The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume II

bleeding.)
    “But because she wasn’t quite dead, her spirit lives on inside me. That is why I couldn’t remember. The two spirits vied for dominance and finally compromised on forgetfulness.”
    (Yes.)
    “I can’t let my brother die, Shayla. I have to stop him.” Suddenly she knew that her certainty that Nimbulan would die this day was misplaced. Quinnault de Tanos, her only living blood relative, was the one destined to die.
    (He makes his own destiny.)
    “I must stop him. He is my family. The only human family I have.”
    (You have your husband and your child. Kalen and Powwell look to you rather than their own mothers. Save yourself, Amethyst.)
    “I am Myrilandel. Amethyst must die and be forgotten. I cannot be a dragon anymore. Amaranth is the only purple in all the nimbi of Coronnan. I claim Quinnault as family now.” Myri ran down the hill. She knew only that she had to stand beside her brother in this most important deed in his life. And when the time came, she would use every resource available to save him, including her magic talent.
    Nimbulan caught up with her. Together they ran to help the lord who controlled the fate of Coronnan with his ancient, slightly rusty sword.

Chapter 38
     
    “D on’t be a fool, Quinnault.” Nimbulan grabbed the lord’s arm to hold him back from carrying through with his challenge. “You know nothing of weapons and combat. He’ll make mincemeat of you in a matter of moments. Choose a champion. Perhaps one of Hanic’s men.” He pointed to the line of men silhouetted on the hill.
    A wry smile touched one corner of Quinnault’s mouth. “I’m the son of a lord. I wasn’t always intended for the priesthood. I have trained with weapons. But I admit it’s been a long time since I held a sword. And never as fine a one as my father’s.” He surveyed the length of the weapon that had been spared Nimbulan’s metal shattering spell. The magic had destroyed only the metal carried by the men on the field, not those who waited and directed from behind.
    Intricate runes decorated Quinnault’s slender blade. A moonstone glowed in the pommel. Decorative as it was, it was also a working weapon, meant to be used. A telltale line of rust around the pommel indicated how long the weapon had remained idle and how recent was the polishing that made the runes glow in the growing sunlight.
    “He outweighs you by fifty pounds, his reach is longer, and he’s a practiced warrior,” Myri added her own argument.
    “Once he was a warrior. Now he’s a general. He hasn’t engaged in combat in years. And he’s used to easy living with his fine wines and fancy food. I’ve been building bridges all winter, eating the same rough but hearty food as my tenants.” Again that half smile lightened Quinnault’s set visage. This time the smile almost reached his eyes.
    “My lord, I am your sister.” Myri clasped Quinnault’s hand over the sword hilt, staying his headlong rush into combat. “I wasn’t quite dead when the family buried me.”
    “I guessed something like that happened, Myrilandel. We will talk later. If I survive.” He patted her hand lovingly. Again that wry smile lit his face but not his eyes.
    “You know something, Quinnault. Tell us why you won’t choose a champion to fight this battle for you. Don’t lie to us.” The man’s calm shook Nimbulan, more than Myri’s revelation. He kept his hand on the back of Myri’s waist to brace himself against the coming shock. He thanked the Stargods she had come with him, yet he was frightened out of his wits that she stood so close to the line that could become a battle front at any moment.
    “I know that I have proclaimed my cause as peace, not conquest. If I win, all of the families who have lost men and land and crops and the will to live during a war, will flock to my side. The people are ready for peace. They will grasp it any way they can. Kammeryl has only recently declared himself king. He offers the people nothing but more war. If he wins, they will depose him, and I will still win.”
    “But you’ll be dead.” Myri clung to Quinnault rather than wipe her tears away. “I have so much to tell you, brother.”
    “I know some of it, Myrilandel. I pray that we will have the time to rediscover our mutual past.” Quinnault caressed her hair, lovingly, as he would a small child. The child sister he remembered? “But if Kammeryl kills me, I will become a martyr to the cause of peace. We all know that a dead