The Caged Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 1) by Dan Michaelson (miss read books .txt) 📗

What did it mean that she was chosen? Did she get to go to the capital? Even if she went to the capital, I didn’t know what that would entail.

It took me a moment to find a way to calm those thoughts. I had to settle them, and I had to get back to thinking more clearly.

I watched as the others went through the test. Only one more was selected, the others all dispersed back to their families. Even so, I couldn’t help but feel as if this was wrong.

Suddenly, a roar erupted from high overhead.

I looked up. The dragon stretched out its massive wings as it leaned forward from the edge of the tower and jumped.

I ducked, the reaction involuntary, as the dragon swooped toward the ground. The creature was enormous, a dark cloud that blotted out the sky.

Everything within me went cold.

Was the dragon attacking the crowd? Why would the king do that? What had we done to deserve that?

A flurry of thoughts went through my head before the dragon landed with an enormous fluttering of wings as it leaned toward the dragon mage.

Everything within me felt off. I could feel the heat coming from the dragon. It seemed to squeeze me, and I felt as it passed through me. As if it were trying to force its way down into my belly and beyond.

The dragon mage climbed onto the dragon, patting itsside. Then, with another burst of heat and a flurry of wind, it took off. The dragon circled over the Marshal’s Tower several times before streaking off again.

I got to my feet slowly, turning my attention toward the crowd, and the people gathered along the wagons. I had to reach my sister. I had to at least say something to her. The soldiers turned their attention away from the crowd. It was as if having the dragon mage gone had changed their focus. I squeezed through the crowd, making my way toward the caravan. They were already starting to move , as if they were getting ready to depart. Wouldn’t the king give her the opportunity to at least tell him whether or not she wanted to go?

Then again, this was the king. Why would the king have to do anything?

The crowd began to push forward, and I flowed with it, not wanting to be the only one to get to the wagons. At the same time, I didn’t want to wait too much longer, not wanting to get separated from Alison before she was escorted away. There came a sharp whistle. Then a steady drumming.

I looked up, and the caravan started to move.

I couldn’t do anything. The only thing I could think of was that my sister was being taken from me. But more than that, my sister had been chosen. I tried to push forward but the crowd had grown too thick , making it difficult for me to get to the wagons. I could see them moving, but they were heading away from the main gate. I had to follow.

I knew which way that road would take them. I could circle around. If I were to do so I might be able to catch up to them, if only to get a chance to talk to Alison and see if she even wanted to go with them. As I started off, I paused.

Why wouldn’t she want to go?

I’d seen how sad she had been lately. I had heard the frustration in her voice. Why wouldn’t she want to get away from all of this? Shouldn’t I let her? She was my sister after all, and I cared about her. I wanted her to be happy.

But I didn’t know if this was something that would make her happy. I wanted to say goodbye, at least.

I circled around, fighting against the crowd, trying to move as quickly as I could. Every so often, I was slowed down by another throng of people. I circled around the tower, coming around the back side, where the crowd was thinner, and I raced forward. I needed to reach the wagon caravan before it left.

I didn’t see any sign of it.

I continued circling around the tower, but there was no sign of where the caravan went. They couldn’t have already moved through here. It wasn’t moving that quickly when we had seen it coming down the road.

I raced through the streets. My sister had been chosen.

I continued running down the street, but I still saw no sign of the caravan. I looked up to the sky, thinking that maybe there would be something from the dragon that we had seen that might provide me with answers, but as I looked, I found nothing.

I had to keep moving. I was determined to find my sister.

At one point, I turned a corner and saw three soldiers.

They turned toward me, facing me for a moment, but then they ignored me. That was probably for the best.

I heard a shout around another corner. When I turned, I found three men standing over another. I took a step toward the others when I froze. The man lying on the ground was one of the king’s soldiers. The three dark-haired men standing over him all wore the same matching gray jackets with a triangular symbol with a crescent moon above it.

Vard.

What were they doing?

One of the men looked over at me, and I spun, heading the opposite direction, racing along the streets until I emerged on another wide thoroughfare heading through the city.

There was no sign of anything here. No sign of my sister. No sign of the caravan.

I’d missed her.

I turned back toward the main gate. With every step I took through the crowd I couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling of fear I had for her. Listening to the sound of the commotion around me, I was no longer interested in the musicians, the acrobats, or the festival in general was happy that Alison would be