and wagged a finger on the other at them. “Master Greyson says we are to become like him, one of the Arnen, so I hardly think calling us children is appropriate.”
    “My, but does she have a tongue,” Edric said.
    “Reminds me of her mother,” Wulfric responded, sending Beth a disapproving look.
    “What would you know of my mother?” Beth asked, holding her poise, finger in the air mid-wag.
    “Gentlemen,” Dunric interrupted, “do you really want to have a conversation now about . . .” The elder Ranger allowed his sentence to end prematurely.
    The three Rangers looked at Beth, and then they started to shake their heads in unison.
    “Wise decision,” Greyson said, coming around to face Beth. “Elizabeth, now is not the time to bring up old wounds—”
    “Wounds?” Beth’s finger found its way to the old man. “I thought we were the Arnen now and they were to protect us.”
    Tristan and Elister shifted their weight from one foot to another, not at all feeling comfortable with their companions’ tone, though interested enough in what the answer would be.
    “You are all