Outcast (The Blue Dragon's Geas) by Cheryl Matthynssens Page A

the room. He was furious. Furious he had not paid attention. Furious that a stone of such power and slipped his grasp, and furious that his brother had not found the boy’s capabilities sooner. This was made worse by the fact that his brother was keeping him waiting. People did not keep Luthian waiting. His anger rose as he considered the many things he could do to the impertinent. A malicious smile slowly formed on his face before he shook his head to focus back to the problem at hand.
    Henrick had two sons from his excursions into the Daezun lands. Luthian’s thoughts turned to the Daezun. The two cultures were at peace, but for the most part, neither had much use for the other outside of the trade that took place. The bloodstones could not be harvested by any of Lerdenian blood for the magic was always seeped from it, and while some protections could be found, most of those seeking the stones wanted the power for themselves. The Daezun were a hardier folk and more suited for such work and had the added benefit that they could not harvest the stones for their own use. The Daezun tolerated the healers and enchanters of Lerdenia because they could not use magics and some things only a mage healer could cure or fix. All healers that used magics had at least some Lerdenian bloodline. In truth, the two people needed each other, but Luthian would prefer it under his rule.
    More intense healings were the most frequent of Daezun requests. Enchantments to bring forth better stock and crops were also another important aspect of this trade off. It had been part of the terms of the peace treaty; trade of bloodstones for magics and items needed in a daily village life. Luthian held them in contempt. They seemed to have no use for the finer things in life like wine or silk. They were led by their elders, and most of those in power were women. Women ran their households and had an equal voice in their council of elders. Women had no place in leadership unless they held great power and definitely should not lead the home. He preferred them beneath him in his bed or silent in their service. They should serve the men in their lives, but this was not the Daezun way. The Daezun way, he scoffed aloud, they were little better than animals with no refinement.
    Henrick had too much fondness for his trips into the Daezun lands. It was one more reason Luthian held his younger brother in such contempt. He did not know how his brother could handle these overbearing, independent females. Luthian made sure all those in his stable were properly cowed before they were ever considered for breeding mares. If they had a tongue on them or a will that seemed unbreakable, he used them before the others as examples. More than one willful bitch had been left smoldering upon the floor, a visual example to others that would dare defy his commands. To him, they were a lesser people, a necessary blight upon the edges of the Lerdenian rule. If they were not fit for his Black Guard, then they should be slaves to the mage council’s whims. His lip curled with the strength of his contempt.
    Luthian walked to his desk and surveyed the island map. The Daezun currently held one third of the great isle. Despite having magic, Lerdenia had been unable to uproot the Daezun during the Great War. They had a way of melding into the landscape about them. They had made warrens like vermin, far beneath the ground where they could go undetected. Divining mages were few and far between as this was a magic not often used or even discovered in the bloodstones. When the Lerdenian council would find such a mage and bring them into battle, the Daezun archers seemed to have a knack for somehow seeking them out. One of the Black Guard had told him recently that he could feel such a mage when they were searching the fields of magic. Luthian traced the line on the great map before him. Lerdenia should own all the Great Isle and the Daezun should be nothing but slaves to Lerdenia’s pleasure.