The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

equally. Baamin felt powerless. This was one time he could use no magic. Decisions like these had to be made freely; if made under magic compulsion they would break apart eventually.
    Finally Kevinrosse, the chief ambassador from Rossemeyer, moved forward. “We came to seek alliance with Coronnan. Our offer was for marriage between Prince Darville and our beloved Princess, Rossemikka. Lord Krej tried to offer himself in the marriage. We found that dishonorable in that he is already wed.” He continued to caress the small cat he carried in his arms. “If he is willing to behave with such disregard for morality in the matter of an alliance, we believe he will do so in every other matter.” He swallowed and looked around at the divided company. “Therefore, Rossemeyer extends the offer of marriage, alliance, armies, and wealth to Prince Darville.”
    “Mere promises from a poor kingdom that has always been our enemy. Promises that our neighbor SeLenicca have vowed will lead to war. Which war do we choose? In either case, Coronnan needs a strong leader, experienced in battle.” Krej dismissed the ambassador with complete contempt.
    “Then we will war among ourselves as much as with our enemies,” Baamin muttered. He felt utterly defeated. The kingdom he had dedicated his life to preserving was divided. But he had seen a dragon this night. He had heard some of her words. There was nothing left to live for.
     
    “Jaylor?” Brevelan whispered. She knelt beside him, ignoring the arguments of the politicians behind her. Jaylor’s eyes remained closed. Gingerly she felt for a pulse at his neck. At first she despaired of finding any flutter of life.
    But her healing sense pulled outward, demanding to be used. He must be alive. He must. She hadn’t felt his death, only his pain and the utter blankness of his retreat from that pain.
    She flattened her palm against his chest. Energy pulsed through her into his heart. Push, retreat, push and retreat again, forcing Jaylor’s organ of life to pump blood. Push and retreat.
    One beat of response. Barely.
    His lungs shuddered and strained for air. She gave it to him.
    She sought his mind, fearing it had flown away with the dragon, as it had once before. No, it was there, deep within, hiding from the pain. Best to leave it there a while.
    A lilting tune of peace and love came into her head. She sang it to him with crooning care. The notes rose in a haunting cry for her lover to return to her. Her song soared and filled the room with her love for the dying magician.
    “The clearing will be so empty without you, dear heart,” she finally whispered through her tears. “I will be so empty without you.”
    A little life stirred under her hand. The tune came out louder, stronger. She wept with the poignancy of her music and relief that he was fighting to join her once more. His heart stammered in its rhythm, caught her song and found its proper cadence. She felt her own heart join his in the battle to retain life.
    With a tremendous shudder his lungs fought the paralysis of his pain. She took some of the pain away, allowed it to dissipate in her stronger body. Air left her lungs and filled his body and left him again and filled her until he was breathing in the natural course.
    His eyes struggled open, glazed with pain. She tried to take it away, but it was too powerful. Her body and mind recoiled from the task. She had to protect the new life within her as well as his.
    “Shayla?” Jaylor croaked past parched lips and tortured lungs.
    “She is safe,” Brevelan reassured him. Her own lungs were beginning to ache with the force of maintaining his life.
    “There is no magic left within me. I used it all up. There is nothing left of me.” His sadness nearly overwhelmed her. But with it was resignation as well.
    “Your magic will come back.” It had to. She knew he would never be complete without it.
    “No. There is only so much a man can do. This night I used a lifetime of power. There is no more.” His eyes closed. The blackness nearly swept over her, too.
    “Jaylor!” she called. “Jaylor, come back.” Her mind screamed for him, but he was hiding from the pain of loss as well as the pain the magic had ripped through his body.
    “Brevelan.” Darville stooped beside her. “Brevelan, it is important you hear what I have to say.”
    She looked up. Tears blurred her eyes. She blinked them back. There was time yet to think of Jaylor. He needed rest more than her