The Dragon Sands Box Set: Books 1 - 3

by C. K. Rieke

  What is this new beast? I can only hope it’s on our side.

  Then Lilaci’s gaze returned to Fewn, Ezmerelda and Roren who still lay on his side. They weren’t running for safety then or moving at all. No, they were all completely still, with their weapons hanging loosely at their sides as they stared at something behind her. Lilaci turned quickly, even with the dragon running at her, and she nearly fainted at the sight. A man ran at a blazing pace right by her as she turned. She recognized the metal of his sword, but he didn’t look at her, his scarred face was intent on the dragon that was almost upon Lilaci. She’d never been so happy to see her master in all her life, and as his sword met with the dragon’s scales and claws, Lilaci saw a face she’d been wishing to see far too long, and she ran to it.

  With all the chaos storming around them, Lilaci had tunnel vision for one thing on the battlefield, the most important thing in the world to her. She ran as quickly as she could, as she choked up with tears and held her arms outstretched as she saw the familiar silver eyes of the girl that was like a daughter to her. And as she wrapped her arms around Kera, and all the emotion that welled up inside of her came out full-force in streams of tears, she heard Kera say, “I missed you. Lilaci . . . I missed you so much . . .”

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Clasping Kera’s face in Lilaci’s shaking hands, she stared deeply into the girl’s gray eyes that seemed much more mature now. “Where have you been?” she asked. “Kera . . . How . . . how are you here? You need to leave this place. Follow me, we have to run . . .” She turned her back to Kera. “Here, hop on, quickly.”

  “I—I can’t leave,” Kera said, her voice firm yet apologetic.

  “What do you mean? Look out there, do you see what they are? The dragons . . .” Lilaci was overcome with joy at the sight of Kera, but now she held a new fear. She worried not for her own safety, but now she had to protect Kera too.

  “I know what they are,” Kera said, pointing out at them. “They were raised to kill me, and my dragons.”

  “Dr— Dragons?” Lilaci asked. “You . . . you found another?” Has she done it? Did she hatch another? Did Veranor prove himself right after all?

  Kera nodded. There was a quick moment of silence in the pouring rain, but Kera broke through that quickly. “We have to help them! We can talk after . . .”

  I can see the determination in her eyes, she reminds me of myself as a child. Though I was trained to be a killer, she has been raised for this moment. This girl full of youth has spent her entire life in the shadows of dragons. Now here she is—here we are—face to face with the god's own weapons of death. And I ask for her to run and hide? I’m almost disrespecting everything she was born for. Her destiny is here, right now next to me. If I were her I wouldn’t run and hide. I’m blessed enough to be with her, so here I am, and I’ll do what I do best—fight. I’ll fight with everything I have left to protect her.

  “Roren’s hurt.” Kera pointed to him as he struggled to get back to his feet. “And Herradax! My dragon! She’s hurt too, we’ve got to help them.”

  “Stay close to me then,” Lilaci said, starting again toward the battle, but she promptly turned back around. “Do you still have them on you?”

  Kera reached under the neck of her tunic and pulled out a black string around her neck with the three stones of different colors.

  “Good, and Kera, the dagger I gave to you that I found with the stones, know that it is magical; impervious to dragonfire.”

  Kera nodded, and they went off. To their left Veranor fought with a wild exhilaration against the orange dragon. Its eyes went feral and were lit in a blue luster as its jaws snapped at the commander. His sword flew masterfully through the air, slicing and thrusting at the dragon who weighed easily ten times as much as he. His sword moved so swiftly and clashed on the dragon’s scales so often, that the dragon took a couple of steps back, possibly out of sheer confusion of how such a man could fight.

  Lilaci and Kera continued through the rain, their boots sinking into the wet sand. To their left, and up ahead by fifty yards Roren had managed to get up to his feet, but was clutching his shoulder, with his sword still in his dangling arm. Lilaci looked at him, with Fewn and Ezmerelda in a heated battle just beyond him with the green dragon. Then Lilaci looked to Herradax, pinned on her back by the large dragon. It bit into her neck over and over as Herradax fought back, hissing and roaring in rage. She looked back over to Roren, who looked at Herradax, and then with a brushing motion with his hand, urged them to go after Herradax. Lilaci saw him mouth the words ‘I’m fine, go.’

  She nodded, and they went off. They weren’t running low now, they were both running straight at the largest of the dragons, its mouth and teeth stained in young dragon’s blood. Kera drew her dagger and held it high as they ran. Lilaci held both of her blades, and they both yelled out as they approached the dragon. Its long neck flexed, and it looked over at the two as they ran, its glazed, murderous yellow eyes staring back at them. Along with the adult dragon, Lilaci saw Herradax’s eyes look at Kera as she ran, the fearless young woman she was, like an adult soldier heading toward the overwhelming odds of death in an outnumbered battle. Kera’s eyes were wide as she screamed, and Lilaci instantly felt the connection between the Dragon’s Breath and the dragon. They were like mother and daughter; like Kera was to Lilaci. They were family—inseparable—and this gray dragon was killing Kera’s child. She was like a mad woman rushing to save her only child, she even kept up with Lilaci’s pace.

  “Let her go!” Kera yelled, and the large dragon snarled and snorted at her and Lilaci as they approached, only a few yards away now.

  The dragon kept one of its massive feet upon Herradax, still weakened by the bloody barrage, and spread its great wings out wide. The rain pounded down on them in the darkness. A break in the clouds appeared and shined down the light of the white glow of the moon upon them. Lilaci reached down in herself and found the Sanzoral was there again, ready and rested for when she would need it again, and that may be very soon, she thought to herself.

  “Kera, aim for the spots with cracked scales, or the eyes if you can. Here we go . . .”

  Lilaci and Kera both ran at the dragon as it readied its mouth open and twisted its long neck down to bite onto either of them, breaking any bones that found their way into it. Herradax struggled to break free from being pinned down, as it clawed at the dull-black sheen of the scales on the dragon’s legs that were pressing her down, but Herradax was too badly injured and weakened to move out from underneath them.

  As Lilaci pulled back her blade to attack, and Kera with her dagger, the familiar shadowy figure blasted into the side of the dragon that was atop Herradax with a speed that would have startled the gods themselves. The black-fur lion had run in from the side and with a boost of its wings in the air, thrust itself against the large dragon. It was enough to shift the weight off Herradax who quickly squirmed free. Even though she was covered in blood, she went to the dragon’s back and bit down hard on its neck. The Aridon—which Lilaci recognized now from the old tales—attacked with a ferocity of a dragon itself. Its sharp claws and teeth scratched and assailed the dragon viciously.

  The dragon moaned and snorted, rushing its great wings from side to side to break free of the attack of the two creatures. Lilaci rushed in, ducking underneath a wing and slashing at the dragon’s tail, searching for any flaw in its hide. Kera dove in quickly and slashed at the other side of the tale. From behind Lilaci could tell that the black dragon with white eyes could hear the great dragon’s call and flung its tail at Gogenanth, who put up his sword to block it but was forced to the ground by the blow, knocking his head against a rock. He tried to stand, but with wobbly knees he fell back to the ground.

  “Incoming!” Lilaci yelled, lightning striking the sand half a mile to their right. And with that the black dragon crashed into Herradax, violently knocking the great dragon down, nearly on top of the Aridon, who with its cat reflexes shot out of the way
just in time. Herradax then found herself in a fight with the large dull-black dragon with the yellow eyes as it recollected itself—it drew breath into its lungs. “Dragonfire!” Kera heard Lilaci but ran at the dragon. Lilaci caught her by grabbing the back of her hood. “No, stay here. I’ll protect you.”

  “What about Wrathwing?”

  “The Aridon?” Lilaci asked. “She can fly. I need to protect you, you stay back. The Aridon will be fine.”

  “No, I’ve got to help them!” Kera cried.

  The great dragon had inhaled enough to fill its lungs, and they could see the fire in its neck, creeping out in between its scales. Its body seemed to increase to almost twice as wide as the smoke poured out of its open mouth. In a blinding flash of light, the dragonfire spewed from its throat at them. They could instantly feel the heat, and Lilaci let loose the Sanzoral once again. It came in a wave like a sandstorm of fire. It burst forth and met the dragonfire with a shockwave that sent Kera to the ground. Lilaci’s boots were shoved back in the sand as she yelled out. The fires met and created a blinding inferno that blazed fifty feet into the air.

  It took every bit of her strength to sustain her magic long enough to combat the rushing fire from the great dragon. But something was wrong, Lilaci could feel something was coming. Her gaze shot over to the right, and what she’d sensed was the black dragon with white eyes charging right at her. It was only a good twenty feet off, and had its neck curled back, ready to snap at Lilaci and Kera. Both Lilaci’s hands were covered in fire and the big dragon’s fire was still raging toward her. Sweat was pouring down her brow from the intense heat.

  “Kera,” Lilaci groaned, “run.”

  Kera lifted her dagger and held her ground.

  “Run, Kera!” Lilaci yelled, but Kera didn’t budge.

  Lilaci, growing more and more fatigued by the second, looked down at Kera as a pair of hands grabbed her by the arms and pulled her off. Veranor . . . thank you . . . I don’t have the strength to keep this up. The Sanzoral is about to fade, it's hanging by a thread. I doubt I can even stand to hold a sword against the black dragon. It’s brimming with energy, and its teeth are eager for death.

  The dragonfire suddenly stopped, and as the Sanzoral instantly retreated to recover, Lilaci looked up to see Roren, with his sword in his opposite hand, hitting the great dragon, his sword-arm was hanging limply from the shoulder. “Roren,” she said, with a slight smile.

  Burr roared in like the wind and slashed at the neck of the black dragon just before it made its way to Lilaci, who dropped to a knee. She gasped for air, and her chest heaved in and out. She looked over to see Veranor had placed Kera on the outskirts of the fight, and he stood in front of her, like her protector. Gogenanth was still attempting to get to his feet but appeared to still have the fogginess in his head. Fewn and Ezmerelda had the dark red dragon with the blackened arm and legs on the defensive. Herradax was back on her feet rushing toward the fiery-orange dragon who was making its way toward Veranor, and the Aridon was soaring through the sky, looking to make its way back down for a swift attack.

  Lilaci got back to her feet and clutched her sword again. The rains continued to pound down in heavy droplets, and she brushed her hair from off her face with a wipe of her hand. She took a deep breath and ran at the great dragon again, and to Roren who was seemingly holding his own still.

  “I’m coming,” she said. “Hold on, Roren, I’m coming.” She shot in like wildfire, slashing and stabbing at the tall dragon’s torso, and it let out a roar that echoed for miles. The dragon raged in fury at the battle, and dipping its head low, it attacked Roren and Lilaci with its mighty wings, sending them back and forth in huge swaths. They both glided back to evade the attack, and the Aridon fell from the sky with tremendous speed, pinning the dragon to the ground. The Aridon quickly went to work—tearing at one wing, and then the other as Lilaci and Roren lunged forward, stabbing at the dragon’s face and neck, but not finding a flaw in its armor.

  “Look out!” they both heard from behind, and both turned to see the black dragon had broken free of its fight with Burr and smashed into both Lilaci and Roren, sending them and the dragon tumbling over the big dragon and Aridon.

  “Argh,” Roren groaned as he rolled helplessly. Lilaci felt the pain too, as she was nearly crushed between the dragons, but lucky enough to be thrown up and over the one behind her. She felt as if she had a few cracked ribs, and her knee was sprained, but she got to her feet and held her sword out as the black dragon got up to its feet. Standing between the two dragons, Lilaci now realized she was in a bad situation, the Aridon had been flung to the side, and now both dragons were nearly in striking distance of her.

  “Lilaci!” Kera yelled out in the distance, behind Veranor and Herradax in battle with the orange dragon.

  Lilaci turned sideways with Dragoneye held out at the black dragon, and Blackfire held out at the great gray dragon, who was dripping with blood. It snarled and looked up at the black dragon, who snarled back. They both dropped their heads and let their wings spread out wide, surrounding her further. She reached down inside for the Sanzoral. If there was ever a time I really needed you, now would be that time. Please come to me, I need your strength . . . But the Sanzoral didn’t heed her call, it was asleep inside of her. It’ll only take one bite to injure me enough that death will come. There’s only one thing left for me to do.

  “Kera, can you hear me?” Lilaci yelled.

  “Yes! Yes! I hear you!”

  “I love you, I love you more than anything! Stay strong, young lady. I’ll always be with you.”

  “Don’t say that! Lilaci . . . Lilaci!” Kera screamed.

  The great dragon shot in with its mouth wide, ready to sink its sharp teeth into her. She drew her sword back and swung at its incoming head, but her arm was stopped short as it struck the soft, wet cloth of clothing. He’d rushed in underneath the dragon’s wing and stepped between them with his sword drawn, but his sword did little. The dragon sunk its teeth deep into Roren’s body, sinking into his chest and the bones at his knees.

  “Argh!” he yelled in pain, as the dragon’s bite squeezed down further onto him. “ARRR!”

  “Roren!” she screamed, and as she felt the black dragon come in for the attack, she was forced to lift her sword to parry the dragon’s head to the side. “Roren!” She continued to yell out his name as she watched the great dragon thrash its head from side to side with him in its mouth. “Roren! No!”

  She continued to fight with the black dragon, but the second the Aridon came crashing down on it, she ran over to the giant dragon. “Drop him now!” She felt a fury in her that coursed through her. Her heart beat like a thumping drum, and her hands gripped her sword as her knuckles turned white. Her voice cracked as she yelled up to the dragon as Roren’s body went limp. “I said drop him, now!”

  She sent a wave of sand up at the dragon’s neck that gripped it like a vice, holding its neck still, and the dragon fought violently to break free from the grasp of sand. It squirmed with its thick muscles gleaming in the light of the fire coming from Lilaci. Its wings shot all around as it tried to break free, or fly away. With its last thrash, it sent Roren flying. She felt her eyes erupt in the violet fire of the Sanzoral, like her whole head was brimming with an eruption of raw power. Then, she sent another swath of sand up from under his body and caught Roren in midair. As she held the great dragon in her grasp, she brought Roren delicately to the desert floor over by Kera, safely behind Veranor and Herradax.

  “You . . .” she said. “You may not have been the cause of all this misery in these lands, but you were re-born by the hand that did. You know only death, as you were risen for one single purpose, to kill me and mine. We are at war now, and in war, there can only be one winner. You are the weapon of the enemy, an enemy that would rather send out a full-sized dragon to kill a young girl before he would show his cowardly face to her. In another lifetime we could have been allies. We could use your strength in the days and months
to come, but I’m afraid your mind is gone great dragon. And in war, there can only be one winner!”

  With her arms alit in the violet flames, she raised the sands from all around the dragon, and they rushed towards its neck. It shook and thrashed, but the sands still held it firmly in the middle of its long neck—there was no breaking free for the dragon—it was trapped. The sands rushed up toward its neck, and once they were mere feet away, their tips turned to thin spikes— thousands of them. They shot in through every little break between every scale. The dragon’s yellow eyes shot open in pain as the sharp needles of hardened sand like glass found their way into the dragon’s flesh beneath the hard scales.

  It gasped for air as it attempted to fill its lungs with enough fire to let out another plume of menacing dragonfire, but the air that was meant for its lungs escaped through the new cuts in its neck, and blood went spewing down its many scales. Its head crashed back and forth, and its wings moved high as it tried to fly off, but the hardened sand like stone kept it in place. Lilaci’s emotions were fueling the Sanzoral to new strength.

  You hurt him . . . I hurt you . . .

  She sent more spikes into the dragon’s neck, creeping through the scales, deeper and deeper into the dragon. It tried to roar, but a gush of blood fell from its mouth onto the wet sands. And as the rains pattered off the dull-black scales and milky-white horns on its head and back, for a brief moment, time seemed to stop. The dragon stood there motionless, in its final moment of life, its eyes rolled back, and it looked like a statue. A statue from an old tale of a dragon toppled by man, yet not man, it was a woman. Framed in the brisk white moonlight, sending its shadow down onto Lilaci as she was illuminated in her violet magical fire, the great dragon sent by the gods to kill Kera and her kin, died.