Finding the Wolf(The Dragon's Hoard #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in my caves next week, crying because thy showpiece has run off with thy hatching-gem," he said finally.
    "I will not," Nyle replied. "Because he will not leave me." The squeeze Leon's hand gave Nyle's confirmed that thought. Leon would not leave Nyle next week. Or ever, if Nyle and Leon had any say in the proceedings.
    "Very well. The Eldest has come to a decision." Toel looked at Nyle and Leon in turn as if gauging their strengths before continuing. "He has ordered that An'nanyle represent the dragons at the human court. Thou art ordered to investigate the events that enabled such a miscommunication to occur. If tis proven that the human king fabricated the entire debacle, thou art to report to the Eldest and he shall take action."
    Nyle nodded. "It shall be done posthaste."
    "Additionally, thou art to take Prince Leon to the human castle. Ascertain their intentions for your hoard prior to the search for him and now that he has been located." Toel turned to Leon to explain, and Nyle had to stop himself from gasping out loud that stiff Toel would deign to speak with a human. "Communal protection of a dragon's hoard is the highest law of dragons. Because thou art of An'nanyle's hoard, thou art protected. The lengths needed for safeguarding must be ascertained at the human court."
    "Thank you, elder," Leon said with a bow. "I will do everything I can to help figure out what's going on."
    "Good," Toel said with a tone of finality that said he was done carrying messages to Nyle. He turned to Gail and shook his head when he saw what her claws had done to Nyle's various piles of gems. "Thou art a menace. Come, I am removing you before any further damage is caused."
    "Aww," Gail whined. "But I wanted to play with Nyle's huggable pretty for a bit longer."
    "Perhaps that is an ill-founded idea," Toel said as he led her out of Nyle's caves.
    Gail sighed. "All right. I just got this awesome idea, though. So you have to help me try it out. We'll have to turn into human form and be naked, but I think it should be fun!"
    They left the cave and only once their voices no longer echoed along the hallways did Nyle and Leon collapse into laughter.
    "Your parents are awesome!" Leon laughed.
    "They do have interesting interactions," Nyle agreed.
    Leon snorted. "Your mother's got Toel wrapped around her claw. The stiff guy doesn't have a chance."
    "Perhaps," Nyle agreed. "What are your parents like?"
    Leon sobered quickly after that question. "My father is King and my mother is Queen. I didn't meet them until I was six because I always had nannies taking care of me. My lessons were carefully structured so I learned everything without ever needing to interrupt my parents' day-to-day lives. When I was fifteen, I was introduced at court, but my parents were always the stiff-necked people who sat a few seats down the banquet table, until my mother died a year later.
    "I think the first real conversation I had with my father was when he told me of my mission in the Wilds. And when I finally returned, he took my report without asking whether I was okay. Leaving that place was probably one of the best decisions of my life."
    "And now we're making you return there," Nyle said softly. "I am sorry."
    Leon shook his head. "No, I want to know what's going on, too. My father has ignored me all my life. Why would he start looking into my affairs now?"
    "All right," Nyle said in a much more chipper voice. "Then let's go get ready."
    *~*~*
    The castle had a turret and a courtyard and was made of stone blocks in a very linear fashion. Nyle found the manor houses of the nobility much more interesting. The boring style of the castle fit the current ruling family, who were rather bland in Nyle's opinion. Leon being the exception, of course.
    They gave their names to the guards at the gate and while one rushed ahead to announce them, the other let them into the castle and called over a pageboy to guide them to the throne room.
    The man standing just inside the overly