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

none of that has ever mattered. Gods, we barely have any people from the kingdom come through Berestal.”

“There’s always a few who come through,” I said.

“No one that the Vard would ever be interested in. I never got involved. Tara did. But I was content to stay on the farm, to work with my father, and to stay out of it.”

I just shook my head. “You might need to find out what they were planning.”

“I don’t think they were planning anything,” he said.

I fixed him with a hard gaze. “You told me yourself you went into the city because of the Academy. Your sister was with you. It sounds to me like they knew something was going on, and it sounds to me like they were determined to be a part of it.”

Joran licked his lips, swallowing. “They wouldn’t have done anything to your sister.”

He was my friend. And I knew his family. Had Tara known Alison would be chosen and then part of an ambush, I had to think she would have done something differently. “Still, if your mother has been working with the Vard, it’s going to be a little difficult to separate the two.” I left him, heading back toward Elaine.

As I approached, she looked up.

“I need your help. I know you have no interest in helping one person, but if you’re going after the Vard, and considering the fact that you have waited here, rather than leaving altogether, it suggests to me that you intend to do something, and I’m going to be a part of it. I might not be with the Academy, but I’m willing to work with you to help Alison.”

“And if they don’t have her?”

“If they don’t have her, then…” I glanced back to where Joran stood at the edge of the clearing. He had his arms crossed in front of him as he watched me, uncertainty in his eyes. How much more did he know about the Vard and what had taken place? I wanted to believe him, but he would protect his family the way I had protected mine. Joran might not be involved, but how deeply were his mother and sister?

“If they don’t have her, then I still think we need to rescue whoever the Vard have captured.”

Elaine watched me. Finally, she nodded. “I could use some help. I do not tolerate anyone challenging my authority though. As a dragon mage my authority comes directly from the king. And we must find this girl.”

“So long as we get my sister out of here, then I don’t care. I will do whatever it takes.”

14

We moved through the forest quickly. Elaine navigated through the trees easily, as if she knew exactly what she was doing and where she was going. Every so often, she would pause, and flames would crawl around her hands, pouring out into the darkness, before retreating. That energy was amazing. I found myself staring, watching as she wrapped that power out and away from her. There was a pattern to what she did, though I couldn’t always tell just what it was.

“I never thought that I would ever be so close to a dragon mage,” Joran said.

There was something impressive and majestic about it.

I hurried up to her, and she glanced over at me. “Do you have to be connected to a dragon to use that power?”

She frowned. “Do you always ask so many questions?”

“It’s just that we don’t get much experience with dragon mages near Berestal.”

“No. I suppose that you don’t.” She raised her hand and flames started to twist along her fingers, running down her arm, spreading wider and wider until we both took a step away. “I do not need to be close to a dragon.”

“How do you do it, then?”

“There is a way of holding power,” she said.

“Holding a dragon’s power?” Joran asked.

“It’s not something that I can easily explain to those who don’t have potential.”

He shared a look with me. “How is that supposed to help us find Alison?”

“His sister?” Elaine asked, looking over to me.

I nodded. “She was selected in the test when you came to the city. ” The memory of when she was pulled away from me stayed with me. At the time, I had no idea what was going on, and then when she passed…

It had been a mixture of emotions. Pride. Sadness. And then a desire to say goodbye.

When I finally found Alison, rescued her—and I would—I needed to talk to her. I could help her get to the Academy. Even if I had to escort her all the way there, then I would do it. Alison deserved that much at least.

If only he had been a part of the caravan, then maybe Alison wouldn’t have been captured. Or, if they had brought a dragon, it might have been different.

“Does he always do the testing?” I asked.

We came across another path. A Djarn path. How had she managed to find it?

It had to be tied to the magic she used.

“He doesn’t always. I believe the king sent him.”

I frowned to myself. There was something off here, though I wasn’t quite sure what it was. “You didn’t know he was coming.”

“No,” she said.

That explained why the dragon came later with the dragon mage.

“Why do you think he sent him?” Joran asked.

“The king can choose.”

“Do you think he knew the Vard might attack?”

Elaine’s brow furrowed. “I don’t know.”

We continued through the trees as we picked along the Djarn path, moving quickly. Every so often, she would pause and look behind her before hurrying onward. It was almost as if she heard or felt something, and then we would move onward. After a while, I stopped pressing for answers.

“Can you lead us back to the caravan?” I asked.

“First I need to find this girl. Once I do…”

Every so often, I heard the rumbling out in the forest, that of the mesahn. It seemed like it was closer.

“Why have we never heard that creature before?” Joran asked.

“Because they aren’t common,”