Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84237 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Indeed, you’re not wrong. Our mages prize their records. We dragons sometimes hoard books as well. To have little information about a clan is an indication that something went very, very wrong.” Rodrigo reclined in his chair, hands steepled in front of him. “This is intriguing. I didn’t know something like this was in our back yard.”
“What’s intriguing?”
Samuel turned to see who had spoken. The woman standing inside the door had all the right looks for a film noir’s femme fatale. Her dark hair was cut short, curled to just under her chin, face thin and pointed, and she was paler than anyone else Samuel had seen aside from the other blonde mage from earlier. She dressed casually in shorts and a black tank top, probably a concession to the heat.
This is the head mage of the clan?
She was not at all what he’d expected. Maybe a round, short woman with a head full of curly gray locks and coke-bottle glasses on a chain. Or maybe one of the spindly, crane-like women with their long hair pulled back in a severe bun.
Samuel almost sighed at himself. He really needed to get out more.
The newcomer’s eyes took in Samuel with interest, sweeping him from head to toe and back again. “You’re the researcher, I take it?”
“Uh, yes. Nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Samuel Hunter, an archeologist from the United States. I’m here on a research scouting trip.”
“Evora. I’m head mage of the clan. Dimitri told me a little about why you’re here, but why don’t you elaborate for me.”
Samuel repeated the basics for her as she sat on the empty cushion to his right. He ended hopefully with, “Have you heard of them?”
“Only somewhat. Mostly in passing in other records. They were known to be expert healers, specializing in…something. I never could confirm what. I understand the clan was somewhere in the mountains south of us.”
So she knew at least as much as he did. Samuel had hoped for more, but ah well. It was impressive she knew anything about them at all, really.
“You’re searching for them because of your mage ability?”
Samuel had to hold in a sigh. “I’m not a mage. I am from a mage family, yes, that’s what sparked my interest initially.”
Evora stared at him as if he’d said something both contradictory and confusing. “You’re from a mage family and yet you believe you’re not a mage?”
“Right. My twin got the mage ability, not me.” His tone grew a bit sharper and he was quick to move the conversation away from himself and his lack of magical ability. “Anyway, I want to research the lost mage clan if I can find it. If you don’t mind, can you show me what records mentioned them? Or just show me to the library. I can research it myself.”
She blinked and, yeah, okay, why were both she and Rodrigo watching him like he’d suddenly started speaking in a made-up language. Surely it wasn’t unheard of for non-magical people to be born of a mage clan.
“It’s rare that we find mention of a mage family we don’t know of,” Evora finally said. “Your family name, Hunter, is that the same as the mage clan’s name?”
“Uh…yes, I think so. Oh, right, you probably want to check with them to see if anyone’s a potential mate. I’m sorry, I didn’t think of that before.” Samuel mentally smacked himself on the side of the head. Exhaustion was making him slow. That was why they kept prodding him. Even if he wasn’t a mage, Salem was, and he hadn’t yet found his mate. Maybe there was a dragon out there waiting to find him. “I can give you my mother’s number if you’d like. You can call and speak with her directly. Or I can arrange a Skype call if you want to speak face to face.”
That appeased her and she smiled. If Samuel was anything but gay, he’d have been a bit stunned by that smile. “You’re very kind, Samuel. I’d love to speak with her. Please arrange it for tomorrow if you can, so that Rodrigo might confer with her.”
“Sure thing.” Right, it would be the head of the clan who would need to talk to her.
Samuel wanted to sit in on that call, though. Just for the evil pleasure of seeing his mother’s jaw hit the floor. Talking to the king of the Ice Dragons. She was sure to be stunned silly for a second.
“Come,” Evora invited. “I’ll show you about and introduce you to our librarian. She’ll be delighted to have such a challenging research project handed to her. Dimitri’s already preparing your room for you.”
Damn, the sneaky dragon had taken off with the bags already. Now that Samuel was standing, he could see their glaring absence. When had he done that?