“That, or let him grow into the old, Mr. Woods.”
The wurm bit at portions of the cocoon, pulling it away, but before he had fully freed himself from the black and red blanket, his nostrils flared. He extended his head toward Msitazi. The Altashee raised the scale. A forked tongue flicked out, snatching it from between his hands, and sucked it back into the wurm’s mouth. Mugwump raised his head toward the roof and the offering slid down his throat.
The Prince smiled. “Magnificent.”
Mugwump turned and stared at them, then stood. The last of the cocoon fell away.
“Oh my.” The Prince pointed. “He has wings.”
Owen nodded, smiling. “You, Highness, are in possession of a dragon.”
“It would appear, Captain Strake, you are correct.” Vlad smiled, then Gisella wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss.
Owen looked over, seeking Catherine’s reaction to Mugwump’s rebirth, but she’d not joined them. He started to the wurmrest’s door, but hesitated. He wanted to look out, but there was no need. The winding path had showed him her expression, her hatred, as she stood out there on the lawn, alone, glaring at the wurmrest.
He looked back at Mugwump and just for a heartbeat, their gazes met. Owen understood.
He, like the dragon, truly was home again.
About the Author
Michael A. Stackpole is an award-winning novelist, graphic novelist, podcaster, screenwriter, game designer, computer game designer, and editor who is best known for his New York Times bestselling novels, Rogue Squadron and I, Jedi. Since 1988, he’s published more than forty novels and was the first author to have work available in Apple’s Appstore. He’s the driving force behind the Chain Story Project (chainstory.stormwolf.com). He lives in Arizona, and enjoys indoor soccer and swing dancing during his spare time.
To learn more about Mike and to find other stories about the characters of the Crown Colonies, please visit his website at www.stormwolf.com. You can also find him in Second Life, where he holds weekly chats about writing and publishing issues (and where an earlier version of this novel was read aloud to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life).
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Chapter Forty-Seven
Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-One
Chapter Fifty-Two
Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Four
Chapter Fifty-Five
Chapter Fifty-Six
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-One
Chapter Sixty-Two
Chapter Sixty-Three
Chapter Sixty-Four
Chapter Sixty-Five
Chapter Sixty-Six
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Chapter Sixty-Eight
About the Author
At the Queen's Command Page 56
