The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume II by Irene Radford

Author:Irene Radford [Radford, Irene]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781101041123
Publisher: Penguin Group
Published: 2007-12-04T06:00:00+00:00

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, mated together for the duration of your lifetimes. The Stargods acknowledge your vows of faithfulness. Let the people respect them as well.” A priest robed in bright red recited the formula of the marriage blessing in some haste. He looked at the long caravan forming outside the School for Magicians before sealing the ceremony with the cross of the Stargods.

All around them steeds stamped, people shouted, sledges groaned with the weight piled high upon them. In the midst of the frenzy, the priest presided over a hasty union. He turned and left the couple without waiting for them to seal their vows with the traditional kiss.

Emptiness washed over Myri. This should be the happiest day of her life, not the saddest.

“Come with us now, Nimbulan. Please,” Myri pleaded with Nimbulan one last time, though she knew he must stay in the city. He must help rebuild Coronnan and the create the Commune. Her brother, King Quinnault, couldn’t do it all.

She would survive without Nimbulan. She wasn’t sure the new Commune, king, and Council of Provinces would.

“The clearing will protect you, Myri, until I can come to you. I moved some lines on the new map so that you will technically be outside the boundaries of Coronnan. I will come to you as soon as I can. I just wish I could find a safe haven for you closer to the city,” he said while clutching her hands within his own. He searched her face as if etching the image into his memory.

“I know you will come, my love.” She turned her head away to hide her tears. And her guilt. She hadn’t told him about the baby. She needed to know for certain that she wouldn’t miscarry, as so many witchwomen did. Shayla had told Lyman—he was almost as much a dragon as Myri—but no one had told Nimbulan. At first she waited for the right moment. A quiet time when they wouldn’t be interrupted. Then the Council had issued their edict of exile.

To tell him now would divide his loyalties even further between herself and the new government. His dream of peace was too important to all of Coronnan. She couldn’t do it now. She would wait until she knew for sure. Then, when he joined her in the clearing, she would tell him. This parting was hard enough on both of them.

Her chin quivered and the ache in her chest choked her breathing.

“Don’t hide your tears, Myri.” Nimbulan captured her chin between two gentle fingers. “I love you. I’ll come soon. Kalen will keep you company.” He kissed her tears as they fell.

Stuuvart had blithely abandoned all claim to Kalen as his child as soon as the edict of exile was made known. Guillia had hugged the girl fiercely in a tearful embrace all through the brief wedding. Now she reluctantly let her daughter lift her pack onto the sledge. Myri tried to summon anger at the absent Stuuvart to replace her lonely suffering at parting from Nimbulan.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.