Read Online 6.0 - Raptor by Lindsay Buroker - Free Book Online Page A

manipulated in the past centuries.
    “Do we want to know those words?” Zirkander asked. “If they’re what made Ahn go, ah, AWOL?”
    “I wouldn’t mind never hearing them again,” Cas said.
    “It’s likely the command is what caused the sword to flare to full power,” Sardelle said. “Kasandral has some power when he’s quiescent—perhaps enough to cut through dragon scale—but he definitely grew stronger once he had been fully awoken. Perhaps if the words could be learned, the wielder could be the one to use them at his or her discretion.”
    “Another reason to detour to the crystal mines then,” Zirkander said.
    Another reason? What was the first reason? Cas felt that she had come into the middle of a conversation.
    Angulus frowned. “Perhaps.”
    “Would I be safe piloting someone carrying the sword?” Zirkander asked. “I’m open to taking a flier up to catch a dragon, even if that sounds extremely unwise, but I wouldn’t want to be concentrating on flying, only to get brained from behind.”
    “You don’t have any dragon blood,” Sardelle said. “The sword shouldn’t object to you.”
    “ Shouldn’t .”
    “Cas,” Sardelle said, “you mentioned feeling irritated toward Tolemek and me when you were carrying the sword. Did your feelings toward Ridge or anyone else in our group change?”
    “Not that I remember, but—” She spread her arms helplessly, not able to voice that Apex hadn’t had dragon blood, either. He’d just… gotten in the way.
    From the bleak expressions in the room, she did not need to say the rest out loud.
    “Kasandral was made to protect humans from dragons and, to a lesser extent, sorcerers,” Sardelle said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. “You shouldn’t need to worry about being brained. Unless you irritate your passenger with your flying.”
    Zirkander snorted. “So long as you don’t stick Colonel Therrik behind me. He doesn’t appreciate my maneuvers.”
    “That’s actually who I had in mind,” Angulus said.
    Cas stared at him. He wasn’t serious, was he? She’d assumed… well, she had believed the king might be leading up to assigning her to go along on the mission. She had intended to object, of course, since she couldn’t trust herself to touch that sword again. But the idea of having someone like that hot-headed Colonel Therrik holding it was even more appalling.
    “Is that a joke, Sire?” Zirkander asked. “Because it’s hard to tell when you’re telling jokes. Your tone is so dry all the time.”
    “It’s not a joke. It’s his family’s sword. And I’m positive that somewhere in his military career, he’s found time to train at swordsmanship.”
    “Oh, I’m sure he’s trained with every pointy, bladed, or blunt weapon in existence, including his own head.”
    Tolemek snorted. He’d lowered his hand from Cas’s shoulder, but remained close behind her. She’d forgotten what it was like to have him there. She’d forgotten how much she liked it. What she didn’t like was imagining Therrik with Kasandral. He didn’t like Zirkander, and he didn’t like sorcerers. What if he used it as an excuse to attack Sardelle? With Jaxi’s help, Sardelle had fended off Cas when the sword had taken over, but with Therrik’s strength and combat expertise, he would be a more dangerous opponent.
    “You have another candidate in mind?” Angulus asked.
    Zirkander only hesitated a second before looking at Kaika. She had her hands clasped behind her head as she lounged in the chair, but she sat upright now.
    “Uhm?” She did not appear enthused about the idea. And why would she? She had been there for Apex’s death and had seen what had happened firsthand.
    “No,” Angulus said, his tone cold.
    “Why not? She’s got the same kind of training as he has, and I don’t think she has any secret fantasies about braining me—or Sardelle.” Zirkander must have been having the same thoughts as Cas. Someone who already loathed magic