Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
“I truly understand. And we won’t press for it, not until they’re ready.” A wave of fatigue swept over Cameron’s face. “In truth, it might be safer for them to stay there until we deal with the Jaeggi.”
“I’m sorry?” That didn’t make any sense to Sora. The Jaeggi were old news, surely. After all, they’d been decimated during the war. “The Jaeggi? You can’t mean the same Jaeggi from the Dragon War.”
“I’m very sad to report that the Jaeggi are still alive and causing trouble. They’ve been kidnapping every mage they can lay hands on.” Cameron grimaced, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “We believe that the blood spell they enacted five hundred years ago damaged their magic and genetics. Their magic is fragmented now, warped in such a way that they can’t use it correctly. They only have what they can siphon off another mage.”
Sora sat there, a man waiting for the punchline to a bad joke he didn’t find funny. Then he sat back with a huff of air, reeling under this revelation. He felt like someone had slugged him in the gut. Not even in his wildest imaginings had this crossed his mind.
The Jaeggi, the worst enemy the magical world had ever had, were still alive. Still targeting mages. Still doing their best to decimate the world of magic because of their own selfishness.
A wave of anger rode through him. It was so strong he nearly choked on it, his hands clenching into fists. “Haven’t the Jaeggi done enough damage? They’ve robbed us of magic, of mates, of an entire world rich with wonder. Isn’t that enough?”
“I’d think so. They apparently have a different view.” Cameron shook his head. “So, you see, I don’t blame your family for their caution. Alric has enacted a rule that any Burkhard mage leaving the castle must be accompanied by at least two dragons. We don’t want you to feel trapped or that your freedom is limited, but it would ease our minds greatly if you’d allow our dragons to accompany you when you travel in the area.”
Sora’s mouth bobbed open for a moment as he tried to even pull his thoughts together enough to speak. “They’ve attacked mages here? This close to the castle?”
“They’ve kidnapped me, and tried for North and Tori, so they’re very active in Germany. Or were, as I hope we’ve scared them off for now. There are so many new mages coming in, after all, and they’re ripe for plucking as they don’t know to be on guard. Or even how to be on guard.”
“That is…alarming. In all the worst ways.”
Sora scrubbed a hand over his face. This was so much worse than he’d expected. He couldn’t begin to guess at how he would relay this information back to his parents, to the rest of the clan.
“Trust me, I know. We’re trying to guard people as they come in, but of course not everyone has a way of notifying us. My sister’s put together a welcome website, but we’re constantly tweaking it to add more information. She barely had the site up in time for the interview. Like I said, we didn’t expect this much enthusiasm so quickly. Anyway, how long will you stay with us? Are you interested in joining any projects?”
Sora had half-expected the first question, but not the second. “I thought a week or so, if that’s alright. I wouldn’t want to be in the way.”
“That’s perfect, and you can stay longer if you wish.” Cameron got an impish twinkle in his eye. “I think our dragons are hoping for longer.”
“Yes, so Ravi warned me. But what projects are you referring to?”
“Oh, we do a whole line of beauty products and holistic treatments here. It’s one of our main sources of income. If you’d like to join in and do some brewing, we’d love to have you. We also have a good number of new mages—myself included—who always appreciate some help learning magic from someone with more experience.”
That would give him a better way of evaluating their magical skills. “Of course. Just let me know when and where.”
“Perfect. I’ll speak with—” Cameron cut himself off at a knock at the door. “Enter!”
Someone Sora didn’t recognize poked his head around the door. The man had warm amber skin and black hair shorn very short, with thick black glasses on his nose.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt. Can I borrow you for a few minutes?”
“Will it literally be a few minutes? Or more like an hour?”
“More like an hour, knowing our luck.”
Cameron sighed. “Yeah, had a feeling. I’m sorry, Sora, can we continue this conversation later?”
“Of course. I know your time is valuable.”
“More like I’m trying to be in six places at once.” Cameron shrugged and left the chair. “But I’ll touch base with you again after dinner.”