The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume II

Something seemed familiar about them—brightly colored vests and kerchiefs covered in silver embroidery—Rovers!
    “Into the forest. They can’t find us in the trees!” Karry yelled.
    (To the trees. I will guide you to safety,) the dragon said. Amaranth agreed.
    Instantly, Myri’s vision spun upward. From the perspective of a dragon flying overhead, she saw the villagers running aimlessly in all directions. Some of the humans ran afoul of the black-clad men who approached from the north with fire and sword. Others disappeared amid the towering trees that spread up the hills to the south of the village.
    She forced control over her double perspective. She’d done this with Amaranth many times. Part of her consciousness had to remain anchored to her body so she could flee from the danger.
    Myri’s empathic senses roared into life after many moons of dormancy. She stopped her running steps to absorb the full impact of her talent. The essence of every life around her slammed into her consciousness. She needed time to sort through them, to know who was friendly, who intended harm, who needed help, who could help.
    Suddenly she knew that the lives who hid among the towering trees awaited the villagers with clubs and knives.
    “We’ve got to hide.” Powwell slipped his adolescent arm about her waist, guiding her. She sensed his magical armor dissolving as fast as he erected it. What magician led these raiders? She didn’t think the Rover chieftain powerful enough to interfere with Powwell’s magic.
    “No, it’s a trap! There are more Rovers in the forest.” Myri reeled, not knowing where to turn.
    Shayla circled the gathering of humans, screeching her distress. She spurted flame at the edges of the milling villagers, then withdrew it. She endangered the innocent along with the raiders.
    “Yiheee!” a black-clad man screeched, running toward Myri with club raised.
    “I need her alive,” another voice shouted. “Catch the witchwoman and her familiar alive. ” A voice she recognized. She should have known he was behind the raid the moment she recognized the attackers as Rovers.
    “No,” she moaned. “Not him.”
    Amaranth screeched and launched into the air. He extended his talons to rake Piedro, the man with a club. He threw his hands over his face, ducking beneath the flywacket’s assault.
    Amaranth raked the man’s scalp and circled back for a new assault. Piedro came up swinging his club, blood from his scalp dripping into his eyes. He caught Amaranth on the tip of his wing.
    “No!” Myri tried to rush to her familiar. Powwell dragged her back into the mass of villagers fleeing into the forest.
    The flywacket faltered. Out of nowhere, a fishing net flew through the air, trapping him. He fell heavily to the ground, thrashing and hissing. He bit the knotted ropes that covered him.
    He stretched and paled. His black fur shed light. His wings grew larger, forming wicked hooks on the tips and elbows. The net parted at one knot, then a second.
    “Transform, Amaranth. Transform into a dragon,” Myri cried with relief. She needed to stay and make sure he was safe. Powwell pulled her away, toward the trees.
    An old woman flung herself over Amaranth’s struggling body. She enfolded the enraged flywacket in a thick canvas sack, cutting off his access to sunlight. Without light, he couldn’t transform into his dragon body. He had only cat claws and teeth to fight the net and the sack.
    The cramp in Myri’s belly intensified. She panted, trying desperately to regain control over her body and the people running and screaming around her. The line of trees loomed closer. Sanctuary. She knew how to hide in trees. But she couldn’t climb anymore. The bulk of the baby kept her bound to the land.
    A dark man stepped out from the concealment of a fallen tree. Myri tried to run from him. Kalen and Powwell dragged her in a different direction.
    Help us, Shayla!
    (If I flame those who threaten you, many innocents will be killed. You must flee and hide. Flee into the trees.)
    The dragons’ Covenant with the king and the magicians forbade dragons harming any human for any reason. If Shayla broke that Covenant, even to aid her daughter Myrilandel, many dangers to every dragon would follow. She had only dragon dreams as weapons against murdering humans.
    Shayla broadcast the vision of a blazing desert into their midst: Wave after wave of rolling, red sand hills met the raiders. Sun burned through their clothing,