The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

cave, and sprayed it over the now blazing fire.
    Jack nudged the helpful baby aside with his knee. A curious sensation of affection spread through him at the brief touch. He dismissed it. The dragonets were cute.
    Then he fished the soggy, charred meat out of the coals, wondering just how hungry he really was.
    (Sing? Why do you wish the children to sing?) Shayla spread her undamaged wing in a gesture to gather the dozen curious youngsters to her. The females and the shy purples came readily to her side. The more aggressive males lingered around the fire, packs, and pallets.
    A sharp, high-pitched command, almost above human hearing, from the mother dragon sent the reluctant children scuttling to her.
    Jack almost heard the order to behave in the back of his head. He pushed aside the compulsion to join the baby dragons under Shayla’s wing. Another directive from Shayla nearly sent him outside with the dragonets for the morning’s hunt.
    Only one purple-tip remained, hidden behind his mother’s flank.
    (Why do you wish my brats to sing?) Shayla captured his gaze with her compelling jeweled eyes. No rancor dwelled within the sparkling facets, only a mother’s good humor.
    “The only healing spell I know is the one Brevelan used on Darville. Song is her medium. I was hoping the little ones could aid in the spell by carrying the harmony.”
    (Alas, dragon songs are not for human ears. Your hearing would shatter should they lift their voices and they are not yet old enough to control communication between minds. However, you should be able to gather a little extra magic from this one.) With her muzzle, she nudged the shy youngster crouched behind her. The purple-tip dug in his claws and refused to budge.
    “Let him stay hidden, Shayla. I can’t gather dragon magic.”
    (Anyone can gather magic from a purple-tip, boy. Even you!) the unnamed blue-tip bellowed into Jack’s mental ears. (That’s why they are so rare and only one lives to adulthood. The fate of our two has not yet been determined.)
    Jack cocked his head skeptically, staring at the shy dragonet. “Can I really?”
    The baby dragon inched forward with more prodding from his mother. Jack reached out to gently pet the sensitive knob of his unformed spiral horn in the middle of his forehead.
    (Amaranth,) the baby dragon nearly purred with pleasure.
    Faint traces of power tingled beneath Jack’s fingertips. Just like tapping a ley line!
    “How much magic can I take from Amaranth without damaging him?”
    (As much as you can. You will not damage him. However, he is only a baby and you have no other magician to combine with you. You must remain in physical contact with him at all times during the spell,) Shayla informed him.
    “I’ll take whatever help I can get.
    “I used to be considered a decent tenor.” Fraank roused from his pallet. A coughing fit overtook him. He rolled to his knees, slumping forward weakly until the racking spasms passed.
    “Think you can support a note for the duration of a spell?” Jack asked skeptically. He waited for a reply that didn’t come.
    Fraank hung weakly in his kneeling position, drenched in cold sweat, panting for breath.
    “When this spasm passes,” he gasped, still too weak to stand.
    “What about your mates?” Jack asked Shayla, not willing to accept Fraank’s offer.
    (They may listen and try to support your Song . Human music is not a dragon talent.)
    Jack hastily swallowed a few more bites of his breakfast for fuel. Surprisingly, the meal wasn’t ruined. He ate some more and washed it down with fresh, cold spring water and added a handful of dried fruit from his pack.
    “Let’s get started,” he announced loudly, hoping a few of the male dragons might be listening. If they could harmonize at all, they’d help.
    He knelt beside Shayla, touching her damaged wing with his left hand while his right arm draped around Amaranth’s neck. A first deep breath cleared Jack’s mind. The second breath on three counts sharpened his vision and brought out the auras surrounding everything within the cave, animate, plant, and mineral. The third breath triggered his trance and gave him access to the void.
    Awareness of sight and sound, place and time faded. Only Shayla existed with him. She entered his mind, he became the dragon, they melded into one being, one knowledge, one soul. The horrible burning wound engulfed them both.
    After the first jolt of sharp pain, awareness of the wound receded to a constant