Thrones Under Fire_I, Dragon [Book 3]
Page 23
“Caleb!”
“Caba!”
The reunion of the Brewer children brought tears to everyone’s eyes. Nicholas Lamont pulled his wife close. Magdalena, Tanner, and Captain Finn wiped their eyes. Finn and Magdalena joined hands.
“Lord Lamont!” Caleb called.
Lamont crossed the square and knelt in front of the children.
“I am here, Caleb.”
“So much has happened, My Lord. The giant killed Sir Edmund. And Papa.”
“No!” Lady Lamont cried.
“The giant is dead,” Caleb said. “Simon killed him. The other dragons returned to the Southlands.”
Lamont sighed. He looked up at the young dragons that circled above the castle.
“Then we have only these young ones.”
Caleb managed a smile.
“Oh, no, My Lord. The dragon clan has a new leader—a good friend of ours.”
“I don’t understand,” Lamont said.
“You know him as the rightful king of the realm, My Lord. Well, he is also the king of the dragons!”
“Simon?” Lamont said. He scanned the skies.
“Where is he?
“He is chasing his heart, My Lord. He will save Queen Jaclyn.”
Caleb shifted his weight on his feet. He stumbled. Nicholas Lamont caught him.
“You poor child!” Lady Lamont exclaimed. “You must be exhausted! Esmerelda! Esmerelda! Prepare beds for these children! The best we have! Someone bring a carriage!”
Lord and Lady Lamont helped the children into the carriage. Before it moved, a faint cry sounded from near the village gates.
“Wait!” Caleb said. “What was that?”
“We were caught up in a battle with the army,” Captain Finn said. “Two of the dragons were killed. Another was wounded. We could not leave him behind—we loaded him onto a wagon but…I don’t know what to do with him. He is in pain…”
“Take me to him,” Caleb said.
Scores of people in the square followed Finn and Caleb to the gate. They kept their distance, not trusting the wounded dragon.
A woman reached and grabbed Caleb by his shoulders.
“Are you going to allow this child to approach an injured dragon? Are you mad?”
Caleb touched one of the woman’s hands.
“Thank you for your concern, My Lady. But he will not harm me. I promise.”
Caleb held his hands in front of him until he reached the wagon. He walked toward the sound of the dragon’s breathing. He touched the dragon’s jaw. The dragon raised his head and screeched. The people jumped and then each of them held their breath.
Caleb moved his hands slowly down the dragon’s body. When his hands neared the nearly severed wing, they began to glow. The light grew so bright that the people had to turn their heads away.
That light faded away. It was replaced by the tower of fire the dragon blew into the air, just before he flung himself into the sky to join his friends.
Shock and awe turned to shouts and applause.
Caleb clapped his hands and smiled.
“Now, it’s time for bed!”
****
Belinda Jacobs looked out her window again. She was dressed for travel and had already had something to eat. Dawn would break in the next few minutes. What a strange night it had been.
After the stress of the last few days, Belinda had slept almost night and day. She was awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of something striking her roof right above her head.
Belinda had taken her lamp and opened the front door. She looked around, but saw or heard nothing. She walked across her garden and found a stone with a piece of parchment tied to it. She looked around again and hurried inside.
Belinda untied the parchment and unrolled it. She read it and re-read it several times. Her wrinkled brow finally relaxed. She took the parchment and fed it into the fire.
Belinda tied on her hat and took a horse from the stables. She rode toward the edge of the village, nodding and waving to the other early risers.
By the time the castle came into view, it was obvious that something was amiss. Horses were ridden hard, both toward and away from the castle. Travelers on foot hurried toward the castle gates. Belinda listened to the hustle and bustle, but was unable to understand what people were saying. She rode on.
Rise early in the morning, the anonymous note had said.
Ride to the castle before any changes can be made. You will not be disappointed. I highly recommend you destroy this note.
There were so many people crowding the castle gates that Belinda had to wait. She grew impatient when no one moved for several minutes. She tied off her horse and pushed her way inside. People pushed and shoved each other from all directions, but Belinda would not be denied.
Amid shouts, and gasps, and sounds of both horror and celebration, Belinda saw a number of people standing on top of a cart. They pointed toward the castle. Belinda fought her way to the cart and climbed aboard.
There, hanging on the castle wall, was a ten foot length of brilliant blue robe.
Beside the robe, and crudely mounted upon an iron spike, icy blue and lifeless eyes stared down from a bald severed head.
A necklace spilled from its gaping mouth.
A necklace strung with the teeth of dragons.
I hope you have enjoyed book three of the I, Dragon series. If you did then please consider leaving a review at Amazon. You know what they say—the way to an author’s heart is through an Amazon review. The link for the book is here:
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And here is the link to book one in the series,
My Name is Simon
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Here is the link to book two,
Rebellion
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Can’t get enough Simon?
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Simon’s Voyage
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Also by Nathan Roden
The Wylie Westerhouse Paranormal Fantasy Series
Book 1 Ghosts on Tour
http://amzn.to/1Vhn36c
Book 2 The Dark Stage
http://amzn.to/1Y4NMCc
Book 3 The Lightning’s Kiss
http://amzn.to/29XO8xo
Nathan Roden lives in South Central Texas with his wife and two in-and-out sons, and more dogs and cats than is necessary.
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