The Shadow Dragon by J.R. Castle

Author:J.R. Castle [J. R. Castle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781848124608
Publisher: Piccadilly Press
Published: 2015-09-03T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

A VOICE FROM AFAR

Quinn darted into the crowd and grabbed one of her arms, hauling her back. The horse whinnied as its hooves hit the cobbles with a smack.

A moment later, Thea joined Quinn, and together they dragged the woman out of the square and into a narrow alley. The sentries were dispersing the rest of the crowd, and townspeople were limping away as fast as they could, supporting each other. Quinn saw bloody faces and heard the laughs of the sentries as they cantered around the square on their horses.

‘Thank you,’ the woman said, breathlessly. She looked in pain, but she didn’t seem badly injured. ‘You didn’t have to do that.’

‘We couldn’t leave you,’ Quinn objected.

‘All I wanted was for the town guard to do something about my son. He’s been missing for over a week. I … I’m afraid for him. The Stone Trolls have been coming closer to Astria.’ She glanced at the square. ‘Lorimer does nothing to protect us …’

‘We’re going to help,’ Quinn said fiercely. ‘We’ll find a way to overthrow the Black Guard and get rid of the Stone Trolls.’

Thea leaned over, frowning and peering at the woman’s neck. The woman’s hand went up self-consciously.

‘What is it?’ Quinn said.

‘That necklace you’re wearing …’ Thea said. ‘I recognise the symbol.’

The woman slowly pulled her hand away, revealing a rough piece of obsidian carved with what looked like a crane, its wings outstretched in flight.

‘What if it is?’ the woman said defensively. ‘There’s nothing illegal about magic.’

Quinn knew this was true, but he also knew that the Black Guard didn’t like people practising magic. Thea was proof of that – she’d been cast off her home, the Rock of Sighs, when her tutor Telemus was teaching her sorcery. Black armour might be proof against any ordinary weapon, but the Guard could never be sure against magic.

‘Oh, I know!’ Thea grinned, happily. ‘In fact you’re just the kind of person I’ve been looking for.’

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