The Dragons Nest

THE DRAGONS NEST

THE DRAGONS NEST

THE LAST RHINOCERIX RIDER

Relics of Magic, book two

TIMOTHY ALAN MILAM JR.

Amazon / Kindle publishing

This series is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the authors imagination.

The Dragons Nest

Copyright © 2018 by Timothy Alan Milam Jr.

Cover artwork by Timothy Alan Milam Jr.

Visit: Amazon.com/author/timothymilam

Subjects: Fantasy fiction. | Adventure fiction.

Names: Milam, Timothy, author.

Title: The Dragons nest / Timothy Alan Milam Jr.

Printed in the USA

This book series is dedicated to my children, nieces, nephews, and every other child who seeks adventure.

1

We must stop here for the evening. The elf said.

We need to keep moving. We have questions that need to be answered and no time to waste! Fillion said.

If you travel into that path, you'll be lucky to make it out alive. The elf said in a serious tone.

I'm sure we can make it. Fillion said assuredly.

Well maybe, but I've just came from here hours ago and angered the trolls that dwell within and they don't calm down too easily. So, if you, who possesses no magic and no sword training and who is traveling with a fairy that has minimal magic, believe you can fight off a horde of manic trolls, then go on ahead.

What do you know about fairies?! Leandra asked.

Enough to know that your magic is nothing but cheap tricks, foolery. It may have helped during your travels but it's child's play up against the dark races and their magic.

What do you know about the dark races? None of the creatures in the four kingdoms has ever dealt with anything outside of their own territories! Leandra questioned, weary of this new intruder to their lives.

Vampires... The elf said.

Vampires?! Fillion asked bewildered.

Yes, the cursed. My race has been at war with them since I was a young elf. I know some things about the dark races and their forces.

In that moment Fillion dismissed himself and walked off away from Leandra and the elf. He needed some alone time. He walked by the light of the moon towards the East. He found a large rock and sat on it. The whole battle with the werewolves was upsetting. He truly wished there was more he could have done. All those innocent people in Mushroom village were probably dead now.

He knew that this would happen, but he never expected it to be so real, so shocking and devastating. Seeing the vicious monsters, with their yellow eye's and large sharp, drooling teeth and large, hairy muscular forms was terrifying.

Seeing Tyherious helpless against Camrin was probably more frightening to him because seeing magic, real magic was mind altering. Especially seeing magic being summoned by his best friend. He just could not wrap his head around it. Around any of it.

He could not understand that his best friend was now, somehow evil. He needed to save him, but he did not have the first clue as of how. It looked like Camrin, but in the eyes, it was not his friend. Camrin did not even recognize him; he was someone else entirely.

Fillion started to cry. This time he did not even try to stop. He let it take him. He opened himself up and let the tears fall. He allowed the memories of his family, his friend, and the overwhelming task ahead to come to the forefront of his mind. It ultimately destroyed him, but he needed it to; to bring clarity and to wash away the anguish he felt, the turmoil trapped inside of him.

After he released the dread, he felt brand new, restructured. Something in him had opened, freeing him. He returned to camp.

A small fire was going as he entered a secluded area. He didn’t think that his friend Camrin or the werewolves would find them since they made a large enough circle, so they wouldn't be followed.

So, what is your name? Fillion asked the elf.

My name is, Gallow and I am the high elf of Nikkara, ruler over all elves and this male here. He pointed towards the unicorn. Is Salis.

I'm Fillion and this is Leandra and that's Blaze. What are you doing out here, away from your home?

I know he's rude, but he doesn't know! Gallow said towards his unicorn.

Fillion gave him an awkward look.

I'm sorry, Salis was just saying that you're rude for not meeting his acquaintance.

Uhm...

"As young elves, we are sent into a place named, Mystic, which is a haven for unicorns. Not all, but a few are pared, but only of the unicorns choosing. From then on, the two are linked in mind for the rest of their lives.

As the two blooms together, they synchronize in age and strength and eventually they will die together.

So, you're telling me that a unicorn can put together structured thoughts and form coherent sentences?

Your horse doesn't? Gallow asked.

He had to be kidding, Fillion thought. No, she doesn't. Not that I'm aware of.

So, what else do you together possess? Leandra asked.

Well, Salis and I are both born from and with magic, but together we feed off each other's, making it stronger. Much stronger.

So, what is the King of elves doing out here? Fillion asked.

I am not a king, I'm a ruler, a high elf. A king is the title humans give a ruler and I'm not a human. And to answer your question. I am looking for the, one."

Another creature looking for this, one, who is supposed to end this threat on the four kingdoms. How he was collecting these creatures was beyond him.

You found him! Leandra said with certainty.

Gallow didn't seem surprised by her words, he must have believed it too, but Fillion couldn't believe it and he didn't want to. He was already in over his head and he really hoped they would find the actual, one soon, so he could be pardoned from the task.

You have much work ahead of you if you're going to be fighting a war soon. I can train you, but you're going to need a better sword for the task. Gallow stated.

I'd like to keep this one. My father gave it to me. Is there any way to make it stronger?

Well, elf blades are as pure as our race and can only be made by the magic of the individual that will carry it. In all honesty, I'm not even sure where it comes from.

What do you mean? Fillion asked perplexed.

Well, I mean that I wanted a blade and so together, Salis and I thought it into existence.

You mean you just thought it and it appeared?! Fillion asked, beside himself.

Yes.

So, where would I go to get this one stronger? He questioned, but more to himself.

I'm not sure, but from the looks of yours, it's sadly made, and I doubt that any human could create one that could take out the dark races.

Tyherious had a sword. Fillion mentioned.

But he also had Djinn's Gauntlet and you don't even know if he used his sword against them! Leandra mentioned, cutting him off.

She had a point. So where could he get a sword, especially one that could be powerful enough to stop the soul eater and the dark races, if in fact a magical sword was needed.

So Fillion, where is it that you're trying to go? I mean, it's obvious that the human back at the village was somehow in possession of dark magic. I'm surprised that I was able to shield us from it, as powerful as it was. Gallow said, bringing the matter at hand.

That human was his best friend, Camrin, who was also born on the same blood moon as Fillion and we're trying to figure out where to locate the Rhinocerix. Leandra blurted out.

Rhinocerix? Are you serious? Gallow asked surprised.

Fillion nodded. Clearly the elf was skeptical of the creature existing as well.

That's a creature of legend, a myth. One told in stories, shared from our ancient ancestors. I am doubtful if anyone would even know, let alone believe it. Gallow mentioned.

Well a woman we met a few days ago seemed to have an idea of where we might locate someone who would know. Leandra mentioned.

I don't believe it! Gallow said confounded.

Why are you looking for this person? This, one? What made you leave your home? Fillion asked, changing the topic back to his earlier question that had somehow gotten side stepped.

Well our shaman, before she took her last breath, told me to find and aid the young man born of the blood moon and said that if I fail, doom will come to the four kingdoms. We train at first light.

Train?!

Yes, I will teach you to wield your sword and defend with it!

As excited as that would be. I'm not entirely sure that I'm the one you are searching for?! Fillion expressed.

You're traveling with a fairy, are you not?!

Yes, but only because I'm the last person she encountered!

Be that as it may; we creatures of magic have a sense for finding the things we are supposed to find.

He's right you know! I once was in charge of finding my way through the Red Alder forest to a sacred place of worship that can only be accessed by the ruler of our kind and I found it. No map because it's not marked on one.

Fillion just looked at her dumbfounded. A pointless story that really had no proof to Gallow's words.

I don't believe I'm the person you seek and right now I'm only on this journey because I have nothing. No home, no family, no money, nothing!

Well, I'll teach you regardless. As long as we remain together you're going to have to fight at times so training won't hurt.

Fillion was excited to learn how to fight but was intimidated to spare with an elf. As far as the stories he has read, elves were supposedly very skilled in the art of fighting. Due to their speed and flexibility.

Well time is something we don't have since this all needs to be finished before the next blood moon, which is less than a month. Fillion mentioned.

I guess you better be ready then!

I'm as ready as I can be!

So, Leandra, tell me why you are here. Gallow asked.

The same as you, actually. Well, not really! The book of the stars only said to find the last Rhinocerix rider but did not mention what to do when I did find him. So, I guess I'm here as a companion.

Book of the stars? Gallow asked.

"I guess you can say it's like your shaman in a way but not. The book is linked to the universe and with each upcoming event, a shift in the stars happens and then it appears within the book.

It's taken me and a few others, our whole lives to understand and translate the star patterns into words. What I can't understand is why now? After many centuries why are we, the rare races, now being summoned into a human war? Leandra questioned.

"You know as well as I that it's never truly been one. If evil is always the opposite of good during each blood