The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

bookshelves were massive constructions, ten feet high, each shelf a convenient step to the next.
    As quietly as possible, he settled himself flat along the very top of the unit. He had only inches to spare between his back and the floor of the first gallery circling the perimeter of the library.
    “If you won’t help, then move aside, old man.” Scarface waved Lyman out of his way. “I didn’t expect one of Nimbulan’s acolytes to agree with me. Fortunately there are few of you remaining to pester me with outlandish ideas. Coronnan will remain under my control with the blessing of dragon magic.”
    What? Coronnan would remain under Scarface’s control. He hadn’t said “the Commune.” He’d said “Coronnan.” The fine hairs along Bessel’s spine tingled in warning.
    Lyman hesitated long enough for Scarface’s temper to whiten the scar on his face. At last Lyman bowed his head in submission and stepped aside.
    “We must begin putting the forbidden books under the gallery, deeply shadowed,” Scarface mused, staring at the upper shelves. “We’ll move up into the galleries if we have to.”
    He waved to his three satellite magicians to begin work at the front of the three-story-high room. They separated and immediately began pulling books off the shelves. They carried each book to the center worktables, making neat stacks of them. They worked rapidly, removing more books than they left shelved. Probably Scarface had decided which books to cull before they began.
    Bessel pressed himself deeper into the shadows between the wall and the gallery floor. His squarely-built body barely fit atop the shelving unit.
    Scarface brought a ball of witchlight to hand and raised his arm to see deeper into the shadows.
    “You there!” Scarface shouted, pointing directly at Bessel. “Why are you hiding up there?”
    “Um . . . um . . . I was dusting and I got stuck.” Bessel flushed with the awkward lie.
    Scarface raised his eyebrows, making the scar white again, a sure sign that he concentrated hard on containing his temper.
    “I think not, boy. More likely you sought a hiding place to take a clandestine nap. I knew you were lazy. This proves it. Come down from there. Now.”
    Bessel looked to Lyman for some kind of direction.
    “Don’t seek out the old man. He can’t tell you what to do. I am Senior Magician. You are oath-bound to obey me without question.”
    Bessel made the awkward climb down. But as he shifted his legs to dangle over the edge of the shelves, he pushed the precious book deep into the waistband of his trews, covering it with his tunic. He willed it into invisibility. It seemed to shrink and flatten as he continued the climb down the shelves. Scarface wouldn’t be able to find it even with his Sight-Beyond-Sight.

Chapter 10
     
    A rise overlooking Coronnan City from the south
     
    K innsell stood on a slight rise on the south shore mainland overlooking the islands of Coronnan City. The River Coronnan made a natural moat. But enemies had boats, and the inhabitants needed the bridges connecting the various islands to each other and the mainland. The city was vulnerable.
    And he planned to take it if Katie and her husband defied him further. “Cursed family covenant is outdated, worthless. The Empire needs this planet. The Empire needs me at its head and this planet will give me the crown. I won’t let my renegade daughter keep me from getting it.” He spat into the ground. A new sense of freedom lifted a weight from his shoulders. His hand rode easily at his side.
    The distances involved in transporting food to the civilized worlds had grown beyond practicality centuries ago. Tanked food kept the Empire fed, but its citizens craved real food and were willing to pay enormous sums for small tastes.
    Kardia Hodos was the private storehouse of the emperor.
    “What do you see down there that our best generals and Battlemages can’t?” his companion asked. The bushie lord continued to twist his heavy ring nervously and had refused several times to part with it, no matter the bribe.
    “I see a way for the Guild of Bay Pilots to transport troops into the heart of the city.”
    “We’ve tried that. The pilots aren’t bribable.”
    “But they owe me greatly for the depth finding machine.” Kinnsell had discarded the Varn costume. His followers needed to know his identity now that he openly worked to establish a power base. Starting with Lord Balthazaan who deeply resented Quinnault and his