Free Dimwater's Dragon by Sam Ferguson Page A

for something,” Cyrus said, ignoring Janik’s question.
    Janik sighed and nodded. “What am I looking for?” he asked.
    “A dagger. You will know it by the three rubies set in the hilt.”
    “A dagger?” Janik echoed. “What do you want with that?”
    Cyrus rose slowly from the bed and moved close enough to Janik so that he could whisper. “That was the other item I sought when we fought the vampire. All this time I thought he had taken with him when he escaped from us, but now it appears he no longer has it.”
    Janik narrowed his eyes on the old wizard. “How do you know that?”
    Cyrus put a finger to his nose and sneered. “Because the vampire is dead. He was slain with the dagger for which I search. More than that, it seems that someone else is hunting the item as well.”
    “If I find it?” Janik asked.
    “Then bring it back to your room. I know where to find you,” Cyrus said.
    “What is so special about this dagger?” Janik pressed once more.
    Cyrus shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. Just bring it to me if you find it.”
    Janik nodded reluctantly. “So the other person that is searching for the dagger thought that Lady Caspen had it?”
    Cyrus smiled wickedly and laughed. “That would be the logical conclusion.”
    “How can you be sure?”
    “Because I was there. I saw the marks of a ghoul in Lady Caspen’s study. There was likely another creature as well, as I can’t imagine she would have been defeated by a single ghoul, but nevertheless those are the only marks I saw in the room. Her desk was shattered, and books were strewn about. The rest of the house was undisturbed. They were looking for it.”
    “Maybe they were looking for something else,” Janik said.
    Cyrus shook his head. “There are scrying tools that help unravel the mysteries of the past.” The old wizard smiled. “I won’t bother you with the details, but I know she had it.”
    “Are you sure the others didn’t find it?”
    Cyrus shrugged. “Of that I am not certain, but I am optimistic. I know the man who is hunting it. Let’s just say that if he had it, I would know by now.” Cyrus turned and put the candle out with a flick of his finger. The room went dark again. “Search the girl’s room. If it is there, bring it here. If it is not there, then keep an eye on her. Watch her carefully. I have a feeling that the others will come for her next. If they do, you had better keep her alive until I get back.”
    “Why not just take her and have her tell you where it is?” Janik asked.
    “No, that would turn her against us. Your first priority is to make her an ally. When she is grown, we will need her strength on our side. We mustn’t jeopardize that, not even for the dagger.”
    “You keep saying that, and yet you don’t tell me what it is we need her for, or even why she is so special compared to the other hundred sorcery apprentices in Kuldiga Academy. Is the daughter of a vampire truly so remarkable?” Janik asked. His words were met by silence. “Cyrus?” Janik whispered. Still no answer. He moved to the far side of the room and lit the candle. He was alone.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    For about a month, the other apprentices ceased teasing Kyra. They weren’t overly nice to her, but the rumors all but stopped and the mean pranks were abandoned. Still, she would have gladly had all of the bad treatment back, even doubled, if she could also have her mother returned to her. She still hadn’t been able to bring herself to read the letter that came on that horrible night. She placed it on top of her dresser in her dorm room, which she now shared with no one. She hardly spoke, and her studies suffered considerably. Feberik tried to cheer her up, but it didn’t help much.
    Now she was more alone than ever before. In the few days immediately after the news had come, other professors would sit with her at lunch and offer their condolences for her mother’s sudden passing, but of late even they keep their