A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 Read Online Free PDF Page A

putting a man’s life in my hands . . . I was nervous. And scared. I had no idea what you meant, but being responsible for someone’s life is not a small thing. I didn’t go to Isandath for almost a month. But I am so glad that I did.”
    She looked down at the mug in her hands. “And sad, too. That the Order could get it so wrong . . .” She let out a breath. “At any rate, I read the copies Isandath had of everything and decided to try for manis. Nayra had spoken with Isandath, said her other children were willing to try bonding, but I asked her to wait until I had trained longer with the manisi. With that persistent rumor of the dragon boy in the North,” she glanced at Fillion, “there were rumblings of some kind of actions being planned. I wanted to find out exactly what those were.”
    Polandra took a sip of hot cider. “Things were going well as far as training, but finding anything out was difficult.” She glanced at Renata with a smile. “You know how the Order is. Secrets, schemes and power-plays. Learning anything takes time.” She frowned. “Then, a little over two months ago, half of the active manisi disappeared. They were given special assignments and left Bataan-Mok. They have not returned. When I tried to find out more, people either claimed no knowledge about it, or their lips were sealed. I could learn nothing beyond the rumors that the manisi had gone seeking dragons because of the deaths. Then, when word reached us of the Dragon Craft Guild, another manis was given a special assignment. No one knows what. But the manis left a few weeks ago and has not returned.”
    Guildmaster Millinith stared at her. “Did anyone know what direction the fighters went? Any clue at all as to their destination?”
    “No.” Polandra glanced at her mug. “They were just gone one day. Same with the lone manis. And that’s not even the most worrying part.” She glanced at the masters and back at the Guildmaster. “Patrols were pulled closer to Bataan-Mok, right around the time you left, actually,” she nodded at Renata, “and there are strange undercurrents along with the silence. It feels as if the Order is girding itself for something. Then there are the deaths I mentioned. You know where Ghost Flats is, right?”
    Renata nodded.
    “People have gone missing there. Also, blood and torn clothing, along with the occasional mangled body part, have been found along the eastern side of the flats. They’re saying dragons killed the missing people.”
    “What?” Fillion couldn’t believe it.
    Polandra nodded. “I know, it’s stupid, but that’s why the rumor started that the missing manisi are out looking for dragons.” She glanced at everyone. “I’m worried about where the missing manisi actually went and what they’ve been tasked with. Especially that lone manis. So, I met with Nayra’s children, and Ikan bonded me.” Concern left her eyes and she smiled. “That was such an incredible experience.”
    Fillion remembered bonding Coatl, and the same smile curved his lips. A glance at Renata revealed her smiling as well.
    Thank you for choosing me, big guy.
    We are one. Who else would I have chosen?
    Polandra set her mug aside. “Isandath said he would continue to try to discover what he could while I was gone. I wanted to come and warn you about the Order.” She looked at Renata. “We should head back and see what he’s learned, and soon. It took nearly four days to get here. It will likely take as long to get back.”
    “We can be back in five minutes,” Renata said. Her eyes were unfocused, as if she were thinking.
    “Five minutes?” Confused, Polandra looked at the faces around her.
    “Dragonlinked can open portals,” Fillion said. “Think of them as magical doorways to far away places. You pass through and you are there, instantly.”
    “You—What?” Polandra stared at him.
    “Renata can explain later,” he said.
    Guildmaster Millinith frowned. “Polandra’s right. We