The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

could. Throw a truth spell on me if you must to determine my intentions.”
    “You know as well as I do that if you lie while under a truth spell, you will die—quite horribly.” Jack breathed deeply. For the first time since this terrible interview had begun, his eyes relaxed.
    “Yes, I know that. I also know that you awakened my magical talent, so you have delved into the depths of my soul. You can ferret out my secrets easier than I can. Throw the spell and know that I have renounced the coven once and for all.”
    “I wish I could take your word for it. But I’ve dealt with the coven too many times. I know from experience how they gain power from pain, their own or what they can inflict upon others.” Jack flinched as he spoke.
    Lanciar understood how deep his scars must run.
    “I speak the truth, I have no need to fear your spell, Jack.”
    “Just be glad Katrina is not here to take fright and thus weaken my resolve.” With a simple gesture blue sparkles shot from Jack’s fingers.
    Lanciar just had time for a single breath before numbing cold settled over his entire body. A veil of blue haze covered everything—not unlike the few moments when he’d held the gold in his hands. And then all of his aches and pains disappeared, replaced by that terrible cold. His mind drifted free of his body and he looked down upon himself and Jack from somewhere near the narrow window at the top of the room.
    His perceptions expanded. He wanted to drift into the haze, free of hurt, free of tangled emotions, free of . . .
    Off in the distance he sensed things that he thought he’d left behind in SeLenicca: Many steeds pounding the kardia as they raced forward, men cursing and sweating as they drew weapons, fear, excitement, determination. All the things that accompanied men as they rode to battle. They rode here to the monastery. When would they arrive? Where did they come from?
    “To whom do you owe allegiance, Lanciar, soldier of SeLenicca, member of the coven?” Jack asked.
    Lanciar’s attention returned to the little room in the monastery. He had to answer every question correctly and end this interview quickly. He had to make preparations to protect the ones he loved. “I owe allegiance to my son, to myself, and to Maija, daughter of Zolltarn, chieftain of his clan of Rovers.” His voice came from a great distance. And then he realized that his body had spoken what was in his heart.
    “And what will you do when the coven commands you?”
    “I will fight them with every tool at my command. I will fight anyone who seeks to harm Maija and my son,” he answered rather fiercely. How long did he have to prepare for the coming attack?
    “Why have you turned upon the coven?”
    “Because they threaten my son.” But the coven did not employ armies. Who commanded the troops coming here?
    “Do you still love Rejiia?”
    “No.” The answer came more readily than he expected. He’d loved Rejiia passionately, devotedly. He’d schemed with her to cheat Simeon of the son he craved. He’d lied and stolen for the coven. He had betrayed Jack, possibly the only true friend he’d ever had. But no more. His son and Maija claimed him now. And the rest of the Rovers, and the motley band trapped here.
    “And if Rejiia kidnaps her son from you?”
    “I will follow her to the ends of the Kardia Hodos and do all I can to protect my boy from her manipulations.”
    “How will you revive Lord Krej?”
    “I won’t unless asked to by you and Zolltarn, backed by whomever you take orders from.”
    Suddenly Lanciar was sucked back into his body. Before he could register what was happening, he blinked and the blue haze disappeared. His extremities took longer to warm up, but the burning pain around his wrists and ankles ceased.
    Jack looked depleted, almost as badly as he had on that lonely mountain pass where the two of them had traveled the stars and awakened Lanciar’s latent talent. Jack ran a shaking hand across his eyes and then dropped onto the stool in the corner of the room.
    “There’s an army on its way here,” Lanciar blurted out.
    “How far?”
    “I don’t know. But I sensed them during the spell. They ride hard, have ridden hard for a time.”
    “We’d best make plans.”
    “I’m best qualified to do that.”
    Jack nodded. “We still have to settle the matter of the gold. We have to have a plan before we go into battle.
    Lanciar nodded. His mind quickly reviewed the layout of the monastery and their