Faith Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

Ramie hadn’t even noticed the music had stopped, but as it rekindled the spectral drone seemed to enwrap his soul in a pod of loneliness.
    Ramie took a step back, unsure if he wanted to feel what the man before him felt every day.
    “It seems the Augustus family will not let me be.”
    Ramie jumped at the sound of Presario’s voice. It was pleasant, soothing, even compassionate, but it was contrary to what he had expected. The voice didn’t parallel the foreboding feelings, the ominous castle, and the shriveled hand. Ramie thought back to the picture he had seen of the young Presario: the cherry-brown hair, the brilliant blue eyes, and the kind smile. The voice fit that face.
    Ramie cleared his throat. “I don’t understand. This is my first visit.”
    “And you believe you are the entire Augustus family?” Presario’s tone was sarcastic, condemning. Ramie balked, but his confusion overpowered his anger.
    A hollow laugh came from the chair. “Yes, that would be what the mighty Ramie Augustus thinks. He and he alone constitutes the name.”
    Ramie drew a furious breath, but before he could speak Presario’s voice marred the silence.
    “Years ago the Black Knight came to me. He was near death. I had to make a decision. Would I help him live and be seen? Or would I maintain my heterodox haven and perhaps be responsible for his death? I chose the former. He was the only one, until you, I have allowed into my halls.
    “So I say again, it seems the Augustus family will not let me be.” His voice stayed in an advisor monotone but Ramie sensed the inflection of Presario’s voice at the irony of his words.
    Ramie finally found his voice. “Then I owe you my gratitude for saving my brother’s life.”
    Presario’s chuckle sounded like paradoxical music: happy but sad, enticing yet distant.
    “Ironic, don’t you think? You threaten me with your title and then discover the Augustus family owes me a blood debt. An old adage theorizes that since you have threatened me, the very person who helped your family parry death, your very soul is given to me to command in death. The nullity commanding the sovereign, very ironic indeed.”
    Ramie’s anger ignited. “You forced me into a threat I had no intention of carrying out. You shun the world, molting your genius when it appeals to you, denying others even parcels from your hand. You were the most talked about advisor of all time, Presario, not a twin, not a triplet, but you. I don’t use my title for its own sake but for the sake of the people of the Lands. My need is great, Presario, and you would have turned me away without thought or care. Are you that deformed in heart as well as in body?”
    Ramie winced as soon as his words were out, but there was no taking them back. The music had stopped and the only sound was the crackling fire. Ramie wondered how Presario could endure to sit before the flames. Ramie supposed it might be Presario’s way of defying the memories.
    “You put me in an awkward position, my king ,” Presario hissed. “Do I listen to you because of the sincerity of your need? Or do I banish you because of your haughty words and arrogant judgments? I believe you could take lessons from the Black Knight, my king . Ironic don’t you think? The brother who kills has a pure heart and mind, yet the brother who rules has less worth because of his foul mouth and swift dictums. Anger leads to destruction, Ramie Augustus. I am proof of that. You need to peruse the mural for its theme before you judge the artisan’s purpose.”
    Ramie didn’t want to admit the truth of Presario’s words but was unable to avoid them. He was passing judgment on someone he knew nothing about. He had secretly condemned his own brother without thinking through the implications: the perils Nigel would face if he had stayed, the danger to their family, Nigel’s feelings. No, he had only thought of himself and how Nigel had deserted him.
    “When your brother was here he mumbled