Upcoming release sample: INQUEST

Ye Olde Dragon Books

 Releasing March 1

“We have a … development,” M’kar reported,stepping onto the bridge less than half an hour after the Defendersettled into orbit around Le’anka. She gestured at the forward viewscreen, whereAnwesta slowly rotated in orbit, growing larger as the ship approached.

“Don’t tell me.” Genys looked around the bridge.“Granny got on board, despite the newest update to the drac-proof fence?”

“Exact opposite. Ask Axe where all the teacherdracs are.”

Battleaxe chirped and twisted her head, lookingaround the bridge. Genys would have liked to have laughed at her little blackdrac’s confusion, but that sort of worried her.

“She can’t find them.”

“On the ship,” M’kar said. “I can’t feel themanywhere on the ship. I sent out the call and got …” She shrugged. “Not exactlyechoes, but this definite feeling I was shouting into an empty room.”

“They have to be on the station already. Probablyteleported over as soon as we were close enough.” Decker stepped up to jointhem. Spitfire crooned and rubbed his cheek with her muzzle, then chirped inwhat certainly struck Genys as a relieved tone. “Did you get that?” His eyesnarrowed and he twisted his head to look at his drac.

“An impression they’re gone and not coming back?”M’kar leaned on the arm of the command chair. “I reached out to the dracs onthe station, and I get a strong impression of a cold shoulder, but with a lotof regret.” She snorted. “Granny is behind the effort to ignore us. Sourgrapes, I say.”

“Please, Enlo …” Genys stopped herself there. Shehad the awful feeling that despite her best efforts, a wide grin was about tosplit her face.

“Well, I did get—” M’kar paused, her head cockedto one side, eyes narrowing, in what was clearly a listening pose. “Dulit’scontacting me through our dracs …” After a few seconds, she nodded. “It’sofficial. The kids are old enough to be on their own. No more overseers.”

“No more spies for Granny,” Decker added.