The Caged Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 1) by Dan Michaelson (websites to read books for free txt) 📕

able to learn at the Academy, and that she would have the potential to become more than just a farmer’s daughter. Having seen her struggle, I wanted that for her more than I wanted anything. She deserved it. There was no doubt in my mind that she should be able to chase the life she always wanted.

Another part of me, a deeper part I didn’t want to acknowledge, rebelled at that. It was the part that cried out at the idea of returning home to my father and brother, and a mother who wanted nothing to do with them. It was the part that knew that I wasn’t going to be able to escape. I was going to live on the farm, and my life wasn’t going to be any different than it was right now. In many ways, it was going to get worse. How could it not be whenmy sister was gone?

Reaching the stable, I didn’t have the energy to talk to Laret. He handed me the reins to the horses, and I guided them away.

A distant roar came from the dragon. I looked up to see it flying overhead, heading away from Berestal toward the capital.

Alison would be the one to learn about dragons, not me.

9

I stayed in the barn for a moment after stabling the horsesand thought about all of the tasks I still had to do as a way of taking my mind off of Alison getting to go to the capital and train. There was still so much that needed to get done, and now that I was the only one able to do it, I had no choice but to keep working.

Emerging from the barn, I started toward the house when I heard a shout. I turned, and Joran was there, riding up on Wind. Tara rode alongside him. She glared at me, as if she was angry

“Ashan?”

I blinked, staring at Joran. “What are you doing here?” I asked him.

“I came to see how you are doing.”

“What do you mean?”

“We were in the city. We saw what happened. We tried to reach you but there were too many people.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t find you afterward.”

“You saw?”

Joran glanced over to Tara. “We heard this morning from our mom why the king had sent his wagons. That there would be a selection. Tara decided she wanted to go to see it. Can you believe there was a dragon mage there? Gods! Not only that, but an actual dragon.”

“Joran,” Tara said softly.

Joran shook his head, looking back to me. “I’m sorry. I got ahead of myself. I wanted to know what happened with Alison.”

“ If you were there, then you saw what happened. She was chosen.”

“How?”

I sighed, glancing over to the barn before turning my attention back to the house. I still had to go inside and tell my mother.

“I don’t know. A guard kept me from getting any closer.”

I told them about what I remembered of the selection, though it wasn’t always what I’d seen that stuck out, but what I’d felt. In hindsight, I realized that there had been a strange warmth that had washed over me the entire time.

“All I know is the dragon mage seemed to be doing something to each person that he tested, and it caused them to react in some way. Those that didn’t pass jerked away from him, and those that did…”

“What’s going to happen now?” Joran asked.

I glanced atthe house. “ I go inside, tell my mother, and we get through this.”

“You aren’t going to try to find your sister?”

I shook my head. “Find her? The caravan disappeared.” It was more than that, though. As much as it pained me, Alison had been chosen to serve the king. It meant she would have the opportunity to live a better life. A life where she didn't have to care for our father and brother every day, while wishing for something more.

“You can wait for it to roll past here,” Joran said.

“If it left the city before me, it might already have moved past ,” I said.

Joran and his sister shared a look. “I can see whether we can find those wagons again,” Joran said.

I turned my attention to the house. I’d given it some thought on the ride home, wondering what I might’ve said to Alison had I been given the chance. I didn’t really know. She was given an opportunity. Why would I begrudge her that?

“I think it’s best this way,” I said.

“If she was selected, then they’re going to take her to the Academy,” Tara said.

I nodded. “I know.”

“She’ll be given a chance to learn from the masters there,” Tara said.

I glanced over. I could tell that she was trying to ease my mind, and even though it didn’t really work, I appreciated the effort.

“I need to go and talk with my parents,” I said.

“Do you want me to wait?” Joran asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know if that would serve any purpose.”

Joran shook his head, looking over to his sister for a moment before turning back to me. “ If there’s anything we can do…”

“I’ll talk to our mother,” Tara said. “She and I will come and check in from time to time. ”

I forced a smile. It was a nice thought. The problem was that I doubted they would be able to do it indefinitely. There was a limit to how much they would be able to help. Over time, the effort of continuing to try to help my family would become too much.

“I really do need to get inside,” I said.

Joran and Tara both nodded , and I left them, heading into the house.

Once inside, I took a deep breath. It felt strange coming home without Alison. Stranger still was that I knew she wasn’t going to return.

My father was sitting near the hearth, his hands resting on his lap, his gaze focused on the fire dancing within. He got up and started toward the door. Mom was