The Lost Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 3) by Dan Michaelson (good summer reads .txt) 📗

“What do you know about the Vard?”

I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, gathering my thoughts before I said too much. I had to be careful. I didn’t need to reveal anything more than what I already had. It would be dangerous for me to do so, and more than that, it would be dangerous for her for me to do so.

“I just need anything that you can share with me to keep Berestal safe.”

“Berestal is safe. The Vard have made certain of that.”

I wanted to groan.

I didn’t like the sound of that. Worse, given what Manuel had told me, I couldn’t help but feel as if there were even more reason for me to be concerned, but as I looked at Tara, I wondered if she would share anything more with me. Despite her protestations, she was more tightly bound to the Vard than what she had led anyone to believe.

“How long will it stay safe?” I asked. “If the king believes Berestal is under Vard control, how long do you think he will leave it alone for? My sister is there. My mother and brother. I don’t want anything to happen to them.”

The king and Thomas were increasingly convinced that the Vard were the ones responsible for the attacks—and if the king thought so, I didn’t want to think about what he might do to stop them.

“Then you need to use your influence to ensure it doesn’t,” she said.

“And here I thought you should use your influence to ensure the Vard didn’t cause any more trouble in Berestal than they already have,” I said.

She watched me, finally taking a deep breath. “The Vard aren’t going to cause any disruption in Berestal. The king leaves the city mostly alone. We simply want to ensure that stays the case. The moment the king shifts his focus and begins paying more attention to us in Berestal, I think the Vard will change their focus.”

“To what?”

“I told you.”

“You told me there’s a camp in the Southern Reach. Is that what you mean? Are you trying to tell me that the Vard will suddenly shift their attack and pull from this camp if the king changes tactics?”

“I’m saying the Vard are prepared to defend Berestal and its independence.”

I hated how this reminded me of what Manuel had said, and the dangers that would be inherent in such action. There was no way of convincing Tara of what I knew without letting her know what had happened. The moment I did, though, was the moment I’d pick her against the king. If she knew the king were willing to target his cities because of Vard influence, she would likely side even more with the Vard.

Which was reason enough for me to try to coax her into believing a different way.

“The king isn’t about to lose access to the Wilds,” I said. That might be the only other way I could convince her. “He values trade too much. Given that Berestal is a place of trade between the Wilds, I imagine the Vard feel the same way. They can’t increase their activity in Berestal.”

“Why?” Tara asked, watching me.

I had the strange feeling that we were in some sort of negotiation, as if I were carrying out some action that was different—and perhaps greater—than I really should be a part of. At the same time, I had a feeling that I was outmatched by her.

“If you don’t want the king’s attention, then you shouldn’t keep active here,” I said.

I had to be as vague as possible.

“What sort of attention do you think we should fear from the king?”

I frowned at her. “Do you want to draw the king here?”

It would fit with what I had seen before. I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps they did want the king to bring his attention to Berestal. If so, it would give them an excuse to attack again.

It might even give them an opportunity to target the dragons.

I thought about the green dragon sitting not far from us and wondered whether it was a mistake to bring him so close to Tara and her family. If she were to send word to the Vard, then the dragons were in danger. I should’ve considered that before even returning.

I found her watching, though I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“Why would we want the king to pay any more attention to Berestal than he already has? I’ve told you that the Vard’s goal is for the city to be as independent as possible,” Tara said.

“Independent, or a part of Vard-controlled lands?”

“That would be difficult, seeing as how we are too far north of the Southern Reach.”

I leaned back, watching her, crossing my arms over my chest. “Have you ever been to Vard lands?”

“When have you known me to leave here?”

“I haven’t, but I figured it was a reasonable question. Do you even know what you’re fighting for?”

“I know why the Vard struggle, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Do you know what’s happened in other lands the Vard have claimed?”

She frowned at me. “Do you?”

The way she asked it suggested that she had heard those stories.

They were stories I had never heard before, though I suspected that anybody who supported the Vard would have known them. It would be reason for them to support the Vard, even more so than they might already have.

“I know the king is unwilling to allow the Vard to take hold in his lands,” I said, trying to be as careful as possible.

“If you know that, then why—and how—can you support it?”

“Because I support the king.”

She grunted. “You support an oppressor.”

“Oppressor?” I swept my gaze around the inside of their home. “When have we ever been oppressed out here in Berestal? When have we ever known anything other than the ability to act freely?”

“Just because we haven’t been oppressed doesn’t mean that the king isn’t oppressing others,” she said.

“I think you’ve been misguided.”

“And I think your time in the