Read The Green Dragon: A Claire-Agon Dragon Book (Dragon Series 3) for Free Online

think we found one of the Hamills,” Clive said, dismounting and inspecting the head that the soldier found.
    “Don’t, my lady,” Lucina said, trying to restrain her ward from seeing the gruesome clue. “It is time to go; I sense evil nearby.”
    Helvie didn’t inspect the skull, instead turning to address everyone. “This is no longer a hunt. From now on, we investigate murder.”

Chapter 3
 

 
 
 
Awakenings
     
    “You spend a lot of time up here,” Greyson said, walking up to his Initiate and taking in the dramatic view of the Greenfeld from the edge of the small cliff outcropping alongside the mountain, high above.
    Elister turned to watch his mentor approach, joining him in the cool, brisk air of an early dawn. The sun had just risen and cast its warming, golden rays upon the land. The forest mists were evaporating into the warming air in wisps of milky white vapor trails that danced upon the treetop canopy.
    “Good morning,” Elister said, giving the older man a nod in respect. “You’ve woken early as usual.”
    Greyson returned the nod, stopping to lean on his staff and take in the morning air. “Not as early as you, Elly. You seem to have a knack for catching beautiful sunrises when most of our Initiates are still sleeping in warm beds.”
    “Well, there’s not really many Initiates left anymore,” Elister said, thinking back to when he had started his training and there were at least a dozen young pupils, eager and impressionable. Now, they were down to just three. “I suppose I miss my family still.”
    The old druid nodded. “You miss what might have been, Elly. You miss the love and warmth that you felt so long ago.”
    “Has it been that long?” Elister asked, wondering why the old man continued to call him by his diminutive when he was a fully grown man. Indeed, Elister looked much like his mentor, perhaps not quite so old, but he had lived for many decades, and his childhood was oftentimes no more than a bad memory at best, a forgettable nightmare at worst.
    “Longer than you know,” Greyson said, gracing his pupil with a knowing eye.
    “The endless lesson . . . that is all I know,” Elister said, returning his gaze to the forest below, referencing his studies in his master’s domain.
    Greyson chuckled, but Elister did not look at him. “You protest too much. Besides, your time of studies is over.”
    That did get a look from Elister, who knew nothing but the repetitious studies of the Druidic Order, the ceaseless ceremonies, and the long times of slumber. “You jest?”
    “No,” Greyson said, taking a moment to sigh and choose his words carefully. “The time has come to end your initiation. Agon stirs, as does the Father and their many creatures and children. You feel you are ready?”
    Elister thought he would never hear those words. He had given up hope decades ago when they first began. “I am ready, Arnen Greyson,” Elister said, using the formal title for his teacher.
    “No need for that after all these decades,” Greyson said, turning to smile at his student. “You lost your manners after your adulting, though you hardly remember.”
    “Well, that was long ago.”
    “Long for some, not so long for others.” Greyson nodded.
    “There you go again, speaking in riddles,” Elister said, returning the smile and exchanging his own staff from his right hand to his left so as to better speak with his teacher.
    “They are not riddles, Elly. You will find that the answers you sought were always in front of you. You simply could not, or would not, see them,” Greyson said.
    “I say they are riddles,” Elister said, his voice exuding confidence and exasperation all at once.
    “Time to correct your assumptions. Are you ready to wake the Zashitors?” Greyson said, a twinkle in his eye, knowing what to expect.
    “What Zashitors?” Elister was confused now.
    “Don’t play games with me, Elly. It’s too early in the morning.” Greyson turned and started walking