Dragon's Ring by Dave Freer Page B

Vorlian. They pitted dragon against dragon to serve their ends. The alvar and centaur-kind are supposed to be our allies. But they too were a part of it. And it's happening again. I've had a human raid on one of my villages. I went there this afternoon to inspect." The dragon snorted sulphurously. "I can smell magic, Vorlian."
     
    It was an ability some dragons had. Vorlian for one. Magic left traces. "What kind, Zuamar?"
     
    The Lord of Yenfar stared at him through slitted eyes. "Odd kinds. More than one kind. But one thing has raised my fears and my fury enough to come to seek you out."
     
    Vorlian smiled attentively. "And what was that, and how may I help?"
     
    "There was a dragon there. A dragon on my land. By the prints it was a smaller than average one. I cannot believe that such would dare to trespass. I suspect compulsion. I want that dragon found and I want those who dared compel it, destroyed."
     
    Vorlian took a deep breath, absorbing the information. Had Haborym and the sprite found a dragon to serve their purposes? Were they playing him false? "My Lord," he said carefully, "there are—in these times of upheaval—dragonkind that have been left destitute. Some may have been . . . desperate enough for gold to participate in these activities, without compulsion. It is not easy to compel . . ."
     
    Zuamar snorted a cloud of pungent steam. "Vorlian. That sort of story is well and good for the younger ones. We've done our best to make sure the lesser species believe it. But you are not that stupid and neither am I. We were created impervious to most spells. At best we can be stunned by certain combinations of magic. Otherwise only our own magic works on us . . . except compulsion. How would the First have sent us about their errands otherwise?"
     
    Vorlian was shocked. The First were seldom mentioned. And talk of dragonkind running errands . . . the subject was completely taboo. Many of the younger ones, those born here, would not know of it all. "We don't talk of such things!"
     
    "Forgetting the First is a mistake, Vorlian," said Zuamar. "You can be certain that centaurs and some of the others do not. Here in Tasmarin we are the masters. But we need to remember that it was not always so. Changes are coming. It may not always be this way. We do not want to return to servitude. We need to deal with any that dare to interfere."
     
    Vorlian found himself in much sympathy with that point of view. "I will investigate."
     
    Zuamar hissed between his teeth. They were large, needlelike teeth. "So will I. I gather like minds, Vorlian. If we find those who consort with the lesser races, we must act swiftly and harshly. It will be dragon against dragon again. Are you with me, Vorlian?"
     
    "If it comes to that, yes," said Vorlian with calm assurance. The older dragon should remember something besides the servitude and the First. Who actually knew what they'd been, anyway? Zuamar needed to remember that dragons were masters of many things: war, the elements, and deceit. He served a higher purpose. And he was sure that he was not compelled to do so. "You could check on a dragon called Jakarin. She lost her hoard recently. I had heard a rumor that she was looking for any sources of gold." Vorlian's mind turned briefly to the smaller dragon of the encounter a few days back . . . Fionn. Dismissed him. He was sharp-tongued. Too clever for his own good. But there was something about him that made Vorlian wary about accusing him. It might just get back to him.
     
     
     
    Fionn spiraled his way in a slow sinistral curve down towards Yenfar and Tarport again. The rain had set in, in earnest now, blanketing the place in cloud. But Fionn could find any place. That was an aspect of his ability, aided by the fact that he saw deep into energy spectra, and Tarport glowed, even through the rain. Soon he landed on the roof-tree of the inn, and changed once more into the form of Finn the traveling Gleeman. He