The Betrayed Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 2), Dan Michaelson [best books to read all time .txt] 📗

“I’m not convinced,” I said, realizing how foolish it was to say anything to the dragon. “The Djarn are connected to the dragons.”

A bit of heat radiated from the dragon, and he crawled slightly forward.

The dragon watched me and I thought I could sense a level of amusement glittering in his eyes, as if he were aware of the struggle I shared, and felt some level of satisfaction with it. I couldn’t help but feel as if the dragon were trying to decide whether to help me or to continue to taunt me. Either way, the power he possessed still flowed out from him and through me, cycling, connecting me to him in a way that couldn’t happen with any of the other dragons.

“There are others missing,” I said softly.

The dragon lifted his head up, and I felt a rumble of heat and energy coming off of him.

“You understand that, don’t you?”

There came another rumble.

Now there was no doubt in my mind that the dragon understood me, but it was a matter of whether he would be able to help.

“Are the Djarn responsible for what happened to them?”

The dragon rumbled again, saying something, though I couldn’t tell what it was. The only thing I could make out was the steady rumbling, the power that radiated from him, and some hint of energy that suggested to me that he was fully aware of what was taking place.

I leaned forward, grabbing the bars of the cage. “The Djarn I’ve seen in the past haven’t seemed like they could be responsible for anything. But Thomas seems convinced,” I said. “I think I need to know what Joran’s father brought to the city.”

The dragon rumbled again.

“You understand me, which means you understand what’s going on.”

I squeezed the bars of the cage. There was some part of me that felt ridiculous talking to the dragon like this, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel as if the dragon really did know what I was saying.

When he had been captured, had he known then what was going on?

If so, why hadn’t dragon done anything to resist?

Unless there wasn’t much the dragon could do. He was small, not nearly as powerful as some of the larger dragons; it would take him time to develop that strength and size.

“I’m trying to do everything I can to help the dragons. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but it seems to me that it’s something. Do you think you can help?”

The dragon leaned toward me, heat and energy continuing to radiate from him, as if he wanted to make sure I knew what he was doing, but there was something else within his gesture that I thought I needed to grasp—like he wanted to show me the power that existed within him.

The dragon rumbled. I reached my hand out and some blast of power surged through me. It was that power which felt as if I were connected to the dragon in a way I hadn’t been before.

“I hear you have decided to get caught up in Thomas Elaron,” a voice said.

I spun and realized Brandel and two of his cronies were there, making their way toward me. I glanced over at the dragon, who remained near the bars of the pen. “I’m not getting caught up in anything,” I said.

“That’s not the story I hear. Rumor has it you were at the palace.” He started to smile.

For Brandel to have already heard that left me wondering who his father really was. Maybe he was much better connected than I realized.

“Normally, such a thing would have been a proud moment, even for you, but I suspect you didn’t have nearly the exciting moment that you thought you would.”

“What do you know about it?”

“I know that you were seen at the palace. What else should I know?”

Cara grinned. She had a determined set to her jaw that I had always found attractive.

She wasn’t from the city—not like Brandel, whose birthplace contributed to his smugness. She had come from the south, far enough away that I wouldn’t have expected her to have the same smug attitude, but every time I was around her, it seemed as if she echoed his responses.

“I was at the palace so I could help the king,” I said.

He chuckled. “I know exactly why you were at the palace. My father told me.”

Could his father be the Sharath?

That might explain why Brandel didn’t care for Thomas.

“I also know what Thomas has been accused of. Perhaps you don’t know the full extent of it. Do you think this is all about missing dragons? If that were it, then he would have sent the dragon mages out sweeping for them. No. This is about something quite different. And in the case of your dragon mage, and the one who you have decided to ally yourself with, it’s something that means he will find himself facing the dragon’s justice.”

I stared at him.

“Let me guess. You don’t even know what dragon’s justice is?”

“No,” I said.

“Why am I not surprised?”

“You can go ahead and spell it out for me. You might as well spell it out for Cara, as well. I suspect she doesn’t know about this dragon justice either.”

“Don’t presume to think that you know me,” Cara said.

I looked over at her. “Have I wronged you in some way?”

“You have done—”

Brandel raised his hand and she cut herself off.

There was something about this dynamic that made me feel as if I were missing something, but maybe it was nothing more than the nature of their connection and the fact I was an outsider.

“The dragon’s justice is for those who have become traitors to the king,” he started. “And given what I have seen from you, and what you have been trending toward, I wouldn’t be surprised if you face the dragon’s justice too, just the same as him.”

“I haven’t done anything,” I said.

“You come from the Wilds,” Cara said.

I turned to her. “Is that what bothers you