Sara Reinke - Tiralainn 05 - Book of Dragons Volume 03.pdf - Sara Reinke - widez2

Book of Dragons – Volume 3

Published in the United States by Double Dragon eBooks, a division of Double Dragon

Publishing Inc., Markham, Ontario Canada.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any

information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from Double

Dragon Publishing.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the

author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales

or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

A Double Dragon eBook

Published by

Double Dragon Publishing, Inc.

PO Box 54016

1-5762 Highway 7 East

Markham, Ontario L3P 7Y4 Canada

http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com

http://www.double-dragon-publishing.com

ISBN-10: 1-55404-425-1

ISBN-13: 978-1-55404-425-2

A DDP First Edition February 13, 2007

Book Layout and

Cover Art by Deron Douglas

www.derondouglas.com

Chapter One

Temu awoke to the soft sound of Yeb’s voice, murmuring incantations and the

whisper of his boot soles in the snow and fallen pine needles as he walked slowly

around the perimeter of the campsite. “Ene mor ayu manu jaga,” Yeb said softly. “Ta

yadaqu getulku dotura ene yajar.” This line shall be our border. You cannot pass into

this place.

Temu sat up, drawing away from the warmth of Toghrul’s body. Toghrul

shrugged his shoulder, settling himself comfortably beneath his blankets without stirring.

Temu rubbed his eyes sleepily and looked out from beneath the lean-to’s canopy. He

could see Yeb, more silhouette than solid form, moving on the far side of the clearing,

just beyond the circumference of the fire’s glow. The shaman held a dalbuur―a small

ritual fan made of thin hide stretched taut across a frame of wood―in one hand,

flapping it over the ground as he passed. In the other, he held a small pouch upturned,

letting something that looked like sand or ash sprinkle down onto the snow.

“Ugei rid ayu boke adali manu buyu,” Yeb said. “Ba minu kucun ayu masi tomu.

Bi ibegel bide.” No sorcery is stronger than mine, and my power is vast. I shall protect

us.

His quiet words did not disturb anyone else among the sleeping Oirat. Jelmei and

Nakhu, the two Kelet guards assigned to the watch sat near the fire, watching Yeb with

interest. A light, but persistent snow had started to fall, filtering down through the pine

boughs overhead.

“Ugei lus, ugei kelberi getulku bi,” Yeb said, waving his fan skyward and then

down at the ground again. No spirit, no form shall pass me. “Bi managa degere bide. Bi

ibegel bide.” I am guard over us. I shall protect us.

Temu crawled out from beneath his blankets and furs and stood, keeping one

burlagh hide wrapped about his shoulders against the chill. He ducked his head and

stepped carefully among the dozing forms of his friends. He moved into the

circumference of firelight, drawing Nakhu and Jelmei’s gazes. Yeb did not seem to

notice Temu’s approach at all, and continued walking slowly, sprinkling the contents of

his little pouch, flapping his fan and chanting.

“What is he doing?” Temu whispered to Jelmei, wide-eyed with wonder.

“Buyu,” Jelmei whispered back. Magic.

Temu sat next to the two guards as they watched Yeb in fascination. He noticed

Rhyden asleep across from them by the fire, curled beneath heavy layers of furs.

Aigiarn slept near him, resting on her side facing the warmth of the blaze. She was

close enough that the cap of her head nearly met Rhyden’s, and her hand lay draped

against his.

He is lonely…alone… Aigiarn had told Toghrul of Rhyden. As though he is

haunted by things he cannot bear to recall, but does not dare to forget. I can see it in his

eyes sometimes…when he thinks no one is looking…

Temu had always been able to see Aigiarn’s own loneliness and sorrow in her

eyes. Yeb was right; a part of her still mourned for his father. She was isolated by her

grief, imprisoned by it.

The way he looks at Temu…it is as though Temu draws him out, chases that

burden from his heart…when he smiles at Temu, that sorrow lifts from him and he is

beautiful for it.

Temu smiled softly. Aigiarn could have just as easily been describing herself with

those words, and the effect Rhyden had on her lately. A couple of days earlier, while

they had brought the knarr briefly ashore, Rhyden had coaxed Aigiarn into playing a

round of pingachu with him and Temu. When she had accepted, Temu had been

astounded; he had never seen his mother play anything before. She was not the sort for

games or goofing, and he had been further astonished when Aigiarn turned out to be

very good at pingachu―she had beaten them both, as a matter of fact. She had

laughed with them, a deep, visceral, joyous laugh Temu had not heard from her in a

long, long time. She had opened her mouth in a wide, happy smile and laughed aloud

with abandon, and Temu had been nearly dumbstruck with wonder.

“What do you think it means?” he had whispered to Yeb once they had been

underway once more that morning. He had kept his voice low, lest Toghrul overhear.

Toghrul had not missed the playful exchanges between Aigiarn and Rhyden, and to

judge by his scowl, he had not approved.

“I think it means perhaps other destinies were meant to be served by Rhyden’s

company than just Ag’iamon’s promise,” Yeb had replied quietly. He had glanced at

Temu, raising his brow. “Does it trouble you, Temu?”

Temu had blinked at him, surprised. “No, Yeb,” he said, shaking his head. “Not at

all. It is just different about her, that is all. I like it―I like that she is happy.”

Sara Reinke - Tiralainn 05 - Book of Dragons Volume 03.pdf

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