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    Charades
    Charades
    Charades
    Ebook148 pages1 hour

    Charades

    By Stephanie Ayers

    ()

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    About this ebook

    A child shunned. A forgotten race. An angry dragon.

    Out of the ashes of doubt, courage is born.

    Rejected and scorned for her differences, Soren escapes into the Tippen seeking her own kind. When the Lady of the Wood leads her to the Dra Auren, her search is over, yet too many questions remain unanswered. As she makes a home with the Dra, the fury within her awakens and tests her courage. Tired of dealing with her cowardly father, she runs off to the Cathedral of Knowledge to learn the ways of this forgotten race and the dark magick it wields. Fueled by an uncontrollable rage and thirst for power, Soren will take over Savania or die trying.

    Beware the dragon. Fear its queen.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCrazy Ink
    Release dateDec 1, 2019
    ISBN9781393584773
    Charades

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      Book preview

      Charades - Stephanie Ayers

      Dedication

      For Amanda, Paul, and Marie.

      Without you, this couldn’t be possible.

      Thanks for everything.

      Prologue

      W ho’s in charge here ? Chainmail rattled as the captor pressed his sword harder into the Drao’s neck. More soldiers surrounded them, each holding a sword to the Drao’s wife and his children’s throats. The captor nodded his head, and red gushed from the wife’s neck. The Drao sobbed, but the soldier only pressed harder. Tell me, and I’ll spare your children!

      His oldest child crumpled to the floor, a crimson stain spreading around his neck. The soldiers laughed as the Drao sobbed again.

      Tell me!

      The Drao closed his eyes and said nothing. His children’s screams filled the air one by one until only laughter remained. Kill me, he said, opening his eyes.

      His captor forced him to the ground. Beg me for your death. He raised his sword into the air, but before he swung, another soldier slammed the door open.

      We have located the dragon king. The captain orders everyone out to the yard. He soaked in the bloody scene in front of him. Emotionless eyes studied the prisoner. Bring him, he said before he turned and left.

      Soldiers and Draoi filled the courtyard where the Dragon King stood, surrounded by swords. The captain picked up a handful of diamonds from the blood-stained soil.

      Was it not enough to see your brothers blinded by these rocks and slain? He threw them into the crowd. A few Draoi dropped to the ground. Now see your mighty Dra bow before me! Dra Alvaron, release your dragon, and we will let your people go! the captain said.

      No, don’t do it! his people cried.

      The captain swung his sword. A body dropped in front of the king. Dra Alvaron, release your dragon, and we will let your people go! He waited only a moment before he swung again, and another body dropped. Will you watch them all die then?

      The king held his head up high. You cannot handle the dragon, he said. Let my people go! With the blink of an eye, a dragon stood where the king had been.

      The captain pushed Draoi in front of him as the dragon huffed and flames spewed from his mouth. You will slay your own kind? he scoffed. To his soldiers he said, Let them go.

      The soldiers released their prisoners but refused to let them pass. The captain flung a diamond into the dragon’s eye. The dragon roared as pain shot through him. He jerked his head as another diamond assaulted him, barely missing his other eye.

      Ebner, Aster, quickly, bind his wings. Jockas, Duran, bind his legs. Jorey, help me bind his mouth. Soldiers, keep the rocks going! Blind him now!

      A barrage of diamonds filled the air, their peaks and points ripping into the dragon’s hide, the poison they carried rendering him weak. As a diamond took out his remaining eye, he thudded to the ground.

      Look at your king now, the captain said. Oh, how the mighty one has fallen. He stuck his blade into the side of the nearest Drao. Tell me, if I drink his blood, will I gain his power? He snickered as he swiped his blade along the dragon’s side and licked the blood from it. The Drao trembled in response. We might be onto something! He walked around the bound dragon and stuck his blade in its flesh wherever a diamond had pierced it. Satisfied with the blood flow, he drank deeply then slaughtered the Draoi nearest him before commanding his men to drink their fill. A few Draoi took advantage of the soldiers’ greed and fled.

      After a few more minutes without changes, the captain yelled and grabbed the nearest Drao. Why isn’t it working?

      The Drao trembled and fell to his knees. You are not Drao, he answered.

      The captain chopped off one of the dragon’s toes in anger. There has to be a way. He forced the Drao to his feet by sliding his blade under the Drao’s chin. He picked up the toe and shoved it in the Drao’s face. Must I dine on his flesh? Is not drinking his blood enough?

      The Drao whimpered. You cannot contain our power like that. We are born with it.

      The captain slid his blade across the Drao’s throat then. Useless, he said as the Drao crumbled to the ground. He turned to the soldiers around him. Kill them all.

      Chapter One: Outcast

      S nitch, snitch, you’re a witch!

      Tears stained dirty cheeks as Soren limped through the forest. The sting of rejection and the taunts of the other children as the guard forced her from the village overwhelmed her. She fell into the soft moss beneath her feet and wailed until no sound escaped from her raw throat, and her stomach no longer clenched in agony. She sniffed and slowly sat up, taking in her surroundings. A pallet of rich emeralds and muted peridots greeted her. Ruby, sapphire, and amethyst flowers caught the fading rays of the sun and danced with them. She swiped her nose with the back of her dirty hand and stilled as a grazing doe emerged from behind a large tree.

      If you move, she’ll run, a soft female voice said.

      Soren jumped. She cast furtive glances at the space nearest her but saw nothing. Trembles wracked her body.

      No need to be afraid, the voice said again. The doe looked up briefly before returning to its grazing. Soren looked around again but found no one.

      I am here. Look to the east, into the willow tree.

      Soren followed the instructions and still saw no one. She shook her head gently.

      Look harder.

      Soren looked again. This time, she saw the outline of a body along the willow’s trunk. A limb moved, and the center of the trunk smiled at her.

      Oh, she gasped. The doe startled and leaped off in fright. Soren no longer cared. What are you? She rose and walked toward the willow.

      The tree remained silent as Soren studied it. When she backed away, it spoke again. I am Saileach, Lady of the Wood. This is just one of my many forms. I run this small patch of woods we call the Tippen. Saileach stepped away from the tree trunk and transformed. Her hair fell to the ground, as black as the leaves were green. A dark grey smock covered her ash toned body. Yellow, sorrowful eyes studied Soren from beneath mossy eyebrows. My child, what grieves you?

      Soren sniffed again. Her breath hitched, and she inhaled to control it. My mother died, and they have cast me from my home with nowhere to go. An unwanted tear fell from her eye, and she angrily wiped it away.

      Saileach floated to Soren’s side, pulled the girl to her full height, and stroked a lock of her deep auburn hair. Such a beautiful girl, she said as she stared into the child’s lilac eyes. Do not fret. Your beauty is rare, as are your gifts. Those people do not understand you, so they fear you. It is not your fault. She took Soren’s hand. Come with me.

      Soren pulled her hand away. Where are we going? She had no idea who Saileach was or why she should trust her.

      Saileach backed away and laughed. You are right. You do not know me, nor should you trust me.

      Soren’s jaw dropped, and she gasped. How did you know what I was thinking?

      Saileach laughed again. I am the Lady of the Wood. I know what all creatures who enter here are thinking. Your particular thoughts are very loud.

      Soren’s eyes narrowed. She didn’t care for the intrusion on her mind.

      I can’t help that, child, Saileach said, taking Soren’s hand again. Come with me. I know the perfect place for you. It’s only a bit farther into the woods. If you look up, just above the trees, you can see the smoke from the cottage.

      Soren balked for a moment. She still didn’t trust the woman. Someone always wanted something in return for helping her. What do you want from me?

      You have nothing I need. Not now, anyway. I will call on you when I need you, but that will not be for some time. You have much growing and learning to do. That is why it is so important you come with me now. There is one who understands you and can help you because he is just like you—the Dra Auren. She pointed toward the smoke billowing above the canopy. At the very least, he will feed you before turning you out.

      Soren’s stomach grumbled just then. Soren rubbed it and stepped forward. It’s past suppertime. I could eat. Lead the way.

      Saileach nodded to hide the sparkle in her eyes. It is not far. I will set you on the path and let your feet carry you there.

      Soren’s eyes widened. And what will I say when I get there? What if they take me for a thief or something worse?

      Saileach snickered. You are something far worse, but never mind that. Only those invited actually find themselves on the Dra’s doorstep. You, child, have always been invited. My escort is unneeded.

      And what of the bargle? They gave me nothing to defend myself with.

      So many tales to keep the children from wandering off. You need not worry. Besides, you are all the weapon you need, Saileach said, chuckling. Stay on the path, and the bargle will not bother you. She stopped and pointed at an opening in the trees. "There is the path. His house is not far. You should reach

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