The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

Darville draped a comradely arm around the soldier’s shoulders and headed for the open gate of the University.
    “I’m called Fred, sir. But I need to warn you, Sir Holmes is leading a full squad of men to search for you.” He hung back, resisting the friendship offered by his prince.
    “I have no doubt that Sir Holmes will lead that squad on quite a wild lumbird chase. He’s in on my plan to consult with Master Baamin.” Darville dragged the boy off the bridge into the courtyard.
    “Yes, sir.” Fred stopped short at the entryway. “I can’t go in there, sir.” He touched head, heart, and both shoulders in approved Stargod ritual, warding against evil. Then, surreptitiously, he crossed his wrists and made a second, much older, flapping gesture.
    “Come now, Fred. Master Baamin is a friend of mine, as well as a valuable and wise old man. He won’t hurt you.”
    “But they’re magicians, Your Grace! They’ll steal your soul and eat your heart for dinner.”
    The boy’s absolute horror both stunned and tickled Darville. Superstition was one thing. This dread was quite another. He needed to turn the boy’s fears into a joke.
    “I assure you, Fred, the magicians of Coronnan do not steal souls and eat men’s hearts. They are men themselves and oath-bound to serve all people.” He fought back a smile.
    Fred did not look reassured.
    “Magicians are our healers. Our priests are magicians. We owe our communications and much of our defenses to the University. They deserve our respect and courtesy, an occasional virgin, and maybe the first fruits of the season, but not our souls. You wouldn’t be a virgin by any chance, would you?”
    “I’ll wait here for you, sir.” Fred tried to back up onto the bridge again. “I wouldn’t go in there unless a dragon was chasing me, Your Grace.”
    “Then you are a virgin!” Darville teased.
    Fred ignored that comment.
    “Look, Fred, unless I go in there now, there aren’t likely to be any dragons in Coronnan ever again.”
    Fred didn’t say anything to that.
    “If I had just one dragon to name me king, I could bring the seceding provinces back into the alliance. I’d end the divisions in Coronnan so we were no longer weak and vulnerable to the invasions from SeLenicca.” Darville pinned Fred to the wail with his gaze. “My mission to Lord Baamin might very well bring back our dragons!” He had to impart some of the urgency of his quest to the boy.
    “And I wouldn’t have to make a marriage treaty with Rossemeyer, our former enemy, nor learn that princess’ unpronounceable name,” Darville added under his breath.
    Mica circled and recircled their feet in a complicated pattern. A compulsion to walk through the gate together rose from her purring circles. Fred’s eyes widened in fear. He searched around for an avenue of escape.
    “Uh . . . sir, I don’t think those guards coming toward us are going to let you through the gate of the University.” Fred fingered the hilt of the sword that hung awkwardly at his hip.
    “They won’t cross the bridge,” Darville reassured the boy.
    “But the magicians behind them will.” Color drained from Fred’s face, leaving red splotches high on his cheeks.
    “Simurgh take them all!” Darville cursed. All five of the magicians marching behind the rank of ten Council guards were assigned to the courts of lords loyal to Lord Krej.
    Darville had no doubt any of those five master magicians wouldn’t hesitate to throw a spell that would make Darville seem to revert to his wolf form just because he was near the University gates.
    Suddenly those gates seemed to shimmer and thrust him back toward the bridge. The magicians had armored the door against intrusion. He had to get out of here. Now.
    “I think I know a way out, Your Grace.” Fred made the feeble warding gesture again, then tugged on Darville’s sleeve, indicating that he should come along.
    Darville followed the young man’s gaze. The University walls seemed to grow straight up from the river. No escape there. But across the courtyard lay a second bridge, one that led into the heart of the city. Darville scooped Mica into the inside pocket of his cloak and took off at a run, Fred close on his heels.
    The heavily armed guards pounded after them while the five magicians remained in the courtyard, arms crossed, too proud to be seen running in pursuit of an errant prince.
    At the far side of the bridge, Darville skidded to a halt. Fred slid down the last