Hunt the Dragon Within – Special Edition by J.R. Vaineo

Author:J.R. Vaineo [J.R. Vaineo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JRV Books, LLC
Published: 2020-05-11T00:00:00+00:00

19

Ruler of the Deep

The moving object’s nearer to us now. Clearly, it’s a dragon of sorts. Nowhere near as spiked and jagged is it, compared to a BlacKaidyn. Nor as filled-out as one. Long and slender, it weaves like a snake in uncut grass. But rather than grass for its ground, it rides atop the water. Instead of wings that fan out far, they’re shorter and fin-like, similar in appearance to black sails on a junk ship all folded up. Its dark scales are blue and teal, until catching sunlight of Rentwaramein. That’s when it glistens like golden water. While still quite a ways away, it screeches an ear-splitting cry.

Siege drops to his knees on the beach, telling us, “He demands submission.”

We follow Siege’s lead and sink to our knees.

Siege further instructs, “Don’t look at him, until he addresses one of us.”

“You hath summoned,” says the dragon gently. “And he hath answered, sending me. Dae’loog Dauger. Swim out, and climb onto my back. I will take the thirteen down to the docking station. From there, you’ll be taken farther. To be sure, shown the city of Deivahl; home of Laepurians’ Three.”

“Are both of you good swimmers?” queries Ryco, glancing at Gemma, then me.

We nod, but Gemma says, “Tyler was on the school swim team, one year. Times weren’t terrible either.”

I add, “Jed practically made me join, since Jaxson wanted no part of it. Shouldn’t have a problem swimming out there. It’s not that far.”

Quall and Ryco take the lead in swimming out. Their style is much different from what I’m used to seeing. Less strokes, but powerful enough that each propels them farther forward than I expect.

Gemma and I are about to go.

But Kent steps in front of us. “Hold a moment. They need to be sure it’s not any sort of trap. We don’t know these Laykonians well enough to trust them wholeheartedly.”

Once Quall and Ryco reach the dragon’s back, they signal for the rest of us to come.

Eli, even with his neck injury, is the first there, helping me out of the water.

Once we’re atop the dragon’s back, we rise and fall with each breath of his.

Then he takes in a giant breath, warning us, “Hold tight to any of my fins. We’re going down a ways. Take a breath to last two hundred ticks.”

“That’s a tad over three minutes,” says Siege.

“Can you hold your breath that long?” queries Kent, while securing any loosened straps or cords holding his gear on.

“Don’t be concerned of that,” states Warren, coming over to us. “I’ll give them a jolt of air, if they need it.”

“You can practice magic, while submerged in water?” queries Eli suspiciously. “Since when?”

“Since we were stuck in Metsundai for days,” Warren defends. “That was plenty of time for practicing. Now, let’s not keep a king waiting any longer.”

Dae’loog Dauger perks his fin-like ears up, and looks to the forest. All of a sudden, he dives down. We scramble to find handholds. I get hold of a long, thin fin.

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