Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) Read Online Free Page A

answer the packhorse, somewhere in the brush on the slope above him, snorted loudly. From the direction of the smashed trees several birds called, tentatively at first, then with enough confidence that others joined in.
    A shadow fell across Pirse. Shading his eyes with his clean hand, he gave Chelam a quick visual inspection. “ You all right? ”
    “ Fine now, Highness. ”
    Pirse accepted his corporal ’ s offered hand and pulled himself to his feet. The dragon was a mound of motionless carrion a few yards to his left, steam already rising from its glistening back. “ Was I imagining things, or did that dragon step on you? ”
    “ Not on me, exactly, Highness. On the rocks next to me. ”
    “ It was not a reassuring sight, Chelam. ”
    “ No, Highness. ”
    Pirse walked toward the dragon, the corporal at his side. “ What happened? ”
    “ My foot slipped. ”
    They reached the almost rectangular head, stepping over the glistening trail of ooze that was all that remained of its lolling tongue. Clouds of insects swarmed uncertainly on and over the glistening body, attracted by the unmistakable odor of ripe decay, repulsed by a process of decomposition that could advance with such mind-numbing speed. Chelam took careful hold of the skull and tilted it at just the right angle.
    Pirse raised his sword. Even in direct sunlight he could make out the blue flicker of magic that glinted along its eternally sharp edge. He picked up one flaccid dragon ear, feeling it still dry and cool between his fingers. He carefully slipped his blade beneath the fragile membrane and with a swift, smooth motion detached the ear from the head.
    The ear stiffened in his hand, changing color from mottled gray to dull brown in the blink of an eye. Pirse dropped it behind him and shifted his position as Chelam twisted the dragon ’ s head to bring the other ear into view.
    “ Not many people can do what you do, ” Pirse observed. “ Follow orders, however unpleasant, improvise when things go wrong, and face rampaging nightmares like this one with unruffled calm. ” He snicked off the second ear and thoughtfully watched it harden.
    Chelam let the head fall. It squelched when it hit the ground. The corporal grinned with deep satisfaction.
    “ Nothing better than watching a nightmare die, Highness. ”
    “ This one almost watched you die, Corporal. ”
    Immediately contrite, Chelam dropped his gaze and muttered, “ Yes, Highness. ”
    “ I don ’ t want to have to train a new assistant, Chelam. ”
    “ No, Highness. ”
    “ You have to be more careful. ”
    “ Yes, Highness. ”
    Relenting, Pirse clapped the man affectionately on the shoulder. Pirse was hot, sticky with sweat and tree sap and dragon blood, and overwhelmingly grateful to have survived another fight. Even the horses had survived!
    “ Come on, Chelam. Let ’ s find a campsite. I need a bath. And you don ’ t have to say, ‘ Yes, Highness. ’”
    Chelam picked up the dragon ear that Pirse had dropped, a smile curling the corner of his mouth. “ Wasn ’ t even thinking it. ” He held out the ear, now leather hard. “ I ’ ll fetch the horses. ”
    “ Thank you. ”
    “ Because if you try to get near ‘ em, your stink will scare them away. ”
    Sword in one hand and dried ears in other, Pirse could only growl under his breath as Chelam made a quick, strategic withdrawal.
    * * *
    Palle of Dherrica was often annoyed he had not been born before his sister Dea. Since he had not had that good fortune, he tried to content himself with the role of advisor to the queen of Dherrica. Although he had to admit that Dea was generally rather good about taking his advice, today she was being difficult.
    “ They can ’ t be serious. I sent them Emlie in good faith that we would engage in reasoned negotiation. The next step is supposed to be compromise. An equitable solution for both parties. All Hion has done is repeat his original demands! ”
    Dea paced back and forth