The Betrayed Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 2) by Dan Michaelson (best free ereader TXT) 📕

as I knew, the Sharath was not. That was why Thomas was the king’s chief dragon mage, or at least he had been. Maybe there was another power.

I looked over at Thomas but he ignored me, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead of him.

“What did you detect?”

I ignored the Sharath. He was the most dangerous one here, I knew that, but at the same time, he wasn’t the one I had to convince. I had to convince the king.

“I can feel a connection to the dragons. That’s why Thomas brought me here, I think.” I glanced over to him again, but he said nothing. Damn him. I needed him to speak up so that I knew what he was playing at, knew what he had gotten me pulled into. “We traveled in the forest. It was the first time I’d left the city since I came here only a few months ago. I’ve never ridden on a dragon, and when Thomas took me, I didn’t have much choice. I mean, he is the king’s chief dragon mage.”

“Not for long,” the Sharath said.

I glanced at him. At least I had a better understanding of what was going on. The Sharath looked like he was trying to replace Thomas. He seemed to have done a reasonable job with it, as well. There were enough dragon mages now who were obviously against Thomas.

How was I going to be any sort of help to Thomas? That was what he wanted from me, after all. I was just a student, and far too new at it and my connection to the dragons to be of much use to him. Still, there was something that I could offer him. I could tell the truth, which was all that I knew to do.

“There was something in the forest. When we landed, we were surrounded by the Djarn.”

The Sharath tapped his staff on the ground. “There it is again. Your ongoing belief that the Djarn prepare to move on us,” the Sharath said. “I cannot believe you would try this again. And if what this boy is saying is true, you’re bringing a neophyte into it?”

“We were surrounded by the Djarn,” I said. “I’ve seen them before.”

“Have you now?” the Sharath said.

“I have,” I said, turning to him. There was something about the Sharath I didn’t care for. Maybe it was his arrogance, or the fact that he obviously had cast judgment upon me without even getting to know me, or maybe it was simply the fact that he was here, and I felt like I had to defend myself from both him and Thomas. “I’ve only been in the city for a short while. I came from the plains. Near Berestal. You can ask Manuel, your Hunter.”

The Sharath started to laugh, waving his hand. “Listen to this. He continues to go on with—”

“You’re the one,” the king said, taking a step toward me. “Manuel mentioned his experience and everything he went through. He was more than a little disturbed by the activity he encountered.”

I took a deep breath. Maybe this would be my way out. I knew only to tell the truth, and given that I hadn’t done anything, and was not at all responsible for whatever it was that Thomas was accused of, I didn’t know what else to say.

“Manuel tells me that you chased down the Vard,” the king said.

“I went after my sister,” I answered. “It had nothing to do with the Vard. I just wanted to get my sister back. I had heard the Vard had taken over the Academy’s caravan, and . . .”

Now wasn’t the time to tell him that I wasn’t even sure if the Vard were responsible for the attack outside of Berestal. If Manuel believed it, that was what mattered.

The king offered a hint of a lopsided smile. “You went after her. Interesting. I have a sister, I suppose you know,” he said.

I nodded quickly. I’d heard of the princess, though she was known to be quite reclusive. Few saw her, at least according to rumor.

“You saved her, from what Manuel said.”

“I think we got lucky. We managed to free Manuel from the caravan, and—”

“Uncovered a traitor,” the king said. He frowned before glancing over to the Sharath. “We had one of the Vard among us. We didn’t know they had infiltrated so deeply.”

“We ensured it wouldn’t happen again,” the Sharath said.

“Have we?” He glanced to Thomas. “Is that what this is about?”

Thomas growled softly. “I’m not with the Vard, sire.”

The king grinned. It amazed me how willing Thomas was to threaten the king, or at least to reveal his irritation. It revealed how comfortable he felt around him.

“I know you’re not, Thomas. The question remains whether or not you are responsible for these dragons you’ve been accused of taking.”

“I am not.”

The king tipped his head to me. “Then why did you bring him here? What are you thinking to do?”

“I’m thinking to demonstrate we might have an alternative way of following what’s taking place.”

“By bringing a student?” the king asked.

The Sharath tapped on the ground with his staff, taking a step forward. “We are getting beyond this conversation,” the Sharath said. “This was about Thomas Elaron, and his—”

“This has been about me proving my fealty to the kingdom,” Thomas said, glaring at the Sharath. “Perhaps you forget how I have defended the kingdom against Vard incursions repeatedly. And recently. Or perhaps you have forgotten how I have defended the king himself, more times than you would care to admit. Or perhaps—”

“We know what you have done,” the king said.

I looked from the king to the Sharath to Thomas.

“I can feel the dragon energy,” I said. “I think that’s why Thomas brought me here.” I looked over to him, waiting for his acknowledgment. He nodded slightly. “I’m not entirely sure what it means, only that I am aware of the connection when it forms.”

The king frowned. “What do you mean you are aware of it?”

I shrugged. “I don’t