Copyright © 2013 D. María Trimble
All rights reserved.
ISBN-10:0985575344
ISBN-13:978-0-9855753-4-2
To those who persevere in the face of misfortune,
and continue to fight the good fight.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-four
Chapter Forty-five
Chapter Forty-six
Chapter Forty-seven
Chapter Forty-eight
Chapter Forty-nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-one
Chapter Fifty-two
Chapter Fifty-three
Chapter Fifty-four
Chapter Fifty-five
Chapter Fifty-six
Chapter Fifty-seven
Chapter Fifty-eight
Chapter Fifty-nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-one
Chapter Sixty-two
Chapter Sixty-three
Epilogue
Character Name Meanings
To the Valley of Dragons
Amáne is lured.
A quest for knowledge,
A betrayal endured.
The Chosen One captured
A sacrifice to please
The Ancient Dragon, Senolis,
His wrath to appease.
On frothy current
The kingdom’s hope may drown.
The death of our hero
Means the loss of the crown.
Broken with failure
Amáne paid a high price.
Will she take from Senolis
His prophetic advice?
~ Ballad of Amáne and the Valley of Dragons
The flames of Anbon licked the night sky. Noticeable, even at the distance from which Eshshah and I soared. I couldn’t help but feel I was to blame for the suffering of its citizens. Because of me they lost their village to Galtero’s army.
King Galtero swore he would seek out and destroy every dragon rider in Teravinea. The reason? Because I had humiliated him. His revenge against me focused on the people of Teravinea. He began with Anbon — the township I claimed as my home when I entered the castle as a male candidate for the Hatching Ceremony several weeks ago. My acceptance as a candidate disgraced Galtero. First, because I am not a male. Secondly, because I escaped his wicked games in an arena of death.
Fueling his anger, as if my escape was not enough, I was also responsible for the loss of his two ‘pets.’ One creature destroyed by the other — the other, the Black Lizard, Charna Yash-churka. He who linked with me when his venomous bite nearly took off my foot in the dungeons of the castle. It seemed a lifetime ago. Charna Yash-churka sided against Galtero and saved my life in the arena.
Perhaps the greatest incentive for Galtero to destroy the dragon riders was his fear of the One from the Prophecy ... me. According to the prediction, through Eshshah and me the rightful heir would regain the throne. It rang of truth to me, and I accepted my duty. So far it appeared the prophecy was unfolding as foretold.
Galtero’s evil reign seemed about to collapse. Even still, we were not naive enough to think that prophecies were written in stone. He would do everything within his power to prevent it. Any number of events could change the outcome. Our success was not assured.
Fortune remained on our side — no one had discovered the dragon egg missing from the Hatching Grounds. Eshshah and I delivered it to the Healer. No sooner had I removed it from the satchel than the egg began to hum and vibrate. The unhatched dragon found its Chosen One — Ansel Drekinn, my best friend, my love, and heir to the throne.
Ansel and Sovann’s training came to an end. We said our good byes. Less than an hour later, the communication disc buzzed. It was Bern with urgent news. Anbon was under siege.
“We’ve been able to hold the town gates,” reported Bern. “Our soldiers are putting up a brave fight. But against Galtero’s army, I don’t believe we can hold much longer. If it doesn’t look like we can stave them off soon, I’m going to call a retreat. We’ll pull back and take cover in the mountains — the women and children are already evacuating. We know the terrain well. Galtero’s army doesn’t stand a chance against us there.”
When the Healer signed off, she turned to me, “Amáne, I have no choice but to send you and Eshshah to extract Bern. The timing is unfortunate. I would have sent the four of you, but Ansel and Sovann have been gone too long to catch up to them. They won’t arrive in Trivingar for another three hours, and that would be too late.”
“We’ll leave straightaway, Healer,” I replied as I rushed to make ready.
I secured my breastplate and threw a dark tunic over my head. I pulled on my dragonscale boots, strapped on my sword and grabbed my riding cloak. Leaving my gear in the kitchen, I helped the Healer gather sacks of herbs and medicines for the refugees.
Gallen saddled Eshshah with the double saddle. We loaded the sacks and additional supplies on the second seat, then Gallen gave me a leg up.
With my thumb and forefinger forming an ‘o,’ and my remaining three fingers straight, I put my hand to my heart and gave the dragon salute to the Healer and Gallen. Eshshah and I spiraled into the night sky. It all happened so quickly, I never had the chance to consider our next quest had begun.
My mind drew back to the present. Smoke filled the air from the besieged town. We circled high above to assess the situation. My heart went out to the townspeople as they filed up the mountain path, fleeing their homes. From our vantage point I caught a movement below. A small battle ensued in the town square. A lone fighter held off several attackers as the last of the citizens escaped.
“That’s Bern, Amáne,” Eshshah informed me.
“Of course — he would be one of the last out,” I said.
Bern’s instincts as a dragon rider would clash with the thought of retreat. But he knew full well that he had to assure his own escape. No dragon rider could allow himself to be captured. It would mean disaster. All would give our lives to safeguard our secrets and our progress to gain the throne. But dying for our cause was not the issue. If Galtero had any more sorcerers at his disposal, one of his evil minions would be capable of extracting our plans. Ansel would be exposed as a dragon rider, the loca
tions of the other riders would be revealed as well. Bern had no choice but to flee.
We spiraled down toward the town square. I shook my head in amazement at Bern’s skills as he engaged a group of Galtero’s men. He clearly had the advantage as he pushed back his opponents, even though they outnumbered him.
Distracted by a movement, I turned my attention down a dark alleyway behind Bern. A large group of soldiers lurked in the shadows making their way toward the scrimmage and their comrades.
Eshshah banked in their direction and went into a dive. I took in a deep breath and leaned back in the saddle as we plummeted toward the alley. A few of the soldiers looked up in time to see a large fierce dragon falling from the sky. Their faces froze in fear. Some turned in an effort to escape, but found themselves tangled with their fellow soldiers in the narrow alley.
We knew what needed to be done. With remorse for the loss of lives, Eshshah inhaled and connected with her upper stomach that held her combustible gasses. Her exhale mixed the gasses with her venom, that acted as a catalyst. She belched out a massive flame and stopped the soldiers where they stood — leaving nothing but ashes.
Eshshah pulled up abruptly before we collided with the buildings and dipped toward where Bern fought. We only needed to land behind him. One look at Eshshah and the soldiers beat a hasty retreat.
Nocking an arrow on my bow, I let it fly. One escaping soldier went down. I continued to release my arrows until the last man fell. We couldn’t have news of Eshshah’s presence in Anbon passed on to the enemy.
“Get on!” I urged Bern. He ran and leaped on to Eshshah’s foreleg. We locked wrists and he swung himself up behind me. He had to sit on top of the sacks piled in his seat. Eshshah pushed off smoothly and took flight as Bern held on to the straps that held down the sacks.
We circled the town, and saw none of its citizens remained. Bern was literally the last to leave.
“I had to go back for the communication device,” he explained as he patted the large satchel hanging from his shoulder. “Galtero’s men had breached the gate before I could get out. Thank you Eshshah and Amáne. You got here quickly. Eshshah, your speed is remarkable.”
I was pleased with the compliment to my dragon. Eshshah hummed her approval.
The moon lit brightly on the scene below us. Men, women and children of Anbon, along with their livestock, made their way up the mountain to safety. A distance behind them we spotted a small contingent of Galtero’s army as they attempted to overtake the group that brought up the rear. Eshshah dealt with them. I wished them to their ancestors, along with all of the people who had perished in the battle ... from both sides.
We arrived at the encampment in a small valley. There were several cave openings in the sides of the mountains.
“We’ve been stockpiling provisions and weapons for just such an event. It was only a matter of time before Galtero would turn on us,” Bern said.
Tents had been set up. Workers bustled about to get the camp ready for the main body of the refugees now trudging up the mountain road. A small groan escaped from my lips as I caught sight of the occupied blankets and cots overflowing from out of one of the caves — the wounded. There were several children included among them with their mothers in tears by their sides. A lump rose in my throat.
Eshshah backstroked her powerful wings as she touched down in a nearby clearing. Bern swung his leg over and slid off. I removed my helmet and dismounted after him.
One of Bern’s captains rushed up to him, one eye on Eshshah, as he gave Bern the dragon salute.
“Sir, if you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to your command tent.”
He turned to Eshshah and me and gave us a crisp salute.
“Permission to speak to your dragon,” he said to me.
“Of course.”
“Greetings mighty dragon. Your strength matches your beauty.”
Eshshah nodded her acknowledgement.
“Amáne, you’re in charge here,” Bern said. “Assign people to help you unload and deliver the supplies to their proper destinations. I believe our healer will be happy to see what the Healer has sent him.”
“In charge? Me? But — ”
“Look behind you,” he said. An amused look on his face. “I’m sure you have no shortage of willing helpers. Take charge.”
He wheeled around and strode off with his captain.
I turned and found a rather large group of mostly young men, staring at Eshshah and me, eagerly awaiting my word. I blushed as I noted the looks on some of their faces — they openly gawked at me. Had they never seen a girl in male clothing?
I swallowed my embarrassment and did as Bern asked. “You,” I pointed to the one who ogled me the hardest. A tall boy who looked like he never combed his shaggy hair. “We’ll need a cart.”
“Yes, sir,” he said as he winked at me. I narrowed my eyes at him, but it didn’t appear to affect him. He turned and left to do my bidding.
I climbed back up on Eshshah and undid the lashes that secured the provisions. I removed the smaller bags and satchels that held the herbs and medicines. The boys and girls lined up and caught the items as I tossed them down. They took off in the direction of the hospital cave.
The obnoxious, boy, I learned his name was Darqin, came back with a cart and donkey. I tossed him the larger sacks, which he caught easily, and loaded in the cart.
“You want to go with me to unload these things, Sir Amáne?”
The title he used grated on my nerves, but I managed to hold my tongue. I didn’t deserve the disrespect and would have reprimanded him. I took into account that he had just witnessed the destruction of his town. I didn’t know if he lost a family member, nor did I know his story. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and held myself from an angry response.
I kept my voice even as I answered, “I have other things to attend to. I’m sure you’re capable.”
After I removed the saddle from Eshshah, I headed to the cave where Anbon’s healer ministered to the wounded. I grappled with my emotions as I came into the reality of the results of war. The smell of blood and death, the sounds. Some lay moaning softly while others cried out in agony. Children cried as their mothers tried to comfort them without aggravating their pain.
A few weeks ago Eshshah finally convinced me that Gallen had been right when he said that I had healing powers of my own. I thought they were only present with Eshshah’s help. But after placing my hands and healing a young girl’s ankle in a slave ship when I was abducted, and my own wrist in Galtero’s arena of death, I began to accept the fact that, indeed, I shared some of Eshshah’s healing abilities.
“Eshshah, please. I need you here.”
She managed to make her way to where I waited on the other side of the camp. People cleared a path for her large bulk as they saluted her and gazed at her in admiration. Young girls and boys, who should have been asleep at this hour, followed a safe distance behind.
Eshshah had never been exposed to anyone other than dragon riders, except for Kail and his brothers. She was fascinated by the people staring at her, and particularly attracted to the young. She felt they had the least fear of her. She enjoyed their persistent curiosity. Some even scampered closer and touched her tail as she trod by.
Together we visited the injured. I placed my hands on their wounds, or above them and poured out my healing power. My palms heated with the effort. Eshshah placed her nose on them and breathed her healing breath. We treated as many as we could — of those that were not at their ancestor’s door. My hands burned as we went from cot to cot. I hid my blisters and my exhaustion as we did our best to help. Eshshah could not fit in the cave, so the wounded were brought out to us. We could at least relieve them of some of their suffering.
Finally, Eshshah entreated, “Amáne, you cannot help heal anyone else. You’re spent. You’ll make yourself sick. I can take care of the last of them. Please, you must rest.”
My head reeled. I’d been stumbling for the last several m
inutes and had no strength left to argue with her. She treated my hands, then turned her attention to the rest of the wounded.
Bern found me just before daybreak. Without protest, I allowed him to lead me to the corner of another cave. I fell onto the pallet he’d prepared for me, pulled the quilt over my head and let sleep take me.
I awoke to the sound of the Healer’s voice. It took me a moment to remember where I was. I turned over in my quilts and focused on Bern. He faced the communication device he’d hung on the cave wall as he reported to the Healer.
“Anbon has been defeated. The majority of the town escaped, and we’re now holed up in the mountains. We don’t expect any further attacks, but if Galtero’s army draws near, Anbon’s defenders could overpower them here.”
I dragged myself to my feet, joined Bern at the disc and greeted the Healer.
“Amáne, thank you,” said the Healer. “The people of Anbon, I’m sure, appreciate what you and Eshshah have done for them.”
“We did what we could, Healer. But, it’s no consolation for the loss of their homes.” I let out a distressed sigh. “I owed them at least that much.”
“Amáne, the attack was inevitable. It was not your fault.” She gave me a measured look. “I suggest you be careful when using your healing powers in the future. We don’t yet know the nature or the limit of your gift. It may be possible that you can spend yourself irreparably if you don’t stop to rest when you need it.”
I nodded in acknowledgment as I shot a sidelong glance at Bern. No doubt he gave me up and caused the Healer to worry about me.
“I’ve spoken with Ansel,” the Healer continued.
My heart beat fast at just the mention of his name.
“He was upset that he left when he did and that you and Eshshah had to go on your own. I didn’t think when I told him that it would have the effect that it did. It would be doing him a favor, Amáne, if you would contact him — let him know you’re all right.”
“Yes Healer. I’ll speak with him straightaway.”
I paced as Bern continued his discussion with the Healer. At last he signed off and released the brass knob below the glass disc of the device. I immediately put my hand on it. “Gyan,” and then, “Ansel,” I said. The disc shimmered and the engaging face of my love appeared. I caught my breath at his smile of relief.
Amane of Teravinea - The Crown (The Teravinea Series Book 3) Page 1