by C. K. Rieke
“Kôrran!” Kera said, pointing eagerly up at the dragon.
“Kôrran?” Burr asked. “You named it Kôrran?”
“Him, yes. I named him Kôrran the II,” she said.
Burr smiled and nodded. “Yes, well done, lass.”
From behind, Herradax let out a great roar, as she was moved from her slumber back to her feet. Her eyes beamed intensely on the small dragon as it glided down toward them. The small dragon let out a screech as it approached. Lilaci saw its glistening red scales and majestic, fiery eyes as it came down and landed softly on the sands. Herradax strode over to the smaller dragon, merely a fraction the size of the larger female.
“Girl, I want you to meet Kôrran the II,” Kera said, walking over to the two of them. “I believe you two are going to become close one day, once he’s grown big and strong like you.”
Herradax, with her long red stripes down her back, shifted her wings around, and sniffed the smaller, red dragon; snorting and even dipping her tongue onto Kôrran’s neck. She then dropped back to the desert floor in her exhaustion, and the smaller dragon went and nestled itself quickly to lay next to her and was soon asleep.
Kera smiled a wide smile. “He would’ve enjoyed that.”
They all stood there for a few moments, watching the two dragons slumber next to each other. Then Lilaci broke the silence, “What’s next then?”
All eyes shot over to Kera.
“What’s next?” Kera asked. Her gaze turned sour as her eyes drifted to the north. “We take the fight to them. I’m tired of running. It’s time we showed the gods what it’s like to hide in fear. It’s time they tasted our wrath. We’re going to hunt down the gods and show them no mercy. These lands are going to be free of their tyranny.”
“So it begins then,” Veranor said as a crash of thunder boomed out from the clouds overhead. “The age of the Second Serpentine Wars has begun.”
The End
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Until this story continues,
Read about Gogenanth’s journey in Essill
With his friend Zaan.
Click here to read The Road to Light
Author’s Notes
Veranor’s back! That was a twist I didn’t expect to come when writing the first book, but some things are just meant to happen when your fingers hit the keypad. Veranor and Lilaci, Veranor and Kera, Veranor and Roren— they were all fun scenes to write. He came from the same place as the girls, only he grew older to fill a role he now knows he was wrong to take.
And finally, the dragons— large, dangerous and fire-breathing. Yes, action scenes and dramatic scenes are my favorite to write. And let me tell you, I’m exciting for the upcoming battles in the next couple of books. I’m planning two more books in the series, and then I’ll begin another series in the same world. Can you guess where?
Roren was a difficult character to kill off, and I personally got emotional writing that scene at the end. Even if Lilaci didn’t feel the same way, I think most of us have been there either being the one who loved with reciprocity or vice versa. It’s a hard path to be on, and dying before resolution can be made . . . eee . . .
Once I finished the manuscript, I was excited to get it to my editor for the vast majority of my past books, as she was eager to read this book, but after I reached out, I got sad news. Laura Kingsley had passed away. I got an automated message from her family that she’d died at the age of 38. I was shocked. She’d been a guiding force for me in my writing career, and she was gone. I was shaken and didn’t know what to do. Rest in peace Laura.
I had to move on and after scouring the internet for editors I found one that seemed promising. Thank you, Tiffany, I’m glad I found you. Your input helped push the story forward. Thanks to Tandy also for the proofread.
From this point on writing, I’m planning on expanding into other genres. So, while fantasy is my passion, I’ll be writing another series that’ll be thrillers. And btw, while writing this book I mainly listened to the Gregory Alan Isakov station on pandora. At the end I listened to ‘Blame it on the Tetons’ by Modest Mouse.
Until next time…
Cheers! C.K.
About the Author
C.K. Rieke’s love of fantasy and storytelling began early, with his deep adoration of The Lord of the Rings and The Dark Elf Trilogy. Over the past decade and a half, he's published fiction novels, co-published and illustrated comic books, and managed to work the old full-time job.
Born in Kansas in 1982, Chris Rieke (Pronounced ‘Ricky’) now lives in Lawrence with his wife Rachel, and their 2-5 dogs, depending on the year, this year it’s 3. When he's not writing and revising upcoming work, he can be found: reading, creating digital art, making websites, running, watching BMX videos, drinking coffee or wine, spending way too much time on his phone, and going to the dog park.
C.K. is currently working on The Dragon Sands series which chronicles the life of Lilaci of the Arr. He also wrote The Path of Zaan trilogy which follows Zaan Talabard on his journey in the land of Essill.
To get a free copy of the prequel short, Father of Zaan, go to CKRieke.com and sign-up to join the Reader's Group.
www.CKRieke.com