The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

chance.”
    “For all of our sakes, acknowledge Ackerly and guide him to his next existence,” Vareena concluded.
    “I hate to interrupt this sentimental reunion, folks, but the door around Rejiia’s tower is smoking,” Lanciar hissed from the doorway. “She’ll be drawn to the magic swirling around us all like iron to lodestone.”
    “I repeat, the man who sired me is not worth the trouble and danger you face when drawing me across time and distance.” Powwell turned away.
    I refute your accusation! Ackerly screamed. The cloud of dust approached the iron stairway. I dedicated my life to making Nimbulan’s life easier, more organized. I fed him when he was too exhausted to think. I made sure all of his equipment was at hand while he waged battle on the enemies of Coronnan. I supported him all our lives and he betrayed me. As you, Powwell, and your sister Kalen betrayed me. He stopped short at the bottom step.
    Once before the iron in the stairway had repulsed him. He could approach no closer to his son.
    Could Powwell cross the barrier iron placed between them? There were higher and thicker barriers to contend with first.
    “You betrayed Nimbulan, the greatest magician of his age, perhaps of any age. You tried to kill him with an overdose of Tambootie, and then you usurped his position in the University. You sold the services of half-trained apprentices for gold. You manipulated and coerced the lords of the land for gold. You did nothing for others, only for your own selfish greed,” Powwell accused. He kept his back to his father.
    The gold was to be your inheritance. I did not want either you or Kalen to be left destitute and dependent because of the wars. Ackerly held out a hand to his son in entreaty.
    “Then why did you secrete the gold here where no one could find it? Why didn’t you acknowledge your two bastards and at least give them names? You did nothing for us. Kalen died barely two years after you did. She was still a child. The victim of yet another who sought to use her talent for their own gain and without regard for her soul.”
    I left clues. If only you had sought them. You were both children when I departed Coronnan. If I had left the gold in an obvious place, it would have been stolen from you. You might have been murdered for it.
    Powwell turned back to face his father. He took two steps forward only to stop, or be stopped by the iron stairs.
    Marcus sensed something important was going on. He needed to listen and learn, perhaps heal his own hurts by their example.
    The scent of woodsmoke drew his attention to the doorway. Flames shot upward across the courtyard. The door to the lesser tower exploded outward.
    Rejiia stalked through the fire, free of her bonds.

Chapter 44
     
    J ack watched as Rejiia, with a deceptively subtle gesture, knocked flat three determined Rover women armed with rolling pins. Black-and-red spikes of magic radiated from her aura. Everything that came in contact with those layers of energy was in danger.
    How had she overcome the magical dissipation of the gloaming? Then he realized he could see her quite clearly. She had discarded the coin that trapped her between dimensions as soon as she broke the bonds he, Marcus, and Robb had wrapped around her.
    And she reeked of Tambootie. The leaves of the tree of magic, which she probably kept about her person at all times, could temporarily enhance her powers. But once the effects of the drug wore off . . .
    Three more women, Zolltarn’s head wife in the lead, jumped to attack the renegade witch with pots full of boiling water. Everything they threw at the determined woman bounced off her armor and back in the faces of her attackers.
    The women cowered away from her, covering their eyes.
    Around them, Rovers, nobles, and the others confronted the villagers with whatever weapons came to hand. Miranda stood on the observation platform of the northwest tower calling to Lord Andrall the activities of each attacker still outside the walls. The noise of that battle distracted Jack from the impending magical duel with his old enemy.
    Rejiia’s eyes burned with her need for revenge. Flames nearly shot from her gaze. But her hands shook. With pent-up emotion or a side effect of the Tambootie?
    Jack wanted to cower away from Rejiia and the memory of what she had done to him in the prison cell in Queen’s City. The last time he’d battled her, she’d been calm and controlled, almost mocking in her superiority.
    But