Riders of Fire Complete Series Box Set books 1-6: YA Epic Fantasy Dragon Rider Adventures

by Eileen Mueller

  “It’s such a stunning view,” Tomaaz replied, gazing over the icy plateau, the deep chasm running through it, and the snow-strewn trees beyond. “It’s hard to believe there are tharuks spilling blood down there somewhere.”

  “Technically, we’re not sure there’s been bloodshed this morning. We haven’t had word yet,” Jael replied. “Although I imagine word will come soon enough.”

  “I hate to break up the chitchat, but Seppi’s asked us to do a sweep above Great Spanglewood Forest,” Maazini mind-melded with Tomaaz, unfurling his wings.

  “Have the blue guards or Septimor seen any tharuks?” Tomaaz asked. The leader of the blue guards, Seppi, coordinated patrol and relayed messages to Maazini via Septimor, his dragon.

  “Not this morning. This is just a precaution.” Maazini glided off the peak, the sunlight glimmering like molten fire on his scales.

  Jael’s arms tightened around Tomaaz’s waist. “You could have given me some warning.”

  Tomaaz laughed. He’d forgotten again. “Where would be the fun in that?”

  “Glad to know my discomfort brings you pleasure,” Jael answered, not loosening his grip.

  Tomaaz grinned, squinting against the wind. He and Jael had been fighting tharuks together the past five days since Commander Zen’s man-made beasts had rampaged through Great Spanglewood Forest, Jael shooting mage fire from his fingertips whilst Tomaaz loosed arrows. So far, things had gone remarkably smoothly: none of the bloodthirsty creatures had breached Dragons’ Hold; Tomaaz’s cloak hadn’t caught fire once; and Jael hadn’t received a single arrow scratch—far better than many of the other mage and rider combinations had fared. They were now nearly as good as Kierion and Fenni. Nearly, but not quite.

  Maazini swooped over the snow-dusted forest, the breeze from his wings loosening white powder from the tips of the tallest strongwood trees.

  “A little higher, Maazini,” Tomaaz melded. “Tharuks could be hiding in those trees. I don’t want to be taken by surprise.”

  Maazini adjusted his altitude, beating his wings to soar above the forest. “The only place I like to see tharuks is at the end of a lick of flame.”

  Tomaaz patted his neck. After being captive in Zens’ slave camp, neither of them had any affection for those brutal beasts. “You comfortable back there?” he asked Jael.

  “Of course,” Jael answered. “I’ve never said otherwise, have I?”

  Several years older than Tomaaz, Jael was tough all right. Tomaaz had seen him kill a horde of tharuks with just the mage flame that sprang from his hands. But the cold? That was another thing altogether—Jael was from Naobia where the weather was warm all year. Tomaaz had quickly discovered that snow wasn’t Jael’s thing.

  Far to the south and north, blue dragons and their riders were smudges against the snowy terrain. Great Spanglewood Forest was several days’ flight wide. Luckily, Seppi only wanted them to check the outer perimeter of the patrol route—the end of the forest closest to Dragons’ Hold.

  They zigzagged over the trees, all three of them keeping their eyes peeled for signs of tharuks or skirmishes. The only sound was the muted flap of Maazini’s wings.

  “Look,” Jael gasped.

  Tomaaz’s eyes flicked above the expanse of Spanglewood.

  A dark smudge rose above the trees, clearly visible against the snow. It was a cloud. Yes, a small cloud was hovering above the distant trees.

  Maazini’s senses sharpened.

  “Perhaps it’s smoke,” Jael whispered.

  “I’m not sure,” said Tomaaz. “Pretty strange smoke just to float there.” And an odd shape for a cloud, too. “Maazini, let’s get closer.”

  Maazini shot over the snowy forest.

  The cloud was a strange shape. Almost as if it had a tail and wings…

  Jael gasped behind him.

  Tomaaz gulped. The cloud had talons and wings.

  A dark dragon rose above the forest, rushing to meet them. It’s body was black as night; its eyes emitted a strange golden light. It beat its tattered wings, talons outstretched.

  Tomaaz had never seen a black dragon at Dragons’ Hold. “Maazini, that dragon must be lost,” Tomaaz said. “Look, tharuks have shredded his wingtips. Perhaps he’s lost his rider. Can you mind-meld with him and find out what’s going on? “

  Tomaaz stayed melded with Maazini so Maazini could share the dragon’s reply.

  The dark dragon flew closer, now, and an ear-splitting screech ripped through Tomaaz’s mind. He clapped his hands over his ears and grimaced in pain. By the dragon gods, what was that?

  “He’s hurting.” Maazini’s words scraped in Tomaaz’s mind like a file along bone.

  Tomaaz shuddered. “The poor thing. Can we help him?”

  Maazini opened his mind again. The relentless scream ripped through Tomaaz’s dragon. Maazini bucked, clawing at his head with his talons. “I can’t. I can’t help him. He’s in too much pain. It’s overwhelming me.” Maazini’s wings faltered.

  Tomaaz’s stomach rushed into his throat as they lost height.

  Jael gripped his waist with a vengeance.

  The black dragon bore down on them. Yellow light streamed from its eyes, bathing Maazini’s wingtip in its glow.

  Maazini’s pain ripped through Tomaaz’s skull, making every bone in his body rattle. He gritted his teeth and hung on. His mind was frying. Rasping screeches ricocheted through his head. Panting, he threw his arms around Maazini’s neck, and broke mind-meld. “Maazini, break mind-meld,” Tomaaz yelled.

  His dragon thrashed. They dropped toward the trees, the outstretched branches like a sea of lances below them.

  Gods, they only had moments before they’d be speared. Moments before Maazini’s stomach would be impaled upon those points and his guts strewn across the forest.

  “Maazini! Maazini!” Tomaaz yelled, slapping his dragon’s neck. “Maazini, listen to me! Fly east. Break away.”

  Whether it was his slaps or his yelling, Tomaaz didn’t know, but Maazini belched a volley of flame, skewed east, and ascended.

  The dark dragon followed them, flapping its tattered wings. Opening its maw, it let out an unearthly, high-pitched screech, the sound of a tortured creature.

  “Your turn,” Tomaaz shouted over his shoulder.

  Turning in the saddle, Jael flung out his hands, shooting bolts of green mage fire at the beast.

  The creature’s tattered wings burst into flame, and it plummeted into the trees, still screeching.

  “Maazini, are you all right?” Tomaaz rubbed Maazini’s neck scales, trying to soothe him, but Maazini clawed at his head with his talons, refusing to mind-meld.

  §

  “No one’s ever taken me out for breakfast on my name day before.” Adelina looked up at Kierion through her long dark lashes.

  Kierion smiled and helped her into Riona’s saddle. “I’m full of exciting new ideas.”

  Adelina laughed. “I know. That’s why you’re always getting into trouble.”

  “Totally unfair.” He pretended to look mortally wounded, but she was so cute and perky, even at the crack of dawn, that Kierion had to chuckle. He swung into the saddle behind her.

  Dragon’s claws, she was petite. She barely reached his chest. He lifted his hands, unsure where to place them, then dropped them onto his thighs. He inhaled the jasmine scent of her hair as she turned back to him.

  Grinning, she took his hands and placed them around her waist. “Roberto always holds me so I don’t fall off. Better safe than sorry.”

  Kierion nodded, his mouth suddenly dry. His hands spanned her entire waist.

  Riona mind-melded. “You’ve been looking forward to this all week. It’s supposed to be fun.”

  He laughed. “You cheeky fire-snorter!” Trust his dragon to pick up on his feelings. “Let’s head to the clearing by the lake.”

  “Now, which clearing would that be?” she huffed, although they’d been there an hour ago, while it was still dark. A happy rumble echoed thr
ough her belly. “It’s the perfect spot for fishing.” She tensed her haunches and sprang off the ledge, the gold highlights in her purple wings catching the early morning sun.

  Adelina leaned back against Kierion’s chest. His bones nearly melted. This trip was already going better than he’d expected. Gods, he’d dreamed of holding Adelina in his arms for moons, always afraid she was too young—until Roberto and Ezaara’s hand-fasting ceremony, when she’d mentioned that today was her sixteenth name day.

  This morning, she’d insisted on letting Linaia sleep. Perhaps Adelina wanted to ride Riona with him—or was he reading too much into things?

  “She asked you to share her special day with her. I don’t know why you’re so nervous,” Riona said. “Human mating rituals are so awkward.”

  Heat rushed into Kierion’s cheeks. “Stop it, you naughty dragon. I’m not mating her.” His face felt as ruddy as a boy’s in front of a blazing hearth. Thank the First Egg, Adelina wasn’t looking at him.

  Gazing over the basin, Adelina sighed. “I love this time of the morning. It’s so peaceful.”

  There were a few lone dragons about—blue guards on perimeter patrol—flitting above the peaks of Dragon’s Teeth, the fierce ring of mountains that protected Dragons’ Hold. More blue guards would be further afield, scanning Great Spanglewood Forest and the territories for tharuk attacks.

  “It is quiet.” Kierion’s breath steamed in the chilly air. “A lovely morning for breakfast outdoors.”

  With Commander Zens’ tharuk troops marching through Dragons’ Realm, there was no guarantee that the day would stay peaceful, so they’d decided to steal the early morning to celebrate. Her brother, Roberto, was Adelina’s only family, but he was in Naobia with Ezaara on their hand-fasting holiday. Kierion had been glad to step in to help her feel special.

  They glided over the lake, the water flashing silver as the sun peeked over Dragon’s Teeth, glinting off the snow.

  “Look, Kierion.” Adelina pointed out some herons at the water’s edge. “White herons are good luck. And on my name day. It’s going to be a great year for me.”

  The dragon gods knew she needed a good year. From what Kierion had heard, her littling years hadn’t been a ball of pranks and laughs like his. She’d grown up too young, the daughter of one of the realm’s worst traitors. The breeze riffled its fingers through her hair, carrying that sweet jasmine scent toward him. Her hair looked so soft and inviting. Kierion released his breath slowly, resisting the urge to bend and kiss her head.

  “Are you sure this isn’t a mating ritual?” Riona asked. “You’re sending mating signals.”

  “Stop it.” Kierion tamped down his emotions. Foolish of him, really, to feel like this. He had no idea whether Adelina was interested in him. He’d see what the day would bring. There was no way he’d destroy their friendship for the sake of a kiss or two. Adelina meant too much to him for that.

  They landed in a grassy clearing near the lake.

  Kierion slid out of the saddle and Adelina jumped down after him.

  He toed the snow with his boot. “Uh, I got you some gifts for your name day.”

  “That’s kind of you.” She looked up at him expectantly.

  Would she think he was crazy? “I, ah, hid them. You have to find them.” It’d seemed like fun at the time. He shrugged. “If you don’t want to look, I can—”

  Adelina grinned. “I should have realized you’d do something funny like this.” She held up a hand. “Don’t worry. It’s a great idea. I’m always up for fun.” Adelina crunched through the snow to the strongwood trees.

  Kierion tagged along. “Did you know that in Horseshoe Bend, they say exercising under strongwood trees increases your strength?”

  “Really?” Adelina frowned. “Do you believe that?”

  “Not sure,” Kierion said truthfully. “I’ve heard it from a few people. Apparently, there are a burly blacksmith and woodcutter there who swear by it. But me? I’m not sure what to believe, so I keep an open mind.”

  “Well, if it were true, Master Lars would have everybody out training under strongwood trees.”

  He chuckled. “I’m sure he would.”

  Adelina bent down and searched around the base of a strongwood. “Am I warm?”

  “Not yet. In fact, you’re icy cold.”

  “Well, if you’d give me a little hint about how big my gift is, I might know where to look…” She raised an eyebrow, smiling at him, then scanned the trees above.

  Dragon’s claws, he was in deep. Just that smile warmed his belly. “No way. That’s half the fun.” He winked.

  Adelina rolled her eyes and wandered among the trees at the edge of the clearing, peeking behind trunks, and kicking loose snow aside. “What is it? Would it get ruined in the snow?”

  “You won’t know until you find it.”

  She stamped and folded her arms. “Don’t I get breakfast either?”

  He shifted from foot to foot. Was she really getting impatient? Or just teasing?

  She smiled, eyes dancing, and ran to the lake’s edge, snow squeaking under her boots.

  Claws! Two of her little boot prints could fit into one of the galumphing great craters his boots created.

  Gazing out across the lake, she said, “Give me a clue, Kierion.” A cool breeze rippled the water. Adelina rubbed her arms.

  From here, the hiding spot was so obvious—if you knew where it was. “You’re warm now.”

  “Actually, I’m freezing.” She scanned the dead reeds at the edge of the lake, and huffed on her gloved hands.

  “Really? And I thought you were toasty warm.”

  With cry of glee, she bent back the dead reeds and pulled out a small cauldron with a rope securing its lid. “This is heavy. What’s in it?” she huffed, carrying it back into the clearing.

  “Riona, now please,” Kierion melded.

  Riona blew a warm breath over a hump set back from the lake. The snow melted to reveal a wooden bench with wood tucked underneath it. Kierion pulled a blanket from his dragon’s saddle bag and dried the seat off, then folded another blanket onto the bench. “Now you can sit down while I prepare your name-day breakfast.” Kierion pulled the wood out from under the bench and piled it on the snow. Riona set it alight, and soon a fire was blazing.

  “Thank you.” Adelina sat down, placing her cauldron on the bench. “You’re very inventive, aren’t you?”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “Well, I’ve never noticed this bench here before. And that wood was so conveniently tucked underneath it. You must’ve been up half the night organizing this.”

  She’d seen right through him. He spluttered. “I-I, ah…”

  “Mind you, someone who can organize the blade thrusters to steal all the hold’s arrows and hide them up a mountain could easily organize something as fun as this.”

  Fun? So she was enjoying herself, thank the Egg. “I’m never going to live that down, am I?”

  “Afraid not.” She gestured at the cauldron. “Can I open it?”

  Kierion sat on the bench next to her and pulled the cauldron onto his lap. “Sure.” With a flourish, he untied the rope.

  Adelina lifted the lid and pulled out a gift he’d wrapped in sky-blue tissue. Her dark eyes grew wide. “It’s a gift. It’s really a gift. I thought you were joking.”

  He swallowed. Would she like it? Suddenly Kierion was lost for words.

  Adelina opened the paper. “Oh.” It was more of an inhalation than a word. She shook out the gold fabric, making the scarlet dragons on it dance. “Oh, Kierion, it’s beautiful.” Her black eyes glimmered with tears.

  Words still escaped him.

  She clasped his hand. “That’s so thoughtful, so sweet. Such a pretty scarf.”

  “It matches the dress you wore to your brother’s hand-fasting.” The dress she’d looked so ravishing in. He’d had to conquer the urge to fight every man who’d danced with her. “And the paper represents Linaia with her blue s
cales.”

  She swiped at her eyes. “No one’s ever given me anything this lovely. I mean, brothers don’t count, do they?”

  He snorted. “Hardly.” Kierion reached into the cauldron and pulled out a tiny companion parcel. “Don’t lose this.”

  When she opened the little box inside, silent tears slid from her eyes. “You noticed my ears have holes? But I haven’t worn earrings since…” Her smile dropped and her eyes looked hollow and desolate.

  “Since when?” he asked gently.

  “Since my mother’s funeral.”

  Oh claws. “I’m sorry. I—”

  “You weren’t to know.” She fiddled with the little gold dragons in the box. “You know my father killed her, don’t you?”

  Kierion’s heart lurched, leaving his stomach hollow. He shook his head and said nothing. How did you answer that?

  “He pushed her off his dragon. It took her a few moons to die. Roberto and I cared for her. I was still a littling… When she died, Roberto left me with good friends and disappeared for a few moons. I felt all alone.” She turned the earrings over, rubbing the dragons’ wings. “I buried my earrings with my mother.” She glanced up and smiled through her tears. “Thank you for these. They’ll remind me of her.”

  Kierion passed her a kerchief. He’d had a sheltered life in Montanara, nothing like hers.

  “You know, my father died that same day. His dragon Matotoi was so ashamed his rider had pushed his wife off his back he plunged into Crystal Lake, killing himself and my father.”

  So that was how she’d lost her parents. What ugly shattered littling years she’d had. No wonder her brother Roberto was so tough. Who would’ve thought that beneath her bubbly smiling exterior Adelina held such dark secrets?

  Kierion placed a tentative arm around her shoulders, and she leaned into him. He waited until she’d stopped crying. “How about some breakfast?”

  “First…” Adelina sat up and put the earrings in her ears. The golden dragons swung from her ears as she tilted her head. “How do they look?” Her dark eyes were huge, her smile, hesitant.

  “Beautiful.” Gods, he didn’t care about the earrings, although they suited her tanned skin and dark hair. It was Adelina. She took his breath away.