Scourge of the Dragons Read Online Free PDF Page A

I’ve not heard much other than
tales of old,” Kade said.
    “Aye, lad. Wyverns, drakes, wyrms, and the
like are fairly common. The more ancient dragons are less common.
You can find them all in the elven lands though.”
    *
    Hadrin slowly rose to his feet as he spotted
the figures moving in the darkness. The light from the dying fire
was far too low to make out what he was seeing. Alandra looked up
at him questioningly and he moved over to sit down next to her. She
had taken the final watch before morning and there was little
chance that he would get back to sleep after seeing the moving
shadows. The Prince poked at the fire, hoping that it would emit
more light. His actions only made the Captain give him an even
stranger look.
    “What’s wrong?” She asked.
    “How long have they been on the edge of
camp?” He asked as he motioned toward one of the figures.
    “I’m not certain I understand.”
    “She can’t see them, my son,” King Obrin
said as he joined the two of them.
    “What do you mean, father?”
    “Only those with the scourge have reported
seeing the figures on the edge of light and darkness. Similar to
the reports of elves seeing figures in the distance when they are
close to death. They affectionately call it death’s shadow. Many
believe it is those who have passed on before us coming to welcome
us into their number. Truth be told, we haven’t a clue what is
actually being seen nor do we know if the scourge produces the same
effect.”
    “Isaack had some ideas about the scourge,”
Wrotan said as he sat up on his bedroll.
    “He never shared those insights with me,”
Obrin said.
    “It is possible he didn’t want to worry you.
He earnestly believed that whatever separates the living and the
dead is beginning to fail. If he is correct and we cannot combat
the scourge, the results would be catastrophic.”
    “They don’t look particularly elven,” Hadrin
said.
    “What do they look like?” Alandra asked.
    “I would say they look humanoid. The shapes
are ever changing, but some of them look elven and others do not,”
Obrin said, glancing toward his cousin.
    “My cousin probably sees them more clearly
than the Prince. The scourge has, after all, taken the most out of
him,” Erlkan said.
    “Perhaps the dragons can give us a better
idea of what we are dealing with,” Wrotan said as he slung his pack
over his shoulder.
    Hadrin and he others nodded and then began
to gather their own belongings. The sun rose over the mountains
just as they were getting underway. Wrotan took the lead,
cautiously glancing over his shoulder regularly. There was a sense
of accomplishment among the group as they neared the foothills
underneath the mountain range. King Obrin kept his same wary
attitude, which put his son on edge. The Prince glanced up at the
sun before deciding to call the others together before moving
forward.
    “I think father should decide on our path
from here on out,” he said.
    “My men and I are far better equipped to
make such a decision,” Alandra said.
    “I agree with the Prince. King Obrin is the
only one of us who has ever been to the Citadel of the Night, it is
important to know your terrain,” Wrotan said.
    “Do we care more about safety or about
reaching our destination faster?” The King asked.
    “Speed is crucial, we are being tracked.
Those wolves slowed down our enemies, but not for much longer,”
Wrotan replied as he looked across the plains toward the
forest.
    “How long have you known this?” Alandra
asked.
    “Since we left camp this morning. I would
have mentioned it, but we were moving at a good enough pace
already.”
    “It doesn’t matter now, we need to get
moving. Those elves won’t think to ask questions first,” King Obrin
said.
    *
    Finrul nodded to Fenzik as he opened the
massive door. Though the sun dragon’s nest was over one thousand
years old, it was still the greatest of its kind. The only
comparable dragon roost was the Citadel of the Night. At