Poacher of Dragons by Cordelia Castel

Author:Cordelia Castel [Castel, Cordelia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-23T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Niger and the drogott team marched Stafford and me across multiple terraces, down dozens of staircases, and through a dark hallway. The cadets all took turns raising their flaming fists to provide illumination as we walked. These hallways were wider than the ones on the higher levels of the mountains, and our footsteps echoed, reminding me of a cave.

With each step, my heart pounded faster. I hoped they weren’t leading us into a trap to weaken me before I dueled King Magnar.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“The holding stalls,” replied Niger. “Tamers used to place freshly caught dragons there to cool off before releasing them to the center of the mountain. That was back in the old days, when Her Majesty used to lead the more dangerous missions.”

“Oh.” I raised my head, catching glimpses of etchings on the wall. They appeared to be ancient runes, but I couldn’t recognize their purpose. My throat dried, and I swallowed hard. “Why aren’t they used now?”

Another cadet answered from behind. “Now that we’ve caught most of the larger dragons that escaped the realm of the fairies, we don’t have so many that need cooling off. Most wild dragons are happy to come here and join others of their own species.”

“Is the dueling venue much further?” asked Stafford from Niger’s other side. “I don’t hear anyone.”

The other cadets snickered, but it was Niger who spoke first. “That’s because we’re making an entrance through the hallway instead of the terrace. All the holding stalls have their own sound barriers, so you’ll be able to pummel King Magnar as much as you want.”

Another male snickered. “And no one will hear him scream!”

Bellowing laughter filled the hallway, and I sighed. The drogott team seemed to think the duel was entertainment instead of a noble quest to rescue the missing eggs. I was about to correct their assumption, when a small figure skulked across the hallway, clutching an apprentice staff.

“Evolene?” I shouted.

She froze.

The drogott team stopped talking.

“Evolene!”

She turned around, eyes bulging. In the light of the cadets’ flaming fists, she looked as pale as a ghoul. I still hadn’t gotten the chance to speak to her alone since I’d beaten her father unconscious when he’d tried to abduct me. The Witch General had taken her away for interrogation, and Madam Maritimus kept her busy as a sort-of apprentice.

“I need to talk to her.”

Niger pulled his arm off my shoulder and stepped aside, freeing me to walk toward the frightened witch.

“Albert.” Stafford’s voice was sharp. “Please don’t—”

“I won’t hurt her.” I quickened my pace.

“W-what do you want?” Evolene shrank against the wall, lips trembling.

I caged her between my arms. “A favor.”

The males behind me gasped. I shook my head. They probably thought I demanded a favor of the other kind. Evolene owed me for her role in her father’s abduction plot. Without her glamor spell, faked murder scene and secret tunnels, Jack Galloway would never have succeeded in knocking me out and tying me up.

“What k-kind?” she replied.

“Those little witches who follow King Magnar everywhere.

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