Arnie Comes To Visit: A Dragon Tale (Part I)

The Dark Times Begin (Part II)

The Battle for the Kingdom of Mathor (Part III)

Jasper looking around
Jasper lay in the long wet grass, slowly recovering the use of his limbs. Kirita had mended his wounds; a few scars would remain, but for the most part, he was whole, and he was grateful. He tested his legs; they still resisted his attempts to move, but his arms were starting to respond. He swatted a fly, then shoved himself up to a sitting position. He was chilled to the bone, having lain all night in the cold drizzle, and all he could think of was getting back to home and hearth… and Sakeena. How was Sakeena? He’d no knowledge of what had transpired since he left her and Farthin and Jak mixing up insect poison with honey in their huge iron pot, back at home

Barkin and Kearta
Barkin scrubbed down Kearta’s scales with a stiff-bristled horse brush, cleaning off the mud and caked dirt. She rumbled with pleasure and rolled over on her back so he could rub her tummy. Barkin looked at her with some dismay. He didn’t much like those claws so near to his head, but she stretched and rolled closer to allow him easier access. Hesitantly, he reached up and ran the stiff brush over the closest part of her light purple belly. She wriggled in delight, nearly knocking him over. Brevin laughed behind him, and Barkin started at the sound, then bit back a smile. It wouldn’t do to get too friendly with the troops. After all, the King had put him i

Karillion wakes
Karillion gradually became aware of a buzzing noise around his head. Only half-conscious, he batted at it, and was surprised to be rewarded with tittering laughter. He opened his eyes, squinting against the light. How much time had passed? The last he could recall, the great golden dragon, Emily, had closed her claws around him and another — but then he’d lost consciousness from the pain as she lifted them from the ground. Kirita sighed daintily and wagged her finger at him admonishingly. “You should know better than to try to swat a fairy,” she laughed. Karillion grinned in spite of himself, and felt stiffness in his jaw when he did. He reac

scattering to the winds
“What do we do now, Tessa?” Darin asked, as Sarah and Garen patted the final seal of Light onto the castle, covering the last window. Tessa looked around at a sea of ghosts watching her expectantly. Many of them she had known at some point in her childhood. There was Marik, the old blacksmith, who’d died of burns when his forge had caught on fire. Her own grandmother, whose watchful eyes she had often felt since she passed of old age, long ago. Saheela, Hardin’s granddaughter, who had died in childbirth at the tender age of thirteen, having been raped by her uncles. Several small urchins who had frozen or starved during the harsh winter, unwanted bas

Sakeena wakes
Sakeena woke, shivering, in the early morning hours. Exhaustion could not fend off the chill any longer. Remembering where she was, she slowly opened her eyes and reached up to touch Farthin’s throat; she could feel no pulse, and his flesh was cold and stiff. With a muffled cry, she rolled off him and stared in dismay. Scattered bits of moonlight shone down through branches rustling in the breeze, playing across Farthin’s still face. Sakeena laid her head on his chest, but there was no answering heartbeat; no rise and fall of a slow breath. He was gone. Sakeena rubbed her arms and legs for warmth and felt in the leaves for any discarded clothing. Her cold fin