Read The Fifth Magic (Book 1) for Free Online

wasn't present, and he did what he could to control it. From Durin he accepted his staff and Koe. Kendra stood watching him with her hands on her hips. She'd said nothing since his outburst, which was probably for the best.
    With Valterius saddled, Sinjin climbed aboard. Now Kendra raised an eyebrow. After inserting the ancient staff in its holder, he reached down and offered Kendra a hand up. She made a rude noise and walked back to Gerhonda. The minutes spent in the saddle waiting for Kendra were uncomfortable. There was little doubt Kendra kept him waiting longer than necessary just out of spite. At least she was preparing to go with him. It was enough.
    "What happened?" Durin asked.
    "The council meeting did not go well," Sinjin said.
    "I figured as much."
    "Trinda and Allette are aligned, and Trinda's warships ambushed the council."
    Durin's eyes bulged.
    "And then the Serpent arrived."
    "At the council?" Durin asked. "I thought he wasn't supposed to get anywhere near there."
    "He wasn't," Sinjin said, "but you know Kenward; tell him he can't do something, and that's just what he'll do."
    "In his defense," Brother Vaughn said, "three verdant dragons were chasing him."
    "There was that," Sinjin conceded.
    "Maybe I should have left it at 'the council meeting did not go well,'" Durin said.
    Kendra brought Gerhonda to stand behind Valterius, a clear rebuke for the flight in. Sinjin did his best not to prolong the display. Valterius moved back toward the skies. He cast one unhappy glance back at Sinjin before leaping into the air. Gerhonda followed an instant later, and they soon flew side by side.
    "Are you going to tell me what this is about?" Kendra asked after a long silence.
    "You want to know everything, so I'm going to show you everything. "
    "It's about time."
    "This isn't a matter to be taken lightly," Sinjin said. Kendra made a show of acting apologetic. Sinjin refused to look at her. No matter how he wished the flight to be over, they had enormous distances to cover. There was nothing to be done but fly with all the speed the dragons could muster.
     
    * * *
     
    Deep within Dragonhold, time was nearly meaningless. Sleep threatened two men unaccustomed to sentry duties. Most who guarded the child queen had been selected for their strengths, for their ability to protect Trinda should the need arise. For others, however, it was sometimes their weaknesses that served her best. Neither guard standing watch over Trinda would be much use in a fight. Keen eyesight they did not possess, nor the sharpest hearing. What they did have were voices loud enough to summon more capable men stationed not far away.
    No matter how bright the room, given the many herald globes resting in various holders, these men should not be able to see the object holding Trinda's attention. It had been Trinda who discovered the herald globes' more deadly properties, yet she felt most safe when surrounded by them and bathed in their light. The holders bore Strom's mark, and no one could deny Catrin and Osbourne's artistry in creating the globes, but those barely mattered.
    Before her rested an ancient scroll, rotted and discolored with age. The words were largely illegible and their forms archaic, so much so that Trinda had to squint at them. The one with illuminated illustrations, however, made clear Dragonhold's true nature and power. A smile spread across Trinda's face, but she started like a guilty child at the sound of approaching boots. Some secrets must be kept even from those closest to her, and Trinda scrambled to conceal the disintegrating scroll without further damaging it.
    Finally, her life had true purpose. Finally, she understood why she had been made to suffer so, why the dark men had come. Surviving what they'd done to her had made her stronger, the things they'd asked of her had prepared her well for the challenges she'd already faced, and her greatest struggles lay ahead. Trinda Hollis would not be a martyr; she was too smart for