Read Online Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War by Christie Golden - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Christie Golden
Ads: Link
appreciate and value it. Because, Kinndy—if you truly appreciate and value something, then you wish to manage it well. You don’t want to hoard it; you want to share it. And that was how I chose to be the minder of magic in this world. Now I am merely the flight’s leader. I am no longer an Aspect. And in this new role, believe me, I more than welcome aid from the Kirin Tor and anyone else who is willing to help.”
Kinndy pondered this, one foot swinging as it dangled off the floor. The gnomish culture was nothing if not logical, and Kinndy’s methodical brain could appreciate what Kalec was saying. Finally, she nodded.
“Tell us about this thing that’s going to affect everyone in Azeroth,” she said. Kinndy wasn’t going to apologize for her attitude, but she clearly had moved past mistrust of the blue dragon leader.
Kalec, too, seemed to understand the shift and addressed both women in his response. “You are familiar with the device known as the Focusing Iris, which has long been in the keeping of the blue dragonflight.”
“That’s what Malygos used to create the surge needles that diverted the magical ley lines of Azeroth so they flowed to the Nexus,” said Kinndy. Jaina was afraid she was starting to put two and two together, but even now, she still hoped she was wrong.
“Yes,” he said. “It was. And it is this ancient orb that has been stolen from us.”
Kinndy looked as if she was going to be sick. Jaina stared at Kalecgos in horror. She couldn’t imagine how he felt. She blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.
“Thank you—for being willing to ask for help,” she said, reaching out and pressing his hand impulsively. He glanced at her hand, then her face, and nodded.
“I did not exaggerate when I said it affects all of us,” he said. “I spoke with Rhonin, then flew directly here. You, young lady,” he said to Kinndy, “are only the third non-dragon to know.”
“I—I’m flattered,” stammered Kinndy. The resentment she seemed to bear toward Kalec had utterly disappeared. She said nothing more about “tall tales.” Kalecgos had been telling the truth.
“What do you know of the theft?” asked Jaina, anxious to turn the discussion to practical matters—what was known, what was yet to be discovered, and, hopefully, what could be done about it.
Briefly, Kalecgos filled them in. Jaina’s heart sank with each word. Taken by unknown foes who could overcome five dragons?
“Did Rhonin offer any help?” she asked, surprised by how faint andhopeless her own voice sounded. Kinndy was turning the color of parchment and hadn’t spoken in a while.
Kalecgos shook his blue-black head. “No. Not yet, at any rate. I was able to sense the direction in which it was traveling. Faintly, but it was there. That’s what led me to Kalimdor—and to you, Jaina.” He spread his hands in an imploring gesture. “I am the leader of the blue dragons. We understand magic. We have our own tomes, more ancient than any you have seen. But what we do not have are your resources. I am not arrogant enough to think that we know everything. There are magi not born dragons who came up with things no dragon ever knew of. That’s where you can help me—if you would.”
“Of course,” said Jaina. “I’ll bring in Archmage Tervosh, and we’ll all put our heads together.”
“Breakfast first?” asked Kinndy.
“Absolutely,” Kalecgos said. “Who can focus on an empty stomach?”
Slowly, Jaina’s heart lifted, at least a little. Kalec could track the progress of the missing device. He was willing, apparently eager, to accept help. And he was right. Who could focus on an empty stomach?
Their eyes met and he smiled. Her heart lifted a little more. They had to believe they would recover it in time. And as Kalecgos, Kinndy, and she went into the dining room, she had hope that they would.
• • •
The five of them—Jaina, Kalecgos, Tervosh, Pained, and Kinndy—flung
Kinndy pondered this, one foot swinging as it dangled off the floor. The gnomish culture was nothing if not logical, and Kinndy’s methodical brain could appreciate what Kalec was saying. Finally, she nodded.
“Tell us about this thing that’s going to affect everyone in Azeroth,” she said. Kinndy wasn’t going to apologize for her attitude, but she clearly had moved past mistrust of the blue dragon leader.
Kalec, too, seemed to understand the shift and addressed both women in his response. “You are familiar with the device known as the Focusing Iris, which has long been in the keeping of the blue dragonflight.”
“That’s what Malygos used to create the surge needles that diverted the magical ley lines of Azeroth so they flowed to the Nexus,” said Kinndy. Jaina was afraid she was starting to put two and two together, but even now, she still hoped she was wrong.
“Yes,” he said. “It was. And it is this ancient orb that has been stolen from us.”
Kinndy looked as if she was going to be sick. Jaina stared at Kalecgos in horror. She couldn’t imagine how he felt. She blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.
“Thank you—for being willing to ask for help,” she said, reaching out and pressing his hand impulsively. He glanced at her hand, then her face, and nodded.
“I did not exaggerate when I said it affects all of us,” he said. “I spoke with Rhonin, then flew directly here. You, young lady,” he said to Kinndy, “are only the third non-dragon to know.”
“I—I’m flattered,” stammered Kinndy. The resentment she seemed to bear toward Kalec had utterly disappeared. She said nothing more about “tall tales.” Kalecgos had been telling the truth.
“What do you know of the theft?” asked Jaina, anxious to turn the discussion to practical matters—what was known, what was yet to be discovered, and, hopefully, what could be done about it.
Briefly, Kalecgos filled them in. Jaina’s heart sank with each word. Taken by unknown foes who could overcome five dragons?
“Did Rhonin offer any help?” she asked, surprised by how faint andhopeless her own voice sounded. Kinndy was turning the color of parchment and hadn’t spoken in a while.
Kalecgos shook his blue-black head. “No. Not yet, at any rate. I was able to sense the direction in which it was traveling. Faintly, but it was there. That’s what led me to Kalimdor—and to you, Jaina.” He spread his hands in an imploring gesture. “I am the leader of the blue dragons. We understand magic. We have our own tomes, more ancient than any you have seen. But what we do not have are your resources. I am not arrogant enough to think that we know everything. There are magi not born dragons who came up with things no dragon ever knew of. That’s where you can help me—if you would.”
“Of course,” said Jaina. “I’ll bring in Archmage Tervosh, and we’ll all put our heads together.”
“Breakfast first?” asked Kinndy.
“Absolutely,” Kalecgos said. “Who can focus on an empty stomach?”
Slowly, Jaina’s heart lifted, at least a little. Kalec could track the progress of the missing device. He was willing, apparently eager, to accept help. And he was right. Who could focus on an empty stomach?
Their eyes met and he smiled. Her heart lifted a little more. They had to believe they would recover it in time. And as Kalecgos, Kinndy, and she went into the dining room, she had hope that they would.
• • •
The five of them—Jaina, Kalecgos, Tervosh, Pained, and Kinndy—flung
Similar Books
