Dragons and Destiny

by Candy Rae

  DRAGONS AND DESTINY

  Candy Rae

  SMASHWORDS EDITION

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  Dragons and Destiny

  (2nd Edition)

  Copyright © 2013 Candy Rae

  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead; is purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  * * * * *

  Dragons and Destiny is dedicated to my children, Robert and Hilary who have mixed patience with understanding as their mother immerses herself in her writing and who, on occasion, tells them she loves them very much but to ‘please go away’.

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  BOOKS BY CANDY RAE

  The T’Quel Magic - A Trilogy

  Ephemeral Boundary - Enduring Barrier - Eternal Bulwark

  The Planet Wolf Series

  Wolves and War - Conflict and Courage - Homage and Honour - Dragons and Destiny - Valour and Victory - Paws and Planets - Tales and Tales - Ambition and Alavidha

  Dragon Wolf

  (Forthcoming - Publish Date 2014)

  (1) Journey and Jeopardy - (2) Gossamer and Grass - (3) Flames and Freedom

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  Cover Artwork - Copyright © 2010 Jennifer Johnson

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1 - AL 347 to AL 605

  Chapter 2 - AL 607 - First Month of Summer (Dunrhed)

  Chapter 3 - AL 607 - Second Month of Summer (Vadrhed)

  Chapter 4 - AL 607 - Third Month of Summer (Lokrhed)

  Chapter 5 - AL 607 - Fourth Month of Summer (Sanrhed)

  Chapter 6 - AL 607 - Fifth Month of Summer (Rakrhed)

  Chapter 7 - AL 607 - First Month of Winter (Dunthed)

  Chapter 8 - AL 607 - Second Month of Winter (Vadthed)

  Chapter 9 - AL 607 - Third Month of Winter (Lokthed)

  Chapter 10 - AL 607 - Fourth Month of Winter (Santhed)

  Chapter 11 - AL 607 - Fifth Month of Winter (Rakthed)

  Chapter 12 - AL 608 - First Month of Summer (Dunrhed)

  Characters

  Glossary and Appendices

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  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  The Ancient Greeks of Planet Earth believed that there were three types of fate that governed the world. The first, Clotho, was the fate that span the thread of life. The second, Atropos, was the fate that cut the thread of life. The third, Lachesis, was the fate that assigned a person’s destiny.

  Planet Wolf is a world where the grass is not green, where alien trees and spiky foliage move strangely in the breeze. It’s a world of gigantic mountains and deep valleys, of huge rivers and primaeval forests, of vast plains and arid deserts, of restless seas and great continents. On Planet Wolf, the native creatures act and sound like nothing mankind has seen before.

  It is six-hundred and seven years since mankind arrived. Not much has changed since the second century. The country of Murdoch is a totalitarian and feudalistic Kingdom. Democratic Argyll has become very prosperous. Vadath is still the home of the Vada who patrol and protect the northern continent. The Lind continue to live their lives much as they always have done except for those who choose to live with humans. In the Great Eastern Sea many of the islands are now populated. There also the privateers and slavers still roam, searching for booty and slaves. The Larg remain in the far south. They have never ceased in their hatred of their eons old enemy, the Lind.

  * * * * *

  Chapter 1

  AL347 TO AL605

  Three of Five

  It was number Three of Five. This second number was very important to its makers. It ghosted through space, pulling energy from the heat and light of the many suns it passed as it carried out its task.

  It was not an animate object. Twenty first century man would have called it an ‘unmanned space probe’. That was its task, to probe, to investigate and to send back the results of its findings to its makers.

  This solar system was not the first Number Three of Five had visited but it would be the last. Number Three was nearing the end of its useful life, its storage compartment held only one last beacon. The computer that ran Number Three bleeped as it took stock of what its long-range sensors were reporting. Another bleep and Number Three manoeuvred into a high planetary orbit around one of the planets.

  The doors of the storage compartment opened and the computer sent out the pulse that would release the last beacon from its restrainer-clamps. The beacon dropped away from Three of Five. The doors closed and the computer whirred as it ran the ultimate program that signified that its task was complete. Number Three of Five blew up.

  The gravitational pull of the planet drew the beacon down towards the surface and it gained speed as it plummeted; coming to a halt spiked deep inside what was dense forest. There it sat, the only evidence of its presence an occasional muted flash of blue light.

  With each sun its power pack feasted with greed on the sun’s rays, replenishing itself and at pre-programmed times Number Three of Five sent a burst of information out into space. When the sun was not shining it lay dormant, waiting.

  As the centuries passed the forest undergrowth grew thicker and deeper, hiding the beacon from the sun and these waiting periods grew longer.

  Then came one hot summer and a great forest fire burned. The beacon awoke as the sun’s rays once again replenished its power pack. It sent out another burst of information. Then the undergrowth grew to cover it once more.

  That was the day when the fate of many was decided, the day when, only one klick from its hiding place those fighting the fire decided that they could do no more and to permit nature to take its course. That was the day that signalled the end of the beginning

  Events were set in motion that would change life on Planet Wolf for ever.

  * * * * *

  AL570 - Julia

  Juliana Wallace, of the village of Saint Joan in the country of Argyll knew something momentous was happening the instant her father entered their cottage. There was an air of suppressed excitement about. Try as he might, her father couldn’t conceal it. After the family’s evening meal, as Julia busied herself readying her little brothers and sisters for bed he and her mother went to their bedroom and shut the door. Julia heard the murmur of their voices as she bathed the youngest prior to popping him into his rough nightshirt. She couldn’t make out what they were saying but they both sounded excited about something. She could hear her father trying to shush her mother’s exuberance.

  Wonder what has happened? Something good by the sound of it. Julia carried young Joseph up the loft ladder to the area where the younger children slept. It was a large area, separated by a decorated screen between brothers and sisters. Holy Writ decreed that youngsters of the same sex should not sleep together. It was one of the many rules by which the Wallace family lived. It had only been since Julia’s fourteenth birthday that she had been permitted into the boy’s side of the loft, fourteen being the age when a girl was considered adult and old enough to attend to the more intimate aspects of rearing children.

  With her birthday the previous month had come other
changes. No more could Julia wear the shorter skirt of a girl-child. Showing off her ankles was now considered a sin. Her hair was covered with an embroidered scarf. She still fidgeted with the unaccustomed tightness. The scarf made her head itch but her mother told her she would get used to it.

  She heard the older boys climbing the ladder, finished the story and made her way down to empty the bathtub, her task as soon as she had been strong enough to carry the heavy pails of water outside to the disposal ditch.

  Her father was waiting at the bottom of the ladder.

  “Juliana,” he began, “leave the water until later. Come and sit down. I have something important to tell you.”

  Julia winced at the appellation. With the onset of her adult status, her parents had stopped calling her by the shortened version of her name. As a small child she had had difficulties saying Juliana and had called herself Julia, a name which had stuck although her parents, her father especially, had never liked it. He gestured to the chair beside her mother at the kitchen table. Julia sat in the indicated seat and waited for her father to speak. He cleared his throat, a habit of his when he was about to pronounce on something of importance. An apprehensive knot started to form in Julia’s stomach.

  “Um, I spoke to Thomal Allanson this morning,” he began.

  The knot in Julia’s stomach grew tighter.

  Oh no, please God no.

  Everybody in the village knew that Thomal Allanson was looking for a new wife, his first having died in childbed some months before. Please let it not be him.

  “He has seen you and informed me that he is greatly taken with you and has made an offer of honourable marriage.”

  Anselm Wallace looked at his daughter for a reaction and got none. He saw was a white and expressionless face. She had known that now she was fourteen, her father would be looking for her husband but she had not expected this, a marriage to a grey-haired, old man. There were plenty of young unattached lads in the vicinity. Why, David from the adjoining farm, she liked him, her father had known this and had encouraged their friendship. Why had he changed his mind?

  “Thomal Allanson?” faltered Julia.

  “It is a good match and he expects no dochter by way of coin or land.”

  That was the rub a rueful Julia realised. Marriage to David would have necessitated the parting of the dowry and David’s father had long been after the low field beside the river at the edge of the Wallace farm. Here was a man prepared to take on Anselm’s eldest daughter with no dower. With another three daughters for which to make provision, it was no wonder that Anselm Wallace had leapt at the chance to see Julia wed so easily.

  “Yes, a fine upstanding man. I admit that he is perhaps older than you would have expected but I know (it was amazing how much emphasis Anselm could put on that one warning word) that you will accept this match with pleasure and thankfulness. What have you to say?”

  Julia said exactly nothing. She sat as if glued to her chair. Her father began to frown, the first well-known sign that his temper was rising. Julia’s mother came to her daughter’s rescue.

  “I think Husband, that Julia is too amazed at her good fortune to say anything.”

  “Is this correct Juliana?”

  “Yes Father,” she managed to say with a grateful glance at her mother.

  “Good. Now, Thomal Allanson does not wish to wait overlong. The wedding will take place at the new moon.”

  This was the usual time to marry, the new moon symbolising the future of the marriage. As the moon grew in size in the sky so did the ties between man and wife, or so the priests said.

  “At least you will be going to an established farmstead,” continued her father, “no need to start new on virgin ground. Your future husband has a fine house and a prosperous farm. You should be grateful.”

  There was another note of warning in his tone, indicative that Anselm Wallace was becoming vexed. Her mother looked at her, meaning in her glance and Julia heeded the silent warning.

  “I am grateful Father,” she whispered but she was close to tears. Her mother sensed this.

  “I think that Julia could be excused prayers this evening do you not think Husband? This has come as a great surprise to her.”

  He nodded graciously. “Yes, she may be excused.”

  Julia fled. Holding back the tears that threatened to overwhelm her, she made her way up the ladder to the slip of loft space that was hers. Without bothering to undress, she slid beneath the covers and only then did she let the tears flow. Below she could hear her parents discussing the more detailed wedding arrangements.

  The next morning Julia accompanied her mother to market and endured the messages of congratulations. She now wore the decorated scarf of a betrothed female. When the marriage took place it would be exchanged for the black scarf of the married woman that would hide even the few wisps of hair she was allowed now. She stared at her mother’s black headscarf, realising that she had never seen her mother’s hair. For the first time in her life Julia began to question the Holy Writ that decreed a woman’s place in society.

  Why do we need to cover our hair? Why must we hide ourselves away under these shapeless dresses? She accepted the good wishes of the women-folk. Why do I have to obey Father and accept this marriage to an old man who I’ve never spoken to and have only seen from a distance? Rebellion fermented in her mind, but she couldn’t think of any way out of the situation. Her father had decided on the match and in the society that held sway in this part of Argyll a daughter was expected to obey. She performed her daily chores in silence and after prayers that night went to bed still pondering her predicament.

  She was not to know that in her agitation she had begun to telepathically broadcast her thoughts, past the boundaries of the village and towards a group of Lind on duty patrol some days away.

  Unlike further south and along the coasts, the Lindars of Lind and the Ryzcks of Vadath were not enthusiastically welcomed in Julia’s insular society. The Lind did however perform their prescribed duties alongside the Vada protecting these unappreciative people from the dangers that existed here in the northern hills and mountains. Julia had never seen a Lind up close. The priests were not happy about the fact that another sentient lifeform co-existed on the continent. Any teachers who tried to teach their pupils about the Lind were removed from their posts. As Julia lay in her bed that night trying to get to sleep, her mind stubbornly awake, Alyei, a young turquoise striped Lind from rtath Gainsya began to sense her disquiet.

  He rose up into a sitting position and shook himself. Alyei had sensed human emotions before but never as strong as this. He settled himself as he had been taught and began to push his mind out in the direction they were coming from, becoming more and more disturbed by the depressing and hopeless nature of the emotions he was sensing.

  He let out an explosive grunt of satisfaction as contact was made. His teachers had been right when they had told him about the amount of effort and energy it took to locate and isolate thoughts and emotions over a long distance. He estimated that the source of these emotions was at least two days run away and towards the mountains, right at the edge of the area where the humans had made their farms and homes.

  It was most definitely a girl he realised before exhaustion forced him to break contact and she was in much trouble. Not from pirates or the fearsome gtran or wral but from something else entirely, something more personal to the girl herself, he knew not what.

  When he came to himself he was not surprised to see the entire complement of the Lindar patrol ranged in a circle around him, quizzical expressions on their furry faces.

  “Well?” asked Sanei, Susa of the patrol.

  “It is not danger,” said one of the other Lind.

  “No gtran this far away from the high lands,” agreed another.

  A dazed Alyei regarded them. “I have sensed a human.”

  “Where?” asked Sanei.

  “I think my vadeln I have found. She is in trouble.”

  �
��Danger trouble?”

  “No, her trouble. I must go to her. She needs me.”

  Sanei looked at the young Lind. Alyei had never sensed any emotive outgoings from a human before and Sanei would have been prepared to bet the most succulent haunch of his next meal that of all the Lind in the patrol Alyei would have been the last Lind he would have expected to bond with a human. Those Lind who were destined to become vadeln-paired usually showed signs during their early years; it became a want, a need; and Alyei was over twenty hot seasons old. He had never shown the slightest wish to make intimate contact with any member of humankind.

  “If you feel this,” announced Sanei with resignation (he was about to lose his best scout) “you must go. If you feel that she needs you this strong and from so far away then I think you are destined to be together. I will tell those who need to know where you have gone and be careful, our kind are not often welcomed in the human domtas in these mountains. They are a strange folk.”

  Alyei nodded. Here at the coast where they were patrolling along with the duty Ryzck, the villagers were friendly to their Lind protectors. The further north anylind went the less was the welcome.

  “One more piece of advice. When you reach this human do not commit as vadeln unless you are very sure. Now go.”

  Sanei watched as Alyei loped away and beckoned to another two Lind. “Go follow him but do not let him see you. This is something he needs to do on his own.”