The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume II

was happy enough to remain human while Amaranth lived because there could only be one purple-tipped dragon at a time. Now that Amaranth is gone, her instinct will be to return to her dragon form.
    “Believe me, I know the instincts that drive her!” Lyman replied. He closed his eyes tightly. The thousands of lines around his eyes deepened.
    “I have to find her before she abandons her body and joins the dragons,” Nimbulan whispered through his grief. “I have to leave tonight—no, now. There are others who can lead this battle. Myri is in Hanassa. Televarn was headed for Hanassa last year. Maia and her baby are probably with the Rover clan, too.”
    “ You have to organize this battle and save the kingdom first,” Lyman reminded him. “As much as the dragons need you to rescue Myrilandel, they also recognize your responsibility to maintain peace in Coronnan. You are the only one with the experience and the wits to win this battle.”

Chapter 6
     
    “W ater, the last of the four elements. Equal in strength to its three brothers,” Televarn murmured. He stroked the surface of the small pool in the marshy ground of the small river island near Palace Isle. Kardia and Air were feminine elements. Fire and Water belonged to men. He’d rejected Fire as his source of magic today, too obvious, too visible.
    The spell he’d put on Quinnault’s wine had been Water based—though he’d been wearing the delusion of Maia’s face and body at the time. Quinnault should be dead by now. Televarn had delivered the poisoned wine to the understeward over an hour ago.
    He chuckled at the image of Quinnault dying. The moment the water in the wine hit the king’s belly, it would freeze. The ice would grow so cold it, in turn, would freeze everything around it, growing steadily outward until the entire body was one sold block of ice.
    Televarn thought about how he would spend the Kaalipha’s reward for Quinnault’s death. Gold. One thousand gold pieces to buy mercenaries and bribe the Kaalipha’s loyal protectors. Her own gold would be the instrument of Yaassima’s downfall and Televarn’s rise to power.
    Nimbulan would feel less pain than Quinnault from the spell Televarn planned for him. He would have a few seconds to realize that the wall of water engulfing him would cause his death before life and intelligence vanished in a massive struggle for air.
    Nimbulan and the meddling old man had seen him when he killed the flywacket. They knew who orchestrated today’s devastation. True to character, Nimbulan had devoted his attention and his magic to the dying animal rather than searching out his enemy. He didn’t deserve to be the father of a Rover child.
    By Rover law, Maia’s son belonged to the Rover parent. Televarn planned to make Myrilandel’s child a Rover, too. His clan needed the new blood to expand and grow healthy again. He needed a large and healthy clan to support him when he became Kaaliph of Hanassa. Myrilandel wouldn’t reject him then. She’d come back to his bed willingly when he made her Queen of Hanassa.
    Televarn cupped his right hand slightly as he swirled his entire hand in the pool of water. The ferret, Wiggles, crept out from his hiding place in Televarn’s pant leg and sniffed at the circling water. “Come. Share the spell with me.”
    Wiggles oozed back toward his dark hiding place.
    “Your mistress ordered you to obey me,” Televarn commanded the ferret. He clamped his free hand on the animal’s neck to keep it from retreating further.
    Wiggles plopped down on Televarn’s arm reluctantly.
    “My name means ‘The one who speaks to Varns,’ ” Televarn muttered. “I was given that name when I rid my clan of its previous chieftain because I am gifted with persuasion. So, why can’t I persuade you to cooperate, Wiggles?”
    The ferret ignored him.
    “I have met true Varns and struck bargains with them, a feat few can claim. You will obey me, beast, as your mistress commanded!” Televarn hated having to remind the creature that its loyalty to another bound it more tightly than his own magic and gifts.
    He drew circles in the water with his hand, finding the element more cooperative than the ferret. A small whirlpool followed his movements. He continued the circling motion until he knew he had captured the essence of Water. Slowly he removed his hand from the pool, drawing the swirling vortex up with him. He chanted the ancient words that bound the element to his will.
    Water