[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
too long since Salomar s defeat, so the area near the Lair should be
relatively free of obstruction. There were those diamond-tipped weapons to be
wary of, though. Salomar might be gone, but his armies of brigands
survived for the most part. Nico knew it was only a matter of time before a
warlord or two rose to replace Salomar.
As night turned slowly toward day, Nico sighted the shining waters of
Crystal Lake. They would be able to sleep the day away in a secret cove he
knew there. Silently, he signaled to the contingent of dragons, altering their
course slightly toward the lake. They followed his lead smoothly, having
learned through the long night how to fly in formation as he had them rotate
positions every half hour. It was the way he drilled young dragons and knights
and it worked well with these black dragons too.
Riki, too, was flying better with each stroke of her wings. They stopped from
time to time to rest, but she was keeping up, new as she was to flying.
He felt pride in her, though Nico knew his bride was going to be very sore
when they finally stopped for the day.
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ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Still, it couldn t be helped. Every step closer to Draconia was a step closer
to safety and he had to take them as quickly as possible. Too much was at
stake. Riki s safety was paramount, but there were other considerations as
well. Nico had learned much on this odyssey about the threat they all faced.
Roland needed to know these things and word needed to spread to all possible
allies. The safety of all lands was at stake.
What s that?
Riki asked in the silence of his mind. She was still getting used to her
enhanced dragon vision, and had asked him several times what they were looking
at from above as they passed over.
Crystal Lake. We ll stop there for the day to rest.
How close are we to the border with Draconia?
Not far now. Can you see where the rocks give way to trees just on the other
side of the lake?
The first gray streaks of dawn were on the horizon, lighting it well for
dragon sight.
I can see some big brown blurs and some big green blurs but that s about it.
He chuckled, sending a stream of smoke out behind them.
Well, you can trust me on this, the border is not far ahead, on the other side
of the lake.
Then why stop on this side? Don t you want to be in Draconia before we rest?
I d love that, but it s not possible for several reasons. First, the lake is
much wider than it looks from here. It will take hours to traverse and we
would be vulnerable to She Who Lives in the Lake should we try to cross it
during the hours of daylight.
She Who Lives in the Lake? What s in there? Some kind of monster?
Not a monster, exactly, but it s better to cross under cover of darkness to
avoid her notice. Also, the Draconian side of the lake is wild and mostly
uninhabited. I wouldn t trust Lucan not to have sent soldiers or skiths or
both to hary us there. I also know a place on this side, which is well
protected enough that we can sleep the day away in relative ease. We ll stop
here for the day, fish, eat, wash up and sleep, then cross the lake tonight,
under cover of darkness.
And then what? I mean, where are we heading for after that?
Then we make for the Northern Lair. It s not far past the lake. We should be
able to land there several hours before dawn. And won t they be surprised to
see us? Your sister roused them when she brought a wild northern Ice Dragon
home with her, but you re bringing five black dragons.
I think you ve got her beat.
Nico chuckled, sending smoke out behind him, and Riki joined in, coughing a
little as she got used to the workings of her dragon throat and the flame
always kept banked within.
I don t care if I beat her at anything. I just want to see her!
Nico moved to the left, riding the air currents as he led the rest of the
dragons to the place he alone knew. Or so he thought. In the dim morning
light, he could just make out a huge silver dragonet splashing around in the
shallows& fishing.
Page 96
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Tor, is that you?
Uncle Nico?
Came the young voice piping through all the dragons
minds.
Where are you?
Right above you, boy. We ll be landing any moment. Is Lana with you?
And Roland?
Yes. They re sleeping in the tent. They always sleep so much nowadays.
Nico chuckled at Tor s artless words. He realized he d better give his brother
some warning since he was bringing company. Nico was careful to send his
thoughts to Roland alone.
Rol! Stop fucking your wife for a minute and come outside. You re not going to
believe what I m bringing you as a present.
The contingent of black dragons touched down as dawn kissed the sky.
Six of them landed first, the last one circling behind, waiting her turn and
working up her nerve. Riki chose her spot and aimed for the ground, closing
her eyes at the last moment as she came in too fast and ended up tumbling ass
over tea kettle into the shallow part of the lake.
The shining silver dragonet was the first to come over, his diamond eyes
sparkling as he laughed. Riki couldn t hold on to her embarrassment when her
antics so clearly amused the young dragon.
Who are you?
she asked the big youngster.
I m Tor. You re funny. You land like Lana.
Lana?
Hope rose in Riki s throat as she looked around at the dragons, shifting to
human form one by one. And then she noticed the small black tent and the woman
stepping from it.
Lana!
Riki s heart broke open and joy filled her spirit. She stumbled out of the
water, shaking off her big dragon body, thinking of her warm, dry clothing as
she shifted form quickly to face the woman who was her twin.
Lana? she asked tentatively.
Riki! The other woman moved closer, then ran forward and pulled Riki into
her arms, hugging her close. It was her sister. Her twin. Riki felt the two
halves of their souls rejoining as they d once been when they were children.
Riki! Lana cried tears of joy, just as Riki did, the twins reunited and
hugging each other close for long, long minutes.
She looks just like Lana, they both heard Tor whisper to the others some time
later.
It was Lana who turned toward the big silver dragon. Tor, baby, this is my
sister, Riki. I told you about her, remember? Lana turned to her sister and
smiled. Riki, this is Tor. My best friend and companion these past years. I
never would have made it without him.
Riki greeted the young dragon, amazed by the sparkling sight of him.
He was gorgeous& and just a baby, though he was huge.
You fly just like Lana did in the beginning. I can show you how to land better
if you want.
His youthful eagerness touched her heart and she smiled at him, but Nico came
up behind her, in human form now, and caught her around the waist.
He laughed up at Tor, apparently well familiar with the young dragon.
Page 97
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Have pity on her, Tor. She only learned how to fly yesterday.
Yesterday? A new male voice entered the conversation and Riki looked up at
the tall man holding her sister s hand. He looked a lot like Nico, but his
eyes were emerald green.
I didn t know I could shift until yesterday. Riki looked at the happiness in [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
too long since Salomar s defeat, so the area near the Lair should be
relatively free of obstruction. There were those diamond-tipped weapons to be
wary of, though. Salomar might be gone, but his armies of brigands
survived for the most part. Nico knew it was only a matter of time before a
warlord or two rose to replace Salomar.
As night turned slowly toward day, Nico sighted the shining waters of
Crystal Lake. They would be able to sleep the day away in a secret cove he
knew there. Silently, he signaled to the contingent of dragons, altering their
course slightly toward the lake. They followed his lead smoothly, having
learned through the long night how to fly in formation as he had them rotate
positions every half hour. It was the way he drilled young dragons and knights
and it worked well with these black dragons too.
Riki, too, was flying better with each stroke of her wings. They stopped from
time to time to rest, but she was keeping up, new as she was to flying.
He felt pride in her, though Nico knew his bride was going to be very sore
when they finally stopped for the day.
Page 95
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Still, it couldn t be helped. Every step closer to Draconia was a step closer
to safety and he had to take them as quickly as possible. Too much was at
stake. Riki s safety was paramount, but there were other considerations as
well. Nico had learned much on this odyssey about the threat they all faced.
Roland needed to know these things and word needed to spread to all possible
allies. The safety of all lands was at stake.
What s that?
Riki asked in the silence of his mind. She was still getting used to her
enhanced dragon vision, and had asked him several times what they were looking
at from above as they passed over.
Crystal Lake. We ll stop there for the day to rest.
How close are we to the border with Draconia?
Not far now. Can you see where the rocks give way to trees just on the other
side of the lake?
The first gray streaks of dawn were on the horizon, lighting it well for
dragon sight.
I can see some big brown blurs and some big green blurs but that s about it.
He chuckled, sending a stream of smoke out behind them.
Well, you can trust me on this, the border is not far ahead, on the other side
of the lake.
Then why stop on this side? Don t you want to be in Draconia before we rest?
I d love that, but it s not possible for several reasons. First, the lake is
much wider than it looks from here. It will take hours to traverse and we
would be vulnerable to She Who Lives in the Lake should we try to cross it
during the hours of daylight.
She Who Lives in the Lake? What s in there? Some kind of monster?
Not a monster, exactly, but it s better to cross under cover of darkness to
avoid her notice. Also, the Draconian side of the lake is wild and mostly
uninhabited. I wouldn t trust Lucan not to have sent soldiers or skiths or
both to hary us there. I also know a place on this side, which is well
protected enough that we can sleep the day away in relative ease. We ll stop
here for the day, fish, eat, wash up and sleep, then cross the lake tonight,
under cover of darkness.
And then what? I mean, where are we heading for after that?
Then we make for the Northern Lair. It s not far past the lake. We should be
able to land there several hours before dawn. And won t they be surprised to
see us? Your sister roused them when she brought a wild northern Ice Dragon
home with her, but you re bringing five black dragons.
I think you ve got her beat.
Nico chuckled, sending smoke out behind him, and Riki joined in, coughing a
little as she got used to the workings of her dragon throat and the flame
always kept banked within.
I don t care if I beat her at anything. I just want to see her!
Nico moved to the left, riding the air currents as he led the rest of the
dragons to the place he alone knew. Or so he thought. In the dim morning
light, he could just make out a huge silver dragonet splashing around in the
shallows& fishing.
Page 96
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Tor, is that you?
Uncle Nico?
Came the young voice piping through all the dragons
minds.
Where are you?
Right above you, boy. We ll be landing any moment. Is Lana with you?
And Roland?
Yes. They re sleeping in the tent. They always sleep so much nowadays.
Nico chuckled at Tor s artless words. He realized he d better give his brother
some warning since he was bringing company. Nico was careful to send his
thoughts to Roland alone.
Rol! Stop fucking your wife for a minute and come outside. You re not going to
believe what I m bringing you as a present.
The contingent of black dragons touched down as dawn kissed the sky.
Six of them landed first, the last one circling behind, waiting her turn and
working up her nerve. Riki chose her spot and aimed for the ground, closing
her eyes at the last moment as she came in too fast and ended up tumbling ass
over tea kettle into the shallow part of the lake.
The shining silver dragonet was the first to come over, his diamond eyes
sparkling as he laughed. Riki couldn t hold on to her embarrassment when her
antics so clearly amused the young dragon.
Who are you?
she asked the big youngster.
I m Tor. You re funny. You land like Lana.
Lana?
Hope rose in Riki s throat as she looked around at the dragons, shifting to
human form one by one. And then she noticed the small black tent and the woman
stepping from it.
Lana!
Riki s heart broke open and joy filled her spirit. She stumbled out of the
water, shaking off her big dragon body, thinking of her warm, dry clothing as
she shifted form quickly to face the woman who was her twin.
Lana? she asked tentatively.
Riki! The other woman moved closer, then ran forward and pulled Riki into
her arms, hugging her close. It was her sister. Her twin. Riki felt the two
halves of their souls rejoining as they d once been when they were children.
Riki! Lana cried tears of joy, just as Riki did, the twins reunited and
hugging each other close for long, long minutes.
She looks just like Lana, they both heard Tor whisper to the others some time
later.
It was Lana who turned toward the big silver dragon. Tor, baby, this is my
sister, Riki. I told you about her, remember? Lana turned to her sister and
smiled. Riki, this is Tor. My best friend and companion these past years. I
never would have made it without him.
Riki greeted the young dragon, amazed by the sparkling sight of him.
He was gorgeous& and just a baby, though he was huge.
You fly just like Lana did in the beginning. I can show you how to land better
if you want.
His youthful eagerness touched her heart and she smiled at him, but Nico came
up behind her, in human form now, and caught her around the waist.
He laughed up at Tor, apparently well familiar with the young dragon.
Page 97
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Have pity on her, Tor. She only learned how to fly yesterday.
Yesterday? A new male voice entered the conversation and Riki looked up at
the tall man holding her sister s hand. He looked a lot like Nico, but his
eyes were emerald green.
I didn t know I could shift until yesterday. Riki looked at the happiness in [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]