How to Kill a Dragon (Heir of Dragons Book 1)

by J. A. Culican

  Kaleb lifted his hand, inspecting it in the sunlight like it was some foreign object. “Oh, that? It's no big deal. Just got a little shaken up. Us dragons are resilient things.”

  Minx nearly reached out and slugged him. “As a matter of fact, Mau and I have been tending to you for hours now. We both used our energies to heal you. If not for us, you'd still be pinned to that stupid tree!”

  Kaleb laughed—briefly, because the effort sent him into convulsions of pain—and nodded. “I knew I could rely on you, Minx. Thank you.” He turned to her, eyes softening. “I mean it, you know?”

  The Fae huntress was careful not to meet his gaze and instead changed the subject, not wishing her cheeks to flush crimson for his attention. “So, who was that guy? I've never met anyone like him before.” She sighed, adding, “He took Alla. There was nothing I could do.”

  Kaleb grunted, running his hands across his face and attempting to sit upright. The wounds in his abdomen kept him from doing so, however. “I don't know who he was, but I do know I'm not keen on ever running into him again. That was some strange and powerful magic he worked. Truly remarkable stuff.” He accepted a bit of water to drink, then spared her another sleepy grin. “I'm surprised you didn't leave me here and make off with my hide. You had a chance to do it, after all. Your people would have appreciated it and I wouldn't have been able to stop you.”

  “Don't think it didn't cross my mind,” she huffed, fiddling with the string of her bow. “I suppose I felt grateful to you, for all of your help. You may be a dragon, but...” She hesitated, not wanting to bungle the words. “Anyway, nothing's changed. I still need a hide, or some other way to help my people. We're out of time.”

  The dragon shifter closed his eyes and meditated on this problem for a few minutes. “Suppose there was some other way to help the Fae,” he theorized. “I'm not OK with you hunting one of my kind. It's barbaric. But if you want to repel this army, all you need is an army of your own, right? I might be able to help in that department.”

  “You can find us an army?” asked Minx incredulously. “Yeah, right.”

  “No, I mean it. The Talon Range guard is a powerful force. I have connections, and could request their aid. I'm sure they've got enough firepower to handle this Wuff party twice over.” Kaleb rolled onto his side, struggling to get comfortable. The injuries left him almost immobilized from the waist up.

  “You really think an army of dragons would be willing to come all the way to Pandling Grounds to help the Fae?” scoffed Minx. “You're crazy. Maybe I should have checked that head of yours for a fourth arrow.”

  “It's not so crazy,” he assured her. “After all, I've been willing to help you out all this time, haven't I? Think about it. The Talon Range guard swoops in, saves the day. An innocent dragon out there is spared, doesn't have to lose its hide. In fact, the battle goes so well that it leads to peace between our kinds. No more stuffy old agreements and borders—just friendship.”

  She was thrilled at the prospect, even if she still doubted the willingness of other dragons to assist her kind. True, Kaleb had proven himself a worthy ally, but dragons on the whole were often suspicious of the Fae. The two civilizations had never much gotten along, which had led to the violent struggles of old. It was only through distance and bureaucracy that they'd ever managed anything like peace.

  You didn't want to kill a dragon, said Mau. I guess this is our best bet, then. He can ask this favor of his friends and we'll see where things go.

  Do you really think it'll work? asked Minx.

  No, came Mau's flat reply. But what do we have to lose at this point? Even if dragons and Fae don't become best friends after this, it's worth a shot. Anything is better than just sitting here and waiting for the army to overrun Pandling Grounds.

  “All right,” said Minx. “Let's do it. Let's ask your friends in the Talon Range for help.”

  “Absolutely!” Kaleb attempted to sit up for the dozenth time, only to flop back onto the ground with a wince. “But, uh... we're going to have to wait a bit.” He patted his wounded armor. “Still on the mend, you see. When I've had a chance to recover a little, I'll carry you guys on my back and fly as fast as I can. Till then... I don't think I can even flap my wings.”

  “How long do you think you'll need?” asked Minx, growing nervous at the prospect of another delay. They'd already lost so much time; moving too slowly would only serve to doom them in their efforts.

  “Uh...” Kaleb shrugged weakly. “I've never been impaled before, so... I don't know... Give me till tomorrow morning? If I feel strong enough to fly by sunrise, we'll get this party started. But I need more rest. A decent night's sleep.”

  Her heart sank, but she didn't deny him his rest. “I understand,” replied Minx. “We can stay put for now. But the minute you feel well enough...” She took his hand, squeezed it in hers. “Please, let me know the moment you feel up to flying. My people are waiting, and if we don't hurry, it'll be too late...”

  Before she could fully voice her plea, Kaleb had already drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 17

  The calm, glassy waters of the lake began to boil.

  Minx had been dreaming once again of Heilo Lake, had envisioned herself standing upon its shores. The peaceful scenery had soothed her anxious mind, but mere minutes into her pleasant dream something had changed. The birdsong had stopped, the waves had ceased their pleasant lapping.

  And the placid waters had begun to churn.

  Minx dreamt of a red sky. The waters of Heilo Lake turned black as ink and began to simmer, as though the body of water had become a cauldron. Scalding, vaporous winds poured off the surface of the water, bringing with them disembodied cries and moans.

  Amidst the chorus of bodiless voices sounded the lake itself. It called out to her as it had done before, firmly and steadily. The Silence...needs you. The light... will be snuffed out forever...

  When Minx awoke, she was still seated beside the fire. Yet another night had begun, merely the latest in an endless loop. She felt trapped, abandoned in the wilderness. If not for Mau snoozing beside her and Kaleb still mending at her feet, she would have felt drained of all hope.

  The dragon shifter slept very peacefully. Except for the occasional mutter or grunt from his lips, and the conspicuous damage to his armor, she would have thought him perfectly well. In a time where she had very little to be thankful for, she was pleased at his recovery, at least.

  She remained troubled by the dream, however. It stayed with her long past her awakening, the imagery more haunting and sinister than anything previous. The message had been the same as before, but the violent shift in the scene told her that the crisis was soon to reach the lake. There was no telling just how things were going in her homeland; it was possible the army had already reached Pandling Grounds. Maybe—and she shuddered at the thought—the territory had already been overrun and enemy forces were closing in on Heilo Lake. Maybe that was the meaning of the dream... Time is up and there's no saving the lake...

  Warming her hands at the fire, Minx shook her head. No matter how dire things seemed, she knew there was no sense in losing hope. They'd gone through so much the past few days, had surmounted so many challenges together. The gravest obstacles still loomed ahead, but she had faith in her friends, and trusted that they would find a way to rise to the occasion.

  Tucked away in the dense copse of trees, Minx closed her eyes and attempted to court sleep once again.

  A sound from beyond the camp pierced the veil of quiet, however. Her eyes snapped open and she took to studying her surroundings for signs of danger. She held her bow close, giving the strap of her quiver a tug.

  That was when she noticed it.

  The blue gems in her bracelets were glowing.

  It had been days since the dragon hunting bracelets had reacted in this way. The special stones within them only glowed this way in the presence of a dragon, and they'd lit up upon her first encounter with Kaleb. Over the course of their
acquaintance, the gems had gone dim, but now, in conjunction with this unexpected noise, they were glowing once more.

  The sound, a subtle rustling in the distance, returned to her ears. Unable to make out its source, Minx nudged Mau awake. Hey, do you hear that?

  The tired Faelyr sat up, blinking at the fire. Hear what?

  I heard a noise beyond the trees. I think there's someone out there, said Minx. And get a load of this. She held one of her bracelets out for Mau to inspect. They're glowing again. Which means...

  Mau's eyes lit up. You think it might be a dragon, then?

  Minx nodded.

  Kaleb was still fast asleep. The Fae huntress and her companion rose silently and slipped out of the camp, ready to engage with this nighttime presence. She didn't want to wake Kaleb for the sake of his health, it was true—and alerting him to the presence of another dragon in the area before she had a chance to scope it out herself seemed doubly unwise.

  After all, she hadn't decided yet whether she'd hunt it.

  We might secure a dragon's hide after all! said Mau as they pushed through the foliage and searched for the late-night visitor.

  Truthfully, Minx had been entertaining the same idea, though she was not without guilt. What would Kaleb think if he saw me skulking around this way, trying to hunt one of his kind? This was silly; her people needed a dragon's hide. It wasn't up for debate. By slaying a dragon and bringing its hide to the elders, she was merely fulfilling her duty. Who could argue with that? What's more, no matter her feelings for Kaleb, she didn't owe a debt to every dragon. The beast setting off the gems in her bracelets was quite possibly a genuine threat—something she'd have to put down before it lashed out at them first.

  Through a break in the trees, Minx caught her first glimpse of the immense thing stationed across the field. A dark red dragon, a bit smaller than Kaleb, had touched down a short distance away and was now idling in the grass nearby. Two ruby-colored wings were tucked neatly against the creature's back and its stony tail was wrapped partially around its lazing bulk. Perhaps the dragon intended to sleep there, or maybe he'd simply made a pit-stop, and would take off once he'd enjoyed a brief rest.

  There he is, said Mau. Are you ready? If we sneak up on him, we can probably take him out without much noise. He doesn't know we're here, by the looks of it.

  This dragon appeared large enough to fulfill her needs. Its hide would save her people, and she felt confident that she could land a killing blow if given enough time to observe the thing. Dragons were tough creatures, no doubt, but they did have weaknesses. She'd learned a lot about dragons by hanging around Kaleb. If she merely applied her knowledge to this specimen, she'd be able to kill it swiftly.

  She nocked an arrow and tested the direction of the breeze, considering the most advantageous angle of attack. As she did so, however, she was struck by a profound nausea at the prospect of killing this dragon behind Kaleb's back. Her grip on the bow weakened. She returned the arrow to her quiver and leaned against a tree, arms crossed.

  Mau picked up on her indecision and prodded her gently. This might be your last chance to gain a dragon's hide, Minx. You didn't want to kill Kaleb and take his. I understand that. But this dragon is another story. A hide has practically fallen into our laps. If you want me to lead, I'll launch an attack and distract it so that you can climb one of these trees and get a good vantage point. The moment it reveals a weak spot, you go in for the kill. Sound good?

  Minx faltered, shaking her head. No... I don't want to do it. What would Kaleb think?

  Kaleb didn't promise to save his people by bringing home an enemy's hide, did he? was the Faelyr's rejoinder. I understand why he's uneasy at the prospect of us hunting his fellow dragons, but we don't have a choice. It's either this dragon's life or the Fae!

  Sure, replied Minx, but what about the Talon Range guard? Kaleb is going to ask some of his friends to assist us against Valry. If we slay this dragon, it might ruin our chances to win them over and forge an alliance.

  Mau wasn't buying it. You act like this alliance is a done deal. They may just laugh Kaleb out of the room for asking such a favor. We don't have the time to wait and see if the dragons of the Talon Range are willing to team up with us. We can't rely on their loyalty. But we can rely on your bow, can't we?

  Minx was torn. The beast just ahead of them promised relief for her people. A well-placed arrow could solve many of her problems. That same arrow might destroy her relationship with Kaleb, though, and make it impossible to seek the aid of other dragons in defeating Valry's forces. She nocked an arrow and raised her bow, taking aim and trying to weigh her odds of success. If I were to fire from here, I could possibly strike one of its weak spots. But if I miss, the noise of the battle will surely wake up Kaleb. He'll realize what's happening and—

  She startled as her bow was torn viciously from her grasp. Kaleb had emerged, stone-faced, from the camp, and had caught her in the act. “What do you think you're doing, Minx?”

  The Fae huntress was stunned into silence. She couldn't hope to explain herself—she'd been caught red-handed and was filled with shame.

  “How many times have we been through this? Didn't I promise you my help? Didn't I say we could work this out another way? I'm willing to call upon my friends. Isn't that good enough?” The fury in his eyes gave way to plain disappointment—and somehow, that wounded Minx more deeply. “What were you thinking?”

  Her eyes scanned the ground. “I... I'm sorry, Kaleb. I didn't... I didn't want to do it, but...” She threw her hands up. “There's no more time! I just thought that, you know... maybe I should take the shot. I didn't want to pass up this opportunity. I don't want to kill a dragon—believe me. But if I don't, my people won't survive! Wouldn't you do the same thing? Wouldn't the death of a single dragon be worth the survival of my people? That's what I'm trying to get through to you. This is bigger than just a single dragon. The Fae will be wiped out unless I do my duty!”

  He shook his head in disgust. “We've already come up with a plan. This is unnecessary and you know it. It's barbarism, plain and simple. I care as much about my people as you care about yours, and I'm not keen on sacrificing one of them for your cause. And what's more, if you do this, no other dragon will ever bother to trust you again. All you'll be doing is continuing the cycle of hate and violence between our kinds.”

  It was true; though her desire to help her people remained, she couldn't stand herself for nearly having gone through with it. “I shouldn't have done it. I'm sorry.” Minx looked up at him pleadingly, eyes dampening. “I mean it.” She tugged at the glowing bracelets on her arms, slipping them off her wrists. “Here,” she said, pressing them into his hands. “Take them. I don't need them anymore.”

  Kaleb studied the bracelets for a time, then nodded. “You sure?”

  “Yeah,” replied Minx. “If I'm not hunting dragons, I have no use for them. We're going to do this your way.”

  “Fine.” Kaleb motioned to the dragon in the distance. “If it's all right with you, I'm going to go have a chat with this friend of ours. Maybe he'll be able to pass on a message to the Talon Range guard, since I'm not ready to fly yet. You and Mau should go back to the camp.”

  Minx and the Faelyr did as they were told, returning to the fire as Kaleb set about meeting the other dragon. I shouldn't have listened to you. This is the better way to handle things. The Fae huntress dropped her bow onto the grass and took a seat on a fallen log. Kaleb is right.

  For the sake of the Fae—not to mention all of Pan and Heilo Lake—I certainly hope you're right. The Faelyr yawned, giving her paws a momentary stretch and baring her claws. I never thought I'd see the day when our very own Dragon Hunter would be the one siding with dragons.

  Minx chuckled. Trust me, no one's more surprised than I am. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Teaming up with Kaleb and his friends is the best shot we have.

  It'll be wonderful if these Talon Range dragons are as optimistic as you are. Mau
lowered her head atop her paws and returned to her catnap.

  Eventually, Kaleb meandered back to camp. Compared to earlier in the day, he looked more or less like his normal self. His breathing was a little more labored and his step had something of a limp to it, but his complexion had improved over the past several hours and rest had freshened him up considerably. “I had a word with him,” he explained, easing himself into the grass and reclining awkwardly. The wounds along his abdomen still pained him, and he avoided stretching out too far for fear of making them ache. “He's taken a message for me to Talon Range. I expect we'll hear back from them as early as morning.”

  “I see...” Minx rubbed one of Mau's ears between her fingertips. “Do you think they'll agree to help us?”

  “I'm not going to make any promises,” he replied. “I'll do everything in my power, call in whatever favors I can, to make this happen, though. Just as long as you don't mess everything up by murdering one of my kind, I think things will work out fine.”

  “How did you know where to find me?” chanced Minx. “I heard a noise in the woods and was alerted to the presence of a dragon by the glow of the bracelets. You looked like you were sleeping peacefully, though. Did we wake you?”

  Kaleb laughed to himself. “I picked up that dragon's scent well before you heard him wandering around out there. No way I could sleep through that. Next thing I know, you and Mau are missing. I put two and two together and realized what you were up to pretty quickly.” He rolled over onto his side. “Never mind all that. Do me a favor and get some sleep. I don't know when he'll be back with our reply, but it's going to be a long day tomorrow. We all need some rest.”

  For some hours, the trio dozed by the fire, doing their best to put aside the trials of the previous day and their fears about what lay ahead. The sun greeted them with a side of light rain, which pelted the trees all around them in an almost musical fashion. Waking in the cool, damp morning, Minx found Kaleb sitting beside her, feeding a bit of bark to the dying fire.