The Fading Dream_ Thorn of Breland - Keith Baker [7]
“Which means what?”
“The first possibility is that this accident where you were injured involved a wave of transformative energy, and you’re still feeling the impact. Or it could be that the stones are themselves shielded—that there is magical energy within them, but that it’s shielded to evade detection. I just can’t imagine why someone would do that, if these were just random shards among thousands.” He sat down on the bed, tugging on a strand of hair. “But if there’s no power in the stones, there’s no explanation. Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”
Thorn hesitated. “There is one other thing,” she said at last. “On my last mission, a man told me … I was a dragon.”
“A man told you this? Just idle conversation?”
“Well, he wasn’t exactly a man … more of an ancient demon of deception. So you see my problem.”
Nandon sighed. “You do lead an interesting life, Sister. I’ll grant you that.”
“Is it possible?”
Nandon looked at her. “Of course it’s not possible. You’re my sister. You nearly took my eye playing with sticks when we were children. Your mother was an elf, your father a man as normal as any other, and we were born at nearly the same moment. If you were a dragon, don’t you think you would have eaten Gali Das those days he used to beat us?”
“I wish I could have.”
Nandon frowned. “Still, it would explain the immunity to fire and even the sharp senses. Fundamental traits that persist even through a transmutation in form. In the tale of the Thirteen Thieves, the dragon can sense the boy even when he’s invisible, just as you describe. But it’s foolishness. How could you be a dragon? Where are your wings?”
“Well, the same mission where I discovered my keen senses, I thought that I became an actual dragon.”
Nandon stared at her. “And you didn’t think this was worth mentioning?”
“I was battling a demon, and in another plane of existence … reality was distorted. Honestly, I didn’t know what to believe. It’s never happened since then. I’ve tried to force a change and nothing happened.”
Nandon was on his feet, searching the shelves. “I don’t know, Nyri. I don’t know. What does your Citadel say? Surely they have better tools for a broad-spectrum mystical analysis than I do.”
“Nothing at all. But honestly … I don’t know who to trust anymore, Nan.”
“You’re the one who chose a life in the shadows,” he said.
“I know. And I still believe in what I do. But something is happening to me, and I don’t understand it.”
“It’s going to be all right,” he said. “Let little Nandon sort things out for once. Just let me draw a vial of your blood and take a lock of your hair. I have a few ideas, but it will take time to get what I need and perform the rituals.”
“Thank you,” Thorn said, feeling a slight tingle in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Nandon. Sorry I haven’t been here. It’s just—I’m doing what Father would have wanted.”
He raised a hand. “Let’s not start that now. You need my help; I’m helping. Let’s make sure you’re all right. Then we can debate what’s best for Breland and what our father should have done. For now you’re my patient as well as my sister. And I imagine you’ve got places to be. You said you had a prince waiting for you?”
Traveler’s tricks! Thorn grabbed her jerkin. “Yes, and I’ll need to run if I’m going to make it by the eighth bell. How long until you’ll know anything?”
“Three days, at the least. More likely a week or two.”
“You know how to contact me in an emergency. Otherwise I’ll come back as soon as I can.”
He embraced her once more, holding her tighter than before. “Don’t be gone so long this time, Nyri.”
She nodded then broke the hug and headed for the door. “May Olladra smile on you, little brother.”
“And you, my sister.”
Thorn broke into a run as soon as she was on the street. A thought brought Steel back into her hand.
And was it a productive meeting, Lantern Thorn?
“We’ll see,” she said. “But it was certainly worth the trip.”
CHAPTER TWO