Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 140580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 703(@200wpm)___ 562(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“You’re always on the verge of a thought. Pull your mind into the present and come meet Cameron.”
Cameron cleared the door and looked around with interest. It was sort of like Lisette’s work room, but not. More books, for one. Less magical ingredients. There was a collection of chalkboards that dominated an entire wall with writing covering every inch of it. To Cameron’s eye, it looked mostly mathematical with some chemical formulas popping up here and there. Just what was Gunter doing, again?
From behind a massive stack of books—seriously, it was book Jenga—a head popped into view. Ice blond hair, crystal blue eyes set in a square face with a very strong bone structure. He looked like some conquering Viking hero from a story. Cameron blinked, not expecting the dungeon dweller to be handsome.
It took a second, probably because Gunter was switching mental tracks, then he lit up. “Right! Our new mage. Hello, Cameron Park.”
Baldewin completed the introduction with a wave of the hand. “Cameron, Gunter. He’s our researcher. He collaborates with the mages to help them study magical elements and trace mage bloodlines. He also spends far too much time in this room.”
With a sniff and a pointed look, Gunter ignored him. “Welcome, Cameron. I’ve meant to go up and meet you, ask if I could take some blood samples.”
Baldewin sighed. “Will you please act like a normal person for once?”
Cameron was a little alarmed with a person demanding blood samples on first acquaintanceship, but he had to admit he was curious as to why. “For what?”
“My purpose is two-fold.” Gunter came around his desk, revealing comfortable, worn-in jeans and a hoodie that had seen better days. An ink-splattered hoodie, no less. Had he strangled a pen to death? “One, if we have a blood sample on file for you, our mages can do spells targeted at you. Like seeking spells. Even if you’re taken, we can track you.”
Considering what had almost happened, that seemed a very reasonable precaution. “Okay, so what’s the second reason?”
“I’m still attempting to divine what it is about the mage bloodlines that is so predominantly female. Did anyone tell you that most mages are women? Yes? Oh good, that simplifies matters. We truly do not know why. It’s not a bad thing, we dragons don’t care as much about gender, but it’s a fascinating question, don’t you think? I really want to understand if there’s a genetic factor we’re possibly overlooking. The trouble is, I only know of two or three living male mages. I don’t have enough data to go off of.”
Cameron felt himself warming a little to Gunter. He, too, liked a good intellectual puzzle to sink his teeth into. “I actually came down here to ask you about this very thing.”
“Did you really?” Gunter perked up visibly, a hopeful smile tugging his mouth up.
“I did, yeah. And I wanted to talk to you about the whole child-birth thing too. Since I’m a male mage, doesn’t that make it complicated for whatever dragon chooses me?”
“Hmm, not in the way you mean it. It’s true we’re all a little baby crazy in a way, not having had children in ages. Dragons only go into heat once every hundred years or so.” Gunter made a face. “And our mages, they don’t always match up to that heat well, so getting pregnant is very hit and miss. We’ve had only a few children since the Dragon War ended for that reason. Is that your question?”
“Partially. But how do same-sex couples have a child?”
“We have the magical version of an incubator. It’s a rather complex spell, takes a dozen mages to keep it activated and sustained for the full nine months.” Gunter made a face. “Another reason why we couldn’t use it, as we currently only have six mages. We’ve attempted to modify the incubator, but it’s complex magic and not easily tampered with.”
“I can imagine it would be, if you’re basically trying to grow a child.” It was all fascinating and Cameron definitely wanted to ask more questions about this. He had a feeling Gunter might know most of the answers, despite not being a mage himself. If they married technology with magic, would it be easier? More feasible?
Gunter’s eyebrows rose hopefully. “Being that you’re one of the few male mages I’ve seen, do you mind if I take a blood sample?”
“Not at all,” Cameron assured him. “But I want to ask you questions, too.”
“Of course, of course, I’d be happy to discuss it. And I have many questions about the Noh Clan.” Gunter almost skipped to a drawer, pulling out needles and vials like a vampire looking forward to a feast. “Here, take a seat.”
Following Cameron to the barstool, Baldewin warned Gunter in a firm tone, “Don’t take too much.”
Gunter looked up from his prep work and frowned at Baldewin as if the man had suddenly spoken in a foreign language. “Too much?”