The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume I: Volume I

The bonds of communication were strong enough without words.
    With the cat’s help, Brevelan reinforced her emotional tie to Jaylor and Darville. The channels opened, their thoughts mingled. Together they must fight the source of the magic, drain it, and then break free.
    “Oh, what a splendid addition you will make to my collection,” Thorm gloated. His hands ran lovingly over Shayla’s flank, his caress almost that of a lover.
    Brevelan swallowed her revulsion. How could they allow him to touch Shayla with his slimy hands and filthy mind?
    “You do remember my collection, pretty one,” he stated rather than asked of Brevelan. “You are from Krej’s village, aren’t you?” He looked up from his fondling of Shayla’s front horn.
    Brevelan couldn’t respond, even if she’d wanted to.
    “With hair like that,” he reached through the haze to lift a bright lock off her cheek, “I would almost think you one of his get.” His eyes widened.
    “Of course! You’re his oldest daughter.” He laughed, nearly hysterical with his own humor. Cruelly he pulled the strand of hair just before releasing it. “Pretty as you are, I can’t spare the time to take you. Next time, sweetheart. Next time.” He blew a kiss through the confining haze.
    The lascivious caress left a wet imprint on her cheek. She longed to wipe her skin free of the rogue’s touch.
    Jaylor’s jealous rage pounded against his bell. The haze thickened and grew, feeding on the energy of his emotions.
    “You’re the one the villagers want to burn for witchcraft. Seems you murdered your husband on your wedding night.” Thorm looked directly at Jaylor now, fueling the younger man’s anger and the magic that confined him.
    “Didn’t she tell you about that, boy? She wouldn’t want to broadcast her past to those gullible fisher-folk. They might decide to burn her, too. But you, you’re her lover. Surely she would confide in you.”
    The blast of emotion from both Darville and Jaylor shook the red-haired monster. He shivered once, but his mask did not slip. Then he turned his attention from Brevelan to the wolf and the magician. “I can see you both have strong feelings for the chit. Perhaps I shall tell the elders of the village where to find her. You would be forced to watch her burn, before they fed you to the fish in the center of the Bay.”
    His eyes narrowed in evil speculation. “You know, of course, they blame her for the rainy summer that caused their crops to rot in the fields last year. They also think she is responsible for the very hard winter that took the lives of all the old ones and some babies, too.”
    Not the babies! A huge emptiness settled inside Brevelan. Babies she had helped bring into this world were gone before they’d had a chance to live.
    Tears of pain and grief worked their way through the magic. They slid down her cheeks and dropped to her breast. But she couldn’t feel the moisture, only the pain of death for infants who had become a part of her as she brought them to life.
     
    “May all the foul spirits of Simurgh’s hell and beyond take you!” Jaylor cursed as loud as his mind could scream. “How could you betray your king and cousin, the kingdom, and the Commune with this abomination?”
    “Still spouting ethics, boy? You of all people should have no qualm about ethics. Where do you think I found this wonderful creature to do my bidding?” The monster gestured to his naked torso and mask. “I read your thoughts, boy. Thoughts you stole from Old Baamin’s dreams. I’m surprised you didn’t recognize me sooner,” he taunted.
    “I recognize only your corruption.” Desperately Jaylor sought contact with Brevelan and Darville.
    Jaylor railed against his own ineffectiveness and the rogue’s audacity. His accusations against Brevelan were just too preposterous to contemplate. Brevelan couldn’t murder anyone. Least of all her husband on her wedding night! And this monster had accused Jaylor of being her lover and still having the strength of magic to throw those braids of flame. If the situation weren’t so serious, he’d laugh himself silly.
    “The day progresses, and I do want to be out of this cave before moonrise.” The rogue shrugged his naked shoulders in dismissal of his prisoners as he returned his attention to Shayla.
    Jaylor carefully watched each gesture the man made. Whatever happened, Jaylor would need to undo it later.
    “Watch all you want, University man,” Thorm laughed.