Dragon Rift: Riders of Fire, Book Three - A Dragons’ Realm Novel

by Eileen Mueller

  In the thick of the crowd, someone squeezed Jerrick’s arm. Gripping his sword, he spun. It was Benno. “Oh, it’s you.” Jerrick’s breath whooshed out in relief. “What’s going on?”

  “Attack,” Benno said. “Pa’s been fighting half the night and just came back, wounded.”

  “Is he alright?”

  Benno’s face was pale. “The healer is with him. He’ll live, but tharuks slashed him up bad.”

  His Pa’s injuries must’ve been awful if Benno was pale – he was tough. “Tharuks?” asked Jerrick. “What are they?”

  “Monsters.” Benno grimaced. “They came to Dragons’ Realm through a world gate.”

  “Monsters? From another world? You’re joking!” But the look on Benno’s face told Jerrick he wasn’t. His neck hairs prickled. Benno’s Pa was Horseshoe Bend’s woodcutter – built like a draft horse and twice as strong. If he was wounded, these monsters must be bad.

  Breaking out from between the cottages, they came to the square in the centre of the Horseshoe Bend. Pa pulled Jerrick and Benno to the front of the crowd. In the fire pit, a bonfire blazed, flames licking skywards. Sweat-beaded drummers beat their tattoo, danger, danger, danger.

  “Look, there’s Reina,” Benno yelled over the drums.

  Where? In the dancing shadows from the flickering fire, Jerrick couldn’t see her – until she waved. He motioned her over.

  Reina skirted around the sea of folk.

  The whole settlement was here – all but the littlings and their mothers. The drums were exhilarating, goading Jerrick to action – making him want to run, to fight, to charge an unseen enemy like a madman.

  Reina reached them. “Hey, Jerrick, Benno. At last we get to fight!” She grinned, despite the danger.

  “Benno’s Pa has been hurt,” Jerrick blurted out.

  “He fought with Giant John,” said Benno, puffing up his chest. “Killed a tharuk, too.”

  “Monsters….” Reina shook her head. “Crazy stuff! But our wizards will stop them.”

  “Come on, Reina.” Jerrick rolled his eyes. “We all know dragons are stronger.”

  Before Reina could reply, Gowp, the settlement leader and arbitrator, held up his hand. The drumbeats stopped. In the sudden hush, the bonfire crackled. The air hummed with fear and anticipation.

  A whoosh came from behind them. Jerrick’s hair ruffled. Folk whirled. And gasped. Against the dark night sky, a majestic bronze dragon glimmered in the firelight. The dragon circled down, folk scrambling out of its way. The bronze beauty settled low to the ground. Three people slid off its back.

  Clad in rider’s breeches and jerkin, with a bow and quiver of arrows across his back, a dragon rider approached Gowp. Behind the rider was Master Giddi, head of the Wizard Council with bristly dark hair, his face smeared with soot and his eyes wild. At the rear was Giant John, head of Horseshoe Bend’s warriors – as broad as two men, and more than two heads above the crowd.

  Murmurs rippled through the square as the three men spoke with Gowp, their faces grim. Gowp grimaced, shaking his head.

  “Hey,” said Benno, “that’s tharuk blood.” He pointed at black liquid glinting on Giant John’s jerkin. “My Pa was covered in that stuff.”

  “Master Giddi is awesome,” Reina whispered, staring at him like a puppy at the leader of a pack. “Look at his face. He’s been using wizard fire.”

  Jerrick nudged Benno, pointing to the dragon rider with dark curly hair. “That rider only looks about eighteen, just a few years older than us. That could be me, some day.”

  “Five,” Benno said, “that’s five years older, Jerrick.”

  “Yeah, but look at that dragon…” Jerrick stared. The flickering firelight made the dragon’s scales shimmer. “A bronze. She’s beautiful.”

  As if aware of his gaze, the dragon turned. Its nostrils flared and it snorted.

  “Watch out, Jerrick.” Reina snorted, almost sounding like the dragon, but not quite. “You’re drooling.”

  Despite her humor, Jerrick’s belly was tight with tension.

  Holding up his hand, Gowp turned. A hush fell over the square.

  “We’ve been attacked,” Gowp announced. “Tonight tharuks – strange new monsters who have invaded Dragons’ Realm – sneaked up on Horseshoe Bend. But Hans, Master Giddi, Giant John and some of our best warriors defeated their scouting party.” He gestured towards the dragon rider. “Hans has a message from Zaarusha, the Dragon Queen.”

  Wow, a direct message from the ruling dragon. Jerrick had never seen her, but they said Zaarusha was so beautiful her scales rippled with every color of the rainbow.

  “Greetings from Dragons’ Hold,” said Hans. “Tharuks want our Realm. They’re terrorizing our folk. Our dragons can’t be everywhere, so settlements must prepare their own fighting forces.”

  Grumbling broke out. This was new. Until now, dragons had protected Dragons’ Realm. Folk sustained dragons and their riders by growing crops and providing livestock.

  “I know this is not how we usually do things,” said Gowp, “but we have no choice – either we fight or give in to these monsters and be slaughtered. Two folk were killed in Spanglewood settlement yesterday. We must be prepared.”

  Giant John strode forward, his sword in the air. “I’ll train warriors.”

  Reina pointed at a bloody gash on his cheek. “No way,” she whispered to Jerrick. I’m not doing that.”

  Hans held his bow high. “I need archers to ride dragons.”

  Master Giddi stepped closer to the fire. Shadows flickered across his soot-stained face, dancing with the dark smudges on his cheeks. His eyes gleamed and green sparks flitted from his fingers. Folk near him edged away. “We must harness magic to change the course of battle,” he boomed, dark eyes flashing. “Train with me.”

  Jerrick elbowed Reina. “That’s you.”

  “Too right,” whispered Reina, grinning.

  “More tharuks are on the move,” announced Hans. “They’ll be here soon. We must prepare for war.”

  “Everyone must choose,” said Gowp, “but choose quickly.”

  “But Gowp,” someone called, “I need my son to tend our crops.”

  “You won’t have any crops left to tend, if we don’t fight back,” snapped Gowp.

  The settlers’ outraged cries rose.

  “But the dragon riders should–”

  “Why can’t the wizards–”

  The drummer struck twice. Folk quieted. The first streaks of dawn stole across the sky above Spanglewood Forest.

  “I’ll fight with Giant John,” Benno called. “Who’ll join us?” He gazed at Jerrick and Reina.

  Giant John laid an arm over his shoulder. “Brave of you to choose first, Benno.”

  Reina spoke up. “Master Giddi, I’d love to train with you. Um, if that’s alright.”

  The gangly wizard raised his bushy eyebrows and nodded. She moved to his side. His steely gaze roamed over the folk.

  If Jerrick didn’t choose fast, the wizard might single him out. Then he’d never be a rider. Heart pounding, Jerrick called, “Sir, ah, Hans, I’ve always wanted to be a dragon rider.”

  Hans clapped him on the back. “Just Hans, not sir. What’s your name?”

  “Jerrick.”

  “Thank you for volunteering to be our first new rider.” Hans turned to the folk. “Who will ride dragons with Jerrick?”

  Pa hugged Jerrick. “Good choice. I’m staying here with Giant John to protect Ma and the littlings. Fare-well your friends, then we’ll go back to the family and get you ready to go.”

  He winked, then turned away from Jerrick and hefted his sword, bellowing, “Who will join me, Benno and Giant John to fight these monsters?”

  The square was mayhem as settlers rushed to and fro. Grinning, Benno pounded Jerrick on the back. Reina ran up to Benno and hugged him, then kissed his cheek. Then she hugged and kissed Jerrick.

  Beet red, Jerrick and Benno glanced at each other, then at her.

  �
��Well,” she said, hands on hips, “I’m going to miss you both.”

  They all grinned.

  “We finally get to fight,” said Benno.

  “It’s great,” Reina said. “But it’s even better that next time you two play a trick on me, I’ll smite you both with wizard flame.”

  Jerrick hooted. “You wouldn’t dare or my dragon would flame you.”

  Benno shook his head. “I don’t envy you two. I’m glad I’m keeping my feet on the ground, right here.” He flexed his muscles, already large from chopping trees beside his pa. “Someone needs to protect our families.”

  “You’ll do a great job,” said Reina.

  Doubt flicked across Benno’s face. “I’m not sure,” he said quietly. “Those tharuks nearly killed Pa. But at least I won’t end up as wizard’s breakfast.”

  “Hopefully, neither will I,” Reina shot back.

  From the looks on their faces, Jerrick knew they were all thinking the same thing: would they see each other again? “See you in battle.” He stuck his fist out.

  “I’m in,” said Benno sticking out his fist.

  “Me too,” said Reina.

  They all bumped fists and whooped.

  Jerrick gulped. “All of us are facing risks. The whole settlement is. We have to do our best to protect our families.” He gulped again thinking of Susi. “And our wee littlings.”

  His heart hammered. Hopefully they’d all survive.

  ***

  You can choose which story to read next. Click on a link below to read your first story. At the end of the story there will be links to the other two stories, so you can see what happens to everyone.

  Warrior: Benno with Giant John

  Wizard: Reina with Master Giddi

  Dragon Rider: Jerrick with Hans

  Read more on Amazon. http://amzn.to/1qCCp9R

  Dragon Tales

  Whether you’re looking for a nip, a nibble, or a chomp-sized story, wing your way to an adventure with Dragon Tales.

  Find a dragon in your desk, your toilet, under your bed or gift-wrapped under the Christmas tree. And fly on dragonback for fun and adventure.

  Suds and Scales

  “Get in that bath,” Mom insisted. “You’re dirtier than a worm in a mud puddle and smellier than dad’s gym shoes.”

  I stomped into the bathroom and slammed the door. What was wrong with a bit of dirt? It was all natural, no additives and definitely no refined sugar – another thing Mom was always going on about.

  I was only going to get dirty again tomorrow.

  Peeling off my sweaty socks, I tucked them in the cabinet behind the shampoo, instead of in the hamper. Hopefully Mom wouldn’t sniff them out – I only had one pair of socks in my team’s color and I needed them for my football game tomorrow.

  Mom rapped on the door. “I can’t hear the water running.”

  Sighing, I turned on the faucet.

  “Use soap,” she called. “No cheating.”

  I tipped some liquid soap into the bath. Soap was evil, but if I had to use it, I might as well have bubbles.

  When the water was deep and sudsy, I dumped my clothes on the floor and got in. Wrinkling my nose at the floral stench, I looked down. There were so many bubbles, I looked like a corpse-less ghost, or an alien with froth for a body.

  “It’s not fair,” I moaned. “Why should I have to wash every day?”

  The toilet seat clunked.

  I turned so fast, a mini tsunami sloshed onto the floor.

  Nothing was there – except the clothes I’d dropped and the water I’d spilt. Nothing that could’ve made the toilet clunk. And now my underpants were swimming happily in the aftermath of my tidal wave.

  I lifted my right knee above the water and scrubbed it with the washcloth.

  Clunk!

  I whirled back. Oops, another flood.

  Before my eyes, a long claw slid between the toilet seat and lid.

  My heart thudded, like I was running for goal.

  Two more claws reached over the edge. A scaly limb slithered out and flung the lid open with a crash. Another taloned limb grasped the seat. With a grunt, a dripping head emerged from the toilet!

  “Whoa!” I yelled, as a little dragon clambered out and perched on the seat. It was green with baby-blue eyes and had an odd crest sticking up on its head. Luckily I had lots of bubbles or that dragon would have seen too much.

  “I heard you yell,” called Mom. “What’s going on in there?”

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  Acknowledgements

  Dragon Rift has come to life in a crazy whirlwind adventure with the support of many fabulous people. I’d like to thank Charlotte, Alicia and Kevin, the project team backing me. Thanks for your patience while editing, proofing and formatting this big fat adventure.

  Thank you to my team of young adult beta readers: Ash Rachel, Lisa Artmann and Denika Mead. I love the smiley, sad and grumpy faces you draw on my manuscripts. Especially the comments about how much you hate Old Bill, Tonio and Commander Zens. It’s great to know my stories evoke strong emotions. Your humor keeps me going when the editing is tough. You guys rock.

  Thanks to my readers who participated in the name a fantasy spider fun on Facebook. Sue Minot won the honor of naming the venomous gargantula that killed Jael’s mother. Let’s hope that Sue never has to face a gargantula herself!

  Christian Bentulan, your covers bring my dragons and heroes to life. Ava Fairhall, I still keep gazing at your map of Dragons’ Realm when I should be writing… ahem.

  My readers and reviewers are cool. I’m lucky to have such a great team of enthusiastic people cheering me on, emailing me and engaging on social media. You make the long hours worthwhile.

  Finally, I thank my loving family, who encourage me to keep writing—and welcome me out of my cave to have fun when I emerge after battling tharuks and flying dragons!

  About Eileen

  Eileen Mueller is a multiple-award-winning author of heart-pounding fantasy novels that will keep you turning the page. Dive into her worlds, full of magic, love, adventure and dragons! Eileen lives in New Zealand, in a cave, with four dragonets and a shape shifter, writing for young adults, children and everyone who loves adventure.

  Visit her website at www.EileenMuellerAuthor.com for Eileen’s FREE books and new releases or to become a Rider of Fire!

  Please place a review

  I absolutely love reviews! Hear the dragons roar and me squeal with enthusiasm when you post one. Readers are my lifeblood, so I’d love you to pop a line or two on Amazon or Goodreads. Thank you.

  Become a Rider of Fire

  Every author needs a team on their side to help them fight tharuks, imprint with dragons, and keep the realm safe. Being a Rider of Fire gives you early copies of my books, the chance to name characters, dragons and villages, and other special glimpses into Dragons’ Realm, the world of Riders of Fire. I would be grateful for reviews, social media shares and recommendations. If you’re keen, please sign up on my site www.EileenMuellerAuthor.com

  Herbal Lore in Dragons’ Realm

  Arnica—Small yellow flower with hairy leaves. Reduces pain, swelling and inflammation. The flower and root are used in Marlies’ healing salve.

  Bear’s bane—Pungent oniony numbing salve with bear leek as the primary ingredient.

  Bergamot—Citrus fruit with a refreshing scent.

  Clean herb—Tangy, pale green leaves with antibacterial properties.

  Clear-mind—Orange berries, used to combat numlock. Stronger when dried, but effective when fresh.

  Dragon’s bane—Clear poison that, when it enters the blood, makes wounds bleed excessively, and then slowly shuts down circulation and breathing.

  Dragon’s breath—A rare mountain flower, that when shaken, produces a soft glow.

  Freshweed—Chewing freshweed masks the user’s scent.

  Healing salve—Contains arnica, piaua juice, peppermint, and clean herb, and prom
otes healing.

  Jasmine—Highly-scented white tubular flowers. Promotes relaxation.

  Koromiko—Thin green leaves that, when brewed as a tea, prevent belly gripe.

  Lavender—Highly-scented lilac whorled flowers. Relaxant, refreshing.

  Limplock—Green sticky paste with an acrid scent, used to coat tharuk weapons. Acts on the victim’s nervous system, causing slow paralysis, starting with peripheries and making its way to the vital organs.

  Limplock remedy—Fine yellow granules that reverse the effect of limplock. Dose: one vial for an adult; three vials for a dragon.

  Numlock—Thin gray leaves, ground into a tangy powder. Saps victim’s will, determination and coherent thought. Used by Zens and tharuks to keep slaves in submission. Creates a gray sheen over the eyes and fingernails.

  Owl-wort—Small leaves that enable sight in the dark.

  Peppermint—Dark green leaves with aromatic scent. Good for circulation, headaches and as a relaxant.

  Piaua juice—Pale green juice from succulent piaua leaves. Heals wounds and knits flesh back together in moments.

  Rubaka—Crushed leaves produce a pale green powder used as a remedy against dragon’s bane.

  Skarkrak—Bitter gray leaves. A Robandi poison. In mild doses causes sleepiness and vomiting; in strong doses, death.

  Swayweed—Fine green tea. Reverses loyalties and allegiances.

  Woozy weed—Causes sleepiness and forgetfulness.