Legacy Of The Dragonkin
Sample Chapter
By Dan Wright
Not to be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system—except by a reviewer to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web—without permission from the author.
By Dan Wright
Not to be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system—except by a reviewer to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web—without permission from the author.
Chapter 3
Drewghaven Burns
Drewghaven was by far the most industrious country in the Republic of Garmany – it was considered the leader in technology and advanced weaponry. It was the country that thrived the most during The Age of Science, and to this day, virtually every country would trade with them to have their powerful weapons of war.
Despite this, Bluden was one of the quieter towns, although it was often confused with a city as it was so large. Very little went on there and most nights would pass by without so much as a sniff of trouble.
This was not one of those nights.
An explosion from within a large building sent flaming debris everywhere, the flames jumping to other buildings and spreading quicker than anyone could anticipate. Those who were lucky enough not to be caught in the explosion ran for their lives, and their screams carried out across the night air. Those who were not so lucky when the explosion started would litter the outside of it, either burned to a crisp or in pieces.
Several more explosions took place throughout the town, whose inhabitants by now were fully awake and realising they were under siege.
A hooded mob moved as one cohesive unit through the streets, now that the explosions had alerted their presence. They looked like a black beast thundering through the town, rusty blades and stone clubs as its teeth. They threw their torches towards the buildings, spreading the fire further. The people ran screaming from the monster, but there was no sanctuary. The mob laughed in unison, mocking the people’s feeble attempts to escape. Their clubs and crude weapons smashed into whatever they could – be they windows, doors, or even people. Those that were still in their homes were dragged out and either beaten or worse. The town guard hurried to the streets, but were completely unprepared for an assault of this magnitude. Their blood stained the ground in the same way as the people of Bluden.
This town had become the latest in a sea of bloodshed that was spreading across the country – the people just the latest victims.
But help was forthcoming, for black armoured riders gazed down from the hilltops, watching the siege unfold. The fire would reduce the town to rubble were it not dealt with soon. Each rider’s fingers kept a tight grip on their long spears, eager to puncture a skull with it should they be given the order. At the forefront was their shadori leader – General Taurok.
Lydia Taurok.
Though born from a human mother and shadori father, she had now matured into a fully-fledged shadori (which was not uncommon amongst half-breeds). In her hand she had a katana with a hilt that was encrusted with fine jewels. She was both the first woman to ever fight in the Imperial army – let alone gain the rank of General – and also the youngest General at just fifteen years of age. Though she commanded respect as any General would, there were some who believed she had only attained this rank due to her being the granddaughter of the Emperor.
By her side, another woman stood and looked down with hands on her hips, her long, golden hair blowing in the breeze. She wore dark clothing, with traces of gold laced into the material; a small crown adorned her forehead. The blood of dragons ran through her veins – for she had power derived from the mighty dragon Karana, the Storm Drake. And she was every bit as legendary as her sisters – the Dragonkin.
“Empress?” Lydia asked, trying to keep her unicorn steady as it grunted impatiently. The unicorn was much larger than any of the other horses, with dark purple skin, enormous cloven hooves and white, bushy hair. On the creature’s forehead was a long, curved horn that looked as if it could gore even the toughest hide. Unicorns were a sacred creature amongst the shadori – used as the mounts of the samurai. Only a shadori could tame beasts like these – and in response a unicorn would not let anyone less than a shadori ride them.
Rana looked towards the town as it was assaulted, feeling sick to her stomach. It was not the first riot that she had seen since coming to Garmany, but it was never easy for her to watch. She clenched her fists so hard that Lydia could hear her knuckles crack. “We weren’t fast enough,” Rana cried. Their spies had discovered the attack was going to happen, but there was a lot of distance between their camp and Bluden. “Dammit! Those people.”
“We’ll save them,” Lydia assuredly said, in spite of her being equally startled by the violence. What did these people ever do to deserve this?
Lydia checked to make sure that her soldiers were in place. Lydia could see that they were all eager to get going and she didn’t want to keep them waiting any longer than necessary. But at the same time she did not want to charge in unprepared.
Two giant wings shot from Rana’s back, stretching out and then folding in. “I’ll deal with the fire. You quell the rioters. Take them alive if possible. Enough blood has been shed already.”
“Aye, Empress,” Lydia nodded.
Rana smiled. She knew Lydia would not let her down. She took to the sky.
Lydia’s unicorn let out a loud neigh – steel and shouting echoing across the sky. “Easy, Troy,” she whispered to her mount – who seemed a little too eager to get into battle. Lydia turned to her troops. “The Empress has orders not to kill anyone if possible. “Make sure you attack to wound, not kill.” She pointed her sword towards the village. “Forward!”
Troy galloped forward – the thunder of hundreds of hooves was soon to follow.
Despite this, Bluden was one of the quieter towns, although it was often confused with a city as it was so large. Very little went on there and most nights would pass by without so much as a sniff of trouble.
This was not one of those nights.
An explosion from within a large building sent flaming debris everywhere, the flames jumping to other buildings and spreading quicker than anyone could anticipate. Those who were lucky enough not to be caught in the explosion ran for their lives, and their screams carried out across the night air. Those who were not so lucky when the explosion started would litter the outside of it, either burned to a crisp or in pieces.
Several more explosions took place throughout the town, whose inhabitants by now were fully awake and realising they were under siege.
A hooded mob moved as one cohesive unit through the streets, now that the explosions had alerted their presence. They looked like a black beast thundering through the town, rusty blades and stone clubs as its teeth. They threw their torches towards the buildings, spreading the fire further. The people ran screaming from the monster, but there was no sanctuary. The mob laughed in unison, mocking the people’s feeble attempts to escape. Their clubs and crude weapons smashed into whatever they could – be they windows, doors, or even people. Those that were still in their homes were dragged out and either beaten or worse. The town guard hurried to the streets, but were completely unprepared for an assault of this magnitude. Their blood stained the ground in the same way as the people of Bluden.
This town had become the latest in a sea of bloodshed that was spreading across the country – the people just the latest victims.
But help was forthcoming, for black armoured riders gazed down from the hilltops, watching the siege unfold. The fire would reduce the town to rubble were it not dealt with soon. Each rider’s fingers kept a tight grip on their long spears, eager to puncture a skull with it should they be given the order. At the forefront was their shadori leader – General Taurok.
Lydia Taurok.
Though born from a human mother and shadori father, she had now matured into a fully-fledged shadori (which was not uncommon amongst half-breeds). In her hand she had a katana with a hilt that was encrusted with fine jewels. She was both the first woman to ever fight in the Imperial army – let alone gain the rank of General – and also the youngest General at just fifteen years of age. Though she commanded respect as any General would, there were some who believed she had only attained this rank due to her being the granddaughter of the Emperor.
By her side, another woman stood and looked down with hands on her hips, her long, golden hair blowing in the breeze. She wore dark clothing, with traces of gold laced into the material; a small crown adorned her forehead. The blood of dragons ran through her veins – for she had power derived from the mighty dragon Karana, the Storm Drake. And she was every bit as legendary as her sisters – the Dragonkin.
“Empress?” Lydia asked, trying to keep her unicorn steady as it grunted impatiently. The unicorn was much larger than any of the other horses, with dark purple skin, enormous cloven hooves and white, bushy hair. On the creature’s forehead was a long, curved horn that looked as if it could gore even the toughest hide. Unicorns were a sacred creature amongst the shadori – used as the mounts of the samurai. Only a shadori could tame beasts like these – and in response a unicorn would not let anyone less than a shadori ride them.
Rana looked towards the town as it was assaulted, feeling sick to her stomach. It was not the first riot that she had seen since coming to Garmany, but it was never easy for her to watch. She clenched her fists so hard that Lydia could hear her knuckles crack. “We weren’t fast enough,” Rana cried. Their spies had discovered the attack was going to happen, but there was a lot of distance between their camp and Bluden. “Dammit! Those people.”
“We’ll save them,” Lydia assuredly said, in spite of her being equally startled by the violence. What did these people ever do to deserve this?
Lydia checked to make sure that her soldiers were in place. Lydia could see that they were all eager to get going and she didn’t want to keep them waiting any longer than necessary. But at the same time she did not want to charge in unprepared.
Two giant wings shot from Rana’s back, stretching out and then folding in. “I’ll deal with the fire. You quell the rioters. Take them alive if possible. Enough blood has been shed already.”
“Aye, Empress,” Lydia nodded.
Rana smiled. She knew Lydia would not let her down. She took to the sky.
Lydia’s unicorn let out a loud neigh – steel and shouting echoing across the sky. “Easy, Troy,” she whispered to her mount – who seemed a little too eager to get into battle. Lydia turned to her troops. “The Empress has orders not to kill anyone if possible. “Make sure you attack to wound, not kill.” She pointed her sword towards the village. “Forward!”
Troy galloped forward – the thunder of hundreds of hooves was soon to follow.