Dawn Of Prophecy E-Book

Kenneth L. Powell

• Herausgeber: Next Chapter
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

At the dawn of human civilization, beings from another planet land on Earth. At first, they seem friendly enough, promoting peace and sharing their incredible magic with the habitants of their new world.

While human in appearance, Dragonians have the ability to transform into the towering beasts we know today as dragons. Carving out a canyon, they create their capital and claim their own piece of land.

After a terrible tragedy during the birth of the Dragonian king's son, they begin enslaving humanity, imposing despotic rule over their new home. As the dragons' hold on the land surrounding their black castle begins to tighten, the king's allies begin to question his motive, and his sanity.

In the middle of a plot against the king and his rule is a young, untrained prince; a hero some don't believe exists. As he becomes more and more entwined with those plotting for change, he must open himself up to learn what he's missed his entire life.

Soon, he will learn what it truly means to be free, and what it means to fight for those who cannot.

Leseprobe

DAWN OF PROPHECY

DRAGONKIND BOOK 1

KENNETH L. POWELL

CONTENTS

Special thanks to

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Character Name Pronunciation

Next in the Series

About the Author

Copyright (C) 2021 Kenneth L. Powell

Layout design and Copyright (C) 2021 by Next Chapter

Published 2021 by Next Chapter

Edited by Andrea Nordahl

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the author’s permission.

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Andrea Nordahl

Without you this really would never have happened. Your belief in me, and the fact that you point out things that should be obvious is truly inspiring.

Anthony Mijo

Man, we’ve been through a lot and we’re still friends. I appreciate all of your feedback in regard to this as well. Without it Dragonkind would not have become what it has. Thank you.

Tyler Henderson

You’re truly appreciated. What you did say before I moved on to the fifth and final draft really meshed well with what was said by others and helped this work get to what it is.

Matt Patterson

You really helped set my mind where it needed to be. Your beta read and subsequent feedback was awe inspiring and helped to shape this book into what it is now.

Kimber McLaughlin

Thank you for taking my vision for the cover and making it what it is today. You’re amazing.

Jasmine Harbison

Thank you for reading Dawn of Prophecy before it was finished. Your reactions meant the world to me and I’m happy you enjoyed it.

To everyone else that I didn’t mention…I really do appreciate everything you’ve done, whatever that was. This was a team effort in a lot of ways. To be an author requires extreme amounts of mental support and you all provided it in your own way.

PROLOGUE

Rhys stared vacantly at the grey stone castle standing on the highest peak of Stelladahn, his world. She called the castle Iridian Vale, citing that it was the most beautiful name she could think of at the time that truly represented the green hue of the stone. He stared, from the lush green-blue valley below, at the seemingly endless mountain, capped by castle walls and towers. He was there when she decided on the design with the brown dragon architect. He watched as the team of brown dragons used their magic to raise walls from the ground, much like plants from soil.

They claimed the area was so remote no one would dare attack the castle. Even if they did her red dragon army would advance and snuff out any resistance that the invaders offered. Stelladahn had seen an unprecedented level of peace during her reign and he felt crazy to want to see that end.

It must though he thought to himself as his mind flew toward the peak. She ruled, Queen of the Dragonian people, for thirty springs. Rhys thought back to his time with the Queen and his eyes, dark as the sun began setting and the sky turned an ember red, welled with painful tears. They were the best of friends as they grew up and now, he wanted her head.

His mind was filled with images of the destruction of their people, but no one believed him when he said it was Queen Marishka’s fault. They only laughed him out of every tavern in every town that he visited, the fallen hero of the entire planet of Stelladahn. His pain and suffering only fueled their laughter more.

He remembered the day she asked him to stand by her for all eternity. They were happy and loved each other. The bonding ceremony happened in front of the entire kingdom, consummating their love as the kingdom fled to their homes following the ceremony. He swore that he would never betray her, that he would love her for all time.

That had not changed. His love swelled with every breath like he thought hers did, but she had to be stopped. Her ideas would spell the end for everyone on their planet, and they would have to find another if she were allowed to continue.

That was the problem. Natural generations were no longer allowed to be the only generations. Marishka created a program that the green dragons were happily carrying out on the Queen’s orders.

Soldiers were a mix of mindless red dragons whose sole purpose was to follow the Queen’s orders and those that were created the natural way. Since he left five winters ago, the Queen had bred a large number of red dragons that stood in waiting. They waited for the monarch at the time to declare they were needed. They ate, slept, and worked with little regard to their own safety.

The Queen herself only filled the ranks that protected her with naturally born dragons. She obsessed with remaining in control and having the largest and greatest army in all dragonian history, but she trusted them only as long as they were housed far away from her. The mindless red dragons, the Birthed as they would come to be known, were the product of a green dragon experiment the Queen felt was necessary.

The grey stone wall stood firmly before him. As he stared at the ridge Rhys considered the fact that he could fly up and attack the castle directly, but he ran the risk of being killed before he could stop the Queen. Failure only meant their people would no longer be allowed to live on in a time that wasn’t too far away in the grand scheme of things.

As Rhys stared at the castle on top of the mountain he realized even if he walked the road to Iridian Vale his presence would be viewed negatively. He disappeared too long ago for the Queen to accept him as they once were, let alone as someone of a peaceful nature. His only option was to climb the cliff leading to the castle. Luckily, he would only need to expend a small amount of energy.

He continued taking each step as gently as he could. Every step he took on the soft green-blue grass left no print as his hand fluttered through the air. Each dip and bend of the hand caused the grass to revitalize itself and stick straight to the sky.

He loved the power that the green dragons held. The power to bring life into the world, the power to save lives threatened by violence, and the power to feed the masses. They were all about helping, but their power had been perverted by the Queen.

His attempt to dethrone the queen would be viewed as blasphemy by every dragon. The power of the black dragon, paired with their birth right, showered them with the undying praise and love from the masses. Eventually, they may view him differently, but he would likely not live long enough to see it. Another black dragon had yet to be born and his people would be without guidance until then, or so it was thought.

In all Dragonian history there had never been a gap between black dragon rulers. His steps continued to renew the dark green-blue grass below his feet. What would happen if there were no black dragon on the throne? He questioned himself.

Every step seemed to pull the rock wall closer to him, but his mind still considered the Queen. He exiled himself five winters ago, escaping to the other side of Stelladahn in order to be free of her perversion of the green dragon’s power. It wasn’t enough as her reach swiftly spanned to his front door half the planet away, much like his steps brought him to the rocky surface now standing before him.

His hand stretched to the rough natural wall before him as the sun made its final descent behind the mountain. Up there it’s still going to be light for a while. He thought to himself. His hand lowered, palm open and a platform of dirt and rock formed below.

The rock freed itself from the earth and rose into the air. His hand was covered in a brown murkiness as the rock slowly elevated him to the sky above. He turned and watched as the land expanded before him.

Forests, lush and green, could be seen for miles around as he continued to rise. Above the fields of leafy greens stood snowcapped mountains that stretched far beyond the trees, but none stood nearly as tall as the mountain he glided up. Eventually, shapes moved below as nocturnal creatures emerged from their homes to seek the sustenance of creatures who struggled in the dark. The sky above turned a deep purple as the pink streaks that it once housed took their final bow for the day, exiting the stage that was now the night sky.

He climbed for the next hour at a slow and steady pace. Rushing up the cliff side was pointless. It would only deliver him to his inevitable fate faster. He considered transforming once again. If he decided to take the form of his winged counterpart the brilliant light that his body exhumed would give his position away and they would be waiting for him.

Finally, he turned around and watched as the castle wall emerged before him and he stopped. His right hand remained open and pointing toward the rock that held him high in the sky. Falling now wouldn’t mean certain death in his case, he would simply transform, but he would light the night sky with the brilliant white-purple light that came with each instantaneous transformation.

His left hand raised before him taking on the brown murky shadow that covered his right. He stretched out toward the wall, stopping only inches from the surface. Granules of green sand fell to the ground from the wall, falling to the ground and forming a pile at his feet. Rhys hand drew an arch and a doorway formed in front of him.

He moved forward as the doorway etched deeper into the wall, each step taking longer than the last. It was only a few feet thick, but the conversion from solid stone to dust and sand took more time than he liked. This use of brown dragon magic was common in teams, but he was alone.

A deserted garden appeared before him. He could see potted plants with buds that had closed for their evening respite. A statue stood no more than twenty feet before him as the last grains of sand fell and he stepped in.

He considered blocking the hole with the rock that carried him up the cliff side before he released the magic and the rock fell back to the earth far below. The first step inside landed on the soft green grass Marishka imported from the southern lands. He was overwhelmed with memories of time spent with her, laying naked in the same grass as they snuggled and caressed each other in the waning sun.

He moved quietly, bent to the ground, pressing himself against the base of the statue. Footsteps could be heard as a red dragon appeared on the tan path that snaked the garden. Rhys watched as the dragon held a hovering flame before him, searching the area for anything out of the ordinary.

Rhys remembered the day that everything fell apart and the order that ruined it all. Marishka ordered any Birthed that experienced battle to be executed when the battle was over. The smell of burning flesh still haunted his dreams.

Rhys witnessed such an execution during a training session that the warriors of the army held. It was a horrific site from the start as the Birthed faced off against dragons of the army and they fought to a bloody end. The Birthed lost many of their kind, seemingly unaware that they were programmed not to kill, but allowed to be killed themselves.

After the battle, the Birthed lined up in front of regular soldiers who wore red tunics to separate themselves from the grey tunic clad Birthed. The red tunic dragons raised their hands and drenched the Birthed in fire as screams of pain and suffering filled the air. None mourned the loss of the Birthed as their bodies turned to ash and all that remained were charred skeletons laying in crumpled heaps.

When he returned to the castle he questioned and pleaded with her, only for her to brush off the loss. She told him that they were only tools necessary for war and they had no place in society once used. “I can always make more.” Her words echoed through his mind.

Rhys snapped back to reality and watched as the red dragon passed, moving to the next area. The light faded, leaving only shadows cast by the light of the moon to guide Rhys. Suddenly a root wrapped itself around his legs and he fell to the ground. “Who are you and how did you get in?” The green dragon hollered, unaware of the hole that was Rhys entry.

The voice emanated from somewhere ahead of Rhys, but he could see no one. Rhys quickly began unweaving the roots that bound his legs. Almost as soon as they began detangling, they stopped, and the voice spoke again. “Ah another green dragon.” And the dragon emerged from the shadows, a sword drawn and ready to pounce.

Rhys raised a hand creating a barrier of dirt between his attacker and himself. The green dragon's sword fell upon the shield. For a second the dragon was confused. “Rhys?” He asked his sword resting on the dirt.

“Aye, and I’d ask who you are, but alas I don’t care.” Rhys replied his hand raising toward the dragon and glowing a bright red, flames spewed from his hand.

The guard quickly raised a barrier of vines, that burned away as quickly as they grew. Rhys continued his attack on the dragon, the vines protecting him soon thinned and yellowed. The guard’s hand raised toward his shield of vines as the last layer burned away.

Rhys’ hand was subdued by newly formed roots, hardier than the vines strapping his legs to the ground. He moved his free hand toward the source of his dismay and burned himself free of them. His attention corrected only to find the guard had fled.

“A distraction? That was clever boy, too bad I still have to kill you.” Rhys screamed to the air around him. He closed his eyes and stretched his mind to every inch of the garden. He felt that familiar feeling of finding someone using the power of the silver, a slight tingle within his own mind.

The guard hid behind a statue sure he would be safe from another attack. Rhys raised a hand as his mind connected with the other dragon. You’re a worthy adversary. He announced to the other dragon’s mind. His hand twisted and the statue shuddered a second before it ripped from its base and fell. The guard uttered a small scream as blood pooled from within his broken body.

Rhys walked to the fallen statue, examining the body as it lay destroyed upon the ground. He knelt next to the green dragon mumbling words of forgiveness under his breath. Rhys raised a glowing red hand at the dead dragon and burned the body as was tradition.

The body soon fell to ash and a faint green light, one most would not see, rose to the air and eventually disappeared beyond the clouds. A tear fell from Rhys’ eyes and rolled down his dark cheek.

Marishka look what you’ve made me do. He said to himself. The guards body taken care of Rhys moved toward the interior of the castle. Marishka’s room would be on the top floor. He considered transforming, avoiding as much blood shed as he could, but everything screamed that still wasn’t the best course of action.

While dragons could use magic in their transformed, beastly state, they could do more magic in the form that his people had dubbed their human form. The dragon form could be used to destroy and fly, but its’ magic was basic. They could topple buildings and carry even the largest mammals on Stelladahn.

Red dragons could breathe fire over their prey. The other races could only manipulate the element with which they were linked. Still, he would be more productive in this form, so he once again stretched a hand toward the wall. The stone began melting away as Rhys moved his hand, shaping a door before him, creating an opening as tall as his reach.

Soft light poured from the hole a while later as he stepped inside the room. The doorway led to a storage closet filled with unused items. Chests of cloth and decorations littered the floor, making a path to what was once the only entrance to the room. The soft light that filled the room came from the cracks between the wall and door. He opened the door slowly, just a crack and peeked out.

To his surprise there were no guards waiting in the hall and the staircase was only a few feet from the door. It appeared that the commotion outside went unnoticed as he entered the large open space. The torches were lit, and he realized as he stepped further in the room that this was the throne room. The storage room he cautiously exited held the seasonal change of décor.

He stepped past the ornate stone steps and looked to an empty hall that housed the Queen’s throne. Marishka had judged many of her people from the confines of the gold laced wooden throne. Rhys moved to the front of the throne, the place where he would be judged, if this was that kind of moment. She’s renovated the castle. He realized. This should have been the waiting room, not the throne room. It was almost harmonious, no more waiting for judgement.

Before Rhys fled the castle, the throne room sat on the second floor in a far grander room than the one, he now stood in. The previous throne room was filled with ornate statues and paintings. It was bright with tall windows to let the natural light of day in. It was a place that one would enjoy being at the end of the day.

This new throne room was dull and the most ornate piece within was the throne that culminated in a halo of gold raised above the Queens head. Truly the halo was the only pleasant piece in the entire room as it was decorated with gold, silver, and many different colors of gem. The wood was grey, almost blending with the stone within. She’s changed the coloring of the walls.

The Queen was proclaiming her holy nature with that halo. Everyone else was drab and did not deserve her time. The throne said to each person that passed before it they should feel honored to merely stand in her presence. Rhys considered destroying the halo for a moment, his hand even took on the brown aura that would allow him to do so with just a flit of the wrist, but he chose not to.

He moved back to the staircase and began his ascent. His mind raced to ideas of where Marishka may be. The obvious answer was that she was in her own quarters, four flights above the new throne room. Rhys checked every floor that he reached.

The old throne room was still magnificent he realized as he gawked at the large open room. The moonlight shone through the stained glass, giving it a blue tint as the light stretched across the floor. Rhys saw the pews that once allowed those who came before the Queen to sit stacked in a corner.

He saw his throne, where he once advised the Queen on the matters brought before her, crushed where it once stood. Rhys realized Marishka had transformed and crushed the throne with her dragon’s strength. More tears fell from his eyes as he turned to the next staircase and moved to the next floor.

A new door stood before him, and his mind puzzled with where this door may lead. He opened it and witnessed something almost as beautiful as the old throne room. He found himself looking out over the valley below. Marishka removed most of the next floor replacing it with a balcony. He admired the serene nature of the world before him.

The moon hung low in the sky lighting the valley at the base of the cliff. Rhys stepped outside, the door closing behind him and admired the beauty of the castle’s natural surroundings. Marishka wasn’t going anywhere he thought as he took a moment to view what lay before him.

His mind turned to what the next day may hold as he stared at the sheen from the snow-covered peaks beyond the valley. Tomorrow this will be chaos and it will all be my fault. He didn’t want to admit that Marishka had created something beautiful. That would mean he could be wrong about everything, though he knew he wasn’t.

Dragons were not just tools to be wielded and thrown away when their use expired. The Birthed were people just like him and Marishka, the only difference was the way they were born. He needed to tear down her rule to pave the way for a clear and peaceful future for everyone.

“I knew you would be back.” The soft sultry voice emanated from above him.

Rhys hung his head before slowly turning toward the castle. She stood in a dark green gown leaning on the rail to the balcony. His heart skipped a beat when he saw her. The love he felt for her pushed through the anger, if only momentarily.

“I’ve come to end this madness with the Birthed.” Rhys said to the Queen.

Her smile was filled with sorrow. “My heart breaks every day we are not together my love. I will not discontinue the creation of my army just for you.”

His heart ached. Once again, his head lowered, the greyed locks of hair fell forward. Tears began flowing as he realized he never really mourned the loss of their relationship.

Had he been looking at her he would have realized that her almond shaped eyes were also shedding tears. Marishka had dedicated her life to the protection of her people and the only person who ever came close to understanding was crying just like her.

His beard softened as tears flooded his whiskers. He looked up at her, his bloodshot brown eyes met her dark green eyes. “I still love you, but I can’t stand idly by while you do these things. Leave the Birthed project behind, let those that exist live on and we can be together again.” He begged.

She smiled slightly at the brown skinned dragon defiantly standing before her. “You’ve aged since we last saw one another. Your hair was darker than the night, now it screams of old age.”

Rhys stared at the ground. “I’ll ask only one more time my love. Leave them be, stop creating them and let the ones you have created live a long and fruitful life.”

She stood up, tears staunched, her voice cracking ever so slightly. “Kill him.” She announced as she left the balcony.

Rhys’ mouth fell. She was lost to him forever and this point was made clearer as two dragons fell to the ground before him. He stared at them both, drawing his long-serrated sword. “Tell her one thing for me if you win?” He asked the dragons.

The blue armored dragon nodded as the red only stared.

“Tell her I will lover her until the end of time.” His right hand grasped the air as it once again was consumed in a red aura. Instead of a stream of fire flowing from it, the length of fire formed a sword which he held at his waist. He stood there for a moment, waiting for the dragons to make their first move. When neither did he moved swiftly moved to them.

The red dragon met him, dropping his double handed claymore toward Rhys’ head. Rhys made no move to block it, instead simply moved out of the way. He thought he was safe until the claymore swung past Rhys and rapidly changed direction. The red dragon was quick Rhys realized as he rose his left hand to meet the oncoming sword with his own.

The blue dragon’s hands danced in the air and a stream of water left a small pouch hanging from his belt. While Rhys’ sword met the other dragons, the water split into three separate entities and, as the dragon moved her whole body, froze entirely. Three sharp icicles hovered before her as Rhys pushed the claymore from his own sword.

He was distracted by the quickness of the red dragon’s attacks when he heard a soft whistling streaming through the air toward him. Instinctively Rhys raised his fire sword and poured more of his energy into it. The spike that would have impaled the back of Rhys’ head melted, instantly turning to steam.

The claymore thrust toward Rhys. He raised his leg and kicked downward, pushing the blade into the ground. It dug deep into the green stone floor and the red dragon suddenly jerked forward, tumbling over. Rhys thrust toward the red dragon.

Another icicle whistled at the distracted Rhys. With one hand the blue dragon manipulated the icicle. The other summoned a pool of water to the space between the red dragon and Rhys’ sword. The pool froze instantly, momentarily stopping Rhys’ blade from ending the red dragon’s life. Rhys again melted the oncoming projectile with his fire blade, his serrated blade failing his attack as it stuck in the ice.

The ice shattered as the red dragon crashed to the ground with a dull thud, screaming as his shoulder landed first with all of his weight and slid. Rhys adjusted his movement toward the place where the red dragon lay, once again thrusting his sword toward him. The third spike entered between Rhys’ ribs and hung from his body like a new limb.

Rhys fell to his side, his black serrated blade falling to the ground next to the red dragon. The fire sword disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Immense pain filled his body. Just have to heal myself. He thought as one of his hands glowed an eerie blue. The shard of ice slowly slid from his ribs, blood flowing heavier with every inch the shard moved.

He raised himself up, the shard of ice melting in a pool of blood, forgetting the other dragons existed for the moment. Rhys’ hands changed from blue to green, hovering over the wound and the flow of blood began to slow. He was dizzy from the loss of blood and thankful he had time to heal.

His hands fell to the ground, severed at the wrist and Rhys’ eyes opened wide. He didn’t scream as he stared at his hands laying there, though the pain embraced him. He looked from the bodiless hands to the claymore that raised from his side to eye level.

This is it. He thought as the claymore passed over his head moving somewhere behind him. He stared at the silver lit horizon. He could hear the sword pull back some distance that he couldn’t determine. At least I get to see this beautiful scene before I die. He thought as his blood pooled at his knees.

The sword moved quickly toward his neck when a voice yelled stop. Marishka mournfully moved toward the incapacitated dragon. Rhys turned his head back as the blade opened the skin on his neck. The blood trickled down as he watched her approach both guards.

“Leave us.” She said softly.

The red dragon draped his arm across the blue dragon’s shoulder, and they retreated as Marishka knelt at her lovers’ side. Rhys stared at her, words escaping him as he began to fall over. Her hands stretched out, catching him as he began falling back. His eyes searched her tear-soaked face for some semblance of strength only to find neither could look at the other without crying.

“You fool.” She said as she watched him begin to fade. “I loved you, but my people always come before my own feelings.”

Rhys coughed and stared into her silver rimmed eyes. “I love y…” He coughed and blood splattered her face. She did not flinch. “You.” He finished.

She leaned down and her lips met his. They lost strength as he faded from the world. Gently she lay his head on the ground and stood up raising a hand to summon her guards.

A light engulfed Rhys’ body as it raised and faced her. His eyes were dull and lifeless, and her head rang heavily. The entire castle cried out in agony. She would find later that the entire planet felt Rhys’ death.

Queen Marishka stared at the dragon she loved as blood dripped from her nose and ears. Rhys’ mouth began moving, but nothing escaped his lips. She cried out as the ringing in her head increased, her tears fell red.

Our people will flee the planet because of the things you began. The world will be filled with the walking dead and a green dragon will control them all. The end of dragons is nigh at the hands of my heir who will first take his own mothers’ life. The last black dragon king will rule with a mind that is filled with insanity and pain because of this loss. He will follow in his own fathers’ footsteps and enslave the people. My heir will bring about the destruction of the angry mourner and shortly after will bring about the end of all dragons. Heed my warning and end your evil ideals to save Stelladahn from the destruction that you began.

Rhys’ body fell to the floor as the ringing in Marishka’s head stopped. The castle, and the world, fell silent as everyone recovered, bloody and shaken, from the painful prophecy of a dead dragon. Marishka fell to the ground, a black mist extruding from her hand moved to the red dragon kneeling somewhere behind her.

The guard slowly walked to the balcony, raising his hand at the body. Flames engulfed Rhys’ and as the physical form burned a bright white-purple light escaped. Marishka watched as the soul lit up the night sky and all the land around, fading only when it finally left the planet. The red dragon stopped burning the body and turned toward his Queen. “Everyone received that message?” He asked in a trance like state.

Marishka covered her face as the bloody tears once again turned clear. She couldn’t end things now, no matter the risk. These were ravings of a dragon driven crazy by the power that he possessed. How much of it would be true she couldn’t tell, but she would not end her project, regardless of other beliefs. Green dragons dared not use their magic to raise the dead, they had morals and a code that forbade such acts. She walked to the balcony as guards cleaned up Rhys remains from the blackened ground. Clouds rolled in quickly and rain fell from the sky as even Stelladahn mourned her loss.

CHAPTERONE

The wind rushed through his golden-brown hair as he ran full steam through the forest. Balls of flame flew past him, some crashing into the trees and others missing him completely, while he ducked and dodged his way through the forest. He looked back, only for a second as his purple rimmed blue eyes caught site of the bald person throwing the fire.

There were five chasing him. They were cloaked in black and blended well with the night. The bald one was only easier to see because the moon reflected off of his scalp. The others covered themselves, so he only saw shadows moving at each of his sides.

The ground quickly rose in front of him. Instead of changing his course he simply ran with the ebb and flow of the land before him. The ground flattened as pillars of dirt and rock shot from the ground.

He looked to his right and saw a person whose hand pointed palm first toward him. Clearly, he controlled the rock and dirt that seemed to have a mind of its’ own. The hood fell back as he picked up speed.

Galdaro. He thought to himself. Of course, it would have to be you. More pillars of dirt shot from the ground toward him as he bobbed and weaved around and under them. He shot Galdaro a look and watched as he simply smiled with his pale chocolate lips stretching wide across his face.

Galdaro was only playing with him, and he knew it, but he had to keep fighting to escape their grasp. Another pillar appeared before him. A mist formed around the pillar as it rose from the ground.

He realized the female that trailed on his left was about to attack. The mist joined together forming a ball of water that darted toward him. He dove to the ground. The water made a hard turn and darted toward him.

He jumped back to his feet as pillars rose and water rushed. I can’t keep this up. He thought to himself. Then his head began tingling and a soft voice ran through his mind.

Give up already. You know we’re going to catch you. The voice sang through his head, repeating as soon as it finished.

He kept running, the noise driving him mad as it hummed through his brain, echoing off his skull. Somewhere behind him was Hans, the only one of the group capable of implanting anything within his head. He only had to outlast their attacks and the well of energy each had.

The ground beneath his feet suddenly transformed into sand as the water split and changed into orbs. Soon ice zoomed past his head as the female and Galdaro did everything to distract him. The voice relentlessly ran through his head. He was making progress, somehow still running, though his feet sank deeper with every step, even as small balls of ice pelted him in regular intervals.

The Hunters were not making this attempt to escape easy. Though the fireballs stopped, every ball of ice that shattered at his feet, or into his back and side, and every time the ground shifted slightly wore him down. His exhaustion caused him to stumble more frequently.

He traveled forty-five miles this time, but it still wasn’t far enough. The group that chased him always caught up no matter how hard he tried. He needed training and strength before he would escape.

The ground rose and he adjusted only to have it suddenly fall as he placed all his weight on the crumbling ground below. He tumbled, rolled, and fell on his face. A vine raised from the sand and wrapped around one leg at his thigh, pinning it to the now solid ground.

His free leg pushed against the ground, desperately trying to pull free, or break the vine that entangled it. Another vine snaked up and wound itself around his free leg. He was secured to the ground. His arms stretched forward, clawing at the sand. Though he pulled with all his might, sand filling his hands, he did not move. Two more vines appeared from the ground and secured the struggling limbs.

Galdaro stood over him first. “Good job. You were quite impressive.” He smiled as his white teeth shined in the moonlight.

He submitted, watching each from the corner of his eye as they passed, except the bald one and the green. Anger filled him as he mentally berated himself.

The mentalist sent him another message. It’s not your fault you’re so weak at only fourteen winters. His mind ran blank. Of course, you could be any age and we’ll still catch you. A laugh echoed in his head, and he cursed Hans.

Baldy shot an angry look at him as he approached. “Your father will have you back, boy.” He said.

“My father wants to ensure the prophecies of long before we arrived here never come true.” The boy shouted, returning the dragons glare. “Of course, you’ll never be anything, but a slave to my father Dego.”

An ugly smile crossed Dego’s face as he walked past. “Bora the boy is yours. Hans, Galdaro and Padyn, meet in the clearing up ahead.” He laughed as he stole one last glance at the boy tied to the ground.

“King Ocelot will no longer accept your insubordination.” Bora berated as the vines pulled the boys arms to his sides. Soon his entire body was wrapped. “You will be taken to him and that will be the end of your story.” He said loud enough for the others to hear.

The vines snapped as he leaned to pick the boy up, slinging him over his shoulder. “You ought to have listened to me the first-time. I tried to save you from this.” He whispered to his captive. “They believe I’m one of them and you’re making it difficult for me to appear as anything else.”

It had only been five days. Better than last time, but he still could not manage more than forty-five miles. “I’m not fast enough.” He couldn’t help, but well up just a bit.

“Claskan has offered to train you, yet you continue to flee before he has a chance. Allow him and his training will help you control your magic and transformation. Eventually your father will have us paralyze and possibly kill you.” He paused for a moment.

“I care about you, but my duty is to the King. I would dishonor my family and I refuse to do that without good cause. I know things have been rough and I will do what I can.” Bora was firm, yet compassionate with every word he spoke. His shaggy hair hung in his face, which he kept clean shaven. As he spoke a sweet essence seemed to envelope him. He opened his hand slightly and the vines grip loosened.

They walked to the clearing where Bora lay the boy on his side. He watched as the five people glowed, each a different color. The display was brilliant as the area lit with an unnatural twinkling luminescence.

The transformation was also instantaneous. Where once stood several people now stood five towering dragons. The green and red dragons stood above two of the others, but the largest by far was the brown dragon Galdaro, who stood far above the treetops. His wings spread over the group as though it protected them from the elements, though the night was clear and little wind blew.

They all stood at least a dozen feet above the boy, staring down at the tiny bundle. The green dragon, Bora, scooped him up with a grace that only someone with no ill will would. Bora was the gentlest of his captors.

The dragon’s arms acted as legs when they weren’t holding something, now he simply stood on three massive paws while holding the bundle in the air. His tail swooshed at leisure, almost as though he weren’t in control of its actions. He was a magnificent giant with bright emerald scales that did no justice for the battle hardened nature of dragon scales. Bora’s body was slender, unlike the broad chested red dragon that stood next to him.

The red dragon roared once as it stared at the bundle. Its face was wide and looked knowing, but red dragons were nothing, but brutes. The face of the dragon had leathery tentacles that ran down at the tip of its snout, forming a long yellow mustache that ran far beyond the dragon’s jaw. It snorted, flame leaving its nostril in a show of power, and walked away from Bora.

The smallest of the five dragons was the blue dragon. She stood at half the height of the red and green dragons and by that standard the boy assumed half the weight. Though she was the smallest, though she was still five times taller than he was in his current form.

Her arms were thin and looked like they could barely hold her up. Every step the dragon took was graceful and showed no sign of struggle. Her hind legs were muscular, leaving him to think they bore most of her weight.

The dainty nature of the blue dragon showcased the beauty which she possessed. The boy watched as she stretched her wings out and prepared to fly. Before he realized what happened she was gone, a blue flash darting into the sky. No doubt the blue dragon was the quickest of the group and her race was known to be the fastest of all dragons.

Soon the red and green dragons followed suit, raising to the sky, the green dragon’s tail flailing back and forth in rhythm with the flap of its wings. The red dragon flew ahead of Bora and the boy, its veiny wings raising and lowering faster than the green dragon’s own thin wings. The dragon was a dark dull red, like the eyes of a battle-hardened veteran who lost everything and whose life no longer mattered to them.

He imagined the red dragon could carry seven or more people side by side on its shoulders, whereas the green dragon who held him could maybe carry three. The two species were so similar, yet so different in nature. Bora allowed Dego to move ahead, the boy knew he was faster from previous encounters they had.

He turned his attention back to the ground which moved further away from them, as the silver dragon spread its multitude of tiny wings. Its silver scales glinted in the moonlight blindingly as it slithered quickly using its whole body to leap to the sky. To the boy’s surprise, though it wasn’t the first time he witnessed the dragon fly, it wormed its way into the air. Unlike the other dragons in the group, the silver dragon’s body was snake like and had no legs.

It was simply all tail, which only the green and blue dragons seemed to possess. The silver dragons were unique in shape and the way they flew. They never seemed to use their wings for actual flight, only during takeoff and the boy felt that was just a reflex. Once in the air they slithered like a snake and it was assumed they used magic to fly, but none knew for sure.

Finally, he watched as the largest dragon raised and lowered its massive wings. The brown dragon had the same build as a red dragon only twice the size. Its shoulders could easily hold fifteen or more people.

All around it a massive windstorm picked up as its wings raised and lowered. Trees rustled, some toppled over. The area surrounding the massive dragon became dark and hazy as dust and dirt filled the air. The brown dragon was easily the heaviest and every time one took flight the area around it felt the effect. Its sheer size and weight made it the slowest dragon. Unless they were being attacked no other dragon flew nearby. Those that tried were simply swept away by the massive void left by the dragon’s wings.

The boy’s only thought was escape, even from this height he could still transform, but it would only last for so long. Even if he did the Hunters would just catch him. He needed training, but Claskan was his fathers’ military advisor and best friend.

* * *

They flew for nearly three hours. The sun just began to break the horizon, giving a golden glow to all that surrounded the dragon escort. Traveling low he watched as forest turned into plain and plain turned into valley. Currently they flew over a river which the blue dragon, who slowed considerably for the others, skimmed the surface.

Her wings created mist with every pump as she zig-zagged the surface. This, the boy thought, must be the natural behavior of a blue dragon. She was unconcerned with the others, knowing that she could catch up to the silver, red and green at any time. The brown dragon was still some distance behind, flying higher in the air.

Even though Galdaro flew high, the land below felt the effects of his flight. Each powerful flap the dragon took caused the wind to kick up in the valley below. He flew further back out of respect for the others, and to make their flight safer.

The rules that the King of all dragons implemented regarding dragon flight only restricted the places brown dragons could fly over and land. They were not allowed to fly over a town, they had to either divert their course, or transform and walk through the town and several miles beyond. Regarding landing, the dragons had to be at least a mile and a half from villages, towns and cities before they could do so.

The brown dragons could not fly over the King’s castle either unless it was in defense of the castle. Galdaro knew and followed these rules and the boy watched as, some miles back, Galdaro changed course and flew toward a forest that would take the punishment of his flight, without dispersing it to the castle. The black castle stood less than a mile away, but the forest was considered a designated landing area for the massive dragons.

Bora flew low over the land, giving the boy a better, unobstructed view. Leaving the river behind, he could see the slave town only a short distance away. As they approached the boy could see a wall of farms a mile thick surrounding the town.

In the fields stood slaves, wearily making their way to check crops. He did not understand why the slaves were forced to grow these crops when the green dragons could simply use their magic. The magic would grow fruit, or vegetable in minutes, saving everyone time and labor.

Yet here they were, slaving over the field’s day in and day out. The boy had yet to see other towns within the kingdom in his fourteen winters, but he heard that many of them had no farms and used their slaves in other ways. He watched as the slaves in the fields looked up to the dragon’s approaching, not in fear and not in awe, but in quiet acceptance of the people that came from the sky only fourteen falls ago.

The stare lasted only a few seconds before they returned to their laborious work. Beyond the many fields that surrounded it lay the town. Brown stone domiciles stood no more than twenty feet tall, in a half-circle that stretched from one side of the rock wall to the other.

The wall acted as the castle’s protection from the people, and sight of the people from the slave town. As they flew over the boy looked at the miles of buildings, housing two to three slaves, each the same with an alley between each row of buildings. The roads were wide enough to fit two red dragons, side by side while transformed.

He watched as guards in colorful tunics walked the streets in their human form. Most wore red tunics, but some blue and green were peppered in for unique situations. Unlike the Hunters, who wore black cloaks while hunting their prey, each dragon was color coordinated to the color of their dragon scales while transformed.

To pass the time he counted each row of buildings arching toward the castle’s protection from the morality of the slave town. By the time they approached the stone archway the boy counted forty rows of buildings consisting of several dozen buildings in each row. There had to be over five hundred slaves living in the town.

The boy had no idea where the guards slept or enjoyed their days off. None of the buildings in the slave town looked like they housed the guards. There were two, slightly tall enough for a human to pass through, doorways on either side of the stone arch. The wall was too thick for the doorways to be tunnels to the other side, especially when the only opening in the wall was mere feet from the doors.

This, he thought, was where the guards slept, ate, and enjoyed most of their off time. Dragons had to inhabit the insides of the wall. He watched the slave town disappear as they passed over the archway.

It was the only way for a human, or dragon, to walk to the castle from this side of the mountain. The rock wall stood hundreds of feet above the town, but as they flew past, he realized the wall was only a quarter mile wide. The road was made of smoothed dirt and moved from the slave town, toward the castle bridge and through another, smaller archway that marked the entrance to the forest Galdaro had flown to. It spanned a total of five miles from the slave town to the forest entrance.

Passing the archway, he looked at the castle in the growing morning light. The golden rays that touched the castle seemed to be absorbed by the black stone of the castle walls. He admired the construction from this height, it looked peaceful and as though it weren’t the architect of so much misery.

The golden light that wasn’t absorbed by the dark stone showcased its crisp edges and lines clearly. A bridge connected the castle to the land, stretching nearly a mile into vast open water before reaching the square structure, a single tower jutting above its walls. The pillar that held the massive castle stood nearly a hundred feet above the dragon-made lake, though the sheer size of the lake made it appear to be an ocean.

The pillar was the exact dimensions of the castle, giving it the appearance of walls that sprouted from the lakebed. The castle itself was not very tall, it stood only three stories. The entrance was a gate that met the bridge. It was always attended by one guard, sometimes two. The area surrounding the gate was the only section of the pillar that extended past the castle walls.

The castle was a perfect square with only one massive opening near the entrance, where any dragon could land, assuming the castle was under attack. This was known as the courtyard and several transformed red dragons could stand side by side. In the event that the castle was being attacked brown dragons would have to take turns, transforming and lifting off.

The tower was his home. He could see it just over the rock wall, but the fields the slaves worked, and the slave town were never visible from where he sat high above the rest of the castle. It was situated in the center back wall of the keep, where it rose a few extra stories above the roof. He would have to return to that room, thoroughly undisturbed.

Bora descended into the courtyard. Dragons sparred below as they landed, training for the war they may fight someday. His mind clouded with anger that he would once again need to face his father. His mind closed around this sole thought as Bora’s first paw landed on the hard stone floor.

His mind raced at the thought of the new insults his father would throw at him. He only wished that the angry ruler of this planet would simply forget that he existed. For that matter he wished Claskan would also forget about him.

CHAPTERTWO

Claskan waited as the group arrived. He received word that the Hunters were approaching the outskirts of the slave town and had been waiting in the courtyard since. A stern look rested on his face most days, but today it was etched deeper, and he was exhausted and worn down.

Those that knew him best could see the exhaustion just by looking in his eyes. Normally they were a bright and vivid green similar to still ripening fruit. Today, and every day for the past few summers, they dulled and blended into a dark grey green. The normal color of his eyes would have accentuated the dark circles resting below, which seemed to be a natural part of his gaunt face.

He had grown his beard out to a full froth of facial hair. The dragon normally kept his face clean and smooth. It was as though he had given up to the people around him and did not care. The beard was a darker brown than the unkempt hair on Claskan’s head.

The red dragon landed first, glowing bright red as he instantly changed into his human form. The rest, glowing as they landed, also changed, but remained in formation. Dego approached Claskan. “Forty-five miles.” A slight look of disgust plastered across his face.

“Further than last time, but no matter how far he goes you’ll be there.” Claskan was unconcerned with the sarcastic under tones that harmoniously left his lips.

“His scent will never escape me.” Dego replied, blissfully ignorant of Claskan’s tone, staring back at the bundle Bora gently set down. “May we be dismissed?”

“You and your men are excused, except Bora. I wish to speak with him.” Padyn, the blue dragon, Hans and Galdaro walked off without a second glance, only Dego remained, concern and anger filling his face.

“Sir.” Dego said.

Claskan looked at him. “What is it Dego?” Irritation peppering his voice.

“We all need to train.”

They just returned from a five-day training session, and he wants to train them more. Claskan thought, mentally shaking his head, physically remaining still. “You’re training will no longer be necessary for Bora, but we will get into that later.” He stated firmly ending the conversation.

Dego refused to let it go. “He’s part of my team and you don’t get to decide what happens regardless of your status.”

Claskan looked at Dego, studying his face. “I am the Military Commander and the person you speak to before speaking to the king.” Claskan’s face flashed red for a moment while he spoke to Dego. “You have no authority and will do as I say.”

Dego opened his mouth to speak but was shut down by Claskan. “If I order something your only words to me are ‘YES SIR’.” Claskan yelled at the dragon. “Anything less will be considered an act of insubordination and I will have you placed in chains for that.”

Dego stared dumbfounded at Claskan. He refused to move for a moment, opened his thin mouth slightly and chose not to speak. With no words left he turned around, an idiot stare replacing the anger on his face. Every step he took from the courtyard caused his skin to turn a deeper shade of red. As he exited, walking up the stairs and away from the courtyard, Bora approached setting the boy down like a suitcase.

Bora stared at Claskan, a slight smirk sitting on his full tan lips. “A little much don’t you think?” He asked.

Claskan, who watched Dego whipped on Bora. “I don’t appreciate idiots.” His reply was unintentionally still overly authoritative by his conversation with Dego.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Bora laughed. “I’ve known you most of my life, I’ve never seen you act like that.”

He never acted like that, but the course of the last few springs had drastically changed the way he thought of his people, his job, and his King. He followed the rules most of his life. Only once did he disobey, when the current King, Ocelot, asked for his help freeing their people from Jorcalador, the despotic ruler of Stelladahn.

His people saw peace and freedom unlike any other in their long history. Ocelot followed through with all his promises and was benevolent to a fault. When war broke out and they had to flee Stelladahn in search of another planet to call home, Ocelot was still kind. When their son was brought into the new world and his bond mate passed a switch flipped within the King.

* * *

Fourteen and a half seasons ago Ocelot and Claskan waited outside Ocelot and Emareth’s chambers. They spoke little as the sound of Emareth’s pain filled the halls. “The green dragons will take care of her.” Claskan reassured his friend.

Ocelot’s head rested on his breast as he inspected some point on the ground. He slowly nodded and said nothing. Each of her screams were like metal claws running against a metal surface.

They stayed this way for several hours. Listening to the pain but knowing that everything was still fine because of them. It wasn’t until everything went silent that Claskan looked at Ocelot. Pride started filling Ocelot’s face and they rushed to the door.

Nothing could have prepared them for what they saw as the door swung in. The child was silent, but alive. The green dragons lay in heaps as though they were shoved away from the Queen.

The Queen herself was unconscious, her lower half a bloody pulp. Claskan watched as Ocelot screamed in terror, rushing to her side. “NO!” He shouted over and over, gripping Emareth’s hand, unintentionally crushing the brittle bones within.

Claskan watched without realizing he wasn’t moving. He was frozen to the spot and could not speak or scream, though he wanted to. His piercingly bright green eyes stared in rabid disbelief as the King fought to wake the dragoness he loved.

Moment after moment he tried to will himself to look away from the pain and suffering. He wanted to reach a green dragon. They needed to be woken from the hell standing present and accounted for before him. Still, he could not move.

Ocelot shook the Queen feverishly, yelling at Claskan to do something. The pleas fell on deaf ears as a green dragon finally began to stir on his left. The dragon rushed to the King, begged him to release her and yelled for his companions to help the Queen.

The others moved as quickly as they could to the Queen and Claskan finally moved of his own volition. Never had he frozen in even the most frightening situations. He was pinned down on Stelladahn, the undead jabbing their swords at him, biting at his flesh as he struggled to push them away from him. Still, he wasn’t frightened.

The Queen laying on what looked like her death bed wrenched his heart. The bed was crimson, and the once white sheets ruined. He couldn’t believe his eyes as he tried to grab her other hand, only to be shoved away by green dragons trying to do their work. The dragon shoving him away yelled at him in slow motion to Get him out of here. Claskan didn’t know who the dragon was speaking to.

He exited the room, shock still filling his entire being, Claskan fell to his knees. He loved Emareth as a sister and felt the loss Ocelot likely felt all the same. Tears fell as rivers of salty liquid poured down his face. She was going to die and there was nothing he could do about it.

“Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, waahh, aaaaaah.”