02 Dragon Games by P. W. Catanese

Author:P. W. Catanese
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9781416953838
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2010-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

17

Hameron ambled over with his hands clasped behind his back and his shoulders bobbing. A long gray cape hung from his shoulders and nearly brushed the floor. The grin on his face was tainted by a sneer. “This time, Umber, I think you’ve been outdone.”

“Have I?” Umber said.

“I remember you,” Hameron said, looking distastefully at Oates. “Umber’s bodyguard, I believe? Really, Umber, you have nothing to worry about here.”

Oates glared down at the unpleasant man. Hameron chuckled and turned to Umber again. “Are you injured?”

“Had a spill along the way,” Umber said, touching his bandage. “Nothing to be …” He stopped talking, because he had lost Hameron’s attention. Like so many before, Hameron’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped when he saw Hap’s eyes.

“And what is this?” Hameron said. “One of your discoveries?”

“That is my ward, Happenstance,” Umber said.

“Your ward?” Hameron glanced sideways at Umber with his lips pursed. “But such peculiar eyes. Surely this is another of your magical acquaintances? Like that stunning sea-creature of yours. What is her name, that fishy woman who rides the leviathan?”

Hap’s temper had been rising, and the words came out before he could contain them. “Her name is Nima. And you shouldn’t speak of her like that.” He was sure his face was turning purple.

Hameron grinned. “Feisty! But Umber, you should teach your ward some manners.”

“I haven’t noticed a flaw in them,” Umber replied.

Footsteps approached from another corridor, and four servants appeared. They bustled in and stopped nearby, keeping their faces turned to the floor and stealing glances at Magador. Hap pitied them for their dilemma: If they were caught looking, the prince would probably accuse them of insolence; if they didn’t guess his wishes, he might punish them for incompetence. “Took you long enough,” Magador said. Those words—and the way his eyes wakened from their sleepy, half-lidded expression—were enough to make the servants tremble. “Show the newcomers to their room. That one is Lord Umber, the man my father has been waiting for.” Without a farewell Magador strode away, with the heels of his boots striking hard against the marble floor.

The servants rushed forward, bowed, and took the packs from Umber and Hap. There was a brief, awkward tug-of-war before Oates finally let his packs be taken. “This way, my lord,” whispered one servant, and they all bustled toward the archway at the far end of the hall.

“Don’t you want to know how I did it?” Hameron called after them.

Umber paused and turned, but did not speak.

“How I got the dragon eggs,” Hameron added.

“Stole them, you mean,” Umber replied.

“Come on, Umber. Do you call the eggs stolen that you eat for breakfast?”

“A dragon is not a chicken. It is a magnificent and intelligent creature.”

Hameron chuckled and shook his head. “You can’t stand it, can you? That I was the one who discovered the nesting caves and got away with the eggs. But now your curiosity is overwhelming your wounded pride—I know that look in your eye! Don’t fear—you don’t have to wait much longer.

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