Dragon Scales Read Online Free PDF Page B

ladder quickly. It was too dark to make out much, but he grabbed the first small sack he could reach from the ladder and brought it back to the house proper.
    The sack proved to be full of potatoes, which, after mushrooms, were the best thing for portals. Grinning, Amantea left the sack on the floor by the root cellar entrance and went to clear a wide circle on the floor. It took him several minutes to lay the potatoes out and imbue each with a small bit of magic, but then everything was set. Hopefully the portal magic would work despite the seal on the house.
    Taking a deep breath, Amantea stepped into the portal and activated the magic.
    He blinked, and when he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in Isaia's depressing house, but in a field a short distance from Naldo's village. Amantea grinned, glancing around and seeing no one. Still, he took a moment to make sure his cap was pulled down to cover his ears. He'd heard plenty the last time he'd been at the village about the villagers' opinions of faeries, and blending in was definitely the better option.
    The walk to the village was short and pleasant. The sun was hot on his shoulders, but a pleasant breeze whisked away the worst of the heat. Everything smelled of summer and growth, and Amantea could almost forget where he was and why he was there.
    He smelled the village before he reached it. Wood smoke, harsh and acrid, the various unpleasant smells of herd animals in close proximity, and the more pleasant smells of baked bread and pastries. Amantea wanted to try one of everything the little bakery had to offer, but he didn't have anything in the way of money.
    The village was a good size, from what Amantea could tell. There was a main path that was bordered by several shops, including the bakery Amantea had lingered over previously. He didn't hesitate to pass it by now, headed for the tiny cottage on the edge of town where Naldo lived.
    He'd set up an unanchored portal, then lure Naldo into it by saying he had Isaia out in the forest. If he was discrete, he could have Naldo on the other side of the world before he even realized he'd been tricked. Farworthton might be more difficult, but Amantea would deal with that after he'd dealt with Naldo.
    There were few villagers about, it being midday and they all... doing whatever it was humans did with their days. Those that were out waved and greeted him cheerfully enough. Amantea returned their greetings, wondering if they'd be half as friendly if they could see under his cap.
    Naldo's cottage was much the same as Amantea remembered it. The roof was thatched hay, the exterior made up of stones that had been molded together with clay or something. There were flowers beneath the windows, but they were unkempt, and Amantea didn't think Naldo had cultivated them purposefully. Amantea slowed as he neared, glancing about to see where the best place to set up his portal would be—
    —only to have his plan dashed by the sound of Isaia shouting.
    "Where is she!"
    Amantea paused, then crept forward, toward the sound of the voices that came from around back of the house. If Naldo replied, Amantea couldn't hear it, but he certainly heard Isaia's reply.
    "I'd rather turn you to ash and find her myself!" Isaia shouted. Amantea shivered; that was certainly far more threatening than he'd ever heard Isaia before, including when Isaia had been threatening and yelling at him the previous day.
    "You won't find her," Naldo said, and he sounded insufferably smug. Amantea reached the corner of the house and peeked into the backyard.
    Naldo looked as smug as he sounded. His mouth was curved into a smirk, and he didn't seem the least bit alarmed that there was a dragon standing a few feet from him who looked more than willing to ash him. He was dressed much the same as the last time Amantea had seen him: in patched, threadbare clothes and worn, scuffed boots. He was a little too thin, and his skin was very pale, though Amantea had no idea if that