The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

Mica hissed at him to be still. He felt like swatting her. His legs and back ached from the unnatural position. Mica was perfectly content to curl her small body into a tight ball and doze until action was needed.
    But the image of Mica transformed into a lovely nude woman, with hair as bright and multicolored as the cat’s shimmered before Darville’s mind. Had he dreamed the true nature of the cat or had he really seen her in Shayla’s cave? He shook his head clear of the image.
    He couldn’t nap and he couldn’t dwell on dreams. He needed to stay alert. He half-wished for his wolf form. The four-legged creature would be much more comfortable hunkered down in this cold corner.
    He shifted again just to spite the cat. This time his purloined sword clanked against the stone wall at his back.
    A servitor in green and red tunic and trews whirled to seek the source of the noise. Darville froze, hardly daring to breathe. The blacker than black hair with wings of silver at the servant’s temples looked familiar.
    The man scanned the room with wary eyes. They rested on Darville’s hiding place then moved on. So did his hands. One moment the table was fully set. The next, two of the knives were missing.
    Zolltarn the Rover! Of course. Darville knew he’d seen the man before. Like as not, more than two of the metal knives would be missing before the guests were seated.
    Darville tried to blend in with the stones at his back. It didn’t work. As soon as the other servitors were gone from the room, Zolltarn began searching the flower arrangements.
    Silently Darville stood and eased his dagger from his sheath. When the Rover was close enough, he dragged the thief back into the shielded alcove.
    “A sound and your throat is slit,” he hissed. His right arm encircled the man’s chest. His left held the wicked dagger across the bobbing apple in the middle of Zolltarn’s throat.
    “Probably not, companion to the magician and the little beauty with red hair.” Zolltarn almost chuckled, as much as any man in such a position could chuckle.
    Darville raised an eyebrow but kept silence.
    “A knife in a throat is a messy way to die and you have not the time or patience to clean up.”
    Mica hissed her agreement.
    “A knife in the back is just as easy and cleaner. So answer my queries instead.” Darville swallowed deeply. Though trained for combat since early childhood, this was the first time he had held a man’s life in his hands.
    “I can but try. Krej pays well for information. Can you pay more?”
    “You payment will be your life if you answer truly. How much does Krej know about me and my companions?”
    The man laughed, but not loudly. It was an evil kind of sound. That made it easier to prick the stretched skin of the Rover’s neck. Zolltarn stopped abruptly as a tiny drop of blood oozed from the cut. Darville swallowed deeply again at the sight of the blood he had inflicted.
    “The Lord Regent asked if I had stolen a wooden staff from the magician and his lady who were traveling with a great golden wolf.”
    “And if you saw such people in your journeys, did you steal the staff?”
    “Ay, yes, we did. A shattered piece of wood is as good as stolen. I report everything to Lord Krej when he pays. But I did not know then that his description of you meant a real wolf. He would give much to know the wolf now walks on two legs instead of four.”
    Darville breathed a little easier. He didn’t release the pressure on the man’s neck. “What will buy your silence?”
    “The promise of your seed for my people after this night’s adventure. Your sons would be kings.”
    “My sons will be kings anyway. I do not waste my seed on temporary alliances.” At least not since he’d met Brevelan. She was the only woman he wanted now.
    “There is a boy, Yaakke, in the kitchens. He could grow to be very powerful if guided by me.” The man’s voice becoming seductively smooth. Fortunately, Darville had spent enough time with Jaylor and Brevelan to resist this attempt at compulsion.
    “I am not like my cousin. I do not trade in lives. If the boy wishes to go, he may. It is his decision, not mine.”
    “Then I do not know what to ask for. You do not look as if you could pay more than Lord Krej. After all, he is Lord Regent with the wealth of a kingdom at his disposal.”
    Anger burned deep within Darville’s gut. Mica hissed again. It sounded like she was commanding him to kill the evil Rover. He was very tempted.