Origin (Scales 'n' Spells 1)

“Thank you,” Gunter said, breathing a heavy sigh of relief.

“Be careful, my friend. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and told Dieter, who’d paused at the door, “Get Baldewin. I’m going to call Rodrigo. He needs to know what we’re up against.” Dieter nodded once and then disappeared out the door. In all likelihood, Gunter and Melissande had gotten away safely, but Alric would take no chances.

Pulling up the Ice Clan king’s number, Alric winced for only a second as he pressed call. It was after midnight where Rodrigo was, but the ice dragon would understand the urgency.

The first sound he heard was Rodrigo’s snort when the call picked up. “We do not speak for fifty years, and now I have you calling to whisper sweet nothings in my ear as I fall asleep.”

“I almost wish that was the reason for my call, Rodrigo,” Alric murmured.

There was a sound of moving fabric, and Alric could easily imagine Rodrigo sitting up in bed, pushing the covers to the side. “What’s happened? Have they made another grab for your mage?”

“No, but we sent scouts into the town where we believe they’re hiding.”

“What did they discover?”

“Jaeggi.”

The line was silent for several seconds. Rodrigo said nothing. Alric couldn’t even hear the dragon breathing.

“That’s not possible,” Rodrigo murmured, his voice barely over a whisper.

“My scouts didn’t exactly meet a mage in the town who claimed to be of the Jaeggi Clan, but he said he saw the name spread across dozens of business signs. Jaeggi is not a common name here. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the same town that houses these mages also has human families with this name.”

“It’s no coincidence. It’s them,” Rodrigo snarled. “How is this possible? They were dead! They died in the war! We saw to it.”

“No, all we saw to was the destruction of Kaiser Jaeggi,” Alric corrected. “He saw to it that we took most of his clan into oblivion with him when we tried to get to him.”

Alric’s heart pounded in his chest so hard it was becoming difficult to catch his breath. His dragon was snarling in the back of his head, ready and willing to go right back into battle—not that there was an enemy in front of him to charge. How could this be happening? After all they’d already suffered, how could this damn clan be back to destroy their lives further?

A lengthy string of Portuguese curses filled his ears that left him flinching and wishing he could join Rodrigo with more than a few German ones. But it wouldn’t help. They had to plan now. Be smart. Uncover what the Jaeggi wanted with the mages and find a way to stop them once and for all.

“I want them dead, Alric. I want all of them dead. My family was destroyed by the Jaeggi. My clan—”

“I know. Mine too,” Alric said softly.

Rodrigo sighed loudly. “Sim. Yes, I know. Forgive me, my friend.”

Alric found himself unexpectedly smiling. He’d not known the king of the Ice Clan well before they’d stopped speaking so many years ago, but he couldn’t remember the dragon running so hot and cold. Of course, the reappearance of the Jaeggi Clan was enough to rattle them all.

“What are we to do? Should I send members of my clan to you?” Rodrigo offered.

Alric was already shaking his head. Not that he didn’t appreciate the offer, but the competition was already fierce for Cameron and his family. He didn’t want to add more tension by introducing members of the Ice Clan to the mix.

“The Burkhard clan greatly appreciates your offer, but not yet. Are you sure the Jaeggi are not operating in Brazil? I wouldn’t want to deplete your guard if the Jaeggi are there threatening any mages who might be hiding in your area.”

More Portuguese swearing. “You are right. I’m not sure. It’s not as if we were looking for them. My mages have only just begun new searches with the information you shared with us in regards to the Noh Clan and the other minor clans. The Jaeggi were tricky to locate before the war. I cannot imagine five hundred years of living in the shadows have made them any easier to uncover.”

“Too true. Be cautious and vigilant, Rodrigo. I will call again if I learn anything new.”

“Thank you, Alric. I hope your next call brings good news.”

The call ended, and Alric stood in the middle of his office for a moment, his mind still spinning. The Jaeggi were alive and trying to steal mages. How was this even possible? They’d just assumed the Jaeggi Clan had been wiped out during the war.

Dieter and Baldewin would see to it that Gunter and Melissande reached the castle safely. For now, he needed to speak with Cameron and his family. They needed to know who was after them.