Read Online Flight to Dragon Isle by Lucinda Hare - Free Book Online
Authors: Lucinda Hare
Ads: Link
battledragon and slid her helmet off.
‘Congratulations!’ She smiled, clasping Root’s hand in a military grasp. Not entirely convincing, but it was a good effort, and Root only smirked a little.
C HAPTER E LEVEN
Confession
The Grand Master relaxed as he saw the brightly coloured spires of the Sorcerers Guild crowning the city skyline of the Black Isle. Now it was time to rest briefly before the Guild meeting tomorrow to discuss supplies and equipment for the XIII Stormbreakers’ fortress in the Howling Glen. He was elated but exhausted. His plans were complete. Right now the hobgoblins and their Razorbacks would be nearing the Westering Isles.
Having summoned the Maelstrom, he had for the first time successfully conjured a stable vortex from its dark depths; a whirling tunnel through the darkness that had allowed him to travel the huge distance from Roarkinch to the Brimstones in a fraction of the time it would normally take. Now he could reach and fight in the coming battle and return before any noticed his absence. His power continued to grow, but it had left the taint of the maelstrom on him; his hands shook and he felt sick and dizzy. His addiction to the elixir was growing; he needed it more than ever.
But as he flew closer, he could see the unmistakable outline of a fully armoured Imperial at rest on the Guild dragonpad. The battlebanners of the SDS and the DeWinters hung limply in the still air, although the Lord Hugo would have recognized that particular dragon anywhere. Then, as he was about to land on an empty pad, he felt it – barely, the faintest prickle on his skin … A ward had been cast about the Guild. It was Battle Magic without a doubt; subtle, barely discernible, but very powerful. Without the power of the Maelstrom he would have failed to detect it at all. The Earl Rufus was expecting trouble.
Why?
A shiver of disquiet passed through the Grand Master’s body as he handed his mount over to a groom. If Rufus knew of his treason, he would have been intercepted long before he even returned to the glen. He would be languishing in the deep prisons of Dragon Isle in chains, bound by Battle Magic.
How? How could the Earl suspect something? Well, he was forewarned . With a confident stride, and a smile on his face, he descended to his chambers.
‘Hugo!’
The Earl embraced his friend, before searching his face. ‘You’re tired,’ he observed, noting with surprise that the dark hair was streaked with silver and the deep indigo eyes so dark they almost looked black.
‘I know,’ the Grand Master smiled ruefully. ‘I’m getting older, and the flying was difficult in this weather! I had two mounts collapse from exhaustion and frost bite. But I’ve raised ten thousand veterans from the north.’ The Grand Master poured some wine to calm himself. ‘They are striking out to reinforce all our coastal garrisons as we speak …’ That much was true, only they would slaughter the SDS and Royal troops they found there.
‘My thanks,’ the Earl paused, reluctant to raise concerns about a man whom he loved like an older brother. ‘Hugo, your dragon at the Jousts …’
The Grand Master’s heart hammered as sweat trickled beneath his robes. He desperately needed his elixir and tried to still his shaking hands. His thoughts raced. Could his dark magic beat the Earl’s battlemagic yet? Could he disguise its use here at the heart of the Black Isle? Chaotic magic always had unforeseen outcomes. He summoned his remaining strength.
‘What of it?’ he looked puzzled, merely curious.
‘All thought the dragon to be rogue, but its behaviour could be seen in a different light. It behaved as a predator might.’
The Grand Master frowned, as if considering this view for the first time. ‘That is true,’ he conceded. ‘But the stallion was spurred to madness by the reckless behaviour of my kinsman, Duke Grenville. It was he who drove the dragon to pursue you, to settle an old score. Thereafter it
‘Congratulations!’ She smiled, clasping Root’s hand in a military grasp. Not entirely convincing, but it was a good effort, and Root only smirked a little.
C HAPTER E LEVEN
Confession
The Grand Master relaxed as he saw the brightly coloured spires of the Sorcerers Guild crowning the city skyline of the Black Isle. Now it was time to rest briefly before the Guild meeting tomorrow to discuss supplies and equipment for the XIII Stormbreakers’ fortress in the Howling Glen. He was elated but exhausted. His plans were complete. Right now the hobgoblins and their Razorbacks would be nearing the Westering Isles.
Having summoned the Maelstrom, he had for the first time successfully conjured a stable vortex from its dark depths; a whirling tunnel through the darkness that had allowed him to travel the huge distance from Roarkinch to the Brimstones in a fraction of the time it would normally take. Now he could reach and fight in the coming battle and return before any noticed his absence. His power continued to grow, but it had left the taint of the maelstrom on him; his hands shook and he felt sick and dizzy. His addiction to the elixir was growing; he needed it more than ever.
But as he flew closer, he could see the unmistakable outline of a fully armoured Imperial at rest on the Guild dragonpad. The battlebanners of the SDS and the DeWinters hung limply in the still air, although the Lord Hugo would have recognized that particular dragon anywhere. Then, as he was about to land on an empty pad, he felt it – barely, the faintest prickle on his skin … A ward had been cast about the Guild. It was Battle Magic without a doubt; subtle, barely discernible, but very powerful. Without the power of the Maelstrom he would have failed to detect it at all. The Earl Rufus was expecting trouble.
Why?
A shiver of disquiet passed through the Grand Master’s body as he handed his mount over to a groom. If Rufus knew of his treason, he would have been intercepted long before he even returned to the glen. He would be languishing in the deep prisons of Dragon Isle in chains, bound by Battle Magic.
How? How could the Earl suspect something? Well, he was forewarned . With a confident stride, and a smile on his face, he descended to his chambers.
‘Hugo!’
The Earl embraced his friend, before searching his face. ‘You’re tired,’ he observed, noting with surprise that the dark hair was streaked with silver and the deep indigo eyes so dark they almost looked black.
‘I know,’ the Grand Master smiled ruefully. ‘I’m getting older, and the flying was difficult in this weather! I had two mounts collapse from exhaustion and frost bite. But I’ve raised ten thousand veterans from the north.’ The Grand Master poured some wine to calm himself. ‘They are striking out to reinforce all our coastal garrisons as we speak …’ That much was true, only they would slaughter the SDS and Royal troops they found there.
‘My thanks,’ the Earl paused, reluctant to raise concerns about a man whom he loved like an older brother. ‘Hugo, your dragon at the Jousts …’
The Grand Master’s heart hammered as sweat trickled beneath his robes. He desperately needed his elixir and tried to still his shaking hands. His thoughts raced. Could his dark magic beat the Earl’s battlemagic yet? Could he disguise its use here at the heart of the Black Isle? Chaotic magic always had unforeseen outcomes. He summoned his remaining strength.
‘What of it?’ he looked puzzled, merely curious.
‘All thought the dragon to be rogue, but its behaviour could be seen in a different light. It behaved as a predator might.’
The Grand Master frowned, as if considering this view for the first time. ‘That is true,’ he conceded. ‘But the stallion was spurred to madness by the reckless behaviour of my kinsman, Duke Grenville. It was he who drove the dragon to pursue you, to settle an old score. Thereafter it
Similar Books
