The Caged Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 1) Dan Michaelson (online e reader .TXT) 📖

the two of you think you could do when it came to the Vard? They aren’t powerless. They caught me. The two of you should get back to Berestal. It’s probably safer for you to be there than out here.”

I leaned forward. “I’m not going anywhere until I find my sister.”

“There isn’t much you’re going to be able to find when it comes to your sister out here,” Elaine said. “If the Vard have her, and I’m saying if, especially since I don’t really know, the two of you aren’t going to be able to free her.”

“What about you?” I asked. “What are you going to do?”

Elaine glared at me. “Do you mean am I going to go after the Vard?”

I shrugged. “Are you?”

“I’ve dealt with them enough times.”

I frowned at her. “That’s not much of an answer.”

“That’s all the answer you need,” Elaine said.

“Are you going to do anything about them, or not?” I asked.

“You’re asking if I’m going to go after them and rescue your sister. It’s possible I will.”

“Possible?” I asked. “We’re part of the kingdomand have been faithful citizens—”

“Faithful?” She shot Joran a long look. “You use that term a little bit fast and loose.”

“My sister and I are faithful citizens of the kingdom.” I waited for her to say something more but she didn’t. I nodded to Joran. “Come on. This is something I have to do,” I said. Whether or not you are a part of it.”

Elaine chuckled. “You’ve got spirit. Can’t deny that. A man like that can be useful.”

Sheregarded me for a moment. “ Have you ever given any thought to serving?”

“No.”

Joran watched me, with an unreadable look on his face. I shook my head, trying to ignore Elaine, trying to ignore the look that Joran gave me.

“Let me tell you something about the Vard,” Elaine said, leaning forward slightly. “They have made a point of attacking more recently. You think this is the first time we’ve encountered them in the forest?” Elaine swept her gaze around. “You think I was surprised to find them here? Attacking people from the Wilds?” She turned and looked over to us, shaking her head. “ The answer to both of those questions is no. What does that tell you?”

“It tells me nothing,” I said. I glanced over to Joran, wondering what he might know. If his family really were Vard sympathizers, then it was possible that he knew more than he was letting on. I was still surprised that he would have been caught up in any of this.

“It tells me they think they’ve got something,” Elaine said. “Now, I’m not exactly sure what that is, but before I return, I need those answers. It’s more than just the Vard,” Elaine said. “The Vard hadn’t been willing or able to attack us until now. Something changed for them. ”

I watched her, uncertain of what to say. I didn’t necessarily want to help her. But despite that, there was a part of me that felt like I needed to help. We were a part of the kingdom, after all, even if it didn’t always feel like it.

“I need to understand what happened.” She looked from Joran to me. “I wasn’t alone in that wagon caravan. We need to figure out what they were after.” She looked off through the trees. I nodded, glancing over to Joran. “I’ll do it.”

“Can I talk with you?” Joran asked.

He motioned for us to move far enough away where Elaine wouldn’t be able to hear us. At least, where I didn’t think she’d be able to hear us. She was a dragon mage, after all, and I didn’t know what sort of listening powers she might have. Maybe there were none, but there was the possibility that she had some way of listening in.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“She’s with the Academy. We have to help.”

He shook his head. “None of this is our responsibility.”

“Alison is my responsibility.”

“But she’s not concerned about your sister.”

“She’s concerned enough about the wagons.” I had no idea whether Elaine really cared about my sister or not, but I had a sense that she wanted to remove the Vard. That, more than anything else, told me what I needed to do. If she was willing to work against the Vard, then we had to be a part of it.

“And if she isn’t willing to help?”

“Then we go after her on our own.”

I turned back to where Elaine sat in the small clearing. My mind raced through everything that we needed to do, and everything that we had been through.

I had to find my sister now, but even once I did, returning home put me in a very different situation. My brother might still be sick, possibly beyond recovery. My father was gone. And having seen my mother, and the truth of the way that she had reacted, I couldn’t help but feel as if I had been taken advantage of.

We were close to the Djarn path. The sounds of the forest had diminished, but not so much that I couldn’t hear the faint rumbling coming from the mesahn. There were no other sounds. It was a strange realization. This deep into the forest I would’ve expected the chattering of squirrels, perhaps the hooting of owls, the chirping of other birds, or even the occasional cry of a wolf. There was none of that. The insects weren’t even buzzing. It was almost as if the forest itself held its breath, waiting. It was unnerving.

Joran looked away from me. “I’m sorry about this. I told you that my mother was from the city. I should have said more, but I didn’t know how to bring it up. How can you tell your friend your family still has ties to…” He sighed, shaking his head. “Well, she has stayed in contact with other Vard. I never thought anything would come of it. She’s been working in the city, making contacts with people that she claims serve the Vard, but