by KD Jones
Markus
Dragon Warrior Series
Book 1
By Author KD Jones
© 2018 KD Jones Publishing
Blurb:
Elite Warrior Markus traveled a long way from his home world of Drakonia. This new planet called Earth is strange and the people even stranger. He was there for one reason, to find more of his people and to protect them from enemies old and new. What he didn’t expect was to find a mate that both he and his dragon wanted to bond with. Things just got more complicated but he was a dragon shifting warrior, he could handle anything.
Prologue
Dragon shifters once lived on a distant planet named Drakonia, a beautiful world with two suns and a multitude of live volcanoes. It was a place where they flew in the skies freely and without fear.
The dragon shifters had overcame their own struggles with leadership and worked to save their people from destroying themselves. They divided the population into eight regions, and each region was ruled by a king. The kings would reconvene every quarter to make trade deals and resolve disputes that arose between the different regions.
They created warriors who could take to the stars in battle cruisers. All of Drakonia prospered and lived in peace for many decades. That peace was broken when an alien race known as the Votens invaded.
The Drakonians had only recently begun exploring the stars with the few battle cruisers they had when the Votens arrived. In the end, it was not enough to save their world. However, there was still hope for their people.
Chapter 1
Drakonia Homeworld
Markus followed his fellow warriors down the corridors of the King of the North’s castle. The structure shook from a blast it took from outside. Rubble fell from the roof. Women were covering their children’s heads, risking their own safety.
“Help them!” his general ordered some of the warriors. “The rest of you come with me to the king’s courtroom!”
Being a young warrior, barely in his twenties, Markus wanted to be out there fighting the enemy. Acting as a guard was not what he aspired to be. He dreamed of nothing else but to be one of the Elite Warriors, the best of the best that fought their enemies’ head on and took them down one by one. He longed to soar into the sky in his dragon form and burn those that would fight against him. Instead, he was shuffling into a room that the high society used for banquets.
General Ranier ordered the warriors to spread out and be on guard. Markus positioned himself on the other side of the long table where the eight kings sat talking, or more like arguing with each other. He couldn’t stop watching the chaotic scene as the two most headstrong of the kings were facing each other and arguing the loudest.
Malachi, King of the North, glared at his cousin Niko, King of the Northeast. Niko was known for his short temper but Malachi was always the calm one. Niko was not happy with Malachi’s plan.
“The aliens have burned most of the regions, killed hundreds of thousands of our people. Do you really think you can negotiate with them?”
“We have to try.”
“King Rand tried when they first appeared. He went up to their ship to see if they would accept a truce. They sent his head back without his body for their answer.”
“What do you want our people to do?” King Malachi asked in frustration.
“We send as many of them up in our remaining battle cruisers.”
“That will only help save maybe a quarter of our kind. What about the rest? Do we leave them to die?” King Zocor of the East asked.
King Reichardt looked at his general. “We may have another way. Our mage, Hendricks, has been trying to locate other planets that we can use the portals to send our people through. Our only problem is that many of our portals have been damaged.”
Everyone grew silent with the thought. Mages were rare breeds among his people who couldn’t shift. Their dragon magic was trapped inside of them. They could use that power in other ways, though, like opening up portals that the Drakonian people used to quickly travel from region to region. Never before had they used a portal to travel to another planet, especially one that would be unknown to them.
The building shook again as it took another direct hit. The men all reached for the women in the room to protect them. A child cried out in fear. The atmosphere was as tense as it could get. Markus helped a fellow warrior to stand. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing from the kings.
“The portals may be our only hope of saving as many as we can. Notify all regions to have their master mages contact Hendricks so that they can coordinate the evacuation. Also, assign security to guard the portals while the evacuation is ongoing,” King Malachi ordered his general.
“My king.” Mage Craggen stepped forward. “The only way to expand the portal destination trajectory is to bind the spell to blood…of the kings.”
“What are you saying, Craggen?”
“We open the portals here with the blood of the kings and the portals will send those in each region to the same destination as their king. Once the kings enter the portals, it will close automatically.”
General Ranier stepped forward. “That means that the kings need to go with the evacuation detail immediately. I will assign guards to ensure that the portals stay open long enough to ensure that as many of our people get through and to make sure that the portals close and the enemy cannot follow.”
Markus listened to what was being discussed. He knew that the warriors chosen to stay behind to guard the portals would essentially be signing up to die. It would be a death that could be without much of a battle, but still it was honorable.
Without thinking twice about it, Markus stepped forward. “Excuse me for interrupting. I would like to volunteer for the evacuation security detail.”
General Ranier shook his head. “Son, I was planning on some of our older warriors to remain. Even I was going to remain here to ensure the portals close.”
“General, I need you to take the last of our battle cruisers to make sure that those evacuating via space will make it past the enemy cruisers. Allow any who wish to volunteer to do so.”
“Yes, sir.” General Ranier motioned for the warriors to move to the outside of the courtroom. “Warrior Markus, your request has been granted. Are there any others who wish to volunteer?”
Several other of the young warriors also volunteered. The older ones also stepped forward. It was a small detail, but the main city of Drakonia had been evacuated when the aliens first showed signs of aggression. Many families, women, and children had taken to their dragon shapes and flew to other regions that were not currently under attack. Unfortunately, the aliens had other ships moving into place to attack the other regions. Many had already died and the mages worked tirelessly to provide spelled shelters, but as they weakened, so did their spells.
“Warrior Orteg will be in charge of the detail—follow his orders.” There was a pause as General Ranier looked at each of the volunteers. “Men, I know what is being asked of you and if your death flight comes, each of your names will be remembered as honored warriors. I will order the battle cruiser Zyon to remain close to the surface for as long as possible. Once the portals have been closed, head for the cruiser if you can. In defense of Drakonia!” General Ranier said the last while placing a closed fist over his chest. The other warriors responded the same way.
“In defense of Drakonia and our kings!”
Chapter 2
“Let’s go, men. We have to organize those remaining in the city for departure.”
Markus walked beside his friend, Sonar, who had also volunteered. “I’m surprised you volunteered.”
“I don’t have any family left…but you d
o, Markus. Your mother and sister are going to be upset that you’re not going to be evacuated with them.”
Markus shrugged, trying to be tough, but the truth was he was worried about his family and hated that they would be separated. “Their safety comes first. Besides, my mother knew when I started my warrior training there would be a chance that I could die in battle like my father.”
“Your mother is going to be furious with you.”
Markus looked at his friend. “Do you think they’ll make a memorial for us to celebrate our death flights?”
“I personally am planning to catch that final battle cruiser before it leaves Drakonia’s atmosphere. I don’t want to die here, but I have always wanted to take to the stars.”
Markus wasn’t sure that his friend’s plan would work out. He had to put hopeful thoughts aside and concentrate on the mission.
Warrior Orteg assigned several warriors to each group of women and children. They would be taken to the portals. The kings were being escorted by their own royal guards. Every male present would be on guard to ensure the safety of those weaker or injured.
“Let’s go!” Orteg ordered several groups at a time to leave, heading for the building to the left of the main square that housed the eight portals.
Markus and several other warriors used their hand weapons to shoot down any of the aliens on the surface. One of the warriors had shifted to his dragon form to provide coverage, using his massive body and hard scales. It was much harder to kill a dragon than to kill them in their human form, but the dragons on the ground were slower and unable to get inside the buildings. His people were never more vulnerable than when they were in mid-shift.
Only one warrior was wounded in the process of moving the people from the palace. The mages were already waiting for them. Mage Craggen came with King Malachi.
“My kings, if you will take the portals. Each of you cut your palm and drop your blood in the portal rings. Mages! As soon as the blood has spilt, you can spell the coordinate into the portals. Once opened, we will send a few males in first for protection for the rest. The women and children will be sent through next. Then, the males not needed to fight will be sent through. The people in your home regions will be entering their portals the same way. Finally, the kings will enter the portal, closing it automatically behind them.”
“Are we all being sent to the same planet?”
“To ensure our survival and lessen the chances of our enemy finding us all again, we have chosen two different planets to use as new locations. The eight ruling regions will be split between the two planets. Both planets are conducive to our people’s survival.”
“What about King Rand’s portal?” King Malachi asked.
“I will be giving my blood to open and close the portal,” Rone, the thirteen-year-old son of King Rand, spoke up. His mother put her hand on his shoulder to show her support.
Markus and the other warriors stood at the entrance to the room, blocking the aliens from entering until the portals were closed. Mage Craggen motioned for the kings to proceed. The portals opened with their blood, and a few of the men each went through first. Craggen nodded that it was a successful transportation and ordered that the women and children proceed. Markus saw his mother and sister coming to him.
“You two need to go.”
“I want you to come with us,” his little sister, Destiny, said with tears in her eyes. She was eight years old and his one weakness. He would do just about anything to put a smile on her face. He knelt down and took her into his arms.
“I have to do my duty, little one, but if there is any way possible, I will find you.”
“Promise? No matter how long it takes?”
“I swear it on God Animus that I will find you no matter how long it takes.”
“I’ll wait for you and then we can fly together.”
“That’s a deal.” He stood up and looked at his mother, who was fighting tears. “I’ll—”
“Don’t promise me anything, son. Do your duty to your kingdom, but remember that you were mine, my joy and my hope, first. So, if there is a way to come back to us, find it.”
He nodded as he hugged her. “Travel safe.”
“Until we meet again,” his mother returned.
Watching his family walk through that portal and remain behind was the hardest thing he’d ever had to do. His every instinct was to go after them and protect them. He prayed to their gods that they were safe now.
The building shook as it took several hits. Debris fell down and crashed into one of the portals, destroying it. People began to panic, pushing and shoving each other to get through the remaining portals.
“Move out of the way!” King Dyson shoved his way through his people, dragging his young queen behind him. She fell down and he left her there to get to the front of the line.
“Sire, you cannot go through yet, it will close the portal!” The mage controlling that portal tried to stop him, but Dyson shoved him away.
“I can’t die, I’m a king!” Dyson went through the portal despite his people’s screams, and the portal automatically shut down.
King Malachi made his way over. “Can you open the portal again using another king’s blood?”
“No sir, we tied it to each specific king when we first created the portals. Only King Dyson would be able to open or close the portal.”
Two portals down, and the rest of King’s Dyson’s people looked around in fear. King Reichardt moved forward. “Any of King Dyson’s people are welcome to come through my portal.”
Malachi didn’t want to be outdone. “I too offer refuge for those of Dyson’s people.” Each of the remaining kings offered the same. The evacuation continued with more hits to the building, and then one major blast took part of the roof off exposing them to the outside. Another two portals were destroyed, but luckily the kings went through them before they were destroyed.
“Everyone through the portals now!” King Zocor yelled out. Then he collapsed before his queen with a laser blast to his back.
“No, Zocor!” Queen Arena held her king in her arms. “You can’t leave me!”
“Drag my body through the portal, to close it. Do it for me, my queen.”
With strength Markus had no idea someone so fragile-looking could possess, Queen Arena dragged her king through the portal, closing it behind them.
The enemy breached the room, dropping down from the open rooftop. Mages battled to keep them from going through the portals, though a couple got through. The mages fell to the ground, breathing their last breaths one by one. The kings quickly entered the remaining portals, closing them up.
Markus and the remaining warriors were trying to get the few mages still alive to safety. “You must go,” Warrior Orteg told them. “Take the remaining warriors and get to that battle cruiser.”
Markus shook his head. “I can’t leave you behind.”
“You must.”
Craggen limped to him and handed him a round metal medallion with symbols on it. “Take this medallion; it has the coordinates to where the two planets are located. We tried to find planets far enough away that it would take a really long time for the enemy to find it. Time will go by much faster at the new world. I didn’t think it would matter, since our people age slowly.”
“What are you saying, Craggen?” Markus asked.
“I calculated the trajectory, taking wormholes to speed up the travel time. For every year it takes you to travel via space, a hundred years will pass.”
“A hundred years? Is there no way to get to them sooner?”
“We only know a few wormholes. You might find more along the way, but there is no guarantee that they will take you any closer. I gave the coordinates as well to the other general, who has people on board their battle cruiser, in hopes that he will find it.”
Markus took the medallion, which had a hole at the top of it. He removed the leather cord he wore around his neck and slid it on there to wear around his neck later—he cou
ld not be able to wear it while he shifted. “We will find our people and protect them.”
Orteg put his hand on his shoulder. “Go now and take to the skies. Safe travels.”
“Until we meet again,” Markus said, motioning the other warriors to follow him up. They all shifted to their dragon forms. Two steps, then they leapt up. Their scales were a multitude of colors that would normally glisten like glass under their suns. With the destruction and smoke and fire from the battle, a cloud formed over the city blocking out much of the light.
Was the last battle cruiser still there? As they flew blindly through the dark cloud, they burst free into the sunlight and were relieved to find that yes, the cruiser was just starting to head out. The last battle cruiser lifted up higher and higher, firing laser blasts at their enemy.
“Ya’ul!” His dragon called out to let the others know to hurry up.
They answered back. He looked over and the dragon to his right suddenly cried out in pain before falling to the ground below. An enemy fighter ship hovered there, ready to shoot him, but Markus opened his mouth and let his fire of fury burn the enemy’s ship until it exploded. Others used their fire as well. The landing pad was still open. Each of them landed; some came in a little hard and bounced. Once they were all on the landing pad, they lifted up into the ship.
Markus and the others shifted back to their humanoid forms. He hit the communicator to the bridge. “General, it’s Warrior Markus. I have the coordinates to the planets that our people have been sent to.”
“We’ll get that from you when we have jumped to safety.”
“Prepare for flight jump!” The general’s voice rang out all over the ship.
Markus and the others went to get into a secure seat. He hoped that all their efforts to ensure the safety and continuation of their people worked, and those who died that day had not died in vain.
