Where the Dragon Soars (Legends of the Dragon Kings Book 1) by Joy Newbold

Author:Joy Newbold [Newbold, Joy]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: L. J. Audio and Books
Published: 2014-07-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Tending the Nest

(Detrik)

The hatchlings grew larger by the day. And hungrier. Providing enough meat to fill their stomachs, and Althenia’s as well, was a grueling task and nearly impossible. Some days he still worried that the ravenous hatchlings would eat him alive. But they did not.

In addition to the spear he had pulled from Althenia’s side and his own sword, he fashioned a crude bow and dozen arrows. Game was plentiful. But his strength was limited. He was grateful when, at last, Althenia rose to her feet and slowly moved to the pool to drink. Soon, thereafter, she left the cave and returned with the carcass of a large elk in her talons. It was time for him to go.

“I will call for you,” he told the dragon.

“And I shall come,” she answered, dipping her head low.

Detrik reached out to place the flat of his hand on the dished spot just above her eyes where the jade colored scales shaded to crimson. Then he turned to leave. He hadn’t expected it to be so hard. The great she dragon and her gangly youngsters had touched a place in his soul he did not know existed. Easing, to some small degree, the pain that twisted within him with the loss of his love.

Althenia turned from the cavern entrance, where they stood, to return to her squawking young. And Detrik began the downward climb that would take him home.

“They must think me dead,” he thought. “Perhaps they have already had my funeral.” The thought made him chuckle. But he realized that returning home and attempting to explain the reason for his absence would be a challenge. Something he was not looking forward to.

He had pledged to keep Althenia and her hatchlings safe. But the closer he got to home the more he doubted his ability to do so. The feelings of fear and hate that surrounded the huge winged reptiles ran deep in the heart of every villager and soldier. And his father? Killing and defeating the dragons that plagued their kingdom had been a life long pursuit for every king as long as Ozskar had kept records. What proof did he have that the rules had suddenly changed?

***

“You have been caring for a dragon and feeding her demonic young?” His father’s roar shook the walls of the castle. His pale face turned to burgundy and blood vessels bulged between the wrinkles that crossed his forehead. “My own son – a traitor? We thought you dead. Your mother and I mourned. The kingdom mourned. We held your funeral and wept that we did not even have a body to bury. And all the while, you have been hiding in a cave, nursing a nest of fire breathing demons so they can swoop down on the kingdom and kill us all?

“At first light you will lead the guard to that monster’s lair and they will end this devilish deed that you have begun!”

Detrik’s refusal did not go over well. It ended with

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.