The Dragon Nimbus Novels: Volume III: Volume III Read Online Free PDF

restless, wary eyes.
    Liam Francis popped up on the other side of the thoroughfare, then vanished again. Her homesickness came back to Katie with a sickening jolt.
    Quinnault squeezed her hand this time, as if he sensed her loneliness among this bustling crowd.
    She sighed. As long as she had her husband and daughter she had a family. But the only time she and Quinnault were ever truly alone together was in bed. And she wasn’t certain the servants didn’t listen then, too.
    Oh, how she longed to snag Liam Francis and sit quietly by the fire with a mug of mulled wine while catching up on the latest gossip from home.
    The parade of people followed Quinnault and Katie as they crossed a dozen islands between the palace and the mainland. As they stepped up on the last bridge, Katie paused a moment to look back. Their entourage had grown to include a number of curiosity seekers. Some nibbled food and sipped ale from the numerous markets along the route. Musicians played lively tunes in rhythm with their steps—or had they started marching in time with the music? A few people began an impromptu dance, others lifted their voices in songs.
    “I’ve never known a people so ready to turn any event into a party.” Katie gazed at them in amazement. Her foot tapped the dancing rhythm. Was that her brother kicking up his heels with a local woman on the fringes of the crowd?
    “After three generations of civil war, the common people have learned to grab enjoyment whenever they can, despite the feuds and jockeying for power at court,” Quinnault replied. “I want to give my people reasons to rejoice every day. They deserve it.”
    “Do you suppose it would be beneath our royal dignity to join the dancing?” She would love to maneuver close to Liam Francis and exchange a few words, maybe dance a few steps with him, just like at parties back home.
    “Considering that I would tread on your feet and likely slip and fall on my bum, yes, this free-spirited dancing is definitely beneath my dignity.” Quinnault chuckled openly.
    Much of the daily strain of ruling slid from his face, replacing worry lines with youthful humor.
    Katie hid a laugh behind her hand. The image of her tall husband sprawling in the mud, long legs tangled in the hem of her skirts presented a decided contrast to his normal public demeanor.
    Quinnault’s mind tickled hers with silent laughter. He, too, enjoyed the image of himself as the gangling scarecrow of his youth. He still thought of himself as that awkward young man yanked from his quiet life of study in a monastery to govern his family’s lands, out of place and bewildered by the enormity of his duty.
    “You’ve never quite grown into your feet, have you?” she asked quietly.
    “I’m not familiar with that expression.” He continued smiling and nodding his head in time with the music.
    “Children and dogs tend to have feet out of proportion to their bodies. They are awkward until their bodies grow to match the feet. Once their proportions match, they become as graceful in mind as in body.”
    “Ah, yes, they do. Frankly, Katie, I’ve grown into my feet.” He looked down at the monstrous boots that covered them. “But I haven’t grown into my role as king.”
    “Yes, you have, my dear. The people adore you.”
    “My very minimal magical talent as an empath qualified me for my chosen life path as a priest. I understand what the people endure, and sometimes I can help them heal. But the politicians who make the government work talk circles around me. They lie and hide the truth behind rivers of words. I get lost in the words that mean too many things at the same time.”
    “Most people are mystified by those wordstorms.” Katie gazed lovingly into his eyes, wondering how her alien education might help him deal with the professional word-smiths.
    Shouting in the middle of the crowd disrupted her thoughts. An argument grew around a knot of younger men. She checked to make sure her brother was