The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

showed up. Guess we’ll have to try something else to thwart him.” Bessel slipped quietly into the crowd, just another anonymous figure watching the antics of the powerful and the angry. But he didn’t stay with the throng beyond sight of the docks. As soon as he could, he and Mopsie took off for Palace Isle and the emergency escape tunnels beneath the palace. Mopsie sniffed out shortcuts no human would think to follow.
    “Now for the books, pup. We’ve a lot of magic to weave. Together.”

Chapter 49
     
    Near sunset, the streets of Coronnan City
     
    “S carface ain’t our king. He’s got no right to arrest anyone!” a loud-voiced tradesman bellowed over the noise of city crowd.
    Katie squeezed Quinnault’s hand. They shared a moment of triumph as the crowd surged along the city streets following in the wake of the fleeing magicians.
    “Long live King Quinnault!” a hundred voices picked up the cheer. “Stargods bless our king.”
    She heard a few angry mumbles about ending the tyranny of tax collectors. But mostly the crowd pressed close in order to keep anyone from menacing their king.
    They approached Palace Isle, the last major island before Scarface’s refuge on University Isle. Smoke filled the air. Ahead, the now roofless tower continued to burn. Flames shot upward, sending sparks outward in a fountain. Most were extinguished before touching ground or landed in the river.
    The crowd increased its speed now that their target was clearly visible.
    “Dragons bless us,” a woman called above the crowd noise. “The dragons bless us.” Everyone looked up to the six shimmering outlines that circled the city.
    Two dozen more guards swelled the ranks of the throng. In their midst, Katie saw a few familiar but very grimy faces. They all walked heavily as if very tired.
    “Myri!” She waved to her friend, signaling her closer.
    Old Lyman plowed a passageway through the crowd for the book rescuers. The crowd made way respectfully for the king’s sister and her very dirty entourage.
    “Yaala? Is that really you?” Katie grabbed the young woman in a fierce hug. “I’ve missed you terribly.” A dark-haired young man with blond streaks in his thick beard stayed close behind Yaala, not quite daring to approach the queen but seemingly reluctant to let Yaala out of his sight.
    “Your Grace, may I present Rollett, Nimbulan’s journeyman, recently freed from Hanassa,” Yaala introduced the young man, reaching to hold his hand.
    Katie nodded her acknowledgment of the introduction, trying not to raise her eyebrows at the intimate gesture.
    “Is Nimbulan all right? What about my father?” she asked anxiously, searching the crowd for signs of the others. Nimbulan walked beside Myri, holding her hand. He looked tired, but not in pain. Powwell walked beside them, pale and sad but staying proudly beside his adoptive parents. Luucian was there, too, keeping an eye on Nimbulan and Powwell.
    “Where is King Kinnsell?” Katie demanded.
    “With Lord Balthazaan,” Myri explained. “He’ll join us later.”
    Just then a pack of dogs began barking nearby. They raced forward to University Isle from an adjacent island. Another throng of people, led by Raanald the bay pilot, came into view. The dogs wove in and out of the crowd yapping louder and louder to be heard above the angry shouts. Raanald kicked at a dog to get it out of the way. Kinnsell yanked the man off balance and shouted something unintelligible. Lord Balthazaan and a few of his cronies hovered behind Katie’s father, looking confused.
    “It’s useless to talk here.” Quinnault shook his head as Katie tried to call to her father. “We’ll get the whole story later. Right now, we have to stop Scarface.”
    And then they faced University Isle. Scarface stood in the center of the courtyard holding a torch aloft. Before him lay a mound of books. Master magicians threw more books out the windows of the adjacent library.
    The dogs swarmed over the bridge, baying at the sight of Scarface. They circled him, growling and yapping.
    He thrust his torch at them, keeping them at bay.
    The dogs backed away, still snarling.
    “Hear me, people of Coronnan!” Scarface called. He circled the torch at the dogs, trying to break through their numbers to get to the books. The dogs shifted position, circling but keeping Scarface from his objective.
    Finnally one of the dockmen whistled sharply. The dogs backed off.
    “Hear me, people of Coronnan!” Scarface