(Dragonkin) Dragon Rider Read Online Free PDF Page A

heard about has ever seen one, or an elf for that matter, much less a dragon. I do not think anyone even believes in them anymore."
       "Does not believe in them!" Donderan said, and turned to look at Brylen.
       "Well, not really. In the almost three hundred years since my ancestors settled the land I grew up in, no one has ever seen any of them. The stories we tell about them, came from the few people who lived here before my ancestors crossed the mountains to the east, and built their towns. Our women adopted them as stories for the children, when bedtime came around." Brylen explained, as Donderan looked at him from his pony.
       The dwarf shook his head, and rode on in silence. Brylen looked at the road, wondering where it would take him now, and what adventures it would lead him to. It was getting late when they came across the small stream, and the ford where the road crossed it. Donderan rode across the ford, and off the road. Brylen followed, as they made their way along the stream, looking for a place to camp for the night.
       The fire was dyeing down, and the two travelers had eaten, when Donderan stood abruptly, picking up his battle-ax.
       "Do not worry lad, I will be just out of sight." Donderan said quietly, as he moved away from the fire, and into the brush.
       Brylen lay back, and put his head on the saddle he used for a pillow, looking up at the night sky. It was quiet here he thought, and when the insects stopped making noise, he thought it maybe a little to quiet. Seconds later, the two men walked into the camp from the stream.
       "Well, well, look what we have here, would you." The taller of the two men said. "Looks like we hit the jackpot this time, buddy. We got some horses to replace the ones we killed this morning, and a pony to carry all these goods we found."
       " You cannot have the horses or the pony, and these things are not lost." Brylen replied, as he started to rise.
       "No need to move friend, and this belongs to us now, because you will be dead soon, and we can do with it as we please." The shorter man said, and both drew their swords as they advanced on him.
       With a mighty roar, Donderan burst from the brush, and buried his ax into the taller of the two men. He jerked his ax free, just in time to block the second mans sword as it slashed through the air, and at his head. Off balance from the unexpected appearance of the ax, and the miss that it resulted in, the man spun away. He rushed in again, and swung at Donderan's body, but the ax blocked his attempt once more. This time, the man held his sword out in front of him, and advanced more slowly. With an evil grin on his face, he started to lunge at the dwarf. The arrow hit him in the neck at that moment, and he dropped the sword, looking at Brylen with confusion on his face. He took two steps, before falling to the ground, dead.
       "Good shot, lad, good shot." Donderan said, as he rolled the man over to retrieve the arrow. "These are excellent weapons, and the armor of this one is better than he can afford, by the looks of him."
       "He is a soldier of Arnoran, I have seen his people before." Brylen said.
       "Then they forfeit everything they have on them, to us." Donderan replied. "You have no armor or sword, and you will need them if you are to escape from our next encounter unharmed, I think."
       "As long as I am not fighting for him, I might as well fight against him." Brylen said, and he took the chain mail and the thigh guards from the dwarf. The sword he chose was a very good blade, far too good to be taken from its owner by the likes of these two, Donderan thought.
       "I think you are right about them being Arnoran's soldiers." Donderan said. "These swords are some of the best I've seen in a few hundred years, and the mail is well made as well. Look at this." Donderan said, and held up a key for Brylen to look at.
       It had a skull at the base where a ring held it, and a