The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10)

by Craig Halloran

  “The draykis are excellent soldiers. Hunters as well.” He ran his hand over the amulet that controlled them. “Nine dragons have been captured in the last month. Our poachers are in good order.”

  “Any unusual run-ins, Kryzak?” she said.

  “No, Selene,” he said, “not as I’d hoped to report, I’m afraid.”

  “Selene?” she said, leaning forward.

  Kryzak shrugged. “You know how deep my love is for you, Selene.” His eyes sparkled and flared. “I’ve died once for you. I’ll do it again.”

  She eased back into her chair. Kryzak was the only man who spoke to her so informally. He’d earned it. He used it. She liked that about him. Cold. Confident. Fearless.

  “Of course, Kryzak, but mind your tongue. You might lose a soldier if he followed your insubordination.”

  “Certainly,” he said, nodding, “And if he did, I’d kill him myself.”

  He stood still, chin up, arms folded behind his back, waiting.

  She sat, quiet, thinking. Nath Dragon had disappeared once more. But he would show up. He always did. Even Finnius the acolyte had tracked him down, but the High Cleric Kryzak could do better. He never failed any charge. Not once. Not ever. The man was on a mission. Her mission. The mission of Barnabus. Capture the dragons. Sell the ones that could be sold. Kill or turn them. But most importantly, stop Nath Dragon. Run the world.

  “Find him, Kryzak,” she said. “Grind him down. Torment his friends. His allies. No mercy. I want him weak. His purpose meaningless. His focus frayed.”

  Kryzak caressed the long wooden handle of his war mace. The wood was weathered, the flanges of the head a dark metal. He nodded. “Our spies are everywhere. As soon as he shows, I’ll know. Track him. Trip him. Snare him. Bust him up. Break him. It will be a pleasure.”

  “Don’t get too carried away, Kryzak,” she said, “I want him alive, but his friends, his allies―do with them what you wish.”

  He patted the head of his mace.

  “Then his friends and allies,” he said, glowering, “will be dead. Or horribly mutilated.”

  Her black tail uncoiled from her body, stretched out, and brushed his rugged face.

  “My resources are yours,” she said. “I have many. Be sure you keep me informed.”

  “As you wish, Selene,” he said, closing his eyes. “Your touch inspires me.” He smiled and stroked her scales.

  Her tail coiled around his neck and squeezed.

  “Do not fail me, Kryzak.”

  “Ah,” he moaned, “Your touch is divine, and I won’t fail. When Nath Dragon is in my clutches,” he said, “you’ll be the first to know.”

  Her tail slid away and draped over her shoulder.

  “You’re dismissed, Kryzak,” she said.

  Kryzak bowed, turned, and walked away. The draykis followed. The great doors closed behind them, leaving her and the drulture all alone once more.

  Selene let out a sigh and patted the creature’s head.

  “I don’t know who to feel worse for: Nath Dragon or his friends.”

  The drulture flicked out its tongue and let out a tiny roar.

  Selene chuckled.

  “No, of course I don’t feel for them. It’s just an expression.” She got up from her throne and walked down the steps. Her tail swished left and right from behind. “Stay, my pet. I have a grave meeting to attend.”

  It chirped and growled.

  “No, you can’t come,” she said, headed for a concealed exit in the back. “I fear my master might eat you. He’s eaten too many of my pets in the past.”

  CHAPTER 5

  We rode hard the next few miles. Ahead, a small village was smoking and in tatters. Men labored. Children scurried back and forth and some cried. It must have happened days ago. Beyond the village, the smoke was coming from somewhere else.

  “By Guzan,” Brenwar said, “who’d do such a thing?”

  “Who, or what?” Bayzog said, pulling a spyglass from his robes.

  I hopped off my horse.

  Sasha followed me down into the disaster-struck village.

  The charred remains of houses and storefronts still smoldered. The farmers, tanners, bakers, herders, and blacksmiths were dirty and drained, milling about and scraping up what was left of their homes. Their memories. Heirlooms and such things. It tugged at my heart. Their peaceful lives had been destroyed.

  A farmer, covered in dirt and soot, picked up pieces of a fence and stacked them nearby. A little boy, maybe twelve with tawny hair, wiped his eyes and stared.

  “Sir,” I said, “what happened? Who did this?”

  The man didn’t even turn. He kept working and told his son to look away.

  “Sir,” I said again. I didn’t like to be ignored. I was only trying to help.

  Sasha put her hand on my arm and led me away. “They are still grieving,” she said. “And I don’t see the mother. Seeing how they’ve lost a home, you’d think the mother would be near.”

  Scanning the village of broken wood and busted storehouses, I noticed something else. I didn’t see a single woman. Dread filled my chest.

  “Sasha,” I said, “I don’t see any women at all.”

  She pinched her lips with her fingers. “Oh dear.” A crease deepened in her brow. “Perhaps one of them can help,” she said, gesturing toward an organized-looking group of men.

  The Legionnaires were a welcome sight. Two soldiers approached on foot, the City of Quintuklen colors and insignia emblazoned over their breast plates matching a small plume on their open-faced helmets.

  “Dragon! Is that you? Draaagon!” a man yelled at the top of his lungs.

  It was Ben. He ran up to me and gave me a firm embrace.

  “Easy, Ben.”

  “Oh,” he said, patting my arms, “I’m sorry, I’m just so glad to see you. I was worried.” He gasped, eyes widening. “You’ve got two dragon arms now. That’s incredible!”

  “Ahem,” Sasha said.

  Ben lost his breath. “Up … er …” He swallowed a lump, took off his helmet, and bowed a little. “So nice to see you again, Sasha. You are even more beautiful than I recall.”

  Sasha giggled. “Thank you. It’s good to see you too.”

  “Why Ben,” I said, “you really are a soldier, aren’t you?” I patted his armored shoulder. “Complimenting a lady and everything. I’m impressed.”

  Ben stuck his chin out and grinned. He’d changed. His armor fit well. He’d thickened up in his chest and shoulders. He looked good. Like a soldier. He was no longer a lanky son of a farmer but a strapping young man with some grizzle on his chin.

  “Nice bow you have there,” I said.

  Ben had a full quiver of black-feathered arrows and a short bow. He beamed at me. “It’s not Akron,” he said, “but it’s a good one. I strung it myself. Dragon, I’m actually one of the top marksmen on account of my training and all. The commander says I’ll get to train new recruits in the future.”

  “That’s great, Ben.” I tuned my gaze to the soldier beside him. He was stout and short bearded, with a heavy axe on his belt. “And who’s your friend?”

  “Oh, forgive me,” Ben said. “This is Garrison. He’s my comrade.”

  I nodded and said, “Nice to meet you, Garrison.”

  “Aye,” Garrison said. Head down.

  “Don’t worry about him, Dragon,” Ben said. “He’s not the talker that I am. But he’s a fine fighter and wrestler. I’ve seen him pin a goblin and an orc. One right after the other.”

  “Impressive.”

  Sasha nudged me.

  “Huh? Oh,” I said. “Ben, what is—”

  “No, Dragon, you owe him something else,” she said.

  “I do?” I said, looking at her. I didn’t take her meaning right away, but then it hit me. “Oh, I do. I, uh, certainly do.”

  But what I owed him didn’t come easy. It was Ben who had dragged me back to the city of Quintuklen after I blacked out. He’d secured the horses as I ordered.
Ridden me back to safety. He’d done everything by himself. Done it right. But saying thanks didn’t come easy.

  He wasn’t supposed save me. I was supposed to save him.

  I rubbed the back of my neck and said to Ben’s friend Garrison, “Did Ben tell you how he saved my life?”

  Garrison nodded.

  Ben was beaming.

  “Ben,” I said, extending my hand, “thanks for taking care of me.”

  He accepted my hand. “Well, you taught me. Told me all about adventuring and responsibility. It was easy.”

  “Oh, is that so?” Sasha said. “My, you sound like someone I know.”

  “Don’t say it,” I said.

  “I won’t,” she said.

  Ben tried to hug me again but I stopped him. “That’s enough of that. Now tell us, what is going on?”

  “Ettins, Dragon! Ettins are doing this!” he said.

  Sasha looked at me with a funny look on her face. “Ettins are awfully rare. It doesn’t seem likely that ettins are about.”

  I had only seen one once before, and I’d gotten little more than a glimpse. “Really, Ben? How can you be sure? Did you see them?”

  He nodded his head with vigor. “I swear it, Dragon! I even shot at one with my bow. My arrow skipped right off it, like its eyelid was made of stone.”

  “I don’t know. Ettins are pretty big and slow,” I said. “You only got one shot off? Not at least three or four?”

  “Oh, it’s big, all right. At least thirty feet tall.” Ben stretched his arms up and held them wide. “And I only got one shot off because I had to run for my life.”

  “Why?”

  “They’re like rolling boulders when they run! They would have crushed us,” he said, “so Garrison and I ran. We hid!”

  It seemed a stretch. The ettin I’d seen was only twenty feet in height, if that. Maybe just fifteen. “Thirty feet tall?” I said.

  Both Ben and Garrison nodded their heads vigorously.

  Ben went on in a high-pitched rush. “And it has two heads! Ugly as an orc. Well, kinda. Scary, though. Really scary. It ate a man whole!”

  “And they kidnapped the women?”

  Again, they nodded.

  Ben said, “You believe me, don’t you, Dragon?”

  “Sure he does,” Sasha said, “and I believe you too.”

  “So,” I said, “where is the ettin you shot at now?”

  Ben pointed toward the smoke over the next hill.

  “The Legionnaires followed him that way. The commander ordered us to stay put at this village and help out. This isn’t the only village to fall. Another burns. They like setting things on fire. Why do they do that?”

  I exchanged another odd look with Sasha. “Have you ever heard of an ettin raiding a village or stealing women?”

  “No,” she said. “That makes no sense. Not one bit.”

  “What does it look like, Ben?”

  “Well, like I said, it’s really tall. Has two heads… ”

  “We’ve established that, Ben. Can you tell me a little more? Does it have skin, scales, or fur? A tail? We can’t be sure it’s an ettin.”

  “Uh … uh …” Ben’s eyes were growing.

  Garrison stepped behind me.

  “Dragon!” Brenwar yelled from out of nowhere.

  The ground shook under my feet.

  Thoom! Thoom!

  I whipped my head around. Lumbering downhill it came. Two heads. Thirty feet tall. It had a squirming Legionnaire in one hand and a club the size of a whole tree in the other. It skipped the soldier over the ground like a stone.

  “There be an ettin!” Brenwar said. He hoisted his war hammer over his head. “Battle ho!”

  CHAPTER 6

  It was an ettin. Two heads of matted brown hair. Thick skin covering hard packs of muscle. It towered even more than thirty feet in height. Its massive legs shook the ground.

  Sasha wrapped her arms around my waist. She was trembling.

  “Dragon!” she said. “Can you stop that … that monster?”

  “I told you he was big,” Ben said, nocking an arrow.

  I jumped on my horse.

  “Stay here!” I said. “Ben. Garrison. Keep an eye on Sasha!”

  Thoom!

  Thoom!

  Thoom!

  The ettin’s club went up and down, pulverizing everything in sight. A host of Legionnaires scrambled. Others fell. Horses bucked and whinnied.

  Brenwar, Bayzog, and Shum had galloped toward the monster, obstructing its path. I sped after them.

  “Yah!”

  Brenwar was the giant expert. Not me. But he’d told me stories about how the dwarves fought the giants. And as best I could recall, and I recalled plenty, it took many, many dwarves. Today we only had one. I could hear Brenwar’s thunderous bellows. He was fighting mad. But he was happy.

  A blue ball of fire erupted from Bayzog’s fingers, shooting across the sky and into the ettin’s face.

  It roared and shook its thick neck. Face smoking, it turned on its attacker, roared again, and charged.

  “Bayzog!” I yelled.

  He couldn’t hear me. There was too much noise. The Legionaries galloped by, hurling spears into its legs. Arrows ricocheted off its faces. Just like Ben said.

  “Bayzog!” I said. “Get out of the way!”

  The ettin loomed over them and raised its crude club.

  Brenwar attacked its ankles with his war hammer.

  Its great club came down. Bayzog was right underneath it.

  Boom!

  “Noooooo!” I screamed.

  Bayzog was down.

  I snapped the reins. “Monster!” I galloped up the hill at full speed.

  A man was standing in my path. Waving.

  “Huh?”

  It was Bayzog. I’d almost run over him.

  I jerked back the reins and stopped.

  “Pretty fine sorcery, eh, Dragon?” he said, lifting his black brows.

  “You trickster you!” I said. “Get on, will you?”

  Bayzog shook his head. “I do my best work from a distance. That illusion was just a test. He’s strong, Dragon. Resistant to normal weapons―and to some magic too. That ball I sent was no illusion. It should have knocked one head out.”

  “What do you suggest, Bayzog?”

  He lifted one brow. Everyone else was fighting, and he was thinking.

  I didn’t have time to wait. I pulled Fang from his sheath and charged onward. Behind me I heard Bayzog shout something, but the wind carried it away.

  “Dragon! Dragon!”

  Fang flared with blue life.

  Chaos surrounded the ettin. A score of soldiers attacked from all directions. Shum was nowhere to be seen. I searched for Brenwar. Where are you, dwarf? The heavy head of his war hammer flashing in the air caught the corner of my eye.

  KaRoom!

  Brenwar smashed the bones in the ettin’s ankle.

  The ettin screamed like the world was going to end. Good!

  Thoom!

  Thoom!

  Thoom!

  It hopped up and down on one foot. The club swiped over the ground. Brenwar ducked beneath it. Soldiers and horses skipped over the ground.

  I dug my heels into my steed. I had to stop this monster before it killed or hurt anyone else.

  KaRoom!

  Brenwar hit it again.

  The ettin toppled forward.

  “Nooooo!” I yelled.

  It landed on top of Brenwar.

  “Great Guzan!”

  I was almost there. The Legionnaires piled onto the monster. They pinned it down with weighted nets and ropes. Bound its arms and legs.

  Shum appeared on the ettin’s great chest. Agile. Graceful. The Elven Ranger flung a sparkling dust into the eyes of one of its heads.

  The ettin thrashed and rolled. The soldiers holding the ropes were flung into one another and scattered. Its huge fists came down, crushing one soldier, crippling another. Its powerful legs snapped the ropes
that bound it. It ripped them from its body like threads.

  It was going to take a lot more than plain ol’ manpower to take this monster down. I readied my sword.

  “Fang,” I said, “don’t let me down.”

  I held onto Fang with both my dragon hands and swung into its knee like I was chopping into a tree. I got halfway through in one swing.

  Both heads cried out.

  White-blue energy erupted from the blade. Ice formed. Spread above and below the knee.

  “Brenwar!”

  The dwarf lay smashed face-first into the ground.

  I jumped off my horse and pulled him up. His full-body impression remained in the grass.

  “Are you all right?”

  He was moving. His voice was muffled. “Blecht!” He spit out grass, wildflowers, and dirt. “Bloody ettin sat on me,” he said. “Don’t you dare tell anyone, Dragon. No one sits on a dwarf and lives to tell about it.” He picked up his hammer. “Where is it?”

  I pointed.

  The ettin was standing again, right behind us. Its legs were stuck together. The ice had frozen everything between its knees and ankles. Its ugly heads bickered at each other, speaking in Ettish. One hand rubbed at the dust in one of its head’s eyes. Arrows and spears zinged off its bare chest. Spears dangled in its other arm, which swung wildly, pounding at the ice.

  Brenwar huffed. “It’s a tough one, it is!”

  “I agree. So, you’re the giant killer. What do we do now, Brenwar?”

  He shrugged. “Keep fighting. We’ll wear it down!”

  “That’s it? Five hundred years of dwarven wisdom and it narrows down to ‘Keep fighting. We’ll wear it down’?” I said.

  “Don’t have time for a longer answer,” Brenwar said. He slammed his war hammer into one toe, then another.

  The giant’s club swept over the grass, with Brenwar right in its path.

  I jumped and knocked Brenwar out of the way.

  Wok!

  The club hit me square in the chest. Head over heels I crashed. I saw spots. I was dizzy. My chest felt like busted glass. I couldn’t catch my breath. I made it back to my feet and fell again.