The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

seen her so aggressive, or so angry. But then, Rejiia had made her watch Jack’s torture. Afterward, she had left Katrina to share his dank and miserable cell and die chained apart as the city collapsed around them.
    Memories of that awful night pushed Jack closer to Katrina. Silently he reached for her hand. United, they had defeated Rejiia and her lover, King Simeon. Together they could conquer the world.
    “I need to return to the University to find a way to lay Ackerly to rest and lift the curse from the gold,” Marcus said.
    Jack almost didn’t hear him.
    “What about us?” Margit asked belligerently. Her fist clenched as if she intended to knock him flat once more.
    “I don’t know, Margit. We need to talk. We need to find out if our dreams for the future can ever find a common ground. But first, I need to solve this problem.” He captured her gaze for a long moment. Margit looked away first.
    If a breaking heart could make a sound, Jack heard it in her sigh. But no tear touched her eyes.
    “Come on, Robb. Let’s pack and get out of here. We have a long walk back to the University.”
    “I think I’d best stay here, Marcus,” Robb replied. “Vareena and I have much to discuss. And someone needs to try to restore order to this mess.”
    “Yeah, maybe the time has come for us to work alone. We’ve always relied on each other and that is a good thing. But some things can only be done alone.”
    “I can’t give you the secret of the transport spell until you are confirmed a master magician, Marcus, but I can send you on your way in a matter of heartbeats rather than weeks. We don’t have time to wait for you to walk there and back,” Jack offered.
    “And my brother Yeenos may return at any time with an edict from the priests and Council of Provinces removing our responsibility to these ghosts,” Vareena reminded them. “We have to free all of these people before then.”
    “And free yourself as well,” Robb added. “As long as there is a chance someone will wander in here and become a ghost, you will feel honor-bound to remain here. I can’t allow you to do that, Vareena.”
    Jack took a moment to assess the status of the captured people. Marcus and Robb had returned from the gloaming. Katrina, Margit, Zebbiah, and Queen Miranda had never transferred into a ghostly state. All of the Rovers seemed to be gone, as well as Rejiia. Rejiia and Zolltarn continued to tussle over possession of Krej. The Rovers and the nobles continued to argue and brawl.
    The noise began to make his head spin.
    Amaranth screeched and flapped his wings, not liking the loud chaos much either.
    “I’ll take the offer of the transport spell.” Marcus firmed his chin. “Though the way my luck has been running lately, I’ll probably get lost in the void.”
    “I did that once, Marcus.” Jack could smile now at the devastating mistake that had begun his adventures. But he’d been young and too arrogant of his talent then. “Have you undergone a trial by Tambootie smoke?”
    “Of course. We all do upon advancement to journeyman from apprentice. It centers the talent and opens true life paths,” Marcus replied.
    “And protects young magicians from the inconsistency of raging growth and change when we reach puberty,” Jack confirmed. He hadn’t undergone the important magical trial when he’d become lost in the void. His body and talent had rebelled against each other. “I’ll make sure you don’t get lost. But just to be sure, I’ll send Amaranth along with you to guide you home.”
    And that way, he’d also have some privacy with Katrina. If this mob would ever settle down.
    “One problem at a time,” he told himself.

    Vareena joined the Rover girl kneeling beside the blond man Jack and Rejiia had reduced to immobility.
    Rejiia, who seemed to be everyone’s enemy, had time and attention only for the hideous statue. But the Rover chieftain had secreted it once more inside one of the funny looking hovels atop the sledges. Vareena had watched him hand it over to a subordinate who in turn passed it to another and another until she’d lost track of who had it.
    “Where have you hidden my father?” Rejiia screeched, much like the flywacket. With magic, she blasted open the door of the closest bardo. While the wooden panels smoldered, she began pawing through the possessions inside. She discarded clothing and boxes, cooking pots and camp furniture in her desperate search.
    “Get away from my