The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

glared at her.
    “That will not be necessary, miss,” the other lord said. “The six of us will settle into that same scriptorium. My daughter-in-law will not disturb you.” He bowed slightly and offered his arm to his lady. They retreated in silent dignity.
    Lord Laislac and his lady followed suit. The moonfaced young man with a little drool at the corner of his mouth copied the men in offering his arm to the pregnant girl. She batted it away and huffed in the wake of her elders. The simple boy shrugged and flashed a smile to one and all.
    “Good luck,” Vareena called to him, utterly charmed. “I wish I could do something for him,” she said to herself.
    “Perhaps we can do something for him,” Jack said. “But that is a plan I cannot implement without some serious consultation with the Commune. Marcus is ready. Do you want to see him off?”
    “I . . . uh . . .” What did she want? Marcus had earned her respect as a clear thinker and leader in this adventure, but he wasn’t Robb. “I think I’ll remain out here and keep order. My eldest brother has just arrived at the gate looking very puzzled. I’d best inform him of this newest crisis and arrange for food for all of these people. You and I may have to go hunting later.”
    She picked up her skirts and rushed to the gate to confer with Uustass. She hoped he had some better ideas for provisioning two dozen Rovers, two lords and their retinues, an exiled queen, and a host of magicians.
    “Hurry back, Marcus. We need whatever answers you can find quickly.”
    She’d never wanted to leave this place more. Freedom beckoned to her just beyond the room where Jack and Marcus had firmly closed the door against intruders. She fingered the silver-and-amethyst amulet. Boldly, she pulled it from beneath her shift. She needed to see it in the sunlight as a symbol of the future freedom she only dared dream of.

    These invaders with their iron and their greed do not frighten me. But the wounds I suffer from their iron will plague me forever. For that they must pay.
    They have betrayed me, as Nimbulan did. As my son and daughter did when they rejected me as their father, preferring Nimbulan to raise them.
    They will all die before another night passes, or they will wish themselves dead. In this place, such wishes come true.

Chapter 37
     
    M arcus stuffed his few possessions into his pack. Excitement fluttered in his belly, making his movements jerky and imprecise.
    “Be sure to check on Old Lyman,” Margit said, throwing open the door to his room with a bang.
    Marcus jumped a little at her abrupt entrance. Then he settled into his packing once more.
    “He was ailing when I left. Sleeping more than waking and acting a little confused when he did bother to open his eyes.”
    “Lyman is older than dirt and always acts confused. Untangling his cryptic statements is one of the best learning tools at the University,” Marcus countered.
    “Ask about Jaylor’s newborn twins as well,” Jack added right on Margit’s heels. He caressed his ever-present flywacket, murmuring to it. “Gossip among the Masters said that one of the twins was too small and weak to survive long. Such a loss will devastate Jaylor and Brevelan. We need them both hale and thinking clearly as long as the Gnuls have power in Coronnan.”
    “Yeah, I noticed Jaylor was acting distracted, always wanting to be back at the clearing rather than in the University. I thought he was just acting the new father,” Margit confirmed. “But there wasn’t the triumphant shout announcing the births either.”
    “I’ll check on both of them—not that I can be of any help. Now can we get on with this? Is there anything special I should know or do to survive the transport spell?”
    “Marcus, good, I caught you before you left,” Robb burst into the little room, Vareena right behind him. It was getting crowded in here.
    Presumably Katrina was helping Queen Miranda settle in with her daughter and Rover escort. Otherwise, she’d be pressed as close to Jack as Vareena was to Robb.
    “I’ll be back as soon as I can, Robb.” Marcus indulged in one last back-slapping hug with his friend and partner. “Thanks for showing me how to take responsibility and not trust in my luck so much.”
    “I think today is my lucky day,” Robb looked into Vareena’s eyes for one long adoring moment before turning back to Marcus. “Check out Nimbulan’s diaries for any reference to Ackerly. There has to be a clue