Operation Hourglass: Iron Dragon, #4

By Tim Niederriter

Leoten is a prisoner of his oldest enemies in the DGD, but by choice.

 

His attempts to learn more about his rival, Fox, has gotten him involved in a drama he never knew existed. The vault of her master, Lord Ravensjoy, holds the key to the truth.

 

The Iron Dragon series continues with another chapter of intrigue, romance, and an exploration of monsters.

 

Read Operation Hourglass!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mental Cellar Publications
• Release date: May 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223967200

Tim Niederriter

Tim Niederriter loves writing fantasy blended with science fiction. He lives in the green valley of southern Minnesota where he plays some of the nerdiest tabletop games imaginable. If you meet him, remember, his name is pronounced “Need a writer.”

Book preview

Leoten is a prisoner of his oldest enemies in the DGD, but by choice.

His attempts to learn more about his rival, Fox, has gotten him involved in a drama he never knew existed. The vault of her master, Lord Ravensjoy, holds the key to the truth.

The Iron Dragon series continues with another chapter of intrigue, romance, and an exploration of monsters.

Chapter 1

The morning dawned pink on the barren horizon above the walls. A flicker of fire in the distance told Leoten knew the day to come would be painful, but matched by beauty. His eyes traced the cracks in the wall of his cell of gray stone. The jailers still thought it dampened his mental abilities and he let them hold onto that illusion of safety.

The flames brightened in the western sky. He squinted through the bars toward a light only slightly outshone by the increase of sunrise on the opposite edge of his view.

Beauty did not begin to describe the sight of a dragon in flight.

Kadron, the black iron dragon freed from Sotor over a year ago, released just a tongue of fire from his jaws as he swooped toward the tarmac constructed for his kind and the lesser sky-beasts to land as a staging area just south of Leoten’s window.

He glimpsed the shadow of the rider on the dragon’s back. She was clad in a thick parka fit for the frigid winds of northeast Drufan and the layers concealed her features. Yet, he knew her at once, and not from his mental sense. Since Leoten had flown into captivity on Kadron’s back, the dragon had only accepted one human as his commander.

Aunwe, he whispered. Welcome back.

A guard in an outdoor patrol parka walked past the cell door behind him. A submachine gun hung from his shoulder on a sling, at an easy angle to shift into firing position. Leoten noted an unhurried pace and a slight swing of the step. He’d grown accustomed to reading body language closely, so he needn’t activate his mind-eater abilities to know what his jailers intended. The Drufanite maintained his people’s reputation for terseness around enemies, but as he turned to continue his patrol, someone halted him with a barked order in a harsh tone.

Officer Verinio, said the voice in the trade language shared by many nations in the Dragonlands. Halt. Fox has brought us a new prisoner.

With respect, warden, shouldn’t she go to a different block? said Verinio. Unless–

Our new guest isn’t just any of the rebel Mirrimite’s so-called Templars, said the warden in a voice as cold as the stone of the walls and the tundra outside. She’s special.

The only prisoner in this block is special, too, Warden. You told me yourself when I arrived here. Please I–

Deliberate footsteps cut off the junior officer’s words.

Officer Verinio was it? said Aunwe in a firm, low voice from somewhere near the warden. Trust me. She served directly under Mirrim in Sotor, but I’ll handle them both if anything goes amiss.

Verinio looked down at his feet. Fox? I–Please forgive me. He’s in the cell to my right.

Aunwe’s footfalls softened and when she next spoke, it was with a hint of mirth. I know.

Of course, Fox. Verinio fumbled with a keyring as Aunwe entered Leoten’s field of vision.

She seemed as slim and statuesque as ever, despite much of her figure being concealed under a white parka and the black of an armored security jacket. Leoten noted the letter tucked into her breast pocket. His eyes moved from there to the length of dark hair that haloed her face with the hood of her parka thrown back.

She had a kind twist to her eyes. Her skin still glowed from being in the cold outside. The curve of her red smile rose when she noticed him looking at her.

Aunwe, he said.

Leoten. She spoke his name in a soft tone that sent a chill up his spine.

Their gazes met and they held each other at a distance for a few seconds. Then, the thick-bearded warden forced the new prisoner into view and spoiled the moment. Aunwe stepped aside to allow the warden to approach the cell with Verinio.

The woman the warden pushed in front of him wore the garb of the prison, thick tunic and pants, with no pockets or space to hide anything. She stumbled but kept her feet, and her dark eyes never ceased their glare. The warden opened the door with Verinio’s keys. He released the rag from her mouth that had kept her from speaking and then shoved her into the cell with Leoten.

She stiffened when she saw him. You. I should have killed you back then, for the sake of everyone enslaved in Sotor.

Nisha Gabor, said Aunwe in an icy voice. Silence.

Nisha whirled to face Aunwe. I'll never tell you where she is and you know it.

I agree, traitor. That's why I brought you here. Aunwe nodded to Leoten.

He's not going to help you, and even if he did, my true magic is strong enough to handle both of you and your parlor tricks.

Aunwe met Nisha’s temper with a calm, even expression. We’ll see about that.

He climbed from his cot to his feet. I'll test her first, with your permission, Fox

Aunwe smiled slightly and her fingers interlaced before her. Go ahead.

Nisha ignored Aunwe but kept her gaze on Leoten, teeth gritted.

He didn't intend to expose anything vital to the Drufanesh authorities, but maybe he could interrogate Nisha more gently than the prison guards inevitably would. Leoten approached the woman where she knew by the cell door. Aunwe stepped inside the bars and closed the way out behind her.

The skill-forge of the Temple of Colors had offered Leoten the powers associated with the disciples known as Red, hence his codename in the TCR. He could operate with more strength at close range, especially with touch contact. Leoten reached for Nisha’s forehead. She threw herself backwards but Aunwe blocked her escape route. Leoten's palm pressed against Nisha's skin and his fingers brushed her temples.

The shadowy mind of the dragon he had rescued years ago, when its body was dying in the vault under Volskorod helped him sharpen his sense of other minds. It also served as a partner to keep enemy mental tricks from overwhelming his defenses. He closed his eyes and focused on the