A Time of Darkness (The Circle of Talia) Read Free Page B

to get here? Do you suppose he’s made his own mistakes? Had his own guilt to contend with? We all carry burdens, and we all have to endure. Better a few of us feel some guilt than the gormons consume all of Talia. You did what you had to, and those that matter understand. Come on; it’s time for dinner.” He gently squeezed her arm and led the way.
    Agmunsten took them to the smallest dining room of the three in the dragon castle. Two long timber tables sat parallel to each other. Carved into both ends of the rectangular room were hearths Bronwyn could have stood up in. The rough-textured walls had been painted a deep ochre. A row of windows looked out to the valley where the moonlight silvered the trees, and small squares of honey-colored light peeked back at them from scattered dwellings. The ceiling was lower than in many of the other rooms, and Bronwyn estimated that the tallest dragons would have to stoop in order to fit.
    Candles in wall sconces bathed the room in a warm glow. At the far end of the room, a boy with shoulder-length hair the color of caramel, and with simple, gray clothes hanging off his reedy frame, sat opposite a green dragon whose scales reflected the cheery flames in the hearth. Bronwyn almost clapped her hands when she saw Sinjenasta lying in front of a crackling blaze; head resting on massive paws, midnight-dark fur shining in the fiery radiance. The panther looked up.
    The dragon spoke. “Hello, Agmunsten. I see you’ve brought some youngsters with you.”
    Agmunsten’s laugh was short. “I haven’t just brought them with me. I’m leaving them with you. I was hoping you could take them to see Arcese after dinner. I’d like them to learn about Talia’s lifeblood magic you dragons use. I don’t know much about it, and we can always use another perspective.”
    “Of course, Agmunsten. It would be my pleasure.” Bertholimous nodded, his giant head moving with a measured grace Bronwyn never would have suspected dragons possessed.
    Agmunsten turned to Arie. “I trust you’ve been behaving yourself?”
    “I can’t believe you’re asking me that. I behave better than you, most of the time.”
    “Ha! Well, so you do. I’ll see you later. I’m going back to talk to Arcon. Thanks again, Bertholimous.”
    Agmunsten departed, and Blayke climbed onto a bench seat next to the dragon, while Bronwyn sat down next to Arie, both apprentices’ feet dangling inches off the floor. “Hi. I’m Bronwyn.” She forced herself to look Bertholimous in the eye. The desire to apologize about Symbothial’s murder was outweighed by her fear and shame. Bronwyn thought every dragon must hate her—the girl who was a constant reminder of the dragon’s death. She wanted to be anywhere but Vellonia.
    It seemed he had read her mind. “I know, Bronwyn.” The dragon’s deep voice held no malice. Its melodic timbre felt like the soothing caress of a cool stream on a hot day. “I’ve had a good talk with Sinjenasta, and he explained everything. I would just avoid the queen for a while if I were you, although, she will likely call to see you soon.”
    Arie patted her back. “Don’t worry; we’ll make sure she doesn’t eat you.”
    Bronwyn saw Blayke’s smile and thought they must be joking—but what if they weren’t? The need to vomit became imminent.
    Sinjenasta spoke in her mind, Little cub, fear not. No one will be eating anyone. Take a deep breath. It’s okay . The panther’s eyes partly closed in the semblance of a smile.
    Blayke spoke, “I’m hungry. How long till dinner?”
    “Don’t look at me when you say that!” Bronwyn laughed for the first time in weeks, and everyone joined in. Bronwyn felt, unexpectedly, that she was amongst friends.
    A dragon appeared at the door, and Bronwyn’s heart missed a beat. This dragon was smaller than she remembered Symbothial being (and certainly smaller than Bertholimous), with pale yellow scales that shimmered in the candlelight. Appetizing aromas