by Judith Leger
uniformed man slipped through the door. He returned a
moment later. With a nod to Paladin, he opened the door.
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Silus Moreia, governing mayor to Durfalin, sat behind a
large ornate desk across the room. He held one hand over his
brow, staring at several sheets of paper scattered over the
desk’s surface. His silver hair stood on end, and shadows
darkened the skin beneath his eyes. Thin to the point of
gauntness, the man appeared sick or injured. Silus lifted his
gaze and met Paladin’s.
Paladin walked across the room and stopped before him.
He leaned across the desk, bracing his hands flat on the
surface. “Who did this? Was it the white dragon clan?”
The older man shook his head. “Accounts from the
soldiers claim these were rogues, led by an adult dragon. An
iridescent one.”
Arcane.
Fury at the beast threatened to overcome Paladin. Years
before, the same beast attacked his brother. Yet, from what
Bask claimed, Rylen controlled Arcane’s actions. “What of
the ones staying in Murdock’s home?”
Shaking his head, Silus frowned. “All surviving the attack
from Murdock’s home were moved to his desert compound
several leagues outside the walls. I’m not sure. They might be
there.”
“My thanks. My crew will be here to give assistance.” He
pivoted and departed without waiting for the older man to
respond. He returned to his ship, informing his men to help
wherever they were needed. He went below, hurrying to pack
some supplies in a shoulder bag. Weapons and provisions
prepared, he raced to the top of the eastern wall. He stood on
the edge and called upon his inner magic. Innate power
surged to his shoulders, sending licking flames over his skin.
His wings broke free from his shoulders. Their full lengths
unfurled. People spying him from below, cried out and ran.
He ignored them, stepped off the edge and flew east into the
desert.
Paladin had been to Ren Murdock’s desert home once.
Years had dimmed the memory of its location. Sensing any
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human life forms helped guide him. After a few hours, he
spied a lush oasis springing from the sand dunes. A flat roof
two-story house along with several outer buildings
comprised the compound. Relieved, he grinned. He’d found
it.
Ren Murdock made his living searching and successfully
recovering ancient artifacts in the area surrounding his
home. Rumors abounded concerning the wizard making
forays into the rogue lands east of the desert. Murdock’s
techniques in acquiring the precious relics and gems were
honorable except when he dealt with thieves. There, he was
considered a formidable foe.
A shout brought Paladin’s attention to the largest most
ornate building in the compound. Several people moved
from under the covered terrace in front of the two story
adobe structure. Tall and solid, his black skin glistening in
the light, Leo rushed across the compound to meet him.
Relief flooded Paladin. Leo was alive, and if he was here,
Seren and Calis were also. They had to be alive.
Landing not far from the man, Paladin searched the area
behind Leo for any other familiar face.
“We expected your return yesterday.”
His breath caught in his chest. “I came at once after I
became aware of the trouble. Where is she?”
Stopping several feet from him, Leo shook his head. “That
dragon, the one Master Largin told you about. He attacked
the city and took Seren.”
Heart pounding, his knees threatened to collapse.
Darkness edged his vision for several moments. He dragged
in deep breaths, trying to calm down. If Arcane captured
Seren then she was with his brother. The spot of his chest
where his heart beat tightened with sharp pangs. His
emotions were torn between the two people he cared the
most for in this world. He stood, silent, staring unseeing at
Leo.
Leo placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know it’s bad, but
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we can’t let this stop us. We have to go after her.”
He focused and lifted his gaze to meet Leo’s dark eyes.
Paladin swallowed and nodded. “You are right, my friend.”
He looked at the house behind them, searching for Murdock.
“Where is the wizard?”
Sand and small stones scattered under Leo’s large feet.
The off-worlder wouldn’t meet his look. “You should have
warned him about Seren. He’s upset. Very upset. Right now,
I’d hate to be you. Knowing Murdock, he’s aware that you’ve
arrived. You don’t want to keep him waiting.”
Another problem he’d have to overcome before he could
go to Seren. Paladin gritted his teeth. His frustration
continued to build. He didn’t need the added distraction of
dealing with an irate wizard. Paladin trailed behind Leo, who
headed for the largest compound building.
Several desert dwellers, swathed in layers of thin beige
cloth, sat or stood under the wide veranda near the entrance.
Only their eyes and the tips of their fingers showed in the
fading light. Paladin nodded in greeting at them.
He entered the building. Deep mahogany panels lined
each side of the hallway. The shaded effect cooled the inside
by several degrees. Polished stone slab floors gave Murdock’s
home a cave-like atmosphere. Elegant carved chairs with
high backs and cushioned seats were placed along the walls,
waiting for their next occupant. Leo inclined his head down
the length of the wide center hallway.
Paladin strode at Leo’s side down the hallway. The off-
worlder stopped at a set of closed double doors and shot him
a glance, followed by a quick white grin.
Not sure if Leo was trying to reassure him or just making
light of a deadly situation, Paladin stopped next to him. Leo’s
next comment verified it was neither. “Whatever you do,
don’t make him any angrier. He’s already in a bad mood. You
know his reputation. He has a habit of reacting before he
thinks. So, try to stay calm. I managed to survive the
dragon’s attack. I don’t want to die at the hands of an irate
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wizard.”
Paladin agreed with a jerk of his head. Leo opened the
door. Feet rooted to the floor for a brief moment, Paladin
stared at the swirling design on the area carpet just over the
threshold. Determined to find out what Ren knew, he
stepped into the room. Tension permeated within the walls,
and was made physical by the strong odor of incense.
Paladin’s back stiffened with unease.
Ren Murdock sat across the room at his desk, his back to
them. His broad shoulders stiffened under the fine lawn shirt
he wore. Ren glanced over his shoulder at them. Dark hair
fell across his stro
ng brow. His black stare carved through
flesh and bone. The man seemed to search straight to the
pith of Paladin’s being.
Precise with his lethal spells, Ren could destroy him in a
heartbeat. Paladin clenched his fists. No one would prevent
him from saving Seren. He steeled his courage and asked, his
voice harsher than he’d intended. “Where did Arcane take
her?”
With Ren’s continued look dissecting him, he shifted,
refusing to break eye contact. After several tense moments,
his frustration at the breaking point, Paladin took a step to
the wizard. “Where...”
Ren’s quiet order overrode him. “Silence. Sit.”
Not wanting to push the wizard to more anger, Paladin
complied.
“Why did you not inform me of this woman’s identity?”
Meeting Ren’s hard gaze, Paladin asked again, “Where is
she?”
A dark brow quirked. “So she means a great measure to
you?”
“Yes.”
“Because of the child?”
“No.”
Surprised flickered in Ren’s eyes for a moment before he
shifted his attention to the floor, his brow creased in a frown.
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“Are you ready to fight for her, then? Even to...die for her?”
“I’ll destroy any who dares to stop me.”
“Including your brother?”
The wizard’s question stopped Paladin. Did he desire his
brother’s blood on his hands? He mulled the many aspects.
Coming to an answer, he raised his gaze, locking onto Ren’s.
“I would that this matter be different, but if he stands in my
way, yes, I will destroy him.”
Ren grunted. “You have only the white dragon supporting
you at present, whereas Rylen has a multitude of rogues in
his company. How do you expect to win against such great
odds?”
Angry over the wizard’s questions, Paladin stood and
spoke with quiet assurance. “I have no plan, but that will not
stop me. Now, where is Seren so that I might go to her?”
A slow, cocky smile formed on Ren’s face. “In the north,
with your brother.”
Pain of betrayal and jealousy flashed through Paladin.
Just as he suspected, Arcane had brought Seren to Rylen.
The wizard released a low chuckle.
Paladin glared at him. “Fool, you think this is laughable?”
He turned on his heel, intent on departing. Many leagues
separated him from Seren. He had to leave now, needed to
find her and hold her safe in his arms. Ren’s next comment
halted his progress to the door.
“And how do you expect to steal her from him?”
“I will find a way. She belongs with me.”
“So you say, but until you rescue her, she will remain in
mortal danger. Did you know that even while we speak,
Rylen has a horde of wizards working on a way to break
through the protective barrier the dragons have placed on
your woman and unborn child. Time is running short for
your loved ones.”
Paladin took another step to the door before Ren spoke
again. “Five thousand years ago, there was a horrific war
between the dragons and humans.”
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Next to him, Leo muttered under his breath. “Why do you
have to be so hard-headed? Listen to him.”
Anger heated the blood pumping through his veins.
Paladin shot a wicked glance at the older man, who in turn
lifted a brow. Leo shrugged and said, “Won’t hurt to have as
much useful information as we can to win Seren back.”
“What does an ancient war have to with the present?”
Paladin asked through gritted teeth.
“You learn from history, my friend. Guess who won the
final battle?”
“Humans?”
The wizard pushed the chair away from the desk. He
stood, long legs unfolding, and walked across the room. He
passed Paladin, grabbed a navy cape lined with crimson from
a peg near the door, swung it over his shoulders, and strode
to the door. Leo’s eyes widened as the wizard passed him and
exited the room. Paladin followed, with Leo the last to leave
the room.
Once out of the house, the wizard continued until he
stood on the edge of the compound in a spot where the oasis
and western desert met. The sun’s descent cast a soft glow
over the sands. The scalding heat from the day lessened. Hot
winds tugged at Ren’s short dark hair while he stood with his
chin angled to the west.
Paladin stopped next to him. This time, he would allow
Ren to have his say. No matter that he desired to leave and
find Seren, if his friend possessed information beneficial in
helping with the task, he would strive to hold his patience in
line.
Ren lifted his left arm and pointed. “Do you see all this
before us?”
He turned his gaze in the direction Ren referred to. “It’s
nothing. Only desert.”
“Now it is, but five thousand years ago, this land
flourished. Abundant in plant life, animals, and humans. The
last battle in the dragon wars was fought here. This is the
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result of it.”
Surprised, Paladin scanned the area. White dunes rose
and fell across the landscape. “How do you know this?”
“Research.” Ren shrugged. “It’s strange what you can find
when you’re searching for answers to your own questions.
Mine had nothing to do with the battle, yet all I found was
more and more artifacts pertaining to that last fight.”
“Again, I ask you, what does this have to do with Seren?”
“Patience. You really must learn a little of it or you will
end up getting killed.”
Paladin grunted.
“This battle ended with the creation of the first
dragonseed.” Ren stopped speaking. He looked straight at
him, his brow raised in speculation. “Your line of the
dragons.”
Curious where Ren was going with this, Paladin waited.
“The great white dragon and the mighty human warrior
who defeated her agreed to form a pact where they could live
in peace. She breathed her fires on the man, thus turning
him into a dragonseed.” Ren studied Paladin for a moment,
and then nodded. “The warrior returned home and sired a
child to carry on his blood line. He had a problem though.
The babe and the mother did not live past the first few
weeks. He returned, demanding to know why the white beast
had tricked him. She, in turn, ordered him to bring ten
couples, all of his blood, and she would do the same with
them that she had with him. He complied, and so the women
were able to carry children with white dragon blood.
“The warrior took another wife from this group. They in
turn had children of their own. Years went by and a strange
thing happened. The warrior did not age. His wife grew old
and died, so did his children.” Ren turned and strode off,
heading for one of the out-buildings in the compound, his
steps light over the shifting sands. His voice carried over his
shoulder to reach Paladin. “Come, my friend, I have a gift
which should help in your quest.”
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The two-story rectangular sandstone structure had a
single door situated at the front corner. As Ren drew near, he
waved his hand at the doorknob and a lock clicked. The wood
panel swung open.
He walked through the darkened opening, Paladin close
at his heels. What else could he do? He was willing to accept
any information that would help him save Seren.
With a snap of his fingers, Ren lit the dragon stones in
the metal brackets on the walls. The instant light revealed
crates stacked between narrow pathways. Paladin stayed
near the wizard, weaving through the storehouse. Soon, they
came to a single square room. The room, dusty from the
desert environment, brought an end to the path. More boxes
stacked on crates lined the walls, but for the most part, the
center of the room was bare except for a square table and a
few wooden chairs.
Paladin looked around, seeing nothing out of the
ordinary. “And? You want to show me something here?”
“I found a safekeeping place in the desert. An outcrop of
rock hidden by the sand for many generations. The cavern
within the rock formation was one of the many such places
humans sought during the dragon wars. I have discovered
some others during my search for the golden dragon clan
leader, Saxilon. The first white dragonseed lived in the one I
speak of now.” The wizard pointed to a chest in the far
corner. “Go, look there. You’ll find what you will need to fight
and win against any dragon who dares attack you.”
Without another word, Paladin strode to the chest. He
flipped the lid up. The hinges fell apart. The top hit the wall,
and then slid down, coming to rest on its side. Inside, a
tattered cloth hid the contents. Paladin ripped the rag away.
Armor glinted in the torchlight. Silver and white, he could
still sense the magic coating the metal. He lifted the top
piece.
Formed to fit the upper body and arms in a snug yet
supple casing, the white metal trimmed with silver flexed
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under his touch. He looked over his shoulder. “Is this still
powerful enough to withstand dragon’s breath?”
The wizard shot a smirking look at Leo, who in turn,
