Shared By The Dragon Clan: Part Four Read Free Page A

“I’ll never forget you.”
    “And I’ll
never forget you.”
    Stacey stood
up and put her arms around him. And even though the cold of rain was brittle,
and the darkness of the night was impossibly sad, for Zane and Stacey in that
moment…
    All they
could feel was each other.

 
    CHAPTER
EIGHT
     
     
    There was a portal to the otherworld
on Firebound Island. Neither Zane or Conrad had known about it – nor did the
true Horatio Horux or any of the Dragon Masters. It was built in secret by the
Human Mage, whose real name was Professor Patrick Hess. Hess had built it for a
specific dragon he was trying to summon, one who had died centuries ago, and
was considered to be the most feared and powerful dragon who had ever lived.
    In recent
months, Hess had miraculously made contact with this dragon, or at least one
who claimed to be the infamous Quraal. Quraal had been the one who had
instructed him to bring King Horatio to this portal, where he was consumed by
its darkness and a new Horatio had returned in his place. One of Quraal’s
minion’s programmed to do whatever was required. Hess didn’t know what the end
to Quraal’s plan was, only that he had been promised to be greatly rewarded in
Quraal’s return to the human world.
    Now he had
been dismissed by Narses however, Hess’s mission was in jeopardy. Having
already told Quraal that Zane was dead, as Quraal for some reason considered
Zane a threat, the anger from the underworld dragon was likely to be black and
harrowing. Still, Hess had nowhere else to turn, and as angry as he might be at
the bad news, Quraal still needed him. For the time being at least.
    The portal
itself was located in a dark an isolated clearing in the deepest recesses of
the forest. While it would’ve taken many hours to reach there on foot, the Mage
was able to cast a teleportation spell to land him in the centre of it. Three
large, triangular stones, stood tall around the inner circle of the portal. As
Hess crouched in the centre of it, the stones began to flicker with fiery
light.
    And now, he
could see the black dragon standing on the other side, its bright red eyes and
teeth sparkling at him from within the shadows.
    “Hess. I
wasn’t expecting you,” Quraal murmured in a low voice.
    “Master, I
have troubling news, I’m afraid.”
    “Then speak,
and let me be the one to shoulder your fears.”
    “Conrad
Hunter, brother of Zane, lied to me when he said he had killed Zane. Now Zane
is here with his human slave, and they are in conversation with Master Narses,
who wants to make one of them King. He has expelled me from the Clan. No reason
given.”
    “That is
troubling news. But you should not fear my anger.”
    “Thank you. I
… I tried my best for you…”
    “And I am not
such a fool that I don’t believe you. Your loyalty has been deeply
appreciated.”
    “Well, thank
you again. What can we do about this now?”
    “I am not
ready to return yet. It is not the right time. Zane must be dead before then.
He is incredibly dangerous. Far more powerful than even he realizes.”
    “So you want
me to try and kill Zane? Sneak into his sleeping quarters tonight and –”
    “You would
fail should try.”
    “I could cast
a paralysis spell on him. He wouldn’t even have to wake up.”
    “This cannot
lead back to you, Mage. Not if you are to be King of this Island. No. Narses
will be the one to kill him. And it will happen tomorrow. If you do exactly as
I say.”
    “Whatever you
wish, Master,” Hess said. “I will do anything you ask me to.”
    “Tomorrow,
you will find Zane and Narses both at the Palace together. His slave as you
call it, will be of great use to us here…”

 
    CHAPTER NINE
     
     
    They flew above the warehouse
station. Beyond the KEEP OUT gates. Over the first outpost. Zane’s green tower
was right there in front of them. For Stacey looking at it now, she couldn’t
help but feel the sadness. This would be her last night in this magical place.
Her