Red Dragon's Keep (The Dragon's Children Book 1) Read online

  Red

  Dragon’s

  Keep

  Natli VanDerWerken

  Zenith Star Publishing

  Aurora, Colorado

  Copyright © 2017 by Natli VanDerWerken

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the author or publisher (except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages and/or show brief video clips in a review).

  The characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. All incidents are pure invention by the author.

  If you bought this book without a cover, neither the author nor the publisher received payment. Please respect the hard work that made this book possible.

  Published by Zenith Star Publishing

  1505 S Norfolk St

  Aurora, CO 80017

  303 755-5404 (Office)

  [email protected]

  Cover Design © 2017 Natli VanDerWerken.com

  Book Layout © 2017 BookDesignTemplates.com

  Books may be purchased for sales promotion by contacting the publisher.

  Red Dragon’s Keep/ Natli VanDerWerken -- 1st ed.

  ISBN 978-0-9991750-0-2(paperback)

  ISBN 978-0-9991750-1-9(ePub)

  ISBN 978-0-9991750-2-6(audiobook)

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2017910528

  Finalist in the 2016 AuthorU

  ‘Draft to Dream’ Contest

  I’m a retired and substitute teacher in my local school district. When I read my second and fourth grade students the beginning chapters of Red Dragon’s Keep, you could have heard a pin drop. As I paused to turn a page on my phone, one of the students said “Can’t you read faster?” This is a great book for YA readers.

  Rick Goben, Retired Teacher

  Dedication

  To my sister Peg,

  and my daughters, Anne, Debbie and Jenni.

  Without you, this book would never have been written.

  To my husband Dan, who always, always had my back.

  Contents

  Dictionary

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Acknowledgements

  Characters

  Map of Ard An Tir

  Map of Red Dragon’s Keep

  Map of First Demon Battle

  About the Author

  Other Titles by Natli VanDerWerken

  Connect with Natli VanDerWerken

  Dictionary

  Aeden - Fire

  Arach - Dragon

  Ard An Tir - The Shining Lands Ard Ri - King’s Land

  An bhaile – (ahn wail) townsmen

  Bolscaire bhaile – (bols care wail) town crier

  Cailleach – (cal yish) - witch

  Ciardha - (Kay r da) - the Dark

  Claiomh Solas - (Klay m So las) - Swords of Light

  BattleSworn

  FireGuard

  GhostWalker

  HeartStriker

  HellScream

  HellReaver

  OathKeeper

  ShadowCalled

  SunWalker

  Cosain Morroin - (ko sane Mo ro in) - Shield Lands

  Crionna baen - (kron a bay en) – Wise-woman

  Cumhacht ar Draigoini – (come act ar drago in i)

  Power of Dragons

  Demon – (dayman) - Demon

  Draiochta - (dray ok ta) - magic

  Draiolc - (Dray olc) - dark wizard

  Fuil - blood

  Fuilba - (Fool ba) - dark bay color

  Hold - small farm held by a holder

  Holder - either indentured serf or small land holder beholden to a Steading

  Ki - spiritual essence

  Lands of Ard An Tir

  Ard Ri - King’s Land

  Fearmhar (fear m har) - grasslands of the Horse Lords

  Republic of Talamh (Ta lem) - farmland Freeholders

  Fasach (Fa sash) - desert Fanai – (fan eye) Nomads

  Midach - (Mi dak) - doctor

  Ri - (Ree) - King

  Rivers

  Samphir

  Banuisk

  Caladen

  Sabhdan – (Say dan) – sultan, ruler

  Salle - (Sal) - weapons training hall

  Seleigh Soren - (Su lay so ren) - carnivorous Demon compelled by magic to devour flesh and soul

  Slieve Geal – (Sleeve Ga el) - Shining Mountain

  Smachtmaistir – (Smawk t May stir) master Demon

  controller

  Steading - large land holding granted by the Lord to a freeholder

  Tiarna Geal - (Tee ar na Ga el) - Lords of Light

  Prologue

  Far away and long ago…

  In her human form, Fire bowed low to the Rí, the King of the Dragons. The King’s black scales grated against the tiles of the forecourt as he shifted his bulk.

  “To what do I owe this honor, my Lord?” she asked, giving a short formal bow.

  The walls of Dragon Tower in the center of Red Dragon’s Keep stood grim and dark sentinel as evening twilight deepened. The last light of day reflected from the billowing storm clouds retreating to the east, highlighting the red Dragon laid in stone up the Tower’s east wall.

  “The time has come, my daughter,” his voice echoed in her mind. “We and the humans have won against the Ciardha. The humans will become strong and look askance at our dominance. We must withdraw to the strongholds to avoid the conflict that I see in the future. I cannot compel you. You must choose.”

  Cold wind swirled over the walls and into the forecourt. The short hairs on the back of Fire's neck lifted. A shiver raced down her spine. Hair escaping the braid down her back fluttered around her face.

  “Know this. If your choice is to stay, you will lose all knowledge of what you are. Magic shall still be yours, but you will not know why you have it, nor any of your history. You will be locked from Dragon form until the need is so great that you must take it. The choice is yours.”

  Fire gazed at the huge black Dragon who was her King, her father. She knew the law. Each of the Dragons was free to choose whether to stay or go. Most had chosen to go.

  Stubbornly she dropped her eyes and shook her head. “My Ri, I choose to stay. The Arachs shall need my help in the times ahead. I am bound to them as you were bound to the human King.”

  The great black Dragon closed his eyes and bowed his head. “As you will it.” Pain choked his voice. “Long life, daughter.”

  He spread his immense wings and slammed them down…once…twice, shoving dust and dead leaves heaped around th
e forecourt into a whirlwind. Thunder rumbled. He rose above the Keep wall with its red Dragon laid out in stone and turned to the west.

  In time to the rhythm of his flight, he wove his magic. His voice echoed in her mind again. “As I fly, all knowledge of your past slips free. Farewell, my child.” Then he was gone.

  Fire, pale and sick at heart, watched him dwindle away.

  She felt oddly out of focus.

  Why am I in the forecourt?

  She frowned and glanced around, searching her memory. She shook her head, trying to clear it.

  She turned and walked back into the Tower.

  Chapter 1

  “Thomas! Stop that!”

  Startled, Thomas lost his grip and dropped the sword he was swinging back and forth onto the stones of the forecourt. He spun toward Duke Tom Arach, his father, and hung his head.

  The Duke turned from the sergeant who held his horse by the reins. Taller than most men, the Duke was broad-shouldered and fit, his red-gold hair was plastered to his head by sweat. A greying red-gold mustache and goatee framed a strong mouth and chin. Skin weathered brown by much time spent in the sun streamed more sweat. He carried his helmet in the crook of his heavily muscled left arm. He’d been out practicing battle maneuvers and his horse had thrown a shoe.

  “Look at me. What are you thinking? You know you're not supposed to be using swords. Now pick that up and take it back to the armory,” barked his father, his blue eyes sharp under frowning brows. He shook his head at Thomas and waved his hand toward the Dragon Tower and the armory behind it. He turned back to the sergeant.

  Thomas bent down and retrieved the sword, now nicked by the paving stones of the forecourt, and slid it into the scabbard that he carried in his left hand. His sun-streaked dark blond hair fell over his blue eyes, and he brushed it back impatiently. His long fingers curled firmly around the grip of the sword. He looked at his father.

  “I'm sorry. I was coming to ask if you could teach me. Captain Mathin helped me pick this one. I was going to ask if it was okay.”

  The Duke turned toward him again. “Thomas, I can't do it right now. I don’t have time. The king has ordered your mother, me and your aunt and uncle to the capital, Cathair Ri. War is coming. No, take it back to the armory.” He shook his head.

  Thomas froze in disappointment. Just like always. I never get to do things with Father. I never get to do things that I want to, period.

  “Yes sir.” Thomas turned on his heel and marched back through the forecourt, shoulders straight, back rigid. He refused to let his father see how hurt he felt.

  He marched through the arch that opened to the left of the Tower wall. As soon as he was out of sight, his shoulders slumped. He shook his head in frustration. Everything he did turned out to be the wrong thing. His parents had always treated him like he might die if he did anything they thought was dangerous.

  He followed the curving path around the side of the shorter Lady's Tower to the armory. Dense shade under the fruit trees lining the path gave some small relief from the oppressive heat. It radiated from the paving stones, almost burned his feet through his sturdy leather boots. Soon summer would turn to fall and he knew that the cold would curl his toes.

  Pulling the left side of the heavy oak doors open, Thomas stepped into the welcome cool of the salle, the large room in front of the armory where squires were taught how to fight, both armed and unarmed.

  He paused uncertainly in the doorway. Captain Mathin stood facing a tall slender woman. Lady Aeden cocked her head to the side, as if questioning what the captain was telling her.

  Thomas tried to walk silently as he had seen the better soldiers in his father's guard move. His heel caught on one of the bricks in the uneven floor surrounding the training surface and he stumbled forward, almost falling. The sword hit the floor again.

  Humiliated at his clumsiness, his face bright red, Thomas closed his eyes and just stood, waiting for the verbal abuse he knew was coming. The salle was deathly silent. Opening his eyes, he looked toward the captain and Aeden. Both of them were simply staring over their shoulders at him. Aeden and Mathin glanced at each other,then turned as one to face the eldest son and heir to Red Dragon’s Keep.

  “What is it, Thomas?” asked Captain Mathin in a kind voice. He was a tall, solidly built man who had served with Thomas’s father during the last war. His sparse brown hair was cut short and his grey eyes held a smile.

  “Father said to bring the sword back. He said that he hasn't time to teach me. He and Mother are going to the capital to meet with the King,” Thomas blurted out in a rush.

  Captain Mathin's eyebrows rose in surprise.

  “I'd not heard. Well, put the sword up after you've sharpened it and I'll talk to the Duke about lessons for you while he's gone.”

  “I'm sorry, Captain Mathin. I don't know how to sharpen it. No one will let me near the swords.” Almost like they think I'll cut off my fingers or toes, he thought bitterly.

  Captain Mathin glanced at Aeden. “My Lady, would you have the time to teach Thomas how to sharpen the sword?”

  A small smile lurked at one corner of Aeden's mouth. “I think I might be able to do that, Captain Mathin.” She turned to Thomas and beckoned him to her.

  “Right. Then I'll be off to talk to the Duke,” said Captain Mathin. He turned, strode through the partially open door and pulled it shut after him. Silence again filled the salle.

  Thomas had seen Lady Aeden at the Keep all of his life. She was one of the vassals sworn to his father, but she had never spoken to him. Aeden scouted for the guard, advised his father on defenses for the duchy and taught the squires armed and unarmed combat. She bore her title by courtesy, not by birth.

  He approached her shyly and held the sword out to her.

  “No, keep it and let's go to the armory,” she said. Turning, she walked across the salle and he followed eagerly. Finally, I get to learn something useful.

  § § §

  Aeden watched him from the corner of her eye.

  At fourteen, Thomas was tall for his age, almost as tall as his father. The boy moved well, albeit stiffly. Still growing into himself and learning how to move, she thought. She could teach him many things, and would, she vowed silently. She could feel the power that coiled within him, and his blindness to that power. This must change, and soon. Rumors had already reached Red Dragon’s Keep about Demons raiding Steadings, slaughtering those they could not turn to the Dark’s service.

  When they walked through the doors into the hall leading to the armory, three young men perhaps three years older than Thomas, jumped to their feet. Squires, by the looks of them, she thought. Thomas stumbled to a halt, looking everywhere but at the three.

  The short, thin squire bowed deeply to Aeden. The other, of medium height with an abundance of black hair falling into his blue eyes, followed suit.

  The tallest squire, Garan, stocky and defiant, stood with legs spread aggressively, fingers bending the belt at his waist in half, sneering. He ignored her.

  “So, sent back again, eh? When will you learn? You may be the Lord's son, but he cares nothing for you. Not even enough to teach you the sword. Give it up and get back to your nursemaid,” he taunted.

  Thomas flinched as if struck by a whiplash.

  Aeden was shocked into immobility. How dare this young lout speak to the heir in such a manner. Her eyes widened as he continued.

  “You're nothing, never have been, never will be. Your da is just a jumped up captain from the guard. Never mind he saved the king's life. So did a lot of others.”

  He scowled. His father had fought in the last war, too. The other squires stirred uneasily.

  Aeden looked at Thomas. His shoulders were hunched, his face white. He cringed as if from a blow. Apparently this wasn’t the first time that he’d been bullied by this squire. Dust floated in the sunbeams shining through the clerestory windows that formed the ceiling of the hall. The dust began to swirl.

  Aeden spoke one quie
t word.

  “Stop.”

  Her power shivered through the armory.

  “You.”

  She pointed at Thomas’s tormentor.

  “You will report, under guard, to the Duke. Now. You will tell him exactly what you said to Lord Thomas.” She emphasized the title. “He shall have your punishment. You and you, return to the barracks.”

  Aeden flicked her hand at the two squires trying to shrink into invisibility. She shouted down the hallway to the guards standing at attention on either side of the armory doors.

  “Privates, both of you come and escort this… person… to Duke Arach.”

  The soldiers started down the hallway.

  Garan snorted and took a step toward her. “You have no authority here, woman. You are just a scout. Leave now and I'll forget you tried to order me anywhere.”

  Fear whispered in the corners of the room.

  Eyes wide, the other squires backed away from the coming storm, turned and scuttled from the hallway.

  Aeden's left brow rose, her blue eyes glittered. As tall as Garan, she stalked forward and slapped him hard on the right cheek and backhanded him on the left.

  Garan clapped his hand to his jaw in shock. Fury narrowed his eyes. His jaw bulged as he clenched his teeth. He threw his arm up to deflect another strike and reached out with the other to grab Aeden by her tunic.

  Aeden braced to take him, teeth bared, a fierce grin of anticipation widening her mouth. She moved to keep Thomas in her peripheral vision.

  Thomas straightened and faced Garan. His knuckles whitened as his fingers tightened on the grip of the sword. His ears turned red with anger, his lips clamped in a thin line.

  “No,” he shouted, “This is the last time.” He clumsily swung his sword into guard position and jumped between Garan and Aeden.

  “Stop,” she said again, with more force this time, as she lifted her right hand, palm out, fingers splayed. She straightened from her crouch.

  Garan was frozen where he stood, his face contorting with panic. Thomas tried to lower his sword and could not.