Dragon Wish (32 page)

searing pain shot through his gut. He gritted his teeth to

keep from crying out. He had to maintain control until he

discovered what had happened during his absence.

The lookout shouted from the top center mast. Paladin

leaned against the ship’s rail. He blinked to set his dragon

vision to see across the distance to the city.

The deep blue outline of land grew darker along the

western horizon. Thin black smoke columns drifted up and

across the sky above Durfalin. As the ship drew closer to the

city, the sight of the fire marks on the walls and upper levels

of the buildings forced a shocked gasp from him. The pale

stone was soaked in the soot and smoke, changing the color

to a blackish brown. Armed, weary soldiers lined the walls.

The docks lay splintered on top of their corresponding cases.

Huge chucks and splintered wood were scattered across the

raised land surrounding the city.

He ordered the ship to descend not far from the land gate

on the western side. Ren’s home sat not far from the

entrance. From this spot, he’d reach Seren sooner.

Hovering five feet from the rocky soil, the ship came to a

stop along the outer wall. Rope ladders rolled from the rails,

attached by secured hooks. Paladin grasped the railing and

leapt over the side, foregoing using the ladders. He sprinted

the distance to the massive gates of the city.

The gate swung open. The guards on duty averted their

gazes when he entered. Dread swirled in his heart. He

hurried, his heart pounding against his ribs, until he reached

the house where he had left Seren and his friends. The outer

wall about the gardens remained. Breathless with disbelief,

he stood, shoulders slumped, staring at the mound of rubble

and scorched wood.

Sickening odor filled his nostrils. A pile of rotting corpses

stacked one on top of another at the street corner sent the

stench into the air. He couldn’t look too close for fear he’d

209

Dragon Wish

spy Seren or one of the two friends he’d left behind.

His dragon’s blood boiled with the need to roar his

frustrations, but he fought against it. Just because the

building lay destroyed did not mean they were lost to him.

He looked both ways down the street.

Several men dressed in tattered robes scurried behind

him. He reached out and grabbed one.

“What happened to the people staying in this place?” He

motioned toward the shell of the building with his head.

The man whimpered. “I do not know, my lord.”

“Then tell me who would know”

“The mayor perhaps. He’s assigned scribes to list the

survivors and the dead.” The man informed him. “They’ve set

up a place near his home, over yonder.”

Paladin released him. With renewed hope, he stared in

the direction the man suggested he go. He strode down the

street, focusing on one step at a time until he found the

building. From the smell, it had been set aside to hold the

dead.

People waited in lines outside the doors. Every little

while, men and women would depart, their shoulders

shaking, grief evident with the tears and sorrow etched deep

on their faces. Others were allowed in.

Gritting his teeth, he shouldered his way past the waiting

people. The guard at the door lifted his dragonstone lance in

warning. Paladin ignored him, fixing the soldier with a look

which forced the other man to back down.

“I would speak with the mayor.”

The soldier swallowed, eyed the swords strapped to

Paladin’s waist. After a quick nod, he led the way inside and

up a flight of marbled stairs to the left of the entrance. They

went straight down the hallway to the end. Two more guards

stood at attention on either side of a set of double doors. The

soldier guiding Paladin whispered to one of the guards. The

uniformed man slipped through the door. He returned a

moment later. With a nod to Paladin, he opened the door.

210

Dragon Wish

Silus Moreia, governing mayor to Durfalin, sat behind a

large ornate desk across the room. He held one hand over his

brow, staring at several sheets of paper scattered over the

desk’s surface. His silver hair stood on end, and shadows

darkened the skin beneath his eyes. Thin to the point of

gauntness, the man appeared sick or injured. Silus lifted his

gaze and met Paladin’s.

Paladin walked across the room and stopped before him.

He leaned across the desk, bracing his hands flat on the

surface. “Who did this? Was it the white dragon clan?”

The older man shook his head. “Accounts from the

soldiers claim these were rogues, led by an adult dragon. An

iridescent one.”

Arcane.

Fury at the beast threatened to overcome Paladin. Years

before, the same beast attacked his brother. Yet, from what

Bask claimed, Rylen controlled Arcane’s actions. “What of

the ones staying in Murdock’s home?”

Shaking his head, Silus frowned. “All surviving the attack

from Murdock’s home were moved to his desert compound

several leagues outside the walls. I’m not sure. They might be

there.”

“My thanks. My crew will be here to give assistance.” He

pivoted and departed without waiting for the older man to

respond. He returned to his ship, informing his men to help

wherever they were needed. He went below, hurrying to pack

some supplies in a shoulder bag. Weapons and provisions

prepared, he raced to the top of the eastern wall. He stood on

the edge and called upon his inner magic. Innate power

surged to his shoulders, sending licking flames over his skin.

His wings broke free from his shoulders. Their full lengths

unfurled. People spying him from below, cried out and ran.

He ignored them, stepped off the edge and flew east into the

desert.

Paladin had been to Ren Murdock’s desert home once.

Years had dimmed the memory of its location. Sensing any

211

Dragon Wish

human life forms helped guide him. After a few hours, he

spied a lush oasis springing from the sand dunes. A flat roof

two-story house along with several outer buildings

comprised the compound. Relieved, he grinned. He’d found

it.

Ren Murdock made his living searching and successfully

recovering ancient artifacts in the area surrounding his

home. Rumors abounded concerning the wizard making

forays into the rogue lands east of the desert. Murdock’s

techniques in acquiring the precious relics and gems were

honorable except when he dealt with thieves. There, he was

considered a formidable foe.

A shout brought Paladin’s attention to the largest most

ornate building in the compound. Several people moved

from under the covered terrace in front of the two story

adobe structure. Tall and solid, his black skin glistening in

the light, Leo rushed across the compound to meet him.

Relief flooded Paladin. Leo was alive, and if he was here,

Seren and Calis were also. They had to be alive.

Landing not far from the man, Paladin searched the area

behind Leo for any other familiar face.

“We expected your return yesterday.”

His breath caught in his chest. “I came at once after I

became aware of the trouble. Where is she?”

Stopping several feet from him, Leo shook his head. “That

dragon, the one Master Largin told you about. He attacked

the city and took Seren.”

Heart pounding, his knees threatened to collapse.

Darkness edged his vision for several moments. He dragged

in deep breaths, trying to calm down. If Arcane captured

Seren then she was with his brother. The spot of his chest

where his heart beat tightened with sharp pangs. His

emotions were torn between the two people he cared the

most for in this world. He stood, silent, staring unseeing at

Leo.

Leo placed a hand on his shoulder. “I know it’s bad, but

212

Dragon Wish

we can’t let this stop us. We have to go after her.”

He focused and lifted his gaze to meet Leo’s dark eyes.

Paladin swallowed and nodded. “You are right, my friend.”

He looked at the house behind them, searching for Murdock.

“Where is the wizard?”

Sand and small stones scattered under Leo’s large feet.

The off-worlder wouldn’t meet his look. “You should have

warned him about Seren. He’s upset. Very upset. Right now,

I’d hate to be you. Knowing Murdock, he’s aware that you’ve

arrived. You don’t want to keep him waiting.”

Another problem he’d have to overcome before he could

go to Seren. Paladin gritted his teeth. His frustration

continued to build. He didn’t need the added distraction of

dealing with an irate wizard. Paladin trailed behind Leo, who

headed for the largest compound building.

Several desert dwellers, swathed in layers of thin beige

cloth, sat or stood under the wide veranda near the entrance.

Only their eyes and the tips of their fingers showed in the

fading light. Paladin nodded in greeting at them.

He entered the building. Deep mahogany panels lined

each side of the hallway. The shaded effect cooled the inside

by several degrees. Polished stone slab floors gave Murdock’s

home a cave-like atmosphere. Elegant carved chairs with

high backs and cushioned seats were placed along the walls,

waiting for their next occupant. Leo inclined his head down

the length of the wide center hallway.

Paladin strode at Leo’s side down the hallway. The off-

worlder stopped at a set of closed double doors and shot him

a glance, followed by a quick white grin.

Not sure if Leo was trying to reassure him or just making

light of a deadly situation, Paladin stopped next to him. Leo’s

next comment verified it was neither. “Whatever you do,

don’t make him any angrier. He’s already in a bad mood. You

know his reputation. He has a habit of reacting before he

thinks. So, try to stay calm. I managed to survive the

dragon’s attack. I don’t want to die at the hands of an irate

213

Dragon Wish

wizard.”

Paladin agreed with a jerk of his head. Leo opened the

door. Feet rooted to the floor for a brief moment, Paladin

stared at the swirling design on the area carpet just over the

threshold. Determined to find out what Ren knew, he

stepped into the room. Tension permeated within the walls,

and was made physical by the strong odor of incense.

Paladin’s back stiffened with unease.

Ren Murdock sat across the room at his desk, his back to

them. His broad shoulders stiffened under the fine lawn shirt

he wore. Ren glanced over his shoulder at them. Dark hair

fell across his strong brow. His black stare carved through

flesh and bone. The man seemed to search straight to the

pith of Paladin’s being.

Precise with his lethal spells, Ren could destroy him in a

heartbeat. Paladin clenched his fists. No one would prevent

him from saving Seren. He steeled his courage and asked, his

voice harsher than he’d intended. “Where did Arcane take

her?”

With Ren’s continued look dissecting him, he shifted,

refusing to break eye contact. After several tense moments,

his frustration at the breaking point, Paladin took a step to

the wizard. “Where...”

Ren’s quiet order overrode him. “Silence. Sit.”

Not wanting to push the wizard to more anger, Paladin

complied.

“Why did you not inform me of this woman’s identity?”

Meeting Ren’s hard gaze, Paladin asked again, “Where is

she?”

A dark brow quirked. “So she means a great measure to

you?”

“Yes.”

“Because of the child?”

“No.”

Surprised flickered in Ren’s eyes for a moment before he

shifted his attention to the floor, his brow creased in a frown.

214

Dragon Wish

“Are you ready to fight for her, then? Even to...die for her?”

“I’ll destroy any who dares to stop me.”

“Including your brother?”

The wizard’s question stopped Paladin. Did he desire his

brother’s blood on his hands? He mulled the many aspects.

Coming to an answer, he raised his gaze, locking onto Ren’s.

“I would that this matter be different, but if he stands in my

way, yes, I will destroy him.”

Ren grunted. “You have only the white dragon supporting

you at present, whereas Rylen has a multitude of rogues in