The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

bars.
    Iron bars meant the gate was closed.
    What gate? There hadn’t been a gate there when the tunnel was reopened last summer. He slid to a halt, his fists grasping the solid iron shafts. He shook the barrier in his frustration. A wolflike howl of rage rose in his throat.
    So close. He’d come so close to speaking to Brevelan. The dragons would remain lost for a while longer.
    “There is to be no further contact between you and the University, Cousin.” The oily voice of Lord Krej pulled Darville back to his senses.
    “Do you fear Lord Baamin so much you can’t allow him to advise me, as the Senior Magician has always advised the monarch of Coronnan?”
    “You aren’t the monarch yet. And ’tis the Council of Provinces which has given the order,” Krej said calmly. “To protect you from a recurrence of your illness.” He dangled a long brass key tauntingly from his fingers.
    “At your insistence.” Darville eyed his cousin’s companions rather than the key. Weak and sniveling, Marnak was no threat; the man-at-arms beside him might be. Both sported long blades on their belts.
    Where was Fred?
    “You have bought the Council, allied them to you by threat and by marriages to your daughters, Krej. The rest you have subverted with your rogue powers.” Darville inched his dagger out of its sheath.
    “Your fanciful tales of my participation in your ordeal with magic are just more evidence of your mental unfitness.” Krej moved to pocket the key.
    “Niow,” Mica protested as she launched herself toward Krej, claws extended, murder in her eyes. The regent raised his crossed arms to protect his face from her wicked claws and gnashing teeth. A fiery glow surrounded the cat, sealing her to her prey with magical armor.
    Darville didn’t wait for a formal engagement of blades. With a quick twist of his wrist, his ceremonial dagger sent Marnak’s longer blade flying. He swung around to face the man-at-arms. In the same motion he kicked backward into the young lord’s gut.
    The guard glanced quickly toward Krej for permission to engage his prince in battle. But the regent was occupied with one very angry cat and a magic that isolated them from mundane interference.
    “Never take your eyes off your opponent,” Darville reminded the guard as he slipped under the lowered tip of the sword. The narrow blade of Darville’s knife nicked the man’s throat. The sword clattered to the stone floor in surrender.
    “Forget the s’murghing prince, you fool,” Krej choked as the glowing armor broke down and he flung the cat free of his arms. “You’re supposed to be protecting me!”
    Mica scampered away, the bright brass key dangling from her mouth.
    “Another time, Lord Krej,” Darville barely saluted his cousin. “We’ll have this out, another time, I promise. Right now I have an appointment.”
    Mica presented him with her trophy. The lock was new and well oiled, it opened at just a touch of the key. Darville kicked the gate shut behind him and hastily relocked it. Then he pelted down the corridor to the main tower with all the speed his athletic legs could muster, the key safely in his pocket.
    “Magic!” Marnak grunted as he clutched his belly and tried to stand. “The prince worked magic, Father.”
    “Nonsense. ’Twas the cat’s magic. The cat was a witch’s familiar before she adopted Darville. Now she works her evil ways on him. We must separate them.”
    Krej’s words made Darville pause on the first step. Would his cousin and once trusted ally really deprive him of Mica, his only friend? He couldn’t afford the time to think about that now.
     
    The moon was just reaching the height of its nightlong arc when Darville burst into the Senior Magician’s private sanctuary.
    “Prince Darville, talk to her, please. They must come to the capital.” Baamin pleaded as Darville barged into the tower room.
    “Brevelan?” He looked carefully at the piece of glass held upright in a special gold frame. All he could see was the stack of books on the other side, their titles magnified by the glass. “Is she there.”
    “She was a moment ago.” Baamin peered closer. “Yaakke, where is Brevelan?” Anxiety tinged the old man’s voice. “She shouldn’t be able to leave the spell until I release her.”
    There was a moment of silence while Baamin cocked his head as if listening. Darville couldn’t hear anything. He started pacing the room. “Tell her that Shayla is in a cave with lots of water