The Lost Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 3) Read online

  “What do you want?” I whispered.

  Three of the dragons approached the bars of the pen.

  It was a strange thing for them to do, something I hadn’t seen from the dragons before, and it left me questioning whether I had neglected them in some way.

  I could feel the energy these dragons pushed off and toward me. This was different from the other dragons’ actions, and it suggested they wanted me to be aware of that energy, as if they were trying to guide me, trying to share something with me.

  Not just that, but they were trying to connect to me and join the cycle.

  I looked over to the green dragon, and it seemed to me that something shined within his eyes, some reassurance, as if he wanted to tell me he approved of adding these dragons to the cycle.

  I hadn’t done so in a while. The last time I’d done it had been in a time of need, when the dragons had demanded it of me, only because they were suffering, and now . . .

  Now I felt as if I were doing it because the dragons asked it of me.

  I focused on the nearest dragon, a pale-blue-scaled one, the color of the afternoon sky. Power radiated from him, though it wasn’t nearly as powerful as some. I could feel its energy. Because I was connected to the cycle of dragons, it took barely more than a moment for me to join the pale blue dragon to the rest of the cycle. As soon as I did, I could feel his power as a part of the others.

  That energy flowed from dragon to me and then back again, and it seemed as if the other dragons welcomed this dragon. They called him to them, and I could feel how their power filled the dragon. Not only did he receive the energy of the other dragons, but the other dragons gained something from him.

  The other two stood, watching me, waiting. Pressure built against me, suggesting that even more dragons wanted be a part of this as well. I turned to the next one, a yellow-scaled dragon who reflected the sunlight, leaving it practically glowing.

  There was a familiar power from this dragon, and I latched on to it, sending my energy cycling out and into him, adding this one to the others. It happened quickly, and this dragon grabbed on, joining the cycle—a bond of dragons.

  That left only one more.

  As I focused, I pulled on that power, and I pushed out, letting it fill the gray dragon. The color of steel. There was a power to this dragon as well, and I added what effort I could to join the dragon to the cycle.

  Afterward, I looked over, once more studying the green dragon at the center of the dragon pen. He settled to the ground, seemingly satisfied by what I had done.

  The power within me was now more than it had been before, though that wasn’t terribly surprising. Adding three more dragons to the cycle would augment my power. I could tease apart the energy, peeling away the power from each individual dragon, and could feel their influence on the cycle. Each dragon added something to it.

  Strangely, I was reminded of something Manuel had said, about the individuals in each location adding to the character of the city. It was like the trees in the forest.

  Were the dragons my trees?

  Better yet, maybe I was just one more tree in the forest. We were all part of it.

  That was peculiar to think of, but it felt right, nonetheless.

  I turned my attention away. My stomach rumbled. Working with the dragons, pulling upon even more power, had done nothing but make me hungrier. Still, I couldn’t help but feel as if what I had done was necessary and right.

  As I headed away, there was more pressure, this time coming from the green dragon, pulsing against me. He wanted to make sure I was aware of his presence and his approval of my actions.

  A strange sensation came from the forest, and I turned my attention to it. For a moment, it seemed almost as if there were something trying to pull upon my connection to the dragons, though it faded quickly. It reminded me of how the attack had pulled upon me as well. It was the same sort of power that had attempted to twist me and draw that energy down into the vase that was used to store the dragon magic.

  Had we missed something?

  In my search for evidence of another possible attack, I hadn’t come up with anything. There had been no sign of others, nothing more than my own concern.

  From what I had gathered from those in the know, I was alone in believing that there was some other real threat. Everybody else believed the Vard were responsible, and while they might pose a danger to the kingdom, they weren’t the most recent threat.

  I headed to the edge of the forest. I reached out, circling power through the dragon cycle, feeling for the different dragons that were a part of it. There was nothing to guide me.

  Nothing other than a tinge of power that continued to pull upon me.

  Whatever it was happened to be distant enough that I couldn’t quite feel it. I had no way of identifying where it came from, or if it was anything I even needed to be concerned with.

  It certainly wasn’t near enough to cause a problem.

  I tore my attention away, looking back at the Academy.

  I had expanded my cycle.

  Perhaps that was what I need to do.

  Make my preparations. Continue to add to my cycle. And be ready for the next attack.

  6

  I couldn’t shake the feeling that Brandel’s father had gone out into the trees, even if I’d seen no sign of him. And if he were somehow tied into whatever Jerith, Donathar, and Elaine had been doing—if he were able to access that kind of dark magic—then I wanted to figure out what he was doing, where he had gone, and whether there was anything I might be able to do to prevent him from leading another attack on the city.

  It was foolish.

  I knew that it was foolish.

  I had seen no evidence of him.

  There was only the rumor Manuel had mentioned about activity he had been tracking.

  Maybe what I really needed to do was tell Manuel about my concerns.

  I found myself near the cave entrance where I had brought the dragon out from underground.

  I had been here before, trying to explore, trying to understand the cave itself, and trying to know whether there was anything more to that cave than what I had seen before, but I had not been able to do that.

  This time, I felt something.

  It was faint and faded, but as I focused on it, I could tell there was a hint of heat rippling around me.

  That heat suggested dragons, though I didn’t see any. I couldn’t feel any.

  I rotated power through my cycle, but didn’t come up with an answer.

  I looked down into the cave.

  The air was warm—maybe residual energy that came from those within the Academy using their connection to magic. Perhaps that was all it was.

  I made my way to the forest, back out to the edge and the dragon pens.

  A dark shadow loomed in the sky. In the last two days, I’d been focusing on the weave Walter had shown me, trying to master it. I grew faster at it, though was still not nearly as fast as I wanted to be. I could tell there were aspects of performing the weave that didn’t come naturally to me. It wasn’t nearly as easy as forming bands of power out of my hands and cycling it outward, but I could tell that with enough time and effort, I should be able to find a familiarity with it, and it could perhaps even become something that felt instinctive.

  For me to use it as a defensive barrier, it would have to be instinctive.

  More than that, I was going to have to be able to do it quickly, and perhaps find some other aspect to it that would shelter me.

  I turned my attention to the sky again and noticed that the darkened form of the dragon was familiar. I could feel the dragon, though he was not a part of the cycle, not the way the other dragons were. When I touched upon the power within that dragon, opening myself up to it, I could feel an understanding of him, and I could feel his energy, but there was some aspect to him that seemed to push against me, advising me to avoid making that connection.

  So I didn’t try.

  There was no rea
son for me to force a connection with the dragon if he didn’t want one with me. No reason, and it would only potentially harm the dragon. Perhaps it had its own cycle—its own forest. Maybe it was another tree within that forest.

  The dragon came to land in the center of the dragon pen, and a darkened figure sitting atop it caught my attention. I headed over to the bars of the pen, watching as Thomas slid off the dragon’s neck and made his way out of the pen, closing the gate and sealing it with a hint of power. Despite his age, he still moved with a fluid grace. His dark hair had streaks of gray, and when he looked over to me, his lean face was lined with fatigue, wrinkles crinkling the corners of his eyes.

  “Were you waiting for me?” he asked.

  I chuckled, shaking my head. I hadn’t seen him in days, though these days that wasn’t unusual. Thomas had stayed busy. “It was only chance I was here.”

  He frowned. “Chance? There is no chance.”

  “I was out here practicing.”

  “Practicing what?”

  I took a step back and began to form the weave Walter had shown me, wrapping it around me. Thomas watched for a moment before nodding and starting toward the Academy. I didn’t wait to keep up with him. I suspected I needed to hurry along; otherwise, he would leave me behind.

  “How long have you been working with Walter?” he asked without looking in my direction.

  “He showed me this pattern a few days ago.”

  Thomas paused, spinning toward me. “A few days?” He arched a brow, then flicked his gaze toward the Academy. “Have you talked with Walter since he showed it to you?”

  I shook my head. “No. Why?”

  Thomas started to smile. “I would very much like to be there when you do.”

  “Why?”

  He chuckled. “I think it would be most interesting.”

  “Now you have me concerned,” I said. I didn’t want to anger my instructors.

  My goal was to become a full dragon mage. I felt I was getting close, but needed more training before I would be accepted as one. If I angered one of the instructors who was willing to work with me, I’d be pushing further away from where I wanted to be.

  “There is no reason to be concerned,” he said. “But I must say, you have demonstrated an interesting level of control. I suspect Walter will approve.”

  “He said he had other patterns he could show me after I mastered this one.”

  “I suppose he will. This is a useful one, and I’m afraid it’s not one I ever got to know very well. I’ve struggled trying to master it myself.”

  “You can’t do this pattern?”

  “Not nearly that quickly. Walter does like to encourage everybody to form the pattern, but forming it and holding it are different matters altogether. I’m merely capable of forming the pattern. I can’t wrap it around me quite that well.” He shrugged. “Thankfully, I haven’t the need to do so.”

  “It’s a pretty potent defensive technique,” I said.

  “Potent, but useful only to some. If you can call upon it quickly, then it will be useful to you, but if you cannot, then it is useless. There are some related techniques you can learn, which can become even more useful when mastered. I think that’s part of the reason he starts with this one, but that’s only because he wants to ensure others are easier for you. Once you learn this weave, then the other patterns come more quickly.”

  “I’ve been trying to master as much as I can,” I said. “It isn’t easy, and certainly not quick.”

  “No, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised you were able to learn it in a matter of days. Most take more than that.”

  “How much more than that?”

  He started to smile before shaking his head and laughing slightly. “Much more than that.”

  I followed him as he headed into the Academy. “Where were you coming from?”

  “I’ve been traveling outside to see what the Vard have been doing.”

  I debated whether I would say something to Thomas about my feelings regarding the Vard. I had tried to do so before, but each time I contemplated saying something to him, I held back. I didn’t know whether it was out of fear for how Thomas might react, or whether I truly didn’t know whether I should be concerned about the Vard. And then there was another concern I had, one that left me more uncertain than anything else.

  I could simply be ignorant.

  There was no doubt in my mind that I had not had the same experience as so many others in the city when it came to the Vard. My time in Berestal had not demonstrated the Vard were any real threat to the kingdom. At least, not the threat that so many within the capital wanted to believe.

  I decided not to say anything.

  “And?”

  “And they’ve been moving,” he said.

  “How far have they moved?”

  He frowned. “Why, do you intend to join in the fight?”

  I shrugged. “I wouldn’t be opposed to being a part of what’s happening. I think I could help.” They might think it’s all about the Vard, but there was another element at play. I knew there was.

  He nodded to me. “I don’t doubt you could be, but I’m not so sure it’s necessary for you to involve yourself in it. Not yet, at least. I think we should remain focused on you continuing to gain knowledge and skill. You’ll be a full dragon mage soon enough.”

  That wasn’t the first time I’d heard a comment like that. “I have been focused. You don’t think I can be a part of what’s taking place?”

  Thomas chuckled. “We have both seen you can. And I think you have proven yourself more than most within the Academy, it’s just . . .”

  “It’s just what?”

  The door to the Academy opened, and Master Eleanor stood framed within it, looking out at Thomas.

  She was dressed in a dark brown robe, graying hair pulled back, stern expression crossing her face. “Thomas Elaron. It is about time that you return.”

  He chuckled at her. “I didn’t realize I needed to appease you.”

  She glanced over to me. “Did you bring a student with you again?”

  “On the contrary. I found him waiting for me.”

  “I wasn’t waiting for you,” I said.

  He glanced over, shaking his head. “He wants me to think he wasn’t waiting for me. Unfortunately, it was quite obvious he was.”

  “I wasn’t waiting for you,” I repeated.

  “Then what would you say you were doing?” Eleanor asked Thomas, ignoring me. I was thankful of that. I didn’t want her dark gaze on me.

  “I was traveling on behalf of our king. You remember what that was like, I’m sure.”

  Her expression soured. “I most certainly do, Thomas. Just because I have chosen to remain at the Academy doesn’t mean I don’t still serve the way you do.”

  He stiffened a moment. “Eleanor, please don’t make this difficult.”

  “What am I making difficult now? Perhaps it’s your own frustrations you find difficult.”

  “This has nothing to do with my own frustrations. This has everything to do with your reaction to me.”

  “My reaction to you? I think not. There has been no reaction whatsoever.”

  Thomas forced a smile. I didn’t know Thomas all that well, but I knew him enough to know he was irritated. I recognized the way his brow furrowed, frustration creasing it. I saw the hint of tension, and suspected he was more agitated than he let on. Thomas waited, watching her for a moment. “You do realize the king has placed me in charge of the Academy. As the chief dragon mage, I am tasked with—”

  “I am well aware of what you have been tasked with.”

  Thomas tipped his head to the side, as if listening to something only he could hear. “Are you going to make me force my way past you?” he asked softly.

  “I suppose not,” Eleanor said. She stepped off to the side, and he slipped past her. When I tried to go after, she moved to block me once again.

  “I’m with Thomas,” I said.

&n
bsp; “We have already established that,” she said.

  I frowned. “We have?”

  “I would say most of the instructors here are fully aware of your relationship with Thomas. And we are fully aware of how you are looking to ingratiate yourself with the king.”

  I frowned at her. “I’m not trying to ingratiate myself with anyone. I thought I was here to serve the king the same as anyone else.”

  “The same? I doubt that. You had better be careful. If you are not, you might find your testing for full dragon mage to be more complicated than you anticipate.”

  I didn’t really know enough about what my testing would entail. I hadn’t been at the Academy for long—and for much of that time, I hadn’t been able to reach for the power of the dragons. Now that I had, and now that I knew I had a connection to them, I felt as if maybe I might actually one day be able to serve as a dragon mage.

  She glared at me before heading away.

  Thomas continued striding through the halls, saying nothing to the people he passed.

  I hurried past Eleanor, ignoring the look she gave me as I did. When I reached Thomas, I leaned close to him. “What was that about?”

  “Nothing,” he said.

  “It seems it was about something. What is it?”

  Thomas looked over his shoulder. “They’re afraid of what happened.”

  “As in what happened with the last attack?”

  Thomas shot me a hard look. “Most aren’t aware of what happened in the last attack. You need to be careful mentioning it.”

  “I haven’t mentioned it to anyone.”

  “Good. If you were to do so, you would find . . .” He shook his head. “I suppose it doesn’t matter.” Thomas looked around before settling his gaze back on me. “Things have become a little bit unstable,” he said, shaking his head again. “Perhaps you do need to be alerted to that, especially given your role in the previous attack.”

  “My role?”

  “You were there, and had a part in stopping what happened.”

  “I’m not trying to cause trouble here,” I said. “I guess I just hoped to be a greater part of things.”