Quest Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

fear.
    “How long?” the king of Yor demanded.
    Lazo didn’t have to think on the question’s context. There was only one subject dear to Ramie’s heart – his brother, Nigel Augustus.
    Although Ramie seemed furious, underneath his strong exterior Lazo could sense his unease. Only seventeen when he took the throne, Ramie had earned Oldan’s respect and reverence. Two years before Jarek Augustus’ death the Druids had claimed Nigel, Ramie’s older brother and true heir to the Yor throne. Although everyone knew Ramie was the stronger leader, Nigel’s death had devastated the Lands.
    Lazo frowned. He and the twins had met Nigel the year prior to his death, when Nigel had first discovered he had the Druid power of calling. It had been revealed in front of many, and word had spread like the ten winds.
    After the Wizard War, people feared anything akin to magic, and the Druids loathed others obtaining a power they saw as their own. Druids had a unique sense of body and spirit, giving them special abilities. Druids could call objects to themselves with a mere thought. At times that ability was born in the masses, challenging Druid superiority. That’s when the Druids used their second power, a power only Druids possessed – the power of closing.
    Lazo had seen a few Druids in his day and he never cared to see another. They were hard men with hard eyes, the type of men who would kill without reason. Religious zealots, the Druids preached their superiority and never missed an opportunity to try to claim it. Fifteen years ago they had almost succeeded.
    The Druid closing power could not only change a man, it could destroy him. When Druids entered a mind, they would force what they could from that mind and lock it away forever. In times past they could even lock away magic. They claimed to open an internal mental door, force the vice or memory behind that door, and lock it away. Once the trait was locked away it could never be retrieved. And if the Druids locked away the calling power, an innate ability and not a learned trait, some died, some went insane, but all changed – drastically.
    Seventeen years ago the Druid leader, Kasim, decided it was the Druids’ religious right to rid the world of corruption and began closing people from anything he considered vile, including the calling power birthed in those non-Druid. Soon their cleansings grew to unfathomable levels. People were locked away from wanting drink, craving sex, or any number of things. Mass panic claimed the Lands. Many didn’t even leave their houses.
    Then the Black Knight rode, driving every last Druid back to the island of Dresden.
    How the Black Knight evaded the Druid power still remained a mystery, but he did. If the Druids refused to leave the Lands, he killed them. It was that simple. No one knew the Black Knight’s identity, and no one cared. He was a hero to everyone but the Druids.
    Nigel’s calling ability came before the ride of the Black Knight. When the Druids came for Nigel, he was killed, along with his sister and future bride.
    Lazo studied the king of Yor. Ramie had loved his brother fiercely and Nigel’s death had devastated him. Many believed Ramie had hired the Knight, but no proof existed. To this day the Black Knight remained anonymous, but Lazo had his suspicions.
    “Ren discovered he possessed the calling ability when he was twelve, my king,” Lazo replied. “He kept it hidden, knowing, as you do, the people would fear the Druids’ return.”
    Ramie’s dark eyes flashed with something Lazo had hoped to see - fierce protection. Ramie had currently substituted Ren for Nigel. In Ramie’s eyes, Ren was his brother, and this time Ren was a brother Ramie could save.
    “Tell me what you know, Lazo. I want to help.”
    Lazo motioned to a chair. Ramie shook his head, indicating he would stand. Fraul took it instead and propped his boots on the table. Although a casual act, Fraul’s gray eyes were intense. Fraul’s lanky