Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,72

glanced up. "Since we can't follow Rith's trail, I assume we're heading to the Temple of the Ancients?"

Findris turned to glance at him from the front passenger's seat. "Actually, we are following Rith's trail, just not the way you're used to. I can follow the scent of the stones. But, yes, they're leading us straight to the Dark Mountains and the Temple of the Ancients, as you surmised."

"How soon will we catch up with them?"

"Rith's horses are fast. They're traveling at close to the same speed we are and they had a head start. It's going to be close."

Charlie glanced up into the rearview mirror. "You're looking a little green, Harrison. You want to move to the front?"

"No." It didn't feel like motion sickness, now that he thought about it. It felt like...magic. "It's the draggon stone." He wasn't sure how he knew that, but he did. Like a predator attempting to hypnotize its prey, the magic tugged at him, coaxing him to open up and let it in.

"It's calling to you, isn't it?" Ilaria asked. "I can feel it." She took the stone from around her neck and handed it to Findris. Almost at once that stomach-churning craving died down to a manageable twinge.

Charlie frowned. "What do you mean it's calling to him? How's it affecting you, Harrison?"

Hell. He'd never told anyone. He'd been rejecting whatever pull that stone had on him from the beginning, but he couldn't remember why.

"I've always felt something, whenever I touch any of the stones. The green stones repulse me but the draggon stone seduces. Don't ask me what it means."

"Do you know, Princess?"

"I have a theory." Ilaria leaned forward, her arms resting on her knees. A look of distaste crossed her face as her hands brushed the poncho. She glanced at Harrison. "Help me out of this thing, will you? I don't need it any longer." When he'd pulled the poncho over her head and tossed it into the back, she continued. "I've felt a latent power in Harrison from the moment I met him. Then I realized the draggon stone was attracted to him."

Findris made a sound of surprise. "The draggon stone only calls to royal blood."

Harrison frowned.

Ilaria met his gaze, smiling softly. "Exactly. It's said that Orisis, the last king of Esria, once impregnated a human. It was rumored that the blood of Esrian kings once flowed through human veins. I think it still does."

Harrison stared at her. "Orisis died, what...seven thousand years ago? Do you know how little of his blood would flow in any human descendant's veins?"

"Royal blood is strong."

He looked at his brother. "Charlie's blood's the same as mine. Why doesn't he feel the stones?"

"I've never touched the green ones," Charlie said.

Ilaria's hand stroked Harrison's knee. "Only one with royal blood would feel the pull of the draggon stone, but the blood alone isn't enough. The draggon stone chooses the ones it wants."

"What are you trying to say? That it wants to make me king?"

"No. You're still human. And it's already bestowed the power of leadership upon me. But it wants you, all the same."

"In what way?"

Her expression turned thoughtful. "I'm not sure. What happens when you touch it?"

"I feel like someone's literally pulled the rug out from under me, like my head's flipping end over end."

"I think it's trying to share its power with you."

Harrison frowned. In some part of his mind, he knew she was right. Maybe in some way he'd known from the beginning. The stone had told him and he hadn't wanted to listen. He'd hated all things Esri and had wanted nothing to do with them or their stones. But he'd lost that old antagonism somewhere between falling in love with Ilaria and flying through the gate into Esria itself.

"Give me that thing," he said to Findris, holding out his hand. Heaven knew they needed all the advantages they could get. Refusing additional power was nothing short of stubborn foolishness.

But the moment the stone landed in his hand, his equilibrium disappeared, his mind and body flying into a maelstrom of violence and pain. Colors flashed behind eyes without sight. Whistling screams sounded in ears without sound. Blood heating until it boiled in his veins, he tumbled through an endless, deadly nothingness.

"Harrison!"

From a distance, Ilaria's voice melded with Charlie's, sharp bursts of worry and fear.

The spinning stopped abruptly. And then there was nothing.
Chapter 15
"Harrison!" Ilaria grabbed him as he listed forward, pulling his head down on her lap. She wrenched the stone from his