Page 29 of The Black Dragon
“Age has nothing to do withexperience.”
“And you have experienced more suffering in your youth thandragons three times your age. Which is why you deserve justice, and yet you must not seek it. It will ruin you.” Drust stroked a hand over his beardedchin.
“You make nosense.”
“You will find out in time. For now, know this. The baby dragons must be protected at all costs.” Drust drew another symbol on the rock. “They are integral to supplying the energyvortex.”
More surprises.“I thought dragons came here to absorb the energy, not give itaway.”
“It’s symbiotic, as many things are in nature. The babies absorb the warmth of the rock and the sun, are nurtured by the minerals they take from the rocks inside the cave. They chew the rocks for the nutrients when they are still babies and spit them out, creating rarecrystals.”
The Coldfire Wizard frowned. “Onceevery few thousand years, they produce an amber crystal that can steal a dragon shifter’s magick. I need you to search the cave and find this crystal for me, if itexists.”
“You’re such an all-seeing, all knowing wizard. You should know where itis.”
A blue flame flickered in Drust’s palm. Next thing Justin knew, his stomach burned. He glanced down andscreamed.
“Son of alizard, I’m onfire!”
Blue flames spread across his stomach, licking his shirt, not burning it. Yet beneath his clothing, his skin seared. He could smell roastingflesh.
“Put it out,” he grated out through clenchedteeth.
Drustwaited.
“Please! I’m sorry.” Justin gasped from the agony. As painful as Leo’s experiments had been, this fire felt ten timesworse.
Drust flicked a finger and the fire went out. Cooling, soothing relieffollowed.
“You are insolent for one so young,” the wizardmurmured.
He drew in a shaky breath. “Comes with being held captive and tortured for three months. So you want me to check out the cave and see about an amber crystal. What about these dragons? Will they impede me? I don’t know anything about realdragons.”
Drust lifted a hand, uncurled his fingers. A small globe of blue light bounced in his palm. With tremendous wariness, Justin watched, in case the wizard decided to burn another part ofhim.
The wizard snapped his fingers and the ball of light burst into dozens of glittering diamonds, landing on nearbyrocks.
“Worthless,” Drust murmured. “The hikers tomorrow will find outthese crystals are only glass. I did it to demonstrate to you what storm dragons can do. Some would kill to get their hands on the rare crystals inside that cave. There are ten red diamonds inside that cave, gems so rare there are only thirty known in the world. Just selling one would make a Skin a millionaire. But the crystals are integral to the power of the vortexes. They absorb negative energyand release it as positiveenergy.”
For the first time since he’d left North Carolina, he felt a prick of interest in something outside his own needs. “Are there lots of crystals inside thecave?”
Drust’s mouth curled upward. “Yes. The babies are essential for empowering the vortexes, for only the baby dragons create the crystals. These vortexes are safe places for Others, placesfor Skins and Others to find refuge. The vortexes replenish the energy of physic Skins and the magick of weary Others. You should tryit.”
His cynicism returned. Justin felt far too jaded and weary to subject himself to something he felt sure would notwork.
“How soon do you want me to do this?” He glanced upward. “It’s late. I need to return toAriel.”
“Take Ariel there tomorrowand find thedragons.”
“Take a Mage to discover a secret cavern filled with dragons? Are you dense?” Hhis eyeswidened.
Blue fire flickered again in Drust’spalm.
“Ok, ok!” He spread out his hands. “I’ll take her. Whyher?”
“Not for you to know now, black dragon. Know this. The cave is hidden from view and warded against Skins, on the mini tower closest to thewest.”
Drust clenched a fist. When he opened it, a silver key decorated with blue crystals rested in his palm. “Use this. But beware theDrogmire.”
