The Weaving of Wells (Osric's Wand, Book Four) by Jack D. Albrecht Jr., Ashley Delay Read Free Book Online

guilt, pride, and adoration created a signature effect on her Empath ability that left no doubt as to who was standing behind her. She turned and was greeted by his warm smile and a quick embrace. Yet, she could tell something was bothering him.
    “Trevar did a splendid job today. His grasp of Common is improving rapidly.” Bridgett indicated the young irua with a proud smile.
    “So, you’re the one who helped Bridgett through the irua tunnels?” Osric smiled, kneeling down to greet the boy.
    “Yes. You are High-Wizard?” Trevar gazed up at Osric with a mixture of awe and surprise.
    “I suppose I am. I owe you a great debt for taking care of Bridgett in my absence.” He placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and then drew him into a grateful hug.
    “Bridgett is good. She must be safe. You have my welcome.” Trevar hugged him back awkwardly, and Osric nodded in agreement.
    “Run along and get some lunch. You must be hungry after that wonderful fire-telling,” Bridgett said. Trevar nodded and left the room with a beaming smile. She took Osric’s hand and led him to a small table in a corner of the room. “He really is improving quickly. However, I still have few of the answers I think he can provide. Perhaps I am asking the wrong questions.”
    “You’ve done a great job teaching him Common in such a short time. I’m sure things will get easier in the near future when he can grasp the subtleties of the language. But after my long and unproductive chat with Eublin, I am eager for a diversion. So, I am here to learn what you can tell me about the dragons. What is happening with our winged friends?”
    “Our friends are still loyal and willing to aid us in our travels as needed. It is the dragons we cannot call our friends which concern us. I know little of the motivations of these creatures, but I have learned something of their history.”
    “I wasn’t aware there were dragons that we couldn’t call friends. Go on.” Osric leaned in to hear her words.
    “It seems that not all of the dragons on Archana are as herd oriented as those we have met. While most of them look to the dragon elders for leadership and knowledge, some of the dragons have sought solo lives apart from the others.” Bridgett held Osric’s hand tighter. “While the captivity of the elders forced so many dragons into slavery for the other races, these independent dragons felt no obligation to obey anyone. They broke from the rest of the species and isolated themselves in distant regions. I do not know what has inspired the destruction, but it is those dragons which have set fire to sacred trees and fishing towns along the coasts.”
    “In the Human Realm?” Osric inquired.
    “The Human Realm, Irua Realm, Elven Realm, and for all we know in many other places as well. The attacks have been sporadic and fairly well contained, but there must be at least four of these dragons based on the locations of the damage. The dragons I have spoken with say they have had no contact with the offenders for dozens of years, and they are confident that the telepathic link has not provided the other dragons with knowledge of the traveling spell. They know these dragons have no allegiance to the dragon elders, and so they will not risk putting the entire species at risk by letting that knowledge out.”
    “It would be dangerous to assume they don’t have knowledge of the traveling spell, so I won’t assume that. But the others don’t have contact with the offenders? How is that possible? I thought they all communicated telepathically.”
    “I thought the same thing. We don’t know for sure, but several possible theories have been raised. It could be that the link is still active and the dragons responsible for the attacks are very much aware of the spell. Although if that is the case, there could be as few as two of them. It is also possible that distance from the herd and so many years of silence has weakened or severed the link in these creatures.