The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

But the man might be useful yet.
    “I can tell you where my cousin keeps his prettiest baubles. It will take you most of the night to break the seal on the lock.”
    “I am a Rover. I can smell such hiding places.”
    “Not in this castle, home to a rogue magician.” The Rover made a hasty (if halfhearted) gesture against evil at that comment. His eyes went wide, but there was no struggle to wiggle free of the very sharp dagger at this throat. “In a moon or more of searching you might find it. Do you have that kind of patience?” Darville felt more than a little satisfaction at the visible signs of the Rover’s fear.
    Zolltarn started to shrug, but the knife blade scraped his neck once more. Another drop of blood oozed from a cut.
    “Tell me and you have my silence.”
     
    Baamin pushed aside intruding servitors and guards with a regal gesture of his staff. He allowed his armor to glow in his signature colors of yellow and green. No man tried to interfere with him twice.
    A tap of his staff against the wide double doors to the banquet hall gained him entrance to the private feast. Eerily silent wind preceded him down the center of the room.
    Shocked silence followed.
    “What are you doing here?” Krej half rose from his thronelike chair in the center of the dais. His voice sounded unnatural in the increasingly heavy hush.
    The senior magician stopped his progress toward the high table. All around him the noble men and women of the kingdom gasped at Krej’s impropriety. One should never be this rude in public, and certainly not in front of foreigners. The ambassadors from Rossemeyer made frowns of disapproval toward their host.
    Baamin suppressed a small smile. He needed the support of all these people. Very shortly he would ask the nobles to turn against the man they had elected regent. But that was only a small portion of his duties tonight.
    If Jaylor failed, then he, Baamin, Senior Magician, had to follow through with Shayla’s rescue.
    “It is my right to sit at Council,” Baamin stated simply.
    “The Commune is broken. You have no more rights, old man, just as you have no more magic.” Krej sneered.
    He must be very certain of his position to risk such a public display. It was time to upset some of his security.
    “Are you sure about that?” Baamin raised his right hand. It held a ball of unnatural red fire. He pointed at the ball with his left hand. One finger wiggled. The ball raised and bounced about the room. It landed in the headdress of one highborn lady but did not ignite it. The red flames split into a myriad of stars cloaking the lady in flattering sparkles of blue, red, and gold.
    “Oh, how lovely.” She caught a few of the cold sparks in her hand and blew them to her husband, like a lover’s kiss sent across the room. As each morsel of light landed in the man’s palm it spread and grew into a delicate flower.
    More smiles and exclamations of pleasure.
    “I have arranged my own entertainment for tonight.” Krej reseated himself. “Pay him no mind, gentlemen.” He spoke more casually to the ambassadors at the high table. “An old man, feeble in the brain.”
    “So feeble I can not do this anymore,” Baamin taunted as he brought forth thunder and lightning. This time the crowds cowered in anticipation of rain. It came, but Baamin evaporated it before it could drench the guests. It did, however, douse some of the torches. Select portions of the hall plunged into darkness. Shadows crept outward in imitation of uncertainty and evil. One small and insignificant drudge nodded to him from one of those shadows.
    Tricks and sleight of hand to alter the mood of the assembled guests. Baamin had to make them vulnerable to his suggestion when he denounced Krej.
    “Enough of this play, Baamin. You were not invited because the kingdom has no more use for you or the Commune. My armies are now our source of protection. Return to your University and pack your belongings. Three mornings hence, my soldiers will take possession of the buildings as barracks and storage and training ground.” Krej dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
    “I think not, my Lord Krej. By morning our rightful ruler will command the army.” The time had come to finish this game. He could sense Jaylor’s readiness. He need only be sure Krej’s attention was fully engaged.
    “I am the rightful ruler of Coronnan. Need I explain to you once more that during this last, and most likely final, illness of our king and