The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

from selling the fiber to SeLenicca. The dragons will have Tambootie to eat. Coronnan will have a strong nimbus again and we’ll all have peace!”
    “And the Commune will have dragons to make magic legal and controlled again,” Jaylor added.
    “And Katrina will have the most beautiful wedding ever,” Brevelan sighed as she lifted the last piece of lace from the wing. The shawl came free in a single piece, stretched beyond its original size into a frothy veil. Carefully she settled the lace onto Katrina’s hair. “That is, if she ever gets the courage to accept Jack’s proposal.”
    “We barely know each other, Jack.” Katrina put her hand up to remove the veil.
    Jack covered her hand with his own. “I feel like I’ve known you forever, Katrina. I hope you can come to care for me, a little. Please say you’ll at least think about it.”
    “Having a lair full of dragons as part of my family will take some getting used to,” she said with a shy smile and a wink of mischief. “When I was alone and friendless, you offered me help and love without conditions. I’ll always love you for that. I think I’d like to share my life with the dragons, and you.”
    Jack gathered her into his arms.
    “Well, prove your Rover blood, boy . . . I mean Jack. Kiss her!” Zolltarn shouted with joy.
    A blush galloped from Jack’s toes to his face. He wanted desperately to kiss his love. But they were all watching.
    Shyly Katrina lifted her face. Again that glint of mischief in her eyes. “This is what having a family means. Sharing love and happiness as well as sadness. I never thought I’d have family again. Thank you for sharing yours with me,” she whispered to him.
    Accepting the inevitable, Jack lowered his mouth to her in a quick gesture of affection.
    “Put more heart into it, boy!” Zolltarn laughed.
    “Later,” Jack whispered. “When we’re alone.”
    The waning flames in the center of the lair highlighted denser sections of the lace shawl framing Katrina’s face. Jaylor reached to examine the lace more closely. A puzzled frown crossed his face as he read the runes encoded in the lace. Then he threw back his head and laughed.
    “What’s so funny about a prophecy of doom?” Jack asked.
    (The runes name Simeon’s true parentage, as the sorcerer-king feared.) Baamin peered over Jaylor’s shoulder, also reading the runes. (But they continued with the legend of Yaakke riding a dragon to the last battle that destroyed the coven of Simurgh. Tattia copied all of the runes into the shawl because she didn’t know for sure which ones went beyond the intent of her original message. Seems we fulfilled the prophecy, Jack.)
    “I brought the dragons home. Coronnan will learn that magic can be honorable and controlled. I fulfilled my quest. That is enough legend and adventure for one lifetime. Now I want only to be a Master Magician in service to my Commune and king. And a husband and father.” He smiled at Katrina, still within the circle of his arms.
    (That’s all we ever asked of you, Jack.) Baamin winked at him again.
    “Soon,” Katrina replied.
    Jack captured her fingers with his own, lacing them together. “Soon.”
    “Best if you take your vows before I send him to SeLenicca as ambassador to help rebuild your country.” Darville remarked.
    “Ambassador?” Jack choked.
    “I’m willing to bet that the power in the shawl’s runes severed the magical connection between Simeon and Shayla. He couldn’t protect himself against that last attack because he couldn’t gather any more dragon magic.” Jaylor scanned the lace once more. “If we present it to Queen Miranda, as it should have been three years ago, this shawl could sever the magic that holds her in a coma.”
    “Who better to deliver the magic than Jack?” Darville pounded him on the back with his restored left arm.
    “First he has to find a way to take care of my cat,” Mikka reminded them.
    “No problem,” Jack shrugged, never taking his eyes off of Katrina.
    “What makes you think the queen’s cat will be no problem?” Jaylor asked.
    Katrina smiled and kissed his cheek. The world brightened around him and his magic swelled in response.
    “I’ll have to study the problem a while.” Jack continued to stare at Katrina, wondering if he dared kiss her right now, in front of the entire gathering. “I want to show Coronnan City to Katrina and rest my magic while I seek an answer. But if there is no spell in existence to solve the