The Silent Dragon: Children of The Dragon Nimbus #1 by Irene Radford Read Free Book Online Page A

price.
    “I’ve seen others similar to it from more reputable merchants.” She wrinkled her nose at the dominant smell of stale fish and drying seaweed, always prevalent this close to the Great Bay. She tugged on his arm, indicating they should retreat back the way they came. “Miri and Chastet will be wondering where we have gone.”
    “But those other boxes offered by wealthier merchants are usually empty and of less value,” he insisted, drawing her closer to his side, and to the table holding the box.
    “What does this one contain?” She had to admit that her curiosity was getting the better of her good sense.
    He flipped off the hinged lid easily with one hand. They both peered into the interior, lined with layers of fluffy raw wool over a layer of dry straw. A flick of his finger removed the soft nesting fleece to reveal a black egg as big as her two clenched fists. Red lines swirled angrily around the surface.
    Linda drew back, repelled. It was as if that strange egg smelled bad. But it had no smell at all. If she reached out to touch it, she knew it would burn her hand.
    The black lines crawled over the red surface, twining, seeking; growing the power to enthrall . . .
    Linda closed her eyes to break the connection the egg sought. A snap and whir lanced through her mind, like a taut bowstring clumsily released and scraping a burn across her arm.
    Lucjemm cradled the egg easily in his two hands. His eyes glazed as if in deep prayer, or a trance, the soft brown irises darkened with hints of red lines lancing across them. “Father bought one like it for me three years ago. But it . . . This one sings to me. It needs me,” he whispered in awe.
    Linda turned and ran back the way they’d come, to the safety of her friends and the bright gaiety of the real market, not this slovenly and disreputable stall on the edge of the island and probably the law.

    My lovely needs this egg. She says it will give us a strong male worthy of becoming her consort. I remind her that I too need a consort, my princess.
    My lovely remains silent. I do not think she likes Princess Linda. She sees her as a rival for my affections. This is not so. My lovely will always be my first love. My loyalty and protection are hers to command. But I am a healthy man. I need a female of my own.
    The princess will bring us political power. The three of us will rule this land together, united in a common desire to make the land and the people stronger through the changes my lovely and her consorts bring. If they thrive, the land and the people thrive. She needs only a few blood sacrifices to maintain her authority over them.
    Over me . . .
    My mind jerks free of the connection. Something is wrong there. I’m not sure what. But I will have my princess with or without the approval of my lovely. I will ask my father to unite me with my princess. He will see the advantages of the match, even if my lovely is jealous.
    My lovely . . . my lovely loves me as my mother never could. Not my real mother who abandoned me at birth or my adopted mother who rejected me. Only my lovely truly loves me.

CHAPTER 7
    D
A!
GLENNDON SUMMONED his father the moment Jaylor ducked through the shimmer in the air that marked the magical barrier protecting the family clearing. He came from the direction of the University, on the far side of the kitchen garden from the cabin, leaning heavily against his twisted staff as if tired—almost collapsed in on himself. His long auburn queue needed re-dressing, badly. Clear evidence that his day in closed session with the Circle of Master Magicians had been grueling. The staff gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, almost quivering on its own, the aftermath of the many, many spells channeled through it within the last few hours. The wood grain had twisted and braided back on itself a dozen times over in a unique pattern—Da’s magical signature.
    In the background, his mother’s gentle and ever-present song faded to a long