“Enough Raena.” Kirin said. “Hayden we will be fine down here, our dragons have done this kind of thing before. You and Draek however, need to get back up to the surface and fight the dragons that try to get out of the smoke.”
Hayden began climbing back onto Draek’s back, his saddle was intact but the straps were destroyed. “How many metallic dragons have you downed, do we have a chance?” Hayden asked bluntly.
“Not as many as I would have hoped.” Kirin admitted. Draek got ready to jump into the air while Nignra and Fre`yan, Raena’s dragon, came out of the smoke to be with their riders.
“Hayden.” Kirin yelled. “We always have a chance.”
Draek jumped into the air before Hayden could say anything. Again Hayden was thrust into the darkness and he was forced to hold his breath again.
When Draek surfaced Hayden felt like he had been dipped in an icy river. The lack of heat and smoke made Hayden realize just how intolerable it had been in the woods. He pulled the cloth away from his face and took a deep breath.
“Hayden!” Cass shouted as Shaylin flew up next to Draek. “Are you ok?” She shouted.
Hayden was still trying to catch his breath so all he could do was nod.
Hayden closed his eyes to try to get the stinging pain to go away and as he did he felt like someone was sprinkling water on his face. At first he welcomed the feeling until his face actually began to get wet and he opened his eyes to find that while he had been in the forest dark clouds had moved over them.
At first the rain was light and had no effect on the fires that were burning the forest but soon the rain picked up and the fires became less brilliant and began to fade in the smoke.
As Hayden, Cass and Shane continued to fly around above the smoke they began to realize that they were starting to be able to see shapes through the smoke and it wasn’t rising as high as it had been.
Before long the rain was coming as a complete down poor and nearly all the ash and soot was completely washed away from Hayden and Draek. The larger fires were still burning but the smoke had turned grey and white.
Hayden looked over Draek’s side and could clearly make out the dragons underneath.
What’s the plan now? Hayden asked Draek.
We are out of tricks, now it’s time to fight head on. Draek roared as he dove onto the nearest dragon and attacked with all his might. The silver dragon that he had attacked turned to stone shortly after their encounter.
Rilora and Shaylin flew past them and joined in the fight.
“Shane, over there!” Hayden shouted to Shane and pointed to a dragon flying in the heavy rain that was about to slam into Rilora.
Rilora rolled out of the way and the dragon slammed into the ground, sending up a colossal splash of muddy water.
Draek fought while Hayden shot as many arrows as he could but no matter how many dragons they dropped there were always two or three ready to take the fallen dragon’s place.
The battle raged on and soon there were no breaks between opponents. Draek would claw at one dragon’s wings while blowing fire on another and hitting a third with his tail. All the while Hayden continued firing arrows as fast as he could. At times he would even switch to his sword and slash at both dragons and riders as they passed.
They could only fight that way for so long before they began to tire, Draek began flying slower and Hayden’s aim wasn’t true anymore.
Draek we need a plan. Hayden thought as he fired another arrow at a dragon that flew by. The arrow shot harmlessly past the dragon and its rider.
I don’t know. Draek replied. Without the cover of the smoke or the forest the green dragons were forced to fly against the metallic dragons.
The smaller green dragons had a hard time staying air born for long periods of time and they quickly became easy targets for the metallic dragons. Soon the battle was becoming a slaughter instead of a fight.
“Draek if we don’t do something soon they are all going to die.” Hayden said as he tried to catch his breath.
Draek tried to save a green dragon that was being chased by two copper dragons. By the time that Draek got there the two dragons had flown away and all that was left was two halves of a stone green dragon.
There are too many of them! Draek rumbled with frustration. They sky was full of metallic dragons chasing green dragons.
“We failed.” Hayden said. “The forest is destroyed, the elves have been defeated and they are going to kill all their dragons.” Hayden couldn’t believe that after all they had been through that it still wasn’t enough.
Draek was slammed by a smaller silver dragon and knocked to the ground. Hayden was thrown out of the saddle for a second time but this time he didn’t get up right away. His body argued that it was time for rest and if he just laid there everything would be ok.
“Draek.” Hayden said aloud. “Draek where are you?” Hayden asked.
He tried his best to sit up but his muscles were too tired to listen to him. Hayden laid on his back while more rain poured around him. The rain drops kept hitting his eyes making his eyes flutter.
Hayden. Draek responded. We need to get back up in the air. Draek nudged Hayden with his nose. Hayden grabbed onto Draek and with his help he was able to stand. Hayden shook all over as he tried to take a few steps, Draek was trembling as well and Hayden noticed that his wings were not folded in like they normally were. They were starched out and laying in the mud.
“Draek, you can’t fly like this.” Hayden said as a copper dragon landed across from them. Hayden saw that the rider was female by her armor. She unsheathed her copper blade and slowly walked over to Hayden.
“Hayden the Silver?” She asked. Her voice shook as she asked.
“That’s me.” Hayden said, separating the words with a deep breath.
“We were ordered to bring you back alive if we could, dead if we couldn’t.” She pointed her blade at Hayden and kept looking up in the sky.
She is not afraid of us, she is afraid that someone will come to save us. Draek said. Hayden could only agree with him.
“We won’t go back.” Hayden said.
“I knew you were going to say that.” She said. “I hate to have to do this.” She admitted. She had made it half way between Hayden and her dragon when a blue dragon dropped out of the sky, grabbing the rider like a hawk would grab a rabbit. The copper dragon jumped into the air to chase the blue dragon but it turned to stone before it could open up its wings.
Hayden made his way over to Draek’s saddle and forced himself to climb on.
Blue dragons. Drake told Hayden. Hayden looked up and saw that the blue dragons had finally joined the battle and it confused the metallic dragons to have a new enemy appear.
Hayden watched as the blue dragons cut through the sky and downed three silver dragons before the metallic dragons even knew what was going on.
I hate Sea Serpents. Hayden said. Draek looked over his back to Hayden. Why couldn’t they have done this at the beginning of the battle? Draek turned back around.
We shouldn’t be mad at their timing, just be glad they are here now. Draek said as he took to the sky again. His flight was labored and he struggled to get into the air.
Normally Hayden would try to stay as close to Draek as he could to make it easier to fly but it took everything he had just to stay in the saddle.
When Draek made it to a high enough vantage point that they could see over the battle field he stopped climbing and leveled out.
They are doing great. Hayden said as the blue dragons continued to fight with a fresh ferocity that neither side had. Hayden hadn’t noticed that the metallic dragons were just as exhausted as they were. Though there weren’t enough blue dragons to even the numbers the metallic dragons were in no shape to fight a fresh and rested enemy.
A blue dragon flew up right beside Draek and Hayden was able to see Rimney sitting in the saddle.
“About time.” Hayden tried to yell.
“You said you weren’t going
to chase after them. We didn’t know what was going on and when the smoke began to rise we figured we had made it to the battle.” Rimney shrugged her shoulders as she spoke.
“Thank you.” Hayden said. He had no idea if she knew just how many things he was thankful for her for but he hoped she did.
Rimney nodded her head and looked over the battle field. Kirin and her green dragon Nignra were flying towards them with Cass and Shane and their dragons close behind them.
“Out Post.” Kirin yelled and flew towards Out Post. Rimney looked at Hayden for an explanation but once Hayden and Draek started flying Rimney followed behind them.
They all landed on Out Post and Hayden saw that his friends and Kirin were covered in scratches and bruises, Cass’s cape was torn in half and Shane’s helmet was missing a horn.
No one spoke as Kirin and Rimney walked to meet each other.
“I am Kirin, Queen of the elves and guardian of the forest, rider of Nignra of the Summer Woods.” Kirin said in her queen voice. “And I am in your debt, thank you for coming to our aid.” Kirin did a slight bow to Rimney.
Before Rimney could respond a blue rider landed on Out Post, sliding in the water that was pooling up in the rain.
“Captain Rimney, the metallic riders have retreated.” He said and took back off into the sky.
“Why would they retreat, they still have us outnumbered?” Shane asked as they all stepped towards the edge of Out Post to see the metallic riders flying away with blue and green dragons flying together chasing after them.
“They could still win but it would cost them too many of their riders. They don’t want to just defeat us. They want to destroy us to make a point to the other races.” Cass said. She removed her phoenix helmet and tried to get her wet hair out of her face.
“They will retreat back to Celestial City and call in all the metallic riders from all around Arvain. They will assemble their entire force and they will attack us with everything they have to make sure that there is no way we can win.” Cass’s words silenced the rain and thunder around them.
All eyes were on her as she spoke but she wasn’t looking at any of them, she was watching the dragons flee.
“What do we do now?” Rimney asked.
“We attack them first, at Celestial City. We attack before they can get all their forces together.” Cass said. Hayden trusted her with his life but he couldn’t see how this plan was going to work.
“How are we going to do that and win? Even with all the elves and Sea Serpents we aren’t enough to take Celestial City.” Hayden said. He did not want Cass to get mad at him but instead she nodded her head in agreement.
“Your right, we aren’t enough.” Cass said. She turned back to face the group. “So we will go and get help.”
“From who?” Shane asked.
“The other races and their dragons.” Cass responded. “All of them.”
Epilogue
Cold, so cold.
Names
Hayden the Silver- Rider of silver dragon Draek.
Draek- Silver dragon that hatched for Hayden.
Shane the Copper- Friend of Hayden that he met during the trials, rider of Rilora the copper dragon.
Rilora- Copper dragon that is bound to Shane.
Cassidy the Gold- Also known as Cass. Friend of Hayden that he met during the trials, rider of Shaylin the gold dragon.
Shaylin- Golden dragon bound to Cassidy.
Giles the Silver- Made it through the trials with Hayden. Rider of the silver dragon Kurok.
Kurok- Silver dragon bound to Giles
Sebastian the Silver- Did not make it through the trials but was awarded with Hayden’s egg because his father was a rider. Hayden and Sebastian are enemies and Giles and Sebastian are becoming friends. Rider of the silver dragon Sullivan.
Sullivan- Silver dragon that is bound to Sebastian.
Arvain- The land that is ruled by the Metallic dragon riders, the land is divided amongst the other races.
Erskine- Home and birth place of Hayden the Silver.
Bergelmir- Mountain range that covers most of the north of Arvain and is home to the dwarf tribes and their red dragons.
Eytherka- Elvin forest that has become over grown and now covers most of the western sea board. It is home to the elves and their green dragons.
Burden Sea- Ocean that borders Eytherka. Humans came over the sea but were forced to stay out at sea by the elves. Now they are a pirate nation and the have blue dragons.
Frozen Tundra- Frozen waste land to the south where there is little more than sporadic nomadic tribes of barbarian humans and their white dragons.
Shadow Desert- Long stretches of grey dessert that goes on almost endless. No one knows what’s past it and almost nothing lives in it but the Bone thief’s with their black dragons.
Celestial City- Center city that is at the center of Arvain. Home to humans and all three metallic dragons.
Fendrel- Friend of Hayden’s that he met on the road to Celestial City. He had once tried for an egg but lost it to his brother Morgane. That egg was the same egg that Hayden hatched.
Morgane- Fendrel’s brother who has been warped by the other metallic riders. Rider of the silver dragon Argentum.
Estraken- Older gold rider that has a slight crazy/outlandish view on everything. He is their teacher and works and lives out of his library. No info on his dragon, yet.
Lirand- One of Hayden’s trainer during his time at Celestial City. His silver dragon is Shynari.
Bureg the Swift- Dwarf rider that Hayden chassed for stealing from the orchard of souls, his dragon is Trohen.
Elizabeth the Gold- One of the current Rulers of Three that rule over Arvain. Rider of the golden dragon Herrdiga.
Caine the Silver- One of the current Rulers of Three that rule over Arvain. Rider of the silver dragon Katen.
Bryce the Copper- One of the current Rulers of Three that rule over Arvain. Rider of the copper dragon Sylet.
Tynan- Hayden’s battle master. Taught Hayden and the other new dragon riders how to fight.
Dragonauts- weapons worn over the riders hands that resemble a dragons claws.
Benet the Copper- Friend that helped Hayden during the trials. Rider of the copper dragon Siron.
Ricen- Silver rider and father to Sebastian, his dragon is Fennet.
Harvest Tavern- Located in Erskine and was the home of Hayden before he left for Celestial City.
Harth- Son of Artues the silver. Young child Hayden met in the pyramid.
Karon- Title for a slave or servant that works in the metallic pyramid.
Rokesten- Master smith that made Hayden’s armor.
Turgun- bully who wanted to lead the ground troops during the Crucible.
General Guthren- general who led the battle against the dwarfs.
Aelfrie- The King of the Forest, True Guardian of the Woods, Chieftain of the Seven and rider of Alger the Emerald Giant.
Alger the Emerald Giant- King of the elf’s dragon.
Kirin- Elf kings daughter and current queen.
Nignra of the Summer Woods – Kirin’s dragon.
Feren – Hidden elf city.
Kraten the butcher- Silver rider who killed Aelfrie.
Raena- Elf that befriends Hayden. Her dragon Fre`yan.
Valace- Warrior elf leader who attempted to marry Kirin.
Rimney Sky- Pirate, rider of Farius the Sunken Death, captain of The Misty Maiden.
Jaran- One of the leaders of the pirates.
Fren- Elf dragon rider that led the fortification of Eytherka.
Galiants- Trebuchets with giant crossbows mounted around them.
Toren- Blacksmith pirate working on the ship The Setting Sun.
TheeAgren – Mountain range that separates the Frozen Tundra from the rest of Arvain.
Rob and Marge- Keepers of the Harvest Tavern and took Hayden in.
Tenent The Copper- Rider who announced the trials in Erskine. Rider of the copper dragon Brazen.
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Fren- Elf commander who led the defense of Etheryka.
Jaran- Pirate captain and member of the Head.
About the Author…..
Nicholas was born in Fort Knox Kentucky. His parents were both in the United States Army at the time, so moving around every few years quickly became a part of his life. This gave him the gift of being able to call the whole world his home. The only constants that he found on every military base and in every new home were his books.
At a young age Nicholas quickly became lost in the world of literature, always veering off towards fantasy and science fiction. As he grew older, stories filled with adventure and in breathtaking faraway places began taking root in his mind. It wasn’t until later on down the road that he began to give life to these adventures. In 2011 Nicholas began to pen the story that would be called The Dragon Riders of Arvain.
Thank you for doing me the honor of taking the time to read my novel. I hope that you have found it enjoyable and that you will join me in my further adventures as we continue on with The Dragon Riders of Arvain series.
Sincerely,
Nicholas K. R. Clausen
The Clash of Land and Sea_The Dragon Riders of Arvain Page 32
