The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

to formulate an answer. At that rate the reply wouldn’t leave the castle until mid-morning. “I’ve just spent hours rewriting the treaty with Rossemeyer.” Something his hovering staff seemed incapable of doing. “My mind is more tired than my body.”
    Darville stretched his back and rubbed his eyes. There was a trapdoor leading to a secret passage beneath the massive desk. If he asked for help in shifting the desk, the exit would no longer be secret. The time might come when he needed that advantage.
    Holmes looked at the bundle he carried in both arms. His expression was bleak. “Lord Wendray thinks we need to convince Rossemeyer we do not need their troops. Such a show might prevent an invasion from Rossemeyer at a later time.”
    Darville groaned again. This time out loud. Wendray was right. Rossemeyer’s ambassador was less and less careful to gloss over the questionable clauses of the treaty.
    Mica roused from her nap. Without bothering to bathe her face, she wandered across the desk and butted her head against Darville’s chin. Delay no more. Baamin begins his summoning spell now. Her message seemed as clear to him as the thoughts Brevelan conveyed directly into his mind when she was near.
    “Summarize the reports for me. I’ll be back within the hour.” In one smooth movement, the prince rose and scooped the cat onto his shoulder. Fred assumed his post one pace behind and to Darville’s right, giving the prince a clear field for his dominant left arm to wield a sword.
    “Your Grace, these reports really are most important. Your marriage to Princess Rossemikka could be jeopardized by further losses on the western border,” Holmes protested.
    Mica chose that moment to dig her claws into Darville’s padded tunic. He batted the offending paws. Lately she chose references to the impending marriage as a cue to sink her claws into his skin.
    “Please, Your Grace, just a few moments to look at the most urgent report,” Holmes pleaded.
    Darville had waited too long already. Frustration and anger rose in him like a storm tide. His upper lip lifted in a feral snarl. The hair on the back of his neck seemed to stiffen and stand. “You are supposed to be on my side, Holmes.” The power of the wolf fired his blood.
    Holmes pressed his back against the massive wooden door. His mouth worked in silent protest while his eyes stared in unblinking fear. “With my head and heart and the strength of my shoulders, I renounce evil and magic.” Holmes dropped the charts as he hastily crossed himself in the warding gesture of the Stargods.
    Mica’s claws dug deep into Darville’s shoulder again, bringing him back to the current reality. He finger-combed his hair in an attempt to remove the wolf image. Holmes gulped and sidled back into the anteroom. Fred gasped and put two more paces between himself and the prince.
    “Magic isn’t evil,” Darville announced to both of them. “But magicians can be corrupt and black of soul.” Like his cousin, Lord Krej. “I will be back shortly.”
    “If you must, Your Grace.” Holmes stooped to gather up the scattered rolls of parchment.
    Darville sighed. He’d offended and frightened valuable men.
    “No, Your Grace. You may not keep your appointment with Baamin.” A new voice from the doorway caused Darville to pause. Mica hissed at the newcomer, brown fur stiff, back arched.
    “Lord Marnak, by what authority do you interfere with your lawful ruler?” Darville assumed his most haughty posture. Mica hissed again.
    “For your own protection, the Council insists on monitoring your movements. We cannot afford any further magical contamination of the royal family.” Lord Marnak the Younger bowed slightly but remained firmly in place, blocking Darville’s exit.
    Fred’s hand shifted to the hilt of his sword. Darville gestured for him to keep the weapon sheathed.
    “The order from the Council is to soothe their own superstitious fears rather than for my protection,” Darville asserted, even as he took a step toward Marnak. This sniveling weakling was one of four, nongoverning lords hastily appointed to fill the vacant seats left by seceding provinces.
    The elaborate interdependency of the twelve provinces, with the monarch as the key, had been set up three hundred years ago to prevent secession and civil war. Now those relationships were breaking apart, and Marnak owed his elevated position at court to the Council and not to his prince.
    “Perhaps the order came