Chapter 1! The story finally begins. I kick start this arc after Prince Lucas took over his father's throne, while Drew and his alliance (Gretchen, Hector, Whitley, Duke Bergan, Count Vega etc) escaped the chase of the Catlords into Dyrewood. Hector, the magister, holds a scroll passed down from his forefathers, and from it, a prophecy unfolds.
Any reviews will be great, and if there's an improvements needed, please tell me (:
EDIT 7/7/2012: Thank you all who have read the story and reviewed! ^^ They made me happy and motivated me to keep writing. On hiatus still, but rest assured this story WILL be completed~
Edge of twilight: Thank you (:
BigTom217: Haha sure I definitely will continue writing XD
arrowhead154: Yes it will get much more epic soon :D Wait for it!
Hornet394: When I started writing my story was the only one in the category, and I am determined to finish this saga about DragonLords. (: I will continue to write and update!
Let us begin.
The hot afternoon sun beamed above the treetops, as birds chirped within the canopies. Occasionally, small woodland animals peeked from their dens and inspected the passing party with interest. A young man with brown hair walked in front, flanked by two ladies, followed by a gruff man and a boy clad in black. A man with sharp facial features, whistling, strode behind them.
"No one would have known about it until you pointed it out, Hector. Thank you." Duke Bergan said, his voice slightly muffled. "You've done well, and lived your talents as a magister."
"It's…what I should be doing." The young Boarlord replied, clenching to a withered scroll. The party hurried on, with objectives in sight.
"We must hurry; the Catlords will be after it too." Drew muttered, clearly aware of how much time they have left, before it's all too late.
It has been weeks since Lucas claimed the seat of the Ruler of Lyssia, and along with his fellow Catlords, the Were-Lion chased Drew and his team out of the capital. The party fled into Dyrewoods, contemplating their next steps, when Hector suddenly voiced out the need to go to a place they've never heard before.
Tyr yer kit keuy
Legk royar icth ka
Akelos sabe, burut te sha te burut
Largn, Leron, Terak, Tokeg
Tyr te owaru
Kime shin ta, kime sha?
The land shook with battles
Once more the beasts roared
Allegiance sworn, blood-kins dying in one another's blood
Wolf, Lion, Dragon, and Skull.
End this war once and for all.
Who shall live, who shall die?
2 days ago…
"Hector, what is it that you're holding?" Gretchen asked. The young Boarlord simply glanced sideway at her, and looked down onto the parchment again. Strange words were written on it in a strange language, with faint translations of the patois scribbled by his late father.
"Something I found from my father's mansion, I have a feeling that it's really important." His voice was husky, made worse by his thick black coat even under the scorching sun. The new Boar made the Were-Fox shivers, as she nodded a reply.
So what now, foolish brother. Are you going to stare at this scroll all day or what? Haven't I told you that my little shadowy "friends" here knows what it is for. A rasp rang within his head. Somehow, it's important, so I'm going to tell you. Only once, so you'd better remember, fat-boy.
"Shut up, Vincent."
"Hector? Did you say something?" A concerned Drew asked.
"No, nothing. It's fine, I'm just trying to figure out something." O Foolish brother, are you even listening? I said "Ziroga", are you dimwitted or what? Ziroga? I've never heard of that name in my years as magister.
"Duke Bergan, do you, by any chance, know of this place "Ziroga?" Hector inquired, hoping that the experience of the Bearlord may grant him an answer. The old Bear stopped in his tracks with a sudden jerk, and the entire party was brought to a halt as well.
"…Where did you get that name from?"
"It's just…somewhere we have to go. Somehow, it will all make sense." Hector fumbled through his words, while at the same time scolding himself for listening to that dead, wretched brother of his.
Duke Bergan eyed the young man warily, well-aware of the plight affecting him. The death of his brother still haunts him.
"Have you heard of the Dragonlords?..."
"My Lord." The hooded figure spoke. "It is time."
"Speak clearly, Rat." Lucas scowled. He sat crossed leg on the throne, his magister kneeling before him. Around the great hall, guards and Catlords of Bast stood ready and alert.
"Prince Luc-"
"King Lucas." The young Lion snapped. He was not in a good mood today, knowing that somewhere out there, his rival still lives, and still on the run.
"King Lucas." Vankaskan sputtered. "The time of the prophecy has come. This scroll-" He reached into his robe and pulled out a withered parchment with his claw-like hands. "spoke of the Dragonlords, their legends, their power, and their fall."
Lucas had not the slightest idea what the WereRat was pulling, but he signaled for him to continue, ears cocked. "I'm listening."
Vankaskan nodded, and proceeded to recite the history of the fabled Dragons. Even the ranks of the guards standing post began to murmur. Lucas scowled, he has heard of the Were-Dragons before, and he understood that it was his kind – the mighty Catlords – that have wiped these abominable reptiles off the face of Lyssia. He knew that they were strong creatures, able to command the forces of nature as their arms, and with wings so vast that can block the sun. Indeed the Dragonlords are the embodiment of the land, sea and sky themselves.
"I know this already, Rat." Lucas brushed his golden fringe away from his face, revealing a pair of glinting eyes. "But the Dragonlords were extinct, centuries ago, the same era that the wretched Wergar fell. Why are you telling me this?"
"Oh, my Lord, they were dead alright, but not all were gone." Vankaskan's monstrous face remained hidden beneath his cowl, but Lucas could feel a tinge of smirk from him. "This scroll is the first half of what it originally was, unfortunately our men has failed in scouting the other piece. That traitor of Boarlord must have destroyed it. But the lines on the parchment were clear –
Terak shil zhyi hoc
Largn shil yore sheq
Uruk te miran, ku ruk loa
Ziroga shin ta, sai Terak shin ta
Akelos, tyr te owaru
Shiru kane
"Wait! What nonsense is this? This is not our tongue."
"Do not be angry, my Lord. This is the tome of the Dragonlords, a dead language that only a few non-Dragons understood." Vankaskan remained in his kneel and continued. "One being Wergar, and one being our late Boarlord. And fortunately for us, he has left us rough translations of the passage."
After the Dragons disappeared
The Wolf died and lived
Kingdom chaos, as new generation rise
Ziroga still lives, last Dragon still lives
Ally with, and end the war
Flowing white
"'Tis what the prophecy goes, my Lord. The blood of the Dragons still flow in the corner of our kingdom. A Dragonlord is easily recognizable by its…strange features, and this one is 'white'. The Dragons are keeper of the history, and watchers of fate – whatever they have written down are true and will come true. As your magister and advisor, I humbly yet strongly ask for a scouting party to seek the last Dragonlord out and make him our ally. With him on our side, we will definitely win the war against the Were-Wolf."
Is that so…? Lucas sank into his thoughts, his mind whirring with information. For a while, all was silence as the men waited for the young king's decision.
He opened his eyes.
"Vankaskan, you will lead the hunting party for only you hold the knowledge to this absurdity. You may choose any men from the Lionguards you want. Go in a caravan, in a group of 10 men to navigate through the dense forest around Ziroga easily." Lucas commanded. "Find him, and make him join us. If he refused, kill him – Drew might be on his tail as well, if Hector too knew of this. Do not disappoint me."
"Yes, my Lord." Vankaskan hissed with glee. "It will be done."
The deer stopped grazing and looked up, ears cocked, listening for any movements. The air was still, the forest was quiet. But she knew – something is out there, watching her.
She stomped her hoof, and took run. A figure exploded out from the bushes and sprinted after her. The chase continued until the duo burst out from the forest onto a grass prairie. The doe stopped and looked at its attacker, her ebony eyes reflected an image of a young man dressed in light cloth and leather padding, his fist clenched around a crude steel dagger. He too, stopped, and their eyes met. It was a communication between predator and prey, a clash between survivals.
I will hunt you, I apologize.
I accept your hunt, but I will run.
As quickly as the mild pause, the duo took run again.
"Thank you." The young man muttered as his slit the deer's throat, letting the blood flow into a container made of tree bark stuffed with spices and salt. After the blood is drained, he let it coagulate with the ingredients while he expertly gutted the animal. From his experience in the hunts, he knew that the innards must be removed from the flesh or the meat will decay quickly, not to mention if the stomach and intestines deteriorate it would contaminate the flesh. He laid the organs out, spreading a light layer of salt over those that he wants to keep – lungs, stomach and intestines (cleaned, of course), heart. He skewered the liver and left it on the forest floor, as an offering. He doesn't know who exactly he was offering to, or why he does it – he just knew. Like courtesy in return for the kill, I guess. He tied the carcass onto his back, and hurled the preserved innards and blood into his rucksack. This deer will keep us two warm and happy for quite a while.
"Evaxus, welcome back!" A meek but cheerful voice greeted the young man as he entered the house.
"Yea, I brought back a deer, Rei."
The young man Evaxus hurled the carcass onto a pile of straw and stretched. He brushed through his striking white hair with his fingers, pushing back his fringe from his ice-blue eyes. In front of him at the doorway stood a young girl the same age as him with pale glass-like skin and heterochromatic eyes. Her iris shone a brilliant emerald-green on the right and hazel-brown on the left. She still looked so weak. Evaxus frowned. But it is good that she is getting better.
He reached out a hand and patted her on the head, her golden hair flowed between his fingers like silk. "Let's prepare dinner now, lil' sis." She nodded and grinned, and in his mind he couldn't help but think of their first encounter.
They were no biological siblings, of course, it was all merely in the name. The night from 3 years ago still vividly played in his mind, and his past still haunts him.
I am slow, I know D: Apologies!
I have the whole plot in my mind, I just need time to pen them down.
I have yet to read the newest books in the series (Plot-wise, I'm still at Rage of Lions ''), so pardon me if anything goes wrong in my story.
I am working on Chapter 2 right now.
Be prepared for the details on the Dragonlord, their story...Everything will fall in place, soon.
As each player of the plot come together, the legend will unveil itself!
*dramatic music*
And as my style goes...TEASER TIME 8D
"This world...this world has changed."
"I'm just a passerby running from fate, hiding from its venom."
"Join us, Dragonlord - and help us win this war!"