The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III

Scarface.
    The Senior Magician reared his head back in surprise, glaring at Bessel angrily. Where did you come from? his startled thoughts leaked directly into Bessel’s mind. Then the Senior Magician calmly folded his hands in front of him, on the big table. You do not need to remind me of our priorities, young man. I am Senior Magician, you but my assistant.
    Scarface cleared his throat loudly, scanned the room to make certaiun he had everyone’s attention, and finally spoke. “Glass and wealth mean nothing if we all die of this mysterious disease.”
    Kinnsell pushed his hand forward, giving his imaginary stick a new angle as he frowned at Scarface for interrupting.
    “True,” Quinnault said on a sigh of relief. “We must send dispatches to all parts of Coronnan seeking information. Any unusual illnesses must be reported.”
    “And the presence of any foreign machines must also be reported,” Queen Maarie Kaathliin interjected. “Machines seem to make life easier. But one machine leads to another and another until we are slaves to them and their pollution taints all of our lives. The pollution is the food for the plague, and when it runs out of tainted air, it turns on people. We have loyal magicians who can help us better than any machine. We do not need technology to build a good life, a stable economy, and a healthy populace.”
    And as long as the magicians served a purpose in Coronnan, Bessel would have the Commune and access to their library. He didn’t want to think about a world where impersonal machines replaced a human magician.
    “Aren’t you overreacting, daughter?” Kinnsell rested a parental hand on her shoulder. His other hand pushed farther forward. The reprimand in his voice was unmistakable.
    Bessel needed to know the origin of Kinnsell’s gesture. How could he understand the man and his motives if he didn’t know why he held his hand that particular way?
    “No,” Queen Katie replied. “Our people have lived with the plague so long we no longer know the warning signs. Terrania has become so dependent upon technology her people don’t know how to, and don’t want to, live without it, even though the pollution generated by those machines causes many, many deaths,” she replied, shaking off his touch.
    The two glared at each other a long moment.
    Bessel wanted to crawl under the table to avoid this embarrassing family squabble. He’d had enough of those at home—a place he sincerely wanted to forget. The Commune was home now.
    “I wish all of you could have personally experienced the dragon dream,” King Quinnault said. “But since Shayla only granted this vision of potential disaster to a few of us, then you must accept my word that we face dangerous times, my lords. Very dangerous. Now, please, disperse to your religious and family duties properly warned and fore-armed with knowledge.”
    Attend me, I have tasks for you, Scarface ordered Bessel telepathically.
    Bessel nodded his acceptance of the order. So did Powwell.
    Behind Quinnault King Kinnsell scowled. He jerked his head several times in brief nods of signal to several people in the room. The gesture happened so fast Bessel missed who replied and who didn’t.
    He sensed a tension and defiance in the air, almost tasted it like Powwell had tasted the scent of the plague in the dragon dream.

Chapter 2
     
    Two hours before sunset on the Holy Day of Remembrance, outside the meeting chamber of the Council of Provinces, Palace Reveta Tristile, Coronnan City
     
    P owwell followed Scarface out of the Council chamber. Curiosity burned within him. For the past year, since he had escaped the outlaw city of Hanassa with Scarface and the others, the Senior Magician had gone out of his way to avoid noticing Powwell, or any other student who had come to the University under Nimbulan’s tutelage. He wouldn’t even allow mention of Rollett, the journeyman magician who had failed to escape the city of outlaws, let alone discuss a rescue attempt.
    Powwell was afraid his search for his lost sister Kalen would take him back to Hanassa. The city had almost killed him. If he ever saw the inside of the collapsed volcano again, he was almost glad Rollett would be there to help. If Rollett still lived.
    “Powwell, you spend far too much time in the library pursuing your own research. I need you and Bessel to go on a quest together,” Scarface said. He refused to meet Powwell’s stare of astonishment. “You’ll have to lose your