The Red Dragon's Gold

By Joshua K Johnson

For centuries, the nation of Malkala has bought peace with the larger, though fractured, Empire of Chesia through trade subsidies and bribes.

Now, a warlord has united the Empire under his Red Dragon banner and he's not interested in buying from Malkala; he wants to own it.

The Army of Malkala must fight a juggernaut many times its size and face the temptation of gold and lands; a temptation not everyone can resist.

A Griffins & Gunpowder Short Story of Approximately 6,300 words. Suitable as a stand-alone story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joshua K Johnson
• Release date: Sep 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301996339

Joshua K Johnson

Joshua Johnson is the creator of the Griffins & Gunpowder universe, A“Gunpowder Fantasy” setting that combines epic scale, magic and mythical creatures with rifles and railroads. He is the author of The Cerberus Rebellion, The Chesian Wars and more forthcoming works. When he isn't working or spending time with his family, he writes novels, short stories and novellas. He currently lives in Northern Illinois with his wife and young children.

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The Red Dragon’s Gold

Joshua Johnson

Smashwords Edition Copyright © 2012

All Rights Reserved.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the internet or any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

The Griffins & Gunpowder Universe

The Ansgari Rebellion

The Cerberus Rebellion

The Hydra Offensive

The Centaur Incursion (In Progress)

Collections

The Chesian Wars

Short Stories

The Red Dragon’s Gold

The Sithean Betrayal

The Gathering Storm

Commander Kasimir Parten woke to a panicked knocking on the door to his quarters. The sky outside of his window was still dark and remains of a fire still smoldered in his hearth; it was the middle of the night.

I'm awake! Kasimir shouted. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, stood and stretched with a gaping yawn.

He pulled his robe on over his thin linen clothes and lit a candle from the embers of last night's fire. Flicking open his pocket watch, he frowned. It was hours yet before the sun would rise and there would be little so urgent that he needed to be woken.

I'm coming! Kasimir said when the knocking started again. The light from the candle did little to dispel the shadows in the corners of the room; the gray stone walls drank the light from the tiny flickers. You'd think someone important had died.

Commander! Kasimir's steward, Karel Shor, said when he finally opened the broad oak door.

The man was shorter than Kasimir's six feet by several inches, but they shared the