Dragon Hero: Riders of Fire, Book Two - A Dragons' Realm novel

by Eileen Mueller

  Tonio held up his last two fingers. “That leaves your son, Tomaaz, and Master Roberto.”

  There it was; out in the open. Tonio had resented Roberto’s tenure here at Dragons’ Hold ever since he’d been appointed as master of mental faculties and imprinting. The best way for Tonio to be rid of him was to send him straight back to Zens.

  “No, they can’t send you,” Ezaara melded.

  “That’s right, they can’t,” Roberto replied. “I won’t go.”

  “No!” It was Marlies, standing right in Tonio’s face. “Tonio, I’ve lived my life. I’ve done my dues. Send me, not two young ones who haven’t had a chance yet.”

  Tonio lay a hand on Marlies’ shoulder and shook his head. “You’re not well enough yet, and besides, we need a talented healer here at Dragons’ Hold.”

  “As if they don’t need a master of mental faculties and imprinting!” Ezaara melded. “Without you, they wouldn’t have unearthed the traitors!”

  Lars’ lips were pursed. “Zaarusha, honored Queen of Dragons’ Realm, what do you think?” He strode to the back of the room and lifted his hand to her lowered head. After a few moments, Lars said, “Zaarusha is concerned that Zens may slaughter more of her citizens and loyal dragons. She would like more information, so we could minimize the danger.”

  Roberto’s queen needed more information. He had pledged to serve her, to fight and defend Dragons’ Realm. “I’ll go,” Roberto said.

  Ezaara’s gasp was audible to every ear in the room.

  Tonio shot him a sharp glance. “Thank you, Roberto.”

  There was a knock at the door. The blue guards opened it.

  Tomaaz strode in, Maazini behind him. Giant John sank back into his chair, and Marlies and Hans moved to stand on either side of their son.

  “Erob, you sly dog, you just had to tell Maazini, didn’t you?” Roberto asked.

  “He is my brother, Roberto. Besides, Tomaaz has grit. I want you to have a good traveling companion.”

  Roberto snorted. “You’re the only traveling companion I need.”

  “What about me?” Ezaara broke in. “I’d rather help than lose you all.”

  “I’ll go with Roberto,” Tomaaz said. “We have to kill Zens.”

  “We’re not looking at killing Zens, now,” Tonio said dryly, “although if you get the chance, we’d be highly appreciative.” His lip curled in a sneer.

  A titter ran around the room.

  One by one, Tomaaz stared the masters down. “I’ve just been in Death Valley,” he said. “I’ve seen the starvation, the beatings, the senseless suffering. I’ve seen our people robbed of their minds, their will to live. I’m not afraid to go back.”

  “Well spoken,” said Roberto.

  The spymaster pursed his lips. “You need to leave by nightfall.”

  Roberto rose to his feet. Tomaaz met his eyes, nodding.

  Lars’ smacked his gavel on the granite. The meeting was over.

  More Riders of Fire Adventures

  Ezaara—Book 1

  Dragon Hero—Book 2

  Dragon Rift—Book 3

  Early 2019

  Go on, turn the page for a sneak preview!

  Dragon Strike—Book 4

  Mid 2019

  Coming Soon: Riders of Fire Novellas

  Dragon Healer—Book 5

  Dragon Mage—Book 6

  Dragon Calls—Book 7

  Free Short Story—Silver Dragon—Riders of Fire

  Marlies is good at healing.

  So good that people from all over Montanara ask for her.

  So good that the town’s bullies target her.

  But when Giddi, the Master Wizard and famous Dragon Mage,

  calls Marlies deep into Great Spanglewood Forest, she gets a surprise.

  What’s waiting for Marlies in Spanglewood?

  And how will it change her life forever?

  Find out what happens to Marlies, and how it shapes Ezaara’s life, in Silver Dragon, exclusively on Eileen’s site and only available for a limited time. EileenMuellerAuthor.com/readers-free-books/

  Turn the page for a preview of Dragon Rift, Book 3 in the Riders of Fire series.

  Don’t miss out! Start your next adventure on Amazon today!

  Dragon Rift —Riders of Fire, Book 3

  Prologue – At Dragons’ Hold

  (Draft – may change slightly before publication)

  Lars smacked his gavel on granite, ending the War Council. Everyone flooded toward the doors. Roberto’s head reeled. How had that happened? How had he accepted a challenge to return to Death Valley? Last time he’d been there, Commander Zens had broken him. He’d become a monster, a pawn in the hands of the enemy. A powerful pawn.

  And now he had to go back.

  He gazed affectionately at his dragon—his closest friend. If it hadn’t been for Erob, he’d still be Zens’ prisoner, living in a hazy fog of numlock, subservient to Zens’ will.

  “Don’t go all mushy on me, now,” Erob mind-melded. “Mushy is the last thing you need to be if you’re going to face Zens again.”

  “I don’t want to go back and face my worst nightmares.”

  “If only it were that simple,” Erob said. “At least, people wake up from nightmares.”

  Roberto sighed. Zaarusha, his dragon queen, expected him to go back. Thumping his fist over his heart, he bowed to the queen and followed the other dragon masters towards the chamber’s exit. He needed time to think.

  Ezaara was just inside the huge double doors, chatting with the Master of Flight, Alyssa. “Roberto, you don’t have to go,” she mind-melded, nodding at something Alyssa was saying and pretending to ignore him completely.

  “You can’t believe that, Ezaara. You heard Tonio and Giant John. Zens is creating a new type of monster, something that can destroy dragons. We need to find out what it is.

  Someone tapped Roberto’s shoulder. “Roberto, a moment please.”

  It was Tonio, the spymaster.

  “Ezaara, I’ll meet you in the orchard in an hour.”

  “Of course.” She was swept outside amid the flow of masters and dragons.

  “I’ll be on the ledge,” said Erob.

  Tonio waited until everyone had left and shut the door. He paced in front of Roberto.

  “Tonio, you want me gone by nightfall,” Roberto said. “I don’t have much time to prepare. What did you want?”

  Wheeling, Tonio grabbed Roberto by the shoulders, slamming him against the rock wall. “Antonika was flying the perimeter of the basin earlier. She saw you kissing the Queen’s Rider in the orchard, Master Roberto.” He spat on the rock beside Roberto’s face. “You’re her master. You should be banished.”

  Roberto sighed. So it had come to this. “You’ve always had it in for me, Tonio. You tried banishing me using Fleur’s false evidence, and now, this.”

  “You’ve been kissing your trainee,” Tonio snapped. “How long has this gone on?”

  Roberto’s blood boiled. Spymaster or not, who was Tonio to dictate who he could and couldn’t love? Ezaara had nearly died for him. Had given up her role as Queen’s Rider, had risked everything she loved to save him. And the spymaster said he couldn’t kiss her?

  Roberto’s mind raced. Antonika’s memories could be used as evidence, but having recently lost four masters from the council, Dragons’ Realm was in a precarious position. They couldn’t afford to banish him now. Roberto had nothing to lose by being honest. “Just that one kiss in the orchard. Lars said it himself. She’s nearly qualified. She saved the Queen’s life, for the Egg’s sake. And mine, and maybe yours, by catching traitors that you failed to detect.”

  That last bit was too much. Tonio’s dark eyes flashed.

  Roberto had never noticed the similarity before, but Tonio looked just like Roberto’s father, Amato, with his calculating Naobian eyes. He shouldn’t have goaded him.

  “I could have your head for this. Or have you banned from your dragon,” Tonio snarled. “However,
this trip will probably kill you.” He shoved his finger in Roberto’s face. “Make it count, Roberto. If you get stuck in Death Valley, we won’t be coming after you.”

  Roberto pushed off the wall, forcing Tonio to take a step backwards. “So you can forgive Marlies for killing a dragonet, but not forgive me for being Amato’s son? What is it that Amato did to you, Tonio? Why do you hate me so much?”

  Pain flashed across Tonio’s face. Stiff with rage, he stalked out.

  §

  With Tomaaz and Roberto about to leave for Death Valley, and everyone buzzing around helping them prepare for their trip, Ezaara couldn’t settle. While no one was looking, she stole out to the ledge outside the infirmary, where Handel was resting, his tail tucked under his huge bronze body.

  Handel had the gift of prophecy. If anyone knew the outcome of this trip, it would be him. Luckily, no one else was around.

  “Handel, please tell me,” Ezaara mind-melded. “Will Roberto and Tomaaz be safe in Death Valley? Or are they heading into dire danger?”

  Handel snorted. “Death Valley is always dangerous. As Queen’s Rider, you should know that.”

  “I’m asking about this specific trip. Will anything happen to them?”

  He huffed, his breath stirring up dust. “You thought you could come out here and grab a quick prophecy to reassure yourself about your master and your brother? These are perilous times, my Queen’s Rider. You heard the council. Commander Zens is creating new monsters to overthrow us—new monsters that can overcome dragons. Tharuks are already bad enough. We must know everything we can about these new enemies.”

  “I know, it’s just that—”

  “You want reassurance, comfort, and safety.” Handel’s tail flicked out from under his body, twitching. “Not even Lush Valley is safe now that tharuks have breached the pass. No one is safe, Ezaara. No one. Not your brother, nor Master Roberto. None of us are safe. It is well that they do their part to help us fight this new enemy.”

  “Handel! Listen!”

  “No, you listen. I’ve recently returned from the edge of Death Valley and fought Zen’s tharuks. I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone.” He leaned his head down. “Let’s see if I can help.”

  Ezaara touched him. She didn’t need to touch dragons to meld, she could mind-meld with any dragon at will, but when she’d last touched Handel, it had prompted a sensory rush of prophetic visions.

  Handel’s scales were warm. This time, there was no sensory rush, just a single vision. One she’d seen before: Roberto’s face was a mask of hate as he lunged for her—

  Ezaara yanked her hand away.

  “You know this may not come to pass,” Handel said.

  “A vision so strong? I’ve seen it twice now, and you tell me it may not happen?”

  “All right, so maybe it will.” Handel shrugged his scaly shoulders and wrapped his tail around his body.

  No. Ezaara refused to accept it. She clung to a sliver of hope. Roberto loved her. Surely, he would never harm her. She shuddered, staring at the dark forest in the basin of Dragons’ Hold.

  §

  Don’t miss out! Read Dragon Rift – Riders of Fire Book Two on Amazon today!

  Ezaara, book 1 in the Riders of Fire series is on Amazon

  Experience Ezaara’s adventures as she becomes the new Queen’s Rider amid cutthroat politics and traitors in every shadow.

  “A great fantasy read.”

  Dean O’Gorman, actor, Fili the dwarf in The Hobbit

  Eileen’s Dragon Adventures for Younger Readers

  Dragons’ Realm—A You Say Which Way Adventure

  2016 Sir Julius Vogel Best Youth Novel

  Interactive fiction for kids of ALL ages.

  A fun time in Dragons’ Realm, in an alternate reality,

  where tharuks may be tamable and even like chocolate!

  Attack on Dragons’ Realm

  What happened when Commander Zens first came through the world gate?

  Heart-pounding adventure, undying friendship & plenty of laughs.

  Dragon Tales

  Fun, quirky adventures for kids – with dragons!

  Go on, turn the page and take a peek at these cool books for kids.

  (Psst: also for adults and teens who want to relive their childhood

  and have a laugh on the way!)

  Dragons’ Realm – A You Say Which Way Adventure

  Winner 2016 Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best Youth Novel

  A fun, interactive adventure for kids of all ages. You Say Which Way the story goes.

  Chapter One – A Bad Start

  “Hey, Fart-face!”

  Uh oh. The Thompson twins are lounging against a fence as you leave the corner store – Bart, Becks, and Bax. They’re actually the Thomson triplets, but they’re not so good at counting, so they call themselves twins. Nobody has dared tell them different.

  They stare at you. Bart, big as an ox. Becks, smaller but meaner. And Bax, the muscle. As if they need it.

  Bart grins like an actor in a toothpaste commercial. “What have you got?” He swaggers towards you.

  Becks sneers, stepping out with Bax close behind. “Come on, squirt, hand it over,” she calls, her meaty hands bunching into fists.

  Your backpack is heavy with goodies. Ten chocolate bars and two cans of tuna fish for five bucks – how could you resist? And now you could lose it all.

  The twins form a human wall, blocking the sidewalk. There’s no way around them.

  Seriously? All this fuss over chocolate? Not again! They’ve been bullying you and your friends for way too long. There’s still time to outsmart them before the bus leaves for the school picnic.

  A girl walks between you and the twins. You make your move, sprinting off towards the park next to school. Your backpack is heavy, but you’ve gained a head start on those numb skulls.

  Becks roars.

  “Charge,” yells Bax,

  “Get the snot-head,” Bart bellows. Their feet pound behind you as you make it around the corner through the park gate. Now to find a hiding place.

  On your right is a thick grove of trees. They’ll never find you in there, not without missing the bus to the picnic. To your left is a sports field. Behind the bleachers, there’s a hole in the fence. If you can make it through that hole, you’re safe. They’re much too big to follow.

  Their pounding footsteps are getting closer. They’ll be around the corner soon.

  It’s time to make a decision. Do you:

  Race across the park to the hole in the fence?

  Or Hide from the Thompson twins in the trees?

  Race across the park to the hole in the fence.

  You race across the grass.

  Bart Thompson chases you, shouting, “Onto the field. Follow me.”

  Energized by fear, you pick up speed. The bleachers loom in front of you. You’re nearly there. Racing around the back, you skid to a halt. In the air in front of you is an oval, swirling with colors, like a bubble shimmering in the sunlight.

  A faint voice comes from the glimmering air. “Help! Help me!”

  The twins’ feet pound on the grass. Their breath rasps behind you.

  Without thinking, you dive through the whirling colors.

  The park is gone. The Thompson twins are nowhere to be seen. You’re in a forest beside a river. Deep water rushes past you, gurgling past sharp rocks and disappearing around a bend.

  The shimmering air you fell through shrinks and pops like a bubble.

  You’re stuck here, for now. You’ll miss the school picnic, but at least you’re safe from Bart, Becks and Bax.

  Searching for a signpost or a clue to where you are, you glimpse an enormous flying creature with a long lizard-like tail in the sky. A dragon? Before you can be sure, it disappears behind a mountain peak.

  Even though the river is loud, you hear that same faint voice again, “Help me. Hurry.”

  You can’t tell where it’s coming from. There’s a trail leading
into the forest and another trail along the riverbank.

  It’s time to make a decision. Do you:

  Follow the trail into the forest?

  Or

  Take the trail along the riverbank?

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  Attack on Dragons’ Realm

  Jerrick started awake. Drums were pounding. The cabin was pulsing, like a giant’s heartbeat. He yanked his goatskin jerkin over his nightshirt. In a sliver of moonlight, Pa stumbled out of bed. Fumbling for his trousers and boots, Jerrick tugged them on. His heart thumped in time to the drums. Danger.

  Susi, just a littling, whimpered. Ma hushed her, stroking her hair.

  “Here.” Pa thrust a sword into Jerrick’s hand and picked up a sword and club for himself.

  Jerrick gulped. His sword was suddenly heavy, awkward in his grip. For years he’d practiced fighting with Benno and Reina, although they’d never been in battle yet. But that was about to change.

  He kissed Ma’s cheek and ruffled Susi’s hair, then he snatched up his bow and quiver, and ran out the door after Pa.

  Drumbeats rolled off the thatched roofs of Horseshoe Bend, throbbing though him. A tide of bodies swept them through narrow alleys between cottages, towards the settlement square. Like a hunting dog, Pa was fully alert, body tense.

  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?”