The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

vision. His legs began to twitch as uncontrollably as his arm. Heavy saliva collected in his mouth, seeking escape.
    “Breathe, Master. You’ve got to breathe,” Yaakke implored as he pumped on Jaylor’s chest. “Breathe in, one, two, three. Breathe out, one, two, three.” The boy was near tears forcing air into Jaylor’s lungs.
    The preliminary effects of the void calmed Jaylor’s frozen mind. Breathe in, one, two, three. Breathe out, one, two, three. His muscles settled into a pattern of mild shaking.
    “Don’t tell Brevelan about this, Yaakke.”
     
    “Playing with magic that you don’t understand is too risky, Darville.” Baamin upbraided his monarch with all the many years of his experience in dealing with adolescents at the University.
    “How are we to understand how this particular magic works if we don’t take a few risks?” Darville tried not to feel like one of the Senior Magician’s erring apprentices.
    “You are the only legitimate heir to the throne. Please allow someone else to take the chances. If we lose you, we lose the kingdom.” Baamin moved closer to the massive desk that stood between them in the king’s study.
    “There seem to be plenty of claimants for my position. Lord Krej would be delighted if I died or was maimed in this enterprise.” Darville braced his legs against the rear wall and his rump against the desk. With the strength of his long thighs he shoved. The desk didn’t budge.
    “Would the kingdom be delighted with Lord Krej as their king?”
    Darville looked sharply over his shoulder to his short adviser. The old man seemed to have lost even more weight in the last week. At least Baamin had had the sense to have his robes altered to fit his diminished frame. Concern for his old friend made Darville pause in his exertions.
    “To quote a very wise man: ‘The fear bred by ignorance is more crippling than the wounds earned in gaining knowledge. ’ ” Darville pushed again. The massive desk that had served the kings of Coronnan for many generations seemed bolted to the floor.
    “I said that in reference to politics, not magic.” Baamin moved around the desk to face Darville.
    “Of late in Coronnan, magic and politics are so intertwined there is no separation.” He put his feet back on the floor.
    “Then allow me to force this first confrontation between the princess and your cat.”
    “At the moment, I think you are more valuable to the kingdom than I am. Besides, how would you explain your presence in the lady’s chamber if caught? Your reputation would be ruined, Master Baamin.” Darville chuckled under his breath. Magicians were notorious for their ignorance of women. In the old days, when there was still dragon magic to be gathered, magicians were forbidden knowledge of women until after they had achieved master’s status. Most magicians couldn’t be bothered to expend their precious energies on women even then.
    “And I suppose your reputation would survive intact?” Baamin raised one eyebrow in that irritatingly superior way of his.
    “Mine would be enhanced for the higher class of partner! Yours would be in tatters.”
    “I have not always been old, young man. Nor have I always been celibate.” Baamin attempted to look down his nose, a difficult feat considering the differences in their heights.
    “Your mother hatched you fully grown, complete with education and white hair. Just ask any of your apprentices,” Darville teased. He put his feet back up against the wall for another try at the desk.
    “And some men never grow up. Just look at you and Jaylor.” Baamin reached under the desktop and pressed something just as Darville pushed against the wall. The prince slid across the top slab of wood and toppled onto the hard floor as the desk swung aside on a pivot. A gaping hole in the stone floor lay where the most solid portion of the desk had been. The top rung of a ladder showed just below the edge.
    “How’d you do that?” Darville stared at the escape hole in amazement.
    “The mere touch of a lever. Your father and I explored the tunnels when he was a very young king. I believe he called upon his betrothed, your mother, in much the same manner as you plan to visit Princess Rossemikka. Your parents’ wedding had to be put forward by several moons.”
    “My father never did anything adventurous,” Darville protested. The late King Darcine had been a loving father, devoted husband, and a total idiot when it came to politics. He