The Firestorm Heart: A Dragon Friend Story

Copyright © 2010 by Celtianna Duk and Lor Duk

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isbn: 978-1-4401-9474-0 (sc)

isbn: 978-1-4401-9475-7 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 9/9/2010

Contents

Prologue

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

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28

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31

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40

For my children,

on their journey through life.

To my husband

for all that he gives me.

Dedicated to our

beloved dog Strider,

1998-2009

Thank you Nana and Grampa

for reading my work and encouraging me during the writing of this story.

Prologue

A beautiful warm wind blew off the ocean. It was a strong and steady breeze spiced with the taste of salt. Sacha sat with her eyes closed, digging her toes and fingers into the sand. As the wind blew her hair back off her face, she dreamed she was flying.

Sacha loved having this place all to herself. She would sneak away from her village, which was up, over, and beyond the dunes, where she lived with her parents and little brother. They were not rich, but had a good life. Her father was a blacksmith and her mother was a potter, and they worked hard at being good parents. On days like this, when the weather was good, they allowed her to go out to collect berries and herbs. At ten, she was old enough to look after herself for the afternoon.

The waves crashed onto the beach and she let the lulling sound take her further into her daydream. Then suddenly, the warm breeze on her face turned to a hot tingling. She opened her eyes to see a fearsome reptile staring right at her.

Hello, handsome, she said warmly. Where have you been?

I’ve missed you, too, little female person, said the dragon, but I have to eat sometimes, too. The herring are running, and I’ve been busy at sea.

Water Dragons loved herring. It was one of their favorites.

She looked up at the dragon. I have to admit that I am jealous of you and your sea travels. I should very much like to do that.

The dragon frowned. I have a hard time picturing you diving to great depths and swallowing hoards of raw fish.

You know what I mean, she said. Just the idea of taking off without any responsibility and traveling the world. I know from meeting you, Dragon Friend, that there are a great many things to see in this world, things that we, in our small village, couldn’t even begin to imagine.

Yes, he said. But I can assure you there are also far worse places to be than your village. If you remember some of the stories I’ve told you, you’ll realize that along with the great many things to see out there, there are also a great many dangers. Travelling alone is a bad idea, even for an accomplished warrior, so how do you think a young female like you would fare all by herself?

But I wouldn’t have to go by myself, Sacha said. I could go with you!

Dragon Friend lowered his eyelids and smiled down at her. Being a large dragon has certainly given me advantages, Sacha, but there are still those who would kill me only for being what I am.

They would have to fight me first, she snarled.

And I would do the same for you, my dear. You have been a very good friend, my only friend, in fact, for many, many years.

She leaned her head onto his snout and gave him a kiss. He closed his eyes and smiled as two curls of smoke floated down from his nostrils.

They spent the afternoon together, talking and laughing and catching up. He told her stories of great dragon legends and colorful tales of dragon family trees. Dragons don’t write, as you know, and her friend had no other family. So telling stories was his only way to pass along dragon history, to make sure he and his kind would not be forgotten. He knew she would pass these wonderful stories onto her children and that they, in turn, would do the same. It was in this way, he knew, that dragons would live forever.

Finally, even though she wanted to stay, she knew she should be getting back home. I have to go now, but please don’t stay away too long. I worry about you when you are gone, and I miss your company.

I won’t, he said. And you, my young friend, stay safe and out of trouble.

As she walked away, up the dunes, she turned to look at him. He was magnificent in the dazzling rays of the afternoon sun. What an honor to have him as a friend, she thought.

He waited until she reached the top of the hill, then stretched out his wings in a gesture of good-bye and slipped back into the glistening blue waves of the ocean.

The Firestorm Heart

1

Eight years later …

A fierce flap of enormous wings broke through the stillness of the night. A very large, dark shape moved through the sky, sending a rush of wind before it.

This evening had been particularly dark, as no moon was shining and most of the kingdom had turned in by this late hour. Even in the castle, few torches burned, making the stately structure a mere silhouette against the starry sky.

In one tower, a castle guard was startled by a long shadow that seemed to glide effortlessly through the blackness overhead. He watched as the creature swooped down on its way over the bell tower. He strained his sight to see what manner of beast could have just flown past him. He couldn’t believe his eyes as a large spade tail sailed away from him, into the darkness.

He dove for the rope next to him and pulled, sounding the alarm. Then, looking over his shoulder, he saw its face. It was a dragon. It turned and was heading back for the tower, stretching out its talons like an eagle preparing to snatch up some prey.

Oh, no … no, no, no! he yelled, grabbing the rope and leaping out the window.

The dragon smashed into the tower. The turret exploded into pieces, showering masonry down into the courtyard. The beast then swooped quickly upward, changed direction, and headed back toward the now open room. With claws outstretched once again, it grasped the large chest in the corner and lurched back into the night sky.

At precisely that moment, the king and his men arrived to see their night watchman swinging precariously from what was left of their tallest, sturdiest tower and the graceful shape of the winged marauder flying off into the darkness with their gold.

2

The huge, ornate wooden doors flung open, and the king stormed into the great room, followed by his guards and counsel.

Light the torches and summon my advisors! he bellowed. As people scrambled to do his bidding, he sat in his chair, drew in a deep breath, and addressed those assembled before him. Now, would someone like to tell me what form of Satan has just attacked and demolished part of the mightiest castle on the coast? Who saw this beast?

I did, sire, said a singular voice in the middle of the room. It was the guard from the watch tower, a young man named Torbin.

Step forward and tell me what you know, the king instructed.

The young man came forward and knelt on one knee. I saw the beast, my lord. It was a dragon, sir, and I was close enough to touch it.

The king looked at him in a serious manner. Dragons are the stuff of legends, lad. We live in a modern world.

Perhaps not so modern yet, my lord, said one of the elder advisors. He moved closer to the king, leaned in, and said quietly, I have ears in the village that say there are such animals still, and, moreover, that there is a young lady who has met one.

All eyes in the room widened. There were also eyes and ears in the room that couldn’t be trusted, but they had taken the trouble to remain discreet.

The king put his chin up and sat back in his chair. How is it that such a thing lives in my kingdom and no one has thought fit to inform me?

The elder took another step toward the king. None of us have seen it. And we have no proof that it actually exists. Until now, we thought it only bothersome hearsay, a story used by women to scare their children into obedience—nothing to approach your lordship with.

The king looked thoughtful for one long moment and then turned to his guards. Bring me this young lady at once, and we shall get some answers.

3

In a couple of minutes, the king’s guards arrived at Sacha’s home. There was a loud knock at the door, and Sacha’s faithful dog, Gater, who always slept at the foot of her bed, barked, waking the whole house.

A visitor at this time of night could not be good, Sacha thought. She jumped out of bed, landing in her leather slippers, and flung her night robe around her shoulders. Halfway down the stairs, she could see her parents at the door, speaking to the king’s men.

No sooner had she reached the bottom, than her father turned to her, looking confused. Sacha, darling, the king wants to see you at the castle immediately. Something about an attack?

By this point, her brother (who was no longer so little) was standing behind her in the hallway. What sort of attack, Father? he asked.

The family looked at the men, who simply tightened their jaws and held straightforward gazes.

Then one of them looked at Sacha. If you don’t mind, young lady, we must make our way to the king now.

She looked quickly at each one of her family, and then nodded and sucked in a breath. Don’t worry. I have nothing to hide from my king, and I know nothing of any attack.

The guard opened the front door for her, and she walked out, followed closely by the other man. Then the first guard jumped on his horse and extended an arm to her. Before she knew it, she was on his mount and they turned to go.

She looked desperately back at her family. Then the rider spoke. You are not disallowed to come with us, but we cannot wait for you. And with that, he urged his horse away.

With Gater following hastily behind, the king’s horses galloped through the narrow streets that wound their way up the hill. They crossed under the archway entrance and traversed the courtyard. Sacha looked at the rubble, her eyes following the destruction to the tower and up the walls to the top. She gasped to see the gaping hole and wondered what on earth had happened. The horses came to an abrupt stop. Her rider jumped off and whisked her down.

The two men strode into the great hall, with Sacha in between, and, of course, the faithful dog right at her heels. They marched her right up to the king and presented her with a bow.

Sire, this is Sacha, the smith’s daughter, one of them said.

Then the men stepped away, leaving Sacha and Gater on their own. Sacha looked around to assess the situation and, remembering herself, gave a polite bow.

My lord, she said, head down. Gater looked up at her, as dogs do, waiting to see what would happen next. Using his better judgment, he sat himself down.

Tell me, Sacha, daughter of the smith, the king began, everything you know about dragons.

Her jaw dropped. "A dragon did this?"

Indeed. And apparently you know something of this beast.

She sucked in enough air to fuel her next sentence, but when she tried to speak,