Dragon Wars Side Story

The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – Aftermath Three

May 10th, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

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When her father had said it would hurt, he hadn’t been kidding. Karen lay in the fetal position with her head covered by both her pillow and the duvet to cut out any hint of light. The only good thing about it was that the physical pain was distracting her from her returned memories. She’d have to face them soon enough, of course, but for now there was just the headache. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – Aftermath Two

May 2nd, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

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Karen’s memories were returning slowly but it was going to take a while – possibly all of the remaining school holiday – to reclaim them all. Her mother could only work on the memory cap when the other’s weren’t there, and worse, she would collapse after only a little work on it and have to spend the next day in bed. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – Aftermath One

April 25th, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

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It didn’t take Karen long after she woke up in her bed at home to spot the gaps in her memory. Whatever had caused them had tried very hard to paper over the cracks to leave no trace, but it had failed abysmally. Something bad had happened to her and she wanted to know what. She lay on her bed and picked at the edges of it with her own mind affinity.

“Ah, you’re awake,” her father said from where he was sat by her bed. “And stop that. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“There’s a giant gap in my memory!” she said. “Something terrible happened… but…” she trailed off and looked up at her father. “Do you know what happened?” Read the rest of this entry »

The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – The Trap Twenty Five

April 18th, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

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“Sean!” It was Kyle who broke the silence. He’d gone pale and was staring at the spot where Sean had been standing only moments before. “D-did he… why…” He broke off with a sob and glared at the glowing gate. “Damn, I wish I could destroy you!” He gasped in a few breaths and waved his hand, releasing the others. “We’ll just have to find some other way to rein you in.” He turned towards the exit, clearly intending to leave.

The Core made a shrieking sound and fired another blast at him and Darya. Both of them attempted to jump out of the way but this time, neither was fast enough. The blast ripped through Kyle’s shield with only slightly more difficulty than it had Sean’s.

The double scream clawed at Karen’s nerves as she closed her eyes tightly in an attempt to stop her tears. As the echo of the screaming faded, Karen opened her eyes cautiously and immediately wished she hadn’t.

Kyle and Darya had left bodies, it seemed. They were lying together at the centre of the chamber and there was blood everywhere. She steeled herself and walked over to Kyle, reaching down to feel for a pulse – there was none. She looked at the others who were gathering around her and shook her head.

It’s lucky for you creatures that I still need you, the Core said. But I can’t have you talking about what happened. A roaring noise filled Karen head and the world faded to black.

***

When Kyle came to, he was lying on something soft and the scent of something delicious was tickling his nose. His stomach rumbled at the smell but he didn’t open his eyes. Instead, he lay there trying to work out where he was and how he’d got there. The last thing he remembered, the Core had killed Sean and had been trying to kill him and Darya… Darya!

“I’m right here,” his heart friend said.

Kyle opened his eyes cautiously and found Darya seated beside the bed he was lying in. The delicious smell was coming from a covered bowl sitting on the table next to him. His stomach rumbled again at the sight but he forced himself to deal with more important questions first.

“Why aren’t we dead?” He paused and looked at his heart friend. “Why are you wearing goblin silk?” He sat up and looked around. The room he was in was decorated with water themed tapestries and had no windows. He had the distinct impression they were underground. “Where is this?”

“Eat your stew and I’ll tell you everything – though I think you’ll be mad at me,” Darya said.

“Why, did you make a deal with a dragon to save me or something?” he said jokingly, then frowned when Darya looked away guiltily. “You mean you did? I don’t feel any dragons nearby.”

“The room is warded.” He seemed surprised that Kyle wasn’t yelling at him. To be honest, Kyle was surprised himself. “Like I said, eat your food and I’ll tell you the whole story. He says there’s no strings and he’ll get us back to Earth if we want.”

“And the unicorn you mentioned confirmed this?” Kyle asked as he took the lid of the bowl to reveal an appetizing looking stew – it even had vegetables in it.

“She did… and that the stew isn’t poisoned.”

“Hmm… I suppose you’d better tell me the whole story then. We can’t make a decision without both of us having all the facts.” He picked up the spoon and began to eat.

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The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – The Trap Twenty Four

April 11th, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

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Stop him, you wretched humans! The Core’s mental scream tore along Karen’s nerves like fire. From the groans she heard from the others, it was affecting them the same way. Only Kyle seemed unaffected as he stalked towards the now open gate.

“They’re a little tied up,” Kyle said mockingly. “It’s just you and me now.” Water swirled around his hands as he charged extra power into his next shot. He leapt to one side as a glowing blast of energy shot at him from the gate. “Tsk, you’ll have to be faster than that. Now why don’t you tell them about how you only haven’t killed off humanity yet because you need them to fight the dragons for you?” Read the rest of this entry »

The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – The Trap Twenty Three

April 4th, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

As of posting there’s only 59 HOURS  left of The Dragon Wars Saga Arc One: Land of Myth Presale at IndieGoGo! If you’re planning to preorder the time is now!

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Sean’s fear about Kyle’s state of mind had been justified, Karen realised. A glowing gate which would either take them to the Core or allow them to speak to it here hung in a room in the centre of the tower. Kyle was standing in front of it and pouring a sustained blast of cloudy blue water at it in an attempt to breach the wards on the gate.

Stop him, the Core said in their minds. He’s a traitor like his heart friend.

“What?” Karen exclaimed as she grabbed Kyle’s arm. “Kyle, what’s going on?” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zilah stiffen at the Core’s words. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – The Trap Twenty Two

March 28th, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

Don’t forget there’s only 9 days left of The Dragon Wars Saga Arc One: Land of Myth Presale at IndieGoGo!

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They were nearly to the end of the tunnel when Kyle felt Darya’s mind open to him again. He stopped and reached along the bond.

Darya, where are you?

Darya ignored the question and instead said. Kyle, you mustn’t go. It’ll kill you like it killed your parents. Read the rest of this entry »

The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – The Trap Twenty One

March 21st, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

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As they approached the door to the Core’s tower, Karen’s stomach clenched and she felt cold. She looked around but couldn’t pinpoint any source except the tower ahead – which made no sense. The Core was on their side, wasn’t it? She tapped the others’ minds and projected the feeling and question to them.

Well, it’s supposed to be, Jason said. But I’m getting the same thing. He glanced at the other three and they nodded as well. Cao? What about you?

No. His heart friend frowned. I don’t sense anything. I can feel that you are but I can’t actually sense it myself. The other heart friends said the same.

This is very strange, Kyle said. And I’m sure it has something to do with Darya. He looked at the door of the tower. I think we’d better go and find out what.

There’s no avoiding it anyway, Karen said. We can’t defy the Core. I just wish we’d sent an imp home before rushing here.

***

Darya transformed his legs back into a tail and dived to the bottom of the underground lake which Ystelyan had called the pool. What Rilletta and the dragon had told him made a bitter kind of sense and Aquia had confirmed it was true. If anyone would know it was Rilletta, since she’d been there. She’d omitted much of the story; she’d said as much. But she’d also said it was only for fear of revealing something the Core didn’t know.

But what she’d said about the Core hating humans and how it would kill them if they weren’t all that stood between the dragons and its charges, he would have believed even without the unicorn’s testimony. He’d sensed it for himself when he’d helped Julie.

And they said that they wanted to help him and Kyle. That he was less sure about. He wished he had time to think about it, but he had a growing sense Kyle was in danger and he couldn’t think of any other way to save him except to accept Ystelyan’s help. He swam around a few seconds longer as he considered, but the sense of urgency was growing. He’d already started back to the surface when he sensed a dragon enter the cave. He broke the surface and found Ystelyan standing there, frowning.

“The Core has summoned the warriors and their heart friends,” he said without preamble. “I suspect it’s going after Kyle since it can’t touch you while you’re under my protection.

Darya swam to the edge of the pool, reformed his legs and pulled himself up on to the rocks. “I haven’t decided yet.” He hugged his knees. “I don’t know know what to do.”

“I know,” Ystelyan said. “I don’t blame you.” He cocked his head as if considering the problem. “How about we do it this way? I’ll help you get Kyle out alive and fool the Core into thinking that you’re both dead if I can. It’s going to be very risky and require split second timing. If it works, the two of you can decide in your own time. If you decide not to join me, I’ll get you both to Taloa.” He caught Darya’s blank look and smiled. “It’s our name for Gaia.”

“Ah.” Darya stared into the water. “I guess I don’t have much choice. I don’t want to die.”

“Right then, the first thing I need you to do is stop blocking him and let him see what you’ve learned.”

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The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – The Trap Twenty

March 14th, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

Don’t forget there’s only 23 days left of The Dragon Wars Saga Arc One: Land of Myth Presale at IndieGoGo!

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Darya felt his mouth go dry as he stepped through the portal after Rilletta . The sudden sense of dozens of dragons surrounded him, their hunger tearing at his skin, and it took all his willpower to avoid turning and running back through the portal. He swallowed hard and tried to concentrate on his surroundings. No heart friend or warrior had ever penetrated a dragon’s lair and returned. He might learn something useful here.

The caves that formed Ystelyan’s palace were quite obviously carved by water. Even though they were dry now, he could hear and smell water not far away. It reminded him of the dry areas of his family’s grotto, except… Read the rest of this entry »

The Dragon Wars Saga – Side Story 3 – Two Years Ago – The Trap Nineteen

March 7th, 2012  |  Published in Dragon Wars, Dragon Wars Side Story

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Side Story Three

Two Years Ago

The Trap Nineteen

The unicorn who joined them was one of the most beautiful of her kind Darya had ever seen. Her hide was white as breaking foam in moonlight with a green mane and tail which resembled strands of kelp. He would have taken her for one of the Each Uisge – albeit an especially fair one – were it not for her iridescent pearl horn. He stared at her in awe; water affinity unicorns were rare among non-renegades.

“We’re not so common among renegades either,” she responded to his unspoken thought. “Though Ystelyan’s lands do hold the largest herd.” She lay down beside him. “Now I suppose you’ll want to check that I really am what I say.” Read the rest of this entry »