Claws of the Dragon Read Online Free PDF

ago.
    “There isn’t a lot that escapes me,” Nath said. “Something’s amiss with Sasha, isn’t it?”
    Bayzog’s face drew tight.
    “Talk to me, friend,” Nath said to him. He reached over and shoved the hovering book away. “Come on, Bayzog. I can’t help if you clam up on me.”
    With a dejected voice, Bayzog said, “You can’t help anyway, Nath. She has the Wizard’s Dementia.”
    Nath leaned forward and patted his friend on the back. “I’m not sure what that is, but it sounds horrible.”
    Long-faced, Bayzog said, “Horrible is an understatement. There’s no cure for it.”
    “There’s a cure for everything,” Nath said, “but it would help if you’d tell me what you were dealing with.”
    “Nath, this is my burden. Not yours. You have bigger tasks ahead that you need to remain focused on.”
    “If I can’t be helpful with small matters, then how can I give aid to the large ones?” Nath replied. “Please, confide in me, old friend.”
    “For all the good it will do, why not?” Shoulders sagging, Bayzog made his way over to the couch, poured some wizard water, sat down, rubbed his eyes, and yawned.
    Boy, he must be whipped. I’ve never seen him yawn before.
    Nath took a seat. “So, what are you dealing with?”
    Bayzog finished a long drink. “Wizard Dementia is caused by magic. It’s very, very rare, but anyone—particularly a human—who calls on the powers of Nalzambor can be afflicted. You see, Nath, magic is not as natural to all as it is to dragons and to elves. We have a stronger nature for it, which I can’t even explain. But with humans it’s different. Even though Sasha is a fine sorceress and well disciplined, the magic she has used has taken a toll on her mind.” His lip quivered, and a lump rolled up and down his throat. “Her mind is eroding—slowly, but still eroding.”
    “That’s horrible, Bayzog. Certainly there is something to be done?”
    “Nath, I’ve searched. I’ve tried. It’s just so rare that there isn’t much material on it.”
    “What about the Occular of Orray?” Nath suggested.
    “I’ve sent word,” Bayzog said, taking another sip of water. “But it’s unlikely. The elves are more protective of it now than ever. Truth be told, they’d be very reluctant to use its powers on a human.”
    “I’ll go down there and speak to them myself.”
    Bayzog held up his hand. “Nath, for some things in life there isn’t an easy fix. Death takes us all, be it at twenty-five years or one thousand. I will quietly deal with this.”
    Nath didn’t push. He knew it wouldn’t do him any good. And now wasn’t the time to argue with his friend. Bayzog had opened up, so it was time to listen. “Does she know, Bayzog?”
    The wizard shook his head no. “That’s the hardest part, Nath. I feel as if I am deceiving her. Sometimes she gets so confused.”
    “Do Rerry and Samaz know?”
    “They do. Why do you think they are away?”
    “Ah.” Nath leaned back into the cushions. “I see.”
    So, someone is looking for a cure. Good for them.
    “The worst part is her love for magic, Nath. She wants to practice and train. I keep having to distract her with something else. I tell her I’m too busy, or make up some petty lie. It’s horrible. But if she uses magic, it could be disastrous. Fatal. Not to mention it would accelerate her condition. I can’t risk that, and yet she loves magic so much. She was such a talented pupil. It sickens my heart, Nath. Every bit of it.”
    Nath swallowed the lump in his throat. This was one of the most devastating things he’d ever heard. And Bayzog, who hardly ever showed emotion, had deep creases in his brow.
    All Nath could think to say was ‘There’s always hope.’ But he didn’t. Instead, he sat with his friend in front of the warm fire in silence.
    Sometimes being there and saying nothing is the best comfort of all.
    ***
    “It’s stuffy in here,” Brenwar said. He had his arms crossed over his barrel chest