Wizards of Fyre (Island of Fyre Book 3) by Janet Lane-Walters Page A
Authors: Janet Lane-Walters
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them to make a belt. She hung a pouch with the metal balls for the sling, a knife, and a fire starter on the braided cloth. The blanket would double as a cape. She pushed the pack with the attached cloth sacks ahead of her through the tangle.
Her gleanings of food should last a seven day or more. She had no idea how far she had to travel to reach the dragon. She emerged from the fyrethorn bushes and hoisted the pack to her back. The desert or the hills? Where was the dragon?
Though she hadn’t spent much time at home exploring the hills, she decided that would be her direction. ‘Dragon, I’m coming.’
Lorana’s heart thundered as she walked away from the citadel. The clouds covering the moon gave her hope she could climb far enough to avoid capture. She planned to find a hiding place, sleep and set out again. Before long she hoped to change her travel to the day without risk of being seen. Night travel and the sounds foreign to her memories frightened her.
She stopped at intervals to rest. All the days spent in the hareem had weakened her. She didn’t move as fast as she wanted. Each time she stopped she called Dragon and heard no response. Was this a fool’s trip?
As the sky lightened she searched for a hiding place. Fear almost caused her to run. She needed to find a spot where predators couldn’t reach her. She searched her memories for possible dangers. At home dragons had controlled the wildlife. She hadn’t seen or heard about wild animals from the women. The wizards didn’t hunt for other than the wild cattle near the citadel.
She studied the area ahead of her. A tree would be best but she lacked the energy to make the climb. Finally she found a place where three trees formed a small nook between the roots. She crawled inside and settled to sleep.
* * *
Dragon roused. How long had he slept this time? He lumbered outside the cave system. With relief he saw the weather hadn’t changed. Three days of feasting on roe deer had caused the deep sleep.
Lorana. He opened his mind. When he found her asleep, he realized she was no longer in the citadel of the wizards. She slept surrounded on three sides by trees. Could he protect her from afar? She was too close to the citadel for him to go for her.
Inch by inch he searched the area. Slinking toward her he saw a lepcat. The sly feline liked to hunt by stealth and store its kills in trees.
Dragon sent his image into the cat’s head. ‘Leave her. She is mine.’
At first the creature resisted. Dragon sent his message again and again. The feline departed. Dragon settled to keep a watch on Lorana.
Chapter Four
The next morning after breaking his fast, Arton sat at the table in the front room of his suite. He recalled his conversation with the guard about Lorana’s escape. If everyone remaining at the citadel had been questioned under the wand, she had found a way to leave the citadel on her own. How had she learned a way to bypass the guards?
He settled back and thought of the hareem. The women who resided there were able to move about the gated courtyard. Some of the women prepared the meals. Others made clothes from dragon skin and cloth.
He had seen Lorana stirring kettles, making the cordial and the fyrethorn poison for trade. She’d had access to the storeroom. Could she have used the door into the main part of the citadel and found a way over the wall?
Impossible. The door was barred on the outside with a heavy plank. If any guard or wizard had removed the bar, he would have confessed when questioned. There must be a hidden passage in the storeroom. He needed to explore and use one to see if he could discover her secret.
He rose and walked to the door. As he was about to leave his suite he heard Cregan’s sharp-pitched voice. Arton opened the door a crack. His rival walked with one of Mecador’s council supporters.
“Have no fear. I will win the seat.” Cregan said.
“How can you be sure?” the man asked. “You
Her gleanings of food should last a seven day or more. She had no idea how far she had to travel to reach the dragon. She emerged from the fyrethorn bushes and hoisted the pack to her back. The desert or the hills? Where was the dragon?
Though she hadn’t spent much time at home exploring the hills, she decided that would be her direction. ‘Dragon, I’m coming.’
Lorana’s heart thundered as she walked away from the citadel. The clouds covering the moon gave her hope she could climb far enough to avoid capture. She planned to find a hiding place, sleep and set out again. Before long she hoped to change her travel to the day without risk of being seen. Night travel and the sounds foreign to her memories frightened her.
She stopped at intervals to rest. All the days spent in the hareem had weakened her. She didn’t move as fast as she wanted. Each time she stopped she called Dragon and heard no response. Was this a fool’s trip?
As the sky lightened she searched for a hiding place. Fear almost caused her to run. She needed to find a spot where predators couldn’t reach her. She searched her memories for possible dangers. At home dragons had controlled the wildlife. She hadn’t seen or heard about wild animals from the women. The wizards didn’t hunt for other than the wild cattle near the citadel.
She studied the area ahead of her. A tree would be best but she lacked the energy to make the climb. Finally she found a place where three trees formed a small nook between the roots. She crawled inside and settled to sleep.
* * *
Dragon roused. How long had he slept this time? He lumbered outside the cave system. With relief he saw the weather hadn’t changed. Three days of feasting on roe deer had caused the deep sleep.
Lorana. He opened his mind. When he found her asleep, he realized she was no longer in the citadel of the wizards. She slept surrounded on three sides by trees. Could he protect her from afar? She was too close to the citadel for him to go for her.
Inch by inch he searched the area. Slinking toward her he saw a lepcat. The sly feline liked to hunt by stealth and store its kills in trees.
Dragon sent his image into the cat’s head. ‘Leave her. She is mine.’
At first the creature resisted. Dragon sent his message again and again. The feline departed. Dragon settled to keep a watch on Lorana.
Chapter Four
The next morning after breaking his fast, Arton sat at the table in the front room of his suite. He recalled his conversation with the guard about Lorana’s escape. If everyone remaining at the citadel had been questioned under the wand, she had found a way to leave the citadel on her own. How had she learned a way to bypass the guards?
He settled back and thought of the hareem. The women who resided there were able to move about the gated courtyard. Some of the women prepared the meals. Others made clothes from dragon skin and cloth.
He had seen Lorana stirring kettles, making the cordial and the fyrethorn poison for trade. She’d had access to the storeroom. Could she have used the door into the main part of the citadel and found a way over the wall?
Impossible. The door was barred on the outside with a heavy plank. If any guard or wizard had removed the bar, he would have confessed when questioned. There must be a hidden passage in the storeroom. He needed to explore and use one to see if he could discover her secret.
He rose and walked to the door. As he was about to leave his suite he heard Cregan’s sharp-pitched voice. Arton opened the door a crack. His rival walked with one of Mecador’s council supporters.
“Have no fear. I will win the seat.” Cregan said.
“How can you be sure?” the man asked. “You
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