“So, the war does not go well?”
“No sir, it does not. Rosemoor has fallen, as have Bridgehaven and Guilden. The troops of Wyndweir are scattered across the land and even into Terranasia.”
“That dark wizard is indeed making a mess of things. He came through this land, taking every male old enough to hold a sword and forced them into his army. Then, he made pacts with the people of Easternesse and they marched through here on their way to Wyndweir and did their own bit of damage.”
Next Henry turned and pointed, “Mistburn is that way, less than a days walk, but I suppose by dragon, it will be more like an hour’s flight.”
Hilde looked the way he had pointed. The sun was beginning to illuminate the eastern sky and she could see a flat, barren horizon.
He stepped up next to her and pointed at a lone mountain peak at the horizon.
“Just fly straight at that mountain. Mistburn is just at it’s base. You will find Symon’s family farm just to the east of the village, about one mile. It’s the only one on that road east, so it won’t be hard to find.”
Hilde turned and held out her hand and Henry took it. He leaned forward and kissed her hand.
“Be safe, m’lady.”
“You be safe, too, Henry. Dark times are upon us and it may be quite some time before we see the light again.”
She let go of his hand and walked over to Venia and climbed into her seat.
As she was getting situated, Henry stepped in front of Venia and looked into her eyes.
“When this war is over, you will always be welcome in my land. I will see to it.”
“Thank you, sire. I shall convey that word onto my uncle, Mirroth the White, the king of the dragons.”
They both gave Henry one last look, as he moved out of the way and then they took to the air, for their final leg of Symon’s journey home.
~~~~
A beautiful woman was working in the garden at the back of her home, pulling weeds and making sure the plants had plenty of water. She had long, white hair and blazing blue eyes. Her face still showed a beauty few women possessed, but it also showed a long life had been lived.
“Mama, what is that?”
She looked up at another, younger woman, who was pointing at something in the sky. She stood up and walked over to her.
“I don’t know sweetie. Looks like a large bird of some kind.”
They watched as the black spot bobbed up and down on the wind. It was so far out they couldn’t make it out, but the older woman was reasonably sure she was right, in that it was a large bird. They watched as it got bigger and bigger and pretty soon, it became quite apparent that it wasn’t a bird at all.
“Mama! That isn’t any bird like I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh goodness. Get in the house, Kelly!”
The younger woman began running to the house, calling out to someone inside. She looked back to see her mother was gradually making her own way toward the house. A man came to the door, looked out and then pulled the young woman inside.
“Get in here and stay in here!” he said to her.
He ran out the door and grabbed the older woman and started pulling her toward the house, but she started resisting.
“Mama, get in the house!”
She wrenched her arm away from his hand and stood there. Then she pointed at the incoming object.
“Have you ever seen a dragon before, Kyle?”
“No mama and I don’t know if we want to see one. Please come in the house.”
“Son, I have seen dragons before and I can tell you one thing. I’ve never seen one with a person riding on its back.”
Kyle stopped trying to get her to move to the house and looked at what she was talking about. Sure enough, there was a rider on the back of this dragon and it looked like it was a woman. A woman with brilliant red hair. And the two of them looked like they were intent on flying directly at the home.
The woman began walking toward the gate in the fence that separated the small farm from the dirt roadway that passed by the property. Her son stepped up behind her and stood there, ready to drag her to the house if he needed to.
Within seconds, the green dragon and rider landed just across the road. The mother noted the dragon didn’t carry just the red-haired rider, but also a bundle on its back.
They watched as the woman jumped down from the back of the dragon and hesitate as she looked across the road at them. Then, after a moment’s pause, she began walking across the road, toward the gate.
“Laurelai?” asked the red-haired woman.
“Yes. And who are you that you know my name?”
The warrior bowed her head, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“My name is Hilde Teagan and I have come from Wyndweir. I am the wife of Jarell of Greenvale Castle.”
“Jarell? You are Jarell’s wife?” she gasped.
Hilde nodded to her.
“That is a name I haven’t heard in quite some time. How is Jarell?”
Hilde raised her head and the sadness was evident.
“To tell you the truth, m’lady, I don’t know how he is. A few days ago we fought a grave battle near the village of Rosemoor and it did not go well for us. Jarell is missing and I don’t know if he is alive or dead.”
Laurelai stepped forward and placed a hand on Hilde’s cheek and closed her eyes. Hilde felt a flood of emotions and warmth wash over her. She had forgotten Laurelai was of a wizard lineage. After a few seconds, Laurelai pulled her hand away and looked at her.
“I sense Jarell is alive. Fear not, Lady Hilde. You shall see him again.”
Then a tear ran down Laurelai’s cheek and she looked at the younger woman.
“I also sense you have not come here with good tidings.”
She looked past the young warrior, toward the dragon, who was also not wanting to meet her eyes. She looked back at Hilde, who had tears streaming down her own face.
“You’ve brought my Symon home, haven’t you?”
That was more than Hilde could take. She almost fell to her knees and Laurelai stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her and hugged her tight. She could feel the young warrior’s shoulders bouncing up and down as she tried to control her crying.
“I’m so sorry, Laurelai. He and I talked many times of how, when the war was over, we would make this journey together, so that I could meet you and his children. I never dreamed we would make the journey in this way.”
Laurelai ran her fingers through Hilde’s red hair and did what she could to calm her down.
“It’s okay, Hilde. We always knew this could happen.”
Hilde pulled away and looked at her and then at Kyle.
“It’s not okay. He never should have even been in the army of the dark wizard.”
“Is that how he died?” asked Kyle. “Fighting against the armies of Wyndweir.”
“No, sire. He and his men had been freed from the bonds of the dark wizard and they fought on the side of Wyndweir, trying to rid Wyndweir and Gallyneer of the evil that Kerrick brings upon us.”
Laurelai looked back across the road at the green dragon, still bearing the wrapped body of her husband. She reached out and patted Hilde’s cheek and nodded. Then she stepped away and started walking toward the dragon. Kyle followed her and Hilde walked slowly behind him. She didn’t want to intrude on any sorrow that they might be feeling.
“I am sincerely sorry, m’lady,” said Venia. “Your Symon fought as courageously as any man I have ever seen.”
Laurelai looked up into her golden eyes and smiled.
“Thank you for bringing him home.”
She turned and looked at Hilde.
“Thank you both.”
Hilde nodded to her.
Kyle looked up at the bundle, struggling with his own emotions.
How was a man supposed to feel when confronted with the death of his own father?
He looked at Venia and as if she could read his mind, she laid down on her
belly and stretched a leg out for him to stand on. He climbed up and stood next to his father’s body and placed his hand on the head of his father and bowed his head. After a few moments of silence, he untied his father’s body and lifted it up and stepped back down off Venia’s back.
As he went to carry his father back across the road, Kelly came out of the house and walked to the gate. She started crying when she realized what her brother was carrying and held the gate open for him. She placed a hand on her father’s head and bowed her own, as a sign of reverence to her father.
She followed Kyle as he carried their father down the path and toward the house. Hilde and Laurelai followed him, arm-in-arm and Venia settled down on her belly to wait for her rider.
“So, did he and Jarell keep fighting with each other to the end?” asked Laurelai.
Hilde laughed a little through her tears. As they walked through the door of the house, she looked at Laurelai and smiled.
“M’lady, I have a few things to tell you and your children about those two knuckleheads.”
to be continued ...
I hope you’ve enjoyed this story about Garlan, Jarell, and Hilde. And others. I am currently working on the outline for the final chapter in their story. I hope you will join me in this adventure into the world of wizards, dragons and darkness. It's going to be a wild ride.
I would appreciate it if you could turn to the next page and send a rating to Amazon. Obviously I would love to get 4 and 5 star ratings, but more than that, I'd like to get honest ratings so I can see how these stories are being received. Thank you for taking the time to read my stories.
Into The Wishing Well
by D Glenn Casey
"Just wait by the wishing well."
"For how long?"
"What do you care? You're dead and not going anywhere soon."
Melanie arrives at the Pearly Gates, only to find a grumpy old man that won't let her in. How was she supposed to know she needed a number to come in?
So, what's a girl to do?
Miss Claudia told her that you can never do too much to get into Heaven, even if you are dead. Realizing she can still influence the living, Melanie decides to look after the people of her little town. She just doesn't realize there are others working in her town already, trying to drag them down.
There is one particularly nasty demon, who seems to have it in for her.
They don't like each other very much.
Join Melanie as she finds out she is one of the most important spirits in the coming war for Heaven, but has to face her battles before she even gets there.
Wicked Rising
The Chronicles of Wyndweir
Book One
by D Glenn Casey
War is coming and they think he can be their leader. He wishes they would find someone else.
Garlan has finished his trials in the Land of the Dragons, attaining the rank of Master Wizard. All he wants to do now is go home and find the woman he loves. But, there are rumblings in the land of Wyndweir and it appears that evil is rising again in the Eastern Desert, after four hundred years of peace and tranquility.
War does come and as with any battle against evil, lives are lost and prices are paid that seem too high. Garlan finds his love, but events conspire to keep them apart and it's all he can do to keep from losing his mind when darkness stretches out its cruel hand and shatters his world right in front of his eyes.
The Tales of Garlan
Prequel to
The Chronicles of Wyndweir
by D Glenn Casey
"Causing you pain during training isn't one of my goals, but it is an unexpected reward."
This is a compilation of the four short stories that make up The Tales of Garlan. They will take you through the exciting journey of Garlan, from apprentice wizard to master wizard. They are an excellent introduction to him and his world and help prepare any adventurer to take on The Chronicles of Wyndweir.
Beware The Boogerman
A COLD SHIVERS NIGHTMARE
by D Glenn Casey
I will destroy everything and everyone you love and then, I will rip your beating heart out of your chest!
Oh yeah? Bring it jackass!
The Prattville Sheriff's Department has one job and they're having one heck of a time doing it right. All they have to do is keep the peace and quiet in a small town that has the unfortunate nickname "Monster Town." It didn't come by that nickname without good reason.
Anyway, what would happen if a terror came drifting into town that could scare the bejeezus out of any law abiding monster? Find out when the sheriff and his deputies go on the hunt for the Boogerman.
The Wrath Page 36