Other Worlds: A Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy by Joseph J. Madden

Author:Joseph J. Madden [Madden, Joseph J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2014-06-14T18:30:00+00:00

The Dragon Thief

The throne room was tomb silent; the creaking of the rope and her own breathing the only sounds as Kieran Nightshade descended from the rafters. Thin shafts of moonlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows were the only illumination, making the floor seem further away than it was. Well, not the only illumination, Kieran thought, spying her objective in the glass case next to the throne on the far side of the room.

Her hands sweaty, she lost her grip and slid several feet a little faster than she liked before stopping herself. Swaying like a pendulum, she halted her descent, waiting until her breathing slowed a little closer to normal before continuing to drop.

How do you get yourself into these situations, Nightshade? Just can’t leave well enough alone, can you? Well this time you can blame it on Mohng and that bleeding heart of his. His idea, and you’re the one sneaking into the castle. He better get here on time, or his heart really will be bleeding.

She finished chiding herself and slipped the last few feet to the floor, eyes darting to the doorways, waiting for the squeal of hinges and the expected rush of guards. When all remained quiet, she turned her attention to the throne and, more importantly, the case beside it. As quietly as her booted feet would allow, she padded her way across the floor to the dais and up the steps.

The blue glow of the object in the case grew more intense as she drew near, and she hoped that the increase would not draw any attention.

This is crazy. This is sooo crazy. You’re not a professional thief. Hell, you’re not even an amateur thief! Every time you head to Delva Shien to do some fishing you get sidetracked. And this track is waaayy to the side.

Ascending the dais, Kieran was grateful for the plush carpet that ran up the steps to the foot of the throne, masking the sound of her footsteps, which she was sure would otherwise be echoing loudly in the massive room. Reaching the top step, she paused, and her breath caught in her throat.

The object was glowing bright enough now that one could easily read by it. About twice the size of her fist, the orb floated with no visible means of suspension in the center of the case. Kieran thought she heard the faintest hint of music, some sort of otherworldly tune, emitting from within, and the light seemed to flicker with the rhythm. The display captivated her, halting her advance for a long moment.

A sound, the slightest creak, brought Kieran out of her reverie. Heart pounding, she shook her head, and the music seemed to cease, though the light from the orb continued to strobe in time to the inaudible beat. She looked around for the source of the sound that had brought her back to the present, shielding her eyes against the glow that prevented her from seeing into the shadows.

They were on her too quick for her to react.

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