A Storm in the Desert: Dragonlinked Chronicles Voume 3 by Adolfo Garza Jr.

There was only a hint of condensation on the cup of chilled wine, but it was enough that his digit slipped easily over the geometric pattern hammered into the gleaming metal. “He told me he only wishes to learn if the rumor about the dragon boy is true. If it is, he wants to know where the boy is. The Order can then decide on what steps to take.”
    “Do you believe him?” The umeron’s earrings tinkled faintly as he took a nervous sip of the sweet wine.
    Takatin glanced at the crystal badges of the man’s rank. Full meetings of the Umeri were a cacophony of tinkles and clinks. He hated attending them. Luckily, the uniform of his office, the Nesch, had no jewelry requirements. Takatin was not one for rings, earrings, nose rings, or ornamentation of any kind.
    He looked away from the crystal jewelry. “The Capu has always been difficult to read, but I do think there is more to this than what he told me.”
    “Will it affect our plans?”
    He shrugged, sipping his wine. “Possibly. Or not. It’s difficult to tell at this stage.”
    The umeron nearly slammed the chalice on the low table before him. “You’re the Nesch. Can’t you do something? You stand to lose more than any of us.”
    “Calm yourself. I have things under control.” He swirled the wine and took another sip. “Have there been any more . . . incidents?”
    “Yes and no. People are avoiding the place, so there have been no more, ah, incidents, as you say.”
    “But?” Takatin stared at the umeron.
    “ They want to keep the fear going, so now and again they leave blood and torn clothing to be found by manis patrols.”
    “I thought you said there had been no more incidents.”
    “The blood is from animals and the clothing is old throwaways from among their number, torn and shredded enough to not be recognizable.”
    “I see. Well, you share control of the manisi, so that should not be a problem.”
    “It isn’t a problem, exactly. I just think it imprudent to have too much attention drawn there. Especially with half the active manisi otherwise occupied. People may start questioning where those manisi are, and why they aren’t in evidence helping with this supposed threat.”
    Takatin sniffed. “You may have a point. I’ll see what I can do.” He took another sip of wine. “What of progress at the mine?”
    “No more cutting blades have broken, which is a blessing. They are difficult to make, and we are running low on abrasive. Thankfully, they seem to be learning better how to use them.”
    “When will the shipment be ready?”
    “In a few weeks.”
    “Good. And morale?”
    “Ours remains high enough. The work is easy. The sorcerers have it the hardest, actually, removing soil and rock. Their people, however, are a little upset at the restrictions we put on them. They dislike not being able to go to the villages anymore.”
    Takatin twisted his lips. “If they’d kept their mouths shut and controlled themselves better, things might be different.”
    “True.” The umeron glanced at him. “When will we get payment for the first shipment?”
    Inwardly, Takatin smiled. “It will take a week or so for the shipment to reach the buyer, and about that long for payment to reach us.”
    Fat cheeks pulled up in a grin. “Things seem to be progressing well. We shall proceed as we have been. Do let the rest of us know when you learn more of Capu Cirtis’ plans.”
    After the umeron left, Takatin sipped again of his wine. It was now warm, but a smile curved his lips anyway.
    Greed. Another worm eating at the core of the Corpus Order. This worm, however, had let him catch several fish.
     

Chapter 5
Leday, Decimy 29, 1874.
Early Morning
    Millinith’s knees let her know that a storm was coming. As a child, she’d had a severe fever accompanied by aches in her joints. Recovery took less than a week, but it left this ‘gift’ in its wake. A change in the weather was brewing. The clear, sunny skies pretended that nothing was amiss,