Siege of Draestl

by Randall Seeley

  His mind raced as he thought of the consequences of this day. The Draebek had shown their capabilities. The use of dragons was remarkable, and almost overwhelming. He knew that today’s actions would change the course of the world forever. New weapons would be created to defend against these kind of attacks. Soldiers would be trained differently. Armor would be modified to avoid dragonlyst-laced arrows. Not only would Draestl need to be rebuilt, but the defenses of all the border cities would need to be modified.

  “What are you thinking about?” Owen asked him.

  Wayd turned, and saw a concerned look on Owen’s face. “What?” he asked, realizing he didn’t fully understand what Owen had just said.

  “You are so quiet,” Owen explained. “Did they, uh, do something to you while you were a prisoner?”

  “Huh?” Wayd asked.

  “Like, torture?” Owen asked, concerned.

  Wayd laughed. “No,” he answered when Owen grew a little offended at being laughed at. “They actually treated me like a guest. It’s called Grindhold law, I’ll have to tell you about it sometime. But that is for another day. For now, we are safe, and we have lots of work to do.”

  Owen let out a sigh. “Always one to work now,” he stated. “You are becoming quite the leader, Wayd.”

  Wayd shrugged. “This battle has changed the course of history forever. And the only way to make sure that we are ready for when Thraegar returns is by preparing now.”

  As he said the words, he knew how truthful they were. He knew they would come back. Thraegar was still alive. He had the Horn of Grind and the Thornclaw axe. He would eventually find the white dragon, and when he did, they would be back.

  He prayed that the damage done among the three clans would be enough to delay the Draebek unit for as long as possible. He hoped that the distrust and betrayal they had witnessed would last lifetimes.

  “Hmm,” Owen said.

  “What?” Wayd asked, realizing that he had stopped paying attention again and hoped he hadn’t missed something.

  “All you can think about is how to enhance our defenses?” Owen asked, surprised. Then he grew a little sheepish. “All I can think about is that I’m hoping this battle is enough of a reason for our parents to recall us to Alderidon. I’m done with this border service!”

  Wayd felt pain in his chest and he realized it was because he was laughing. He fought it at first, but when Owen looked ashamed at what he had said, the laughter just came. Uncontrollably. And despite the pain, it somehow felt good.

  He wrapped an arm around Owen. “Maybe that’s true,” he said softly. And he realized for the first time in his life that he was actually a little torn. A large part of him wanted to head home and to find Alaina and reconnect with old friends. But a second part—a growing part—found himself drawn to the responsibilities at hand. He had to ensure that Ardonor was safe from this impending threat.

  They laughed as they walked back to Draestl. And for the first time in his life, Wayd was unsure of what to do.

  Epilogue

  A Father’s Love

  No matter what people say of the Draebek, at their core is the desire to love, and to be loved. As families. I wish I had seen that prior to forcing them away. Perhaps if I had, they would have become our greatest ally instead of our greatest enemy.

  Wayd approached the prison cells and had to shield his nose from the scent that was emanating from within. He knew that it was bad—they were located at the bottom of the Draestl palace and were notorious for being unkempt. Owen had even made a joke that he had spent the night in the cells after being caught cheating in a dice game. Now having smelled it, Wayd wondered if Owen had actually been telling him the truth.

  He entered the cell and nodded at the guards. Wayd had worn his title of prince today instead of captain because he wanted to make sure they admitted him. He was grateful when the guard snapped to attention and fumbled a salute.

  Wayd didn’t bother responding, he just walked by. Part of it was annoyance about the way Korin was being treated, but part of it was because he just didn’t have any patience.

  He walked inside and the bright sunlight from the outside was replaced with a dim shimmering light cast from a dozen candles along the walls of the hall that led to the cells. The cells were crammed together, and barely large enough to lie down in. Most were empty, but that didn’t stop them from reeking. He covered his nose and walked in, doing his best not to gag.

  He saw Korin at once and felt a pit in his stomach. He still looks horrible from his capture.

  When Korin saw Wayd coming, he attempted to climb to his feet. He only managed to get to one knee before he fell forward into what looked like rotten food and waste from the previous occupant.

  Wayd rushed over and knelt down, putting his hand between the bars to reach for Korin. A guard heard the commotion and walked in.

  “Do you need anything?” he asked.

  “Be gone at once,” Wayd dismissed him. “And don’t come back, or let anyone else in.”

  The guard stiffened, but when Wayd gestured toward his station, the guard obediently left.

  Wayd looked at Korin. He could see him clearly now as the dwarf rolled over onto his back. He was a battered mess. His face was black and blue and he had several deep cuts that needed stitching. Several cuts were swollen with infection, and one of his eyes was completely swelled shut. Even a few days after the siege of Draestl the wounds still looked fresh.

  Korin tried to sit up, and coughed blood when he did. Eventually, he pushed himself against the edge of the cell where he was able to pull himself up. From the way he was gingerly treating one half of his body, Wayd was sure that Korin had broken bones.

  I’m not surprised after the beating he took.

  “Korin, I’m trying to get help for you,” he said sadly.

  Korin smiled at him. “I don’t deserve that,” he said.

  “After what you did? You saved us,” Wayd said emphatically. “It was you. Right? You and Shadmay? You had her put those dreams in our minds?”

  Despite the mass of wounds, Korin’s one good eye flashed with vigor. And pride. Wayd realized that his question was akin to Korin admitting he had betrayed his people.

  “I’m sorry. It’s just, you saved our people,” Wayd said.

  Korin let out a sigh. Then began to weep.

  Wayd didn’t know what to do. He wanted to thank Korin. To break him out of here. But he realized now that Korin was content with his circumstance. He was fine being a prisoner. He probably thought he deserved it.

  And the last thing he wanted to do was visit with the man whom he had helped.

  Wayd turned to leave. He had to get out of here. Coming here was a mistake.

  “I bet you want to know why,” Korin said. Even his voice sounded wounded.

  Wayd stopped and looked back at Korin, who managed a weak smile.

  Wayd couldn’t resist the invitation. He had wanted to know why since his first suspicions. “Yes,” he said eagerly. “Why would you risk everything? You had us! You could have taken Draestl. It would have been a crippling blow to Ardonor. You had us!”

  Korin smiled again. “What good is a victory in war, if we have lost ourselves in the process?”

  Wayd didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”

  Korin began to weep again. “Thraegar, Wayd. Did you see him? He’s not ready. He’s too selfish. Too much like his father. He lost sight that this war’s purpose is to drive freedom to Ardonor! But he changed it to a mission of revenge and vengeance. If I hadn’t interfered, we would have won the war, but we would have lost Thraegar.”

  Wayd couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

  “And now I must live with the fact that I am the greatest traitor in the history of the Draebek,” Korin said sadly. “Betrayed my own kin. Betrayed the closest I’ve ever had to family. I treated Thraegar as if he were my own, did you know?”

  Wayd nodded sadly.

  “But you know what, Wayd? I would do
it again. For I know that Thraegar will return. It won’t be with me at his side, but he will return. And this time he’ll do it right. With Shadmay guiding him, he will do it right. Mark my words, the Draebek will fulfill their prophecy with Thraegar at their head. Just not now. Not yet.”

  Wayd was conflicted and wanted to argue with Korin. How could the Draebek returning be a good thing? But then he thought about what Korin had said. What if Thraegar does return in the right way? The way that Korin believes? Will it come to war?

  Wayd shook his head. He couldn’t believe he even entertained that thought. The Draebek were brutal killers and conquerors, obsessed with draestl, and would massacre to get what they wanted. He thought of the Alderidon Wolves who had been killed because they stood in the way of the Draebek quest. I can’t forgive them. Ever.

  But then he thought of the way they treated him as a prisoner. They had taken care of him. Nursed him. Protected him. And Korin had sacrificed everything for him.

  Perhaps there is a world where both Ardonor and Draebek can coexist.

  “Thank you, Korin,” Wayd said softly.

  The Draebek looked up at him. “For what?”

  “For saving my life,” Wayd said, “but more so, for changing my perspective.”

  The smile that formed on Korin’s face was all Wayd needed to confirm that he had said the right thing.

  “I have used my station to protect your life. You won’t ever be free, but they won’t execute you. And I promise that one day, I will be back to set you free. Because you deserve it,” Wayd said.

  Korin nodded.

  As Wayd turned to leave, Korin reached out his hand and grabbed Wayd’s. It startled Wayd, but then Wayd saw Korin release his grip and extend his hand.

  Wayd took the extended hand. “Thank you, Korin.”

  “Thank you, Waydsyn Scot,” Korin returned. “May the next time we meet find us under different, and better, circumstances.”

  “Agreed, Korin Blackthorn. Until we meet again, farewell,” Wayd said.

  “Farewell, Prince of Ardonor,” Korin said. He released Wayd’s hand and nodded.

  Wayd turned and left the cell, his mind racing as he reevaluated everything he had ever been taught about the Draebek.

  The End of Siege of Draestl

  A Novel of The Drahiad Chronicles Prologues

  You can read more about Wayd and Owen in Cataclysm,

  the final book of The Drahiad Chronicles Prologues

  Enjoy This Book?

  You Can Make A Huge Difference

  Reviews are the most powerful tools out there for bringing attention to my books. Why? Because committed and loyal readers offering their honest opinion mean much more to the next reader than any ad they’d ever see. It’s your opinion that they care about!

  If you’ve enjoyed this book I would be very grateful if you could spend less than five minutes leaving an honest review (it can really be as short as you like). It would mean a lot to me, and a lot to the next person debating picking up a copy of my work.

  Thank you very much.

  Randall

  About the Author

  Randall Seeley has loved fantasy since he was a little kid. He got hooked with Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain and he’s been reading fantasy ever since. His passion is writing. So thank you for purchasing this book! Every book purchase is one step closer to fulfilling his dream!

  He’s currently writing two parts of the Drahiad Chronicles. The Prologues are set just before the main books where you'll be introduced to the main characters. The Main Books are where these characters come together and learn they need to work together to save Ardonor.

  He’s also dabbling with an epic fantasy series, and more recently a superhero series.

  He loves to hear from his readers. Send him an email at randall@randallseeley.com and he’ll get back to you personally. Or connect with him on social media through the icons below.

  The best way to stay up to date is by joining his mailing list at www.randallseeley.com/sign-up.

  Also by Randall Seeley

  The Drahiad Chronicles Prologues

  Dragonlyst

  Alderidon Wolves

  Order of the Dragon

  Siege of Draestl

  Sign up for my mailing list to find out about future releases! You can sign up at:

  www.randallseeley.com/sign-up