Free A Dragon Born by Jordan Baker Page B

blessing you just received, from the Lady herself."
    "The Lady?" Lanos scoffed. "I don't keep hold to old legends. That girl worked some magic upon me, and used her tricks to make me grant you safe harbor. I know when I've been magicked, but there's naught I can do about it since I've already granted my word and all my people heard me say it."
    "So you'll honor it?" Sten asked.
    "Aye," Lanos told him. "You've safe harbor, but once you break port your ship will be fair spoils, so you'd better hope she's got fast sails."
    "Oh, the Al-Andor is fast enough, and faster with that girl aboard. With her blessings, there's no ship that could catch us."
    "I think you'll find the pirates of Meer Island have plenty a fast ship," Lanos told him then began walking away. He glanced over his shoulder at Sten. "Keep the peace in the town and you'll have no trouble, at least none while you're at port."
     
     

 
     

CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Fire. White, hot fire, blazed, setting the world alight and spreading flames of red, blue, orange and yellow, like the sun, burning everything. Fear. The dark eyes, hateful and angry, silver and black, reflecting in the cold, sharp steel, afraid as the flicker of doubt was burned to flame. Water. Cool hands pushing back the heat, the night air soothing as the screams faded into the distance.
    Aaron saw faces in the darkness, silhouetted in the orange glow of the flames. A child cried out as a woman screamed and men shouted. He did not know where he was, but the man with the dark eyes was gone and he was no longer afraid, and yet the heat of the flames licked around him, hurting him. Loud noises came from somewhere close, pounding then a crack, followed by another. More shouting.
    A face he recognized. Tarnath. He reached out to him and saw his beard begin to smoke. Another face. No, it was the same. Tarnath smiled at him. Aaron heard other voices, ones he knew, but they were fading as the light of the fire died away.
    The night was cool and the stars bright overhead. The peaceful rhythm of a horse, riding over cobbles then pounding softly upon earth. The breeze carried the scent of evergreens, the hint of salt from the sea, the smell of black earth, the fresh droplets of rain. All was quiet.
    He was in the cottage. It was summer and the night was warm. Fireflies danced among the trees and a grey owl stared back at him with golden eyes then disappeared silently into the night. He heard a voice he knew. It was his uncle, Tarnath, talking to himself. Aaron tried to rise but he could not and he found himself outside, in the darkness, staring up at the stars and unable to move. A shadow drew near and a flash of cold steel moved in the darkness. Eyes, dark and piercing drew closer. He was afraid.
    A shout. Warm light and woman's face, one he knew but did not know why. The dark eyes turned and the woman screamed and ran toward the steel. She reached out and bled from her hands as it cut her. Another face he knew but did not know appeared. A man with a sword, stepping from the light into the darkness. The dark eyes turned and stared. The steel was raised high and the woman screamed.
    Fire.
    "How is he?" Zachary asked. Stavros looked up from the book on his lap, an old tome he had been studying that spoke of an ancient time and pathways to magical realm. Carly, who was sound asleep on the floor nearby did not stir.
    "The same," Stavros told him.
    "I have tried everything, but he is in a dream that will not end. It only repeats itself."
    "At least we know his mind is still there," Zachary said, trying to sound hopeful. "If we can get him to wake, then hopefully he will be all right."
    "If we can get him to wake, then we will discover if he is truly sound."
    "I'm sure he will be fine. You and I, both, we have been through some trials ourselves. One time I was asleep for nearly a month after a blast of magic knocked me half way across the land."
    "Yes, but that was by choice, and you blasted yourself with magic, which