Read Online The Dragon Circle by Irene Radford - Free Book Online Page B

was, no matter what dangers lay in finding it. Her talent would not allow her to rest until the lost was found and the Stargods were safe once more.
    Stargod Konner was not hard to follow. He had left a trail a child could see. She did not even have to engage her talent.
    She followed him across two fields separated by a narrow creek. She jumped the creek without even thinking about it. Then over a small hill, with just enough elevation to obscure from the village what lay beyond.
    Dim moonlight and a soft glow from the other side of the hill lit her way. She used her eyes rather than her talent to pick her footsteps.
    At the top of the rise she halted. Her throat froze. She forgot to breathe.
    Shimmering in the moonlight a long white dragon rested easily on its haunches. That sight alone was worth a second glance. But the other dragon, the one that was hard to see, the one that demanded that she look anywhere but at it was even more beautiful. Illuminated by the Stargod’s magical torch, she saw that dark red, the color of blood, outlined its horns, wing tips and veins.
    She swallowed and stuffed her hands into her pockets. She must not cross her wrists, right over left, and flap them in ward against Simurgh, the winged god that had demanded blood sacrifice at every turn. Touching her head, heart, and each shoulder in turn, the ward of the Stargods, did not seem protection enough.
    Beside the dragon stood a lone man. Stargod Konner. The dragon was a worthy companion of a god.
    She swallowed her superstitious fears and walked down the hill toward the man and his dragon. A red-tip.
    Simurgh had been a red-tip.
    As she approached, the dragon took wing and disappeared into the night. Shielding her face from a blast of wind and dust raised by flapping dragon wings, Dalleena followed his flight path with her eyes. For half a moment she thought she saw a nearly transparent wing cross the moon. Then it was gone.
    â€œIrythros!” Stargod Konner called. “Irythros, come back here. I’m not finished with you.”
    The dragon ignored him, of course.
    â€œDragons obey only themselves,” she said as she came closer.
    â€œWho are you?” Stargod Konner whirled to face her.
    â€œDalleena Farseer. I sensed that you had lost something.”
    â€œSensed?”
    She shrugged. “I am a Tracker. I find lost things.”
    â€œWhy should I believe you?”
    â€œYou have my word.”
    He looked at her closely then. He focused on her eyes.
    â€œI believe you. I shouldn’t. But I believe you.”
    â€œWhat have you lost?” She could not break eye contact. The depth of his blue eyes promised her much. Promises she knew he would keep or die.
    â€œUm . . .” he licked his lips.
    She mimicked his action. Her throat still felt dry. She had to remember to breathe.
    â€œWe call it a beacon.”
    â€œA bee-kan.”
    â€œClose enough. About this big.” He held up his hand and traced his palm. “It is made out of the same material as the shuttle.” He gestured toward the huge white dragon beside them.
    The beast emitted a low hum, but otherwise seemed strangely quiescent.
    â€œI do not know this bee-kan.” She placed her right hand flat upon the cool skin of the white dragon.
    Her hand grew hot. Tingles shot up her arm to her brain. A numbness grew from a knot into a broad band at the base of her neck.
    â€œFar away. I hear the bee-kan calling to its home. It calls to . . . a . . . king stone. It begs the king stone to come rescue it,” she whispered.
    She shook her head to free herself of the tracking trance. A little of the numbness eased. It would not leave her completely until she removed her hand from contact with the white dragon.
    She lifted her hand. It felt too heavy. She braced her arm with the other hand and pulled back. Her hand was heavier still. Then she wrenched her arm.
    Her hand remained glued to the shuttle.

    Kim wrapped his arms around