The Balborite Curse (Book 4) by Kristian Alva Page A

It’s an endless cycle. He knows as well as everybody else that those mines are a death trap. But you know how stubborn he is. He could travel around healing wealthy nobles, but that’s not his style. ”
    "Wealth and prestige don’t interest him."
    "I know." She lifted her hands in exasperation. “I just wish he’d put his gifts to better use! Did you know that he was ambushed by a pack of orcs last winter? They trapped him, tried to kill Nydeired, and threatened to skin him alive. Elias defeated them in battle and then healed their injuries before letting them go.”
    Tallin knew the story, which had become a bit of a legend. “You know… I could stay until Elias gets here.” The shadows deepened on his face.
    “I appreciate the offer, but that won’t be necessary.” Tallin opened his mouth to protest, but Sela held her hand up. “ Stop — I don ’t want to hear another word. I’ll be fine on my own.”
    “All right, then,” Tallin said. He let the matter drop. “Contact me if you need anything.”
    “I will. May Baghra guide your flight path.” Sela reached up and scratched the dragon’s soft underbelly. He purred softly. “Take care of him for me, Duskeye. I know how much Tallin likes to get into trouble.”
    "I promise, rider-friend," said Duskeye, nuzzling Sela with his snout.
    “I’ll contact you when I cross the southern border,” said Tallin, mounting the saddle. He checked his water supply one last time and tapped Duskeye on the shoulder. “Let’s go, Duskeye.” The dragon spread his cobalt wings and took flight, exiting from the large open window in the room.
    With a mixture of worry and relief, Sela watched Tallin leave, gazing ahead until his silhouette disappeared on the horizon. She glanced over at his worktable, and saw that he had finished the lion carving. She picked it up and traced it with her thumb, as she had before. Tallin had rubbed it with oil. The surface gleamed—it was smooth and beautifully polished, like carved. The little sculpture reminded her of him. I need to stop thinking of him this way, she told herself firmly. She set it down with a trembling hand and left the room.
    Tallin and Duskeye flew onward in silence. Parthos became smaller and smaller and eventually disappeared behind them.
    Tallin felt strangely uncomfortable —he had flown outside the desert countless times in the last few years, but never for more than a few weeks at a time. This was the first time he’d left Parthos without immediate plans to return.
    Duskeye sensed his unease. " Come now, let us enjoy this journey. We ’ve stayed in the desert so long; this is our chance to explore the beauty of this land."
    Tallin smiled. “You’re right. If we travel at an even pace, we can enjoy the desert in bloom. Our private time is precious, I’ll try to enjoy it.” Perhaps they could even spend a day at the Southern Refuge, an oasis that had been created by Fëanor the elf years ago.
    Time slipped by, and the clouds vanished away, replaced by the colors of dusk. As evening drew near, they flew on, enjoying the gorgeous landscape.
    Eventually the sky darkened and the moon rose in the sky, its silver light illuminating the vast southern plain before them, a seemingly unending stretch of sand and rock. Brightly colored sandstone rose up into majestic plateaus, peppered with caverns that had once been the mating caves for hundreds of dragon females.
    Now the caves lay empty, some of them filled with the oxidizing bones of dragons, slaughtered by dragon hunters years ago.
    They flew through the night, taking advantage of the cooler temperatures. Just before dawn, they stopped to rest at a high plateau. Several abandoned caves faced the desert, and Tallin dismounted to explore each cave individually. Duskeye remained outside, waiting for Tallin to give him the signal—he was looking for a cave that didn’t have any dragon bones.
    Tallin stepped inside the first cave and stopped short. The bleached bones