Free The Balance of Power (Godsland Series: Books Four, Five, and Six) by Brian Rathbone

fine.
    "You tell me this instant what happened to you!"
    Millie's voice cut into Sinjin's consciousness like an axe, and it took him a moment before he could respond. "I don't know. I don't remember."
    "What's the last thing you remember?" she asked, no less intent on getting an answer.
    "Um . . . I . . . uh . . ." Sinjin stammered, ashamed that the last thing he remembered was hiding in an alcove and eavesdropping. "I don't know."
    "How can you not know?" Millie asked, her glare suspicious. "What's your name?"
    "Sinjin Volker," he responded, and he heard someone snort in derision.
    "And what's my name, then?"
    "Why, you're Millicent, former maid to the Lady Mangst and current keeper of the aforementioned Sinjin Volker."
    "Your memory and attitude appear whole. If only you could tell me what you were doing when you sustained this injury!" Not waiting to see if he would say any more, Millie walked away, seemingly having trouble keeping from throttling Sinjin.
    "This is all your fault," he heard Kendra say, and he almost had the sense to duck before her fist landed on his cheekbone.
    "Kendra! Never hit anyone in the infirmary! How could you?" Khenna said, her mouth agape.
    "It's all his fault."
    "Are you all right, Sinjin?" Khenna asked.
    Sinjin just moaned and levered himself out of the cot.
    "Look at that eye!" came another familiar voice, and Sinjin's heart felt a bit lighter as he turned to see Durin grinning back at him.
    "It sure is good to see you," Sinjin said.
    "You look worse than I do now but not as bad as Kendra; she looks terrible. I'm betting most of those cuts and scrapes are going to leave scars. Hideous."
    "If you two boys feel well enough to pick on this poor girl while she's a-healin'," Mirta quipped, "then you just get your butts out of here. There are more sick and wounded in this place than we have beds for. And go easy for once, the both of you! I don't want to see you back here 'cept for visitin'. Now git!"
    Sinjin narrowly avoided Kendra as he stood to leave, his legs only vaguely responding to his commands, which he supposed were now more like requests. Durin was not so lucky or so quick, and the remainder of her salted fish slapped him in the side of the head.
    "You just wait  . . ." they heard Kendra say as they left.
    "Things are a mess," Sinjin said once they were out of the infirmary and out of Kendra's range.
    "You don't know the half of it. The dragons attacked while you were out."
    Sinjin nearly choked and could find no words to respond.
    "The Arghast showed up just before the dragons attacked, and now we know that they came looking for your mom because the dragons had been tormenting them."
    "Why are the dragons attacking? Is it Kyrien?"
    "No, no," Durin said. "It's not Kyrien. These dragons are nothing like him. They're as black as night and shiny, like a snake, and they're meaner than a cornered bear."
    "And the Arghast want my mom to make the dragons go away?"
    "Nope. Guess again. Get this: they want your mom to teach them how to catch and tame the dragons so they can fly."
    "Now you're just telling tales," Sinjin said. He turned his head as he noticed a low din slowly growing louder.
    "Am not. You'll see. Oh, and those people who shot me weren't assassins. Morif told Millie that if they had been trying to kill you, I'd be dead. What do you think of that?"
    Just then they walked into the great hall, and Sinjin stopped, dumbfounded by what he saw and heard. A tent village had sprung up in the hall, and it seemed everyone had something to say at the same time. The noise was difficult to describe, and the great hall's acoustics only added to the effect.
    "Told you."
    Sinjin grew more anxious with every step, suddenly feeling cramped and crowded, wondering if anyone among the gathered masses wanted him dead. For once, seeing Morif shadowing him and Durin did not anger him. He felt safer knowing Morif was about. He'd taught Sinjin much of what he knew about fighting and about