The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume II

petitioners. I have had enough of fortresses and wars.”
    “Perhaps we should call the new city Dragonville in honor of the dragons that give us the means to enforce peace without armies,” Nimbulan suggested.
    “I’d rather call it Coronnan City. The monarch and the capital city must belong to all, rather than the king owning all.” Quinnault stood and began to pace, hands behind his back, shoulders slightly hunched like wings tucked up, head thrust forward, sure signs of his returning vitality. No trace of the draconic shadows masked his face. These thoughts were his own. “Don’t any of you understand? We are trying to build a united country with laws and justice. No one of the lords will be more powerful than the others. No king will be a despot, but rather a first among the equal lords. And all people, noble, common and magician, shall be subject to law. Therefore, the king can’t own more than any other lord, preferably less, to maintain a balance.” He paused to look each of the assembled lords in the eye. There were only twelve of them left. A century ago there had been more than twenty.
    “I agree to take the surname of Draconis and pass it to future generations of kings. But I insist that the capital be Coronnan City. It is a city of people, the very people who shared in my healing. They are what makes Coronnan great, not me.”
    Silence hung heavily in the Great Hall of Quinnault’s keep. No noble had ever heard of such an outrageous idea. Nobility had always meant privilege and ownership. Nimbulan silently applauded this bold move.
    “Responsibility must be the primary tenet of kingship and nobility.” Quinnault pulled a small book from the pile of texts, maps, and parchments on the table. “That idea was first put forth by the Stargods, in this sermon, recorded by one Kimmer. He calls himself simply a scribe from the south.” The new king looked over the stunned faces of his assembled lords.
    “I won’t bore you with the entire text. Suffice it to say, I intend to govern alongside you lords with the idea that we are, one and all, responsible for every living creature within our boundaries.”
    “Does that include the dragons?” Nimbulan asked, ready to move on to the issues Myri had told him concerned the creatures who made this all possible.
    “Yes,” Quinnault replied. “If we are going to rely on communal magic to enforce our laws and control solitary magicians, then we must ensure the safety of the dragons and their continued presence within our boundaries. Demon hunters like Moncriith can’t be allowed to harm them in any way.”
    “There are only six full-grown dragons in the current nimbus and five youngsters. That figure includes Amaranth the purple-tip.” Nimbulan recited the statistics Myri had relayed to him. “Dragons throughout the rest of Kardia Hodos are solitary creatures and may not agree to become a part of the nimbus. Our nimbus needs to increase their numbers to provide us with enough magic to be readily available at all times, no matter where the dragons currently fly. Shayla has requested a provision of livestock to feed them and plantations of the Tambootie tree, the source of their magic.” Nimbulan waited, holding his breath to see if the lords would willingly give up parts of their wealth to help the dragons thrive. Previously they considered the beasts to be dangerous predators or demons—if dragons existed at all.
    “Will a tithe from each lord be enough?” Quinnault cut through any objections before they could be voiced.
    “I think that will do. As long as the herds and plantations are spread out. The dragons must range widely to stretch their wings.” Nimbulan hid his embarrassment at the next request behind a cough. “And, ah, the dragons have another requirement to seal the covenant.”
    Quinnault looked up a little startled, as if he knew the next demand would be outrageous.
    Nimbulan signaled the servant at the door to admit the three magicians who waited there. They marched in at a stately pace. Lyman carried a precious artifact, resting upon a wide pillow covered in fine green silk. Cloth of gold velvet shielded the heavy object. They paused beside Nimbulan’s chair until he stood and joined them.
    “As newly elected Senior Magician of the Commune of Magicians, the nimbus of dragons, currently resident in Coronnan have directed me to offer to the people of Coronnan this crown.” Nimbulan whipped off the velvet covering to reveal a