Dragon Breeder 3 by Dante King (e novels to read online .TXT) 📕

“All that being said,” General Shiloh continued, “allow me to introduce you to your two bodyguards.”

She rang a small bell on her desk, and an orderly entered.

“Fetch Ashrin and Jazmyn,” the General said curtly.

The orderly saluted and hurried out.

“These two dragonmancers are a pair of my very best, Dragonmancer Noctis,” the General told me. “It is why I have selected them to venture into the Subterranean Realms with you and your party. The main force of soldiers will be forging ahead, but should you encounter any trouble of the more determined variety, these dragonmancers will be able to ensure you don’t end up getting yourself killed.”

“Your confidence in my abilities is heartening, General Shiloh,” I said.

The General held up her hands and gave me a grave look. “I’m not here to disparage you, lad,” she said evenly. “Nor am I here to blow smoke up your ass, as I’m sure many people have done since you set foot on our world. I’m here to do my job. My job, as of the moment you walked into this tent, is to keep you alive. That’s it.”

“I was just pulling your leg, General Shiloh,” I said. “I meant no disrespect. Humans often make light of the serious. It’s how we deal with all the bullshit that assails us.”

The General smiled humorlessly. “Sounds like the same way that soldiers deal with things,” she said. “Still, I warn you; I’ve seen more than enough explorers and troops let themselves be sunk by their pride. Don’t become one of ‘em, Dragonmancer Noctis.”

Before I could respond, the flap of the tent was pulled open and two women stalked in and stood to attention.

“Dragonmancer Noctis,” General Shiloh said, “may I introduce you to the two women tasked with guarding your body. This is Ashrin, Bearer of Alzad the Toxin Dragon.” The General pointed at one of the warriors; a woman wearing sleek black armor that looked like an insect’s carapace, and who had feline features and cat ears poking through her spiky black hair.

Ashrin nodded to me but did not smile.

“And this is Jazmyn, Bearer of Meoko, the Crescent Dragon,” General Shiloh said, indicating the other dragonmancer.

Jazmyn also reminded me of a feline of some kind, though she did not have the cat-like ears that Ashrin had. Her hair was cut short too, but was the black-gray color of ash. She too wore black burnished armor—the color of the qualified dragonmancer—though she also wore a bright red sash around her waist.

Jazmyn nodded at me too but said nothing.

“Dragonmancers Ashrin and Jazmyn have been apprised of your mission,” the General said. “Together with their coteries, they will help you and your fellows seek out the crystals and whatever substance you need to regenerate your… potency. I will stress this one last time: this mission is one that must bloody well succeed. The future and fate of the Empire requires it. Do the three of you understand?”

“Yes, general!” the two black-armored dragonmancers said in unison.

I got to my feet.

“I understand, General Shiloh,” I said.

“Good,” the General said. “Now, go and get it done.”

Chapter 8

I exited the command tent with Dragonmancers Jazmyn and Ashrin on my heels. My squad was waiting outside and straightened up when they saw me although, thankfully, they didn’t go so far as to salute or any bullcrap like that.

“All right, lads,” I said, “I guess that’s it. We’ve got the okay from the General, and I think we’re good to go. Let’s round up the others and fucking get this job done.”

A snort from behind my left shoulder made me grit my teeth. I knew that kind of snort. It was one of those derisive ones. Judging by the glowering expression on Gabby’s face, I was not the only one who had picked up on the tone.

I turned and saw Jazmyn and Ashrin exchanging dubious looks with one another.

I sighed. I could see where this was going.

“What’s up, ladies?” I asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Ashrin replied in a sweet voice. “Nothing at all.” Her tone, somehow, brought razorblades hiding in cotton-candy to mind.

“Nah, nothing’s wrong,” Jazmyn said. “This is the sort of detail that every dragonmancer fuckin’ dreams of when they pass the final trials and are finally allowed to wear the all-black, isn’t it? The fuckin’ babysitting assignment.”

“I thought so,” I said, a dangerous smile curving my lips upward.

“You thought what?” Ashrin asked, folding her slender arms across her plain, but quite large, breastplate.

“This is where you come out with your wounded pride, right?” I said. “This is where you have a little bitch and a little moan about being way too overqualified, way too badass, to be hanging out with a bunch of lowly Rank Ones, yadda yadda yadda, and we have to apply a bit of salve to those injured egos of yours somehow, yeah?”

The two women, standing in their matching sable armor, glared at me, but said nothing.

“This is the part where you vent your spleens a little isn’t it?” I said. “Well come on then, let’s get it the fuck over with, because in case you hardasses weren’t aware, we have limited time here.”

Jazmyn, who was clearly the more aggressive of the two women, stepped forward and narrowed her eyes at me. “You think that just because your special—”

“Oh, come on,” I said, with a little disbelieving laugh. “You’re not going to try that line on me are you? You think that I reckon I’m special just because I’m packing a staff down my breeches? Look at you, look at all the insanely capable and deadly women that I arrived with? How the hell could I give myself airs encircled by all those flint-hearted badasses, huh?”

Ashrin cocked her head to one side and regarded me through dark, intelligent eyes.

“We’re not