The Dragonslayer Series: Books 1-4: The Dragonslayer Series Box Set by Resa Nelson

Author:Resa Nelson [Nelson, Resa]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Published: 2016-05-10T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 67

Because Astrid still suspected Taddeo of killing Sigurthor, she refused his offer to travel quickly. Instead, she traveled by horse, and he met up with her every evening until they reached a seaport and boarded a ship together. They left Norah, Wendill, Smoke, Fire, and Slag behind in Limru.

Astrid didn’t need to ask why. Norah had found a home at Limru, and at the time Astrid met the dragon Wendill, she sensed he had taken it upon himself to stay within arm’s reach of Norah. Astrid still didn’t know if Smoke, Fire, and Slag were lizards or young dragons. Perhaps Norah would take care of them.

Or perhaps she’d eat them for supper.

Either way, Astrid had more pressing matters at hand.

After a few days gliding through a calm sea, Astrid and Taddeo approached their destination shortly after sunrise. The tower gleamed golden in the early spring light, its color shimmering across the dark blue sea as if the sun were falling toward them, spreading its brilliant light everywhere.

When they landed at Tower Island, the guardsmen at the gate opened it the moment they recognized Astrid, bowing as she walked past them, Taddeo at her side. They marched into the courtyard, filled with dozens of Scaldings alongside villagers churning butter, mending wheels, and baking bread in outdoor ovens. Astrid called loudly enough so her voice would carry throughout the courtyard. “Who rules Tower Island?”

The chatter of voices reverberating through the courtyard died down slowly, until only the geese and chickens dared to break the silence with their honks and clucks. The birds searched every corner of the courtyard for a misplaced bit of bread. Cows mooed mournfully from the farmland behind the courtyard, as if they somehow realized they were being excluded.

A man who looked like an older version of her brother Drageen stepped forward. Staring at her in disbelief, he whispered, “Astrid.” His eyes widened like those of an animal realizing it’s being hunted. “You’ve returned.”

“Drageen tried to kill me,” Astrid announced loudly. “He is now in the rocks of Dragon’s Head.”

The man who she suspected was her uncle cleared his throat. “Yes. News of his fate carried here.” He looked at her blankly.

Astrid found it easy to distinguish the villagers from her relatives. The Scaldings stood tall, thin, and blond, and they’d all adopted Drageen’s face, even the women. But each villager had a unique and individual appearance, looking nothing like a Scalding. The villagers watched in idle curiosity, while the Scaldings’ faces strained with fear.

“Who rules?” Astrid said again, her voice louder and harsher.

Her uncle cleared his throat again. “We all do. Or no one, actually. No outsiders have bothered us, so there is no need to change what has been in place for so long.”

“That changes today,” Astrid said.

The Scaldings grew quiet. Then their faces and bodies shifted until they all looked like Astrid.

She shivered, finding the sight chilling.

“Tower Island was built by dragons and it belongs to them—not you,” Astrid continued. “They will allow you to work the farmland and keep your homes, but the tower now belongs to them.

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