Dragonvein (Book Two) Read Online Free

vanished, the crystal in Ethan’s hand instantly turned to dust. He stared at the grains for a moment or two, then tossed them onto the floor.
    “What did he say?” asked Markus.
    Ethan remained silent for a few moments before telling them of his offer…and of the connection that Shinzan had now achieved.
    “If he can find you anywhere, then that’s definitely a problem,” said Markus.
    “Not yet,” said Ganix. “But it will be once he leaves the mountain.”
    Ethan straightened his back. “No…it won’t.”
    “What do you mean?” demanded Markus.
    “I mean I’m going to accept his offer,” he told him flatly.
    Markus grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. “Are you crazy? He’ll kill you.”
    “Probably. But if I don’t, he’ll come here and kill everyone.”
    “I’m not so sure,” said Ganix. “Shinzan is not known for mercy or kindness. I think there must be more to this than we know. He could have come already, and yet he has not. He says that he cares nothing about you and that you are no threat, and yet he beckons you to him.” He scratched his beard, absently twirling the wiry hairs with his fingers. “For now, I think you should do nothing.”
    “And if Shinzan comes?” asked Ethan.
    “We still have the option of sealing the mountain,” he replied. “But something tells me it won’t come to that. No. Whatever his plan is, he wants you alive.”
    Ethan thought for a moment. “Then what do I do now?”
    “First of all we need to free Lylinora,” Ganix said. “Then…well, we’ll figure that out when the time comes.”
    After giving Ethan a reassuring smile, he called King Halvar and the elders back into the chamber.
    The reaction to Shinzan’s message was mixed. Some suggested that Ethan should flee, while others felt that he should remain in the mountain. Halvar was conspicuously silent as he listened to the nervous bickering.
    “It’s clear that Ethan should not turn himself over to Shinzan,” Jonas announced after a time. “That any of you would suggest he do such a thing…”
    “No one is suggesting that,” countered an elderly dwarf woman. “Only that he should flee…across the sea perhaps. To the Dragon Wastes.”
    “That would be the same as a death sentence,” snapped Jonas furiously. “Yesterday you thought him to be the savior of your people. But now that Shinzan makes a few threats, you lose heart and want to abandon him. Have you no courage?”
    “We will not abandon him,” assured Halvar, breaking his silence. “Of that you can be certain. But we must take Shinzan’s threat seriously. For now, Ethan must make every effort to free Lylinora. Once that is done, King Ganix will gain him passage across the sea to find the dragons. In the meantime I have already paid the smugglers vast amounts of gold and jewels to keep us informed. We should trust in our preparations…and hope that Shinzan is not yet ready to march.”
    His words were met with only mild enthusiasm from most. No one relished the idea of sealing the mountain, and Ethan was well aware that the stories of Shinzan’s power and fury had been burned deep into their lore.
    Regardless of the mood, Halvar rose and dismissed the council. Ethan remained behind at Ganix’s request, while Jonas lingered pointedly by the door. Ethan could tell that he was anxious to question him privately.
    “We’ll talk later,” Ethan told him. “I promise.”
    Reluctantly, Jonas nodded and left.
    “They are right to worry,” said Ganix, once they were alone. “This move is surprising.”
    “Do you think Shinzan expects me to come?” Ethan asked.
    “That’s just it,” he replied, “It is a ludicrous offer. Why would you trust him to keep his word? Why would we ?”
    Ethan sank into his chair and sighed. “I don’t know. I mean…I’d go if I thought it would do any good. But if I did, there’s nothing to stop him from just killing me on the spot.”
    “Then he’d simply need to wait for the right