Fire Dragons (Dragon Adventure Series 2: Book 1)

By Ben L. Hughes

The discovery of rich veins of gold, silver, and copper in the Celtic Realm has drawn thousands of fortune seekers to the Fire Dragons’ homeland. As the unwanted guests spread across the realm, they ignore the dragons’ warnings and claim the land as their own. When innocent blood gets spilt, the conflict quickly escalates until both sides are calling for war...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ben L. Hughes
• Release date: Jan 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311743640

Ben L. Hughes

Please take moment to write a quick review on Smashwords, Amazon, or both to show your support. I enjoy hearing from people who have read my books, so feel free to email me with any comments or questions at: [e-mail] Most of my books are available through Amazon.com if you would like to purchase a print copy. Just type in keyword: Ben L. Hughes in the search bar. Recently Updated: Dragons: A Historical Guide: completely updated with many new artifact photos and added content that uncovers more exciting facts about those legendary creatures... If you are looking for my adult 18+ books: Since I write both children's books and erotica, I have separated my accounts so that someone doesn't accidentally purchase and adult book for a younger reader. To achieve this, my adult books under my pen name "Hugh Bennington" The bio picture is of my son and I heading up the 4x4 road to the top of Mount Antero, Colorado.

Book preview

Fire Dragons

Ben L. Hughes

Dragon Adventure Series, Jr.

The Dragon Egg That Rolled Away

Dragon Adventure Series 1

A Dragon Named Splinter

The Blue Dragon

The Dragon Wizard

Dragon Adventure Series 2

Fire Dragons

The Cave of Secrets

The Lost Dragons of Fire Island

Copyright 2014 Ben L. Hughes

Edited By: Jen Hughes and LJ Cummings

Revision Date: August 20th, 2017

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents:

Series Synopsis

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

About the Series

Series Synopsis

In the first Dragon Adventure Series, Kevin and his friends discovered that there had been an epic war between humans and Fire Dragons in a part of medieval Europe known as the Celtic Realm. This series goes back in time to capture those historic events.

Prologue

In the early days, Fire Dragons ruled over a collection of islands off the coast of Europe, known as the Celtic Realm. The two largest islands, Ireland and Britain made up the bulk of their domain. Britain was the larger of the two and its rugged mountains along the western coast formed the heart of the Fire Dragons’ homeland. Since Fire Dragons preferred the remote mountaintops, their cousins the Pigmy Dragons, and a small number of humans, lived in the lowlands below. The Pigmy Dragons kept to themselves and used their camouflage to avoid contact with the humans who were unaware of their existence. The Fire Dragons made no effort to conceal their presence, but they tolerated the humans because they were peaceful shepherds who spent their days tending their flocks. If an occasional sheep went missing, the humans viewed it as homage to their reptilian hosts.

Across the channel it was a different story. The humans living on the mainland had divided up their realm into kingdoms, and then spent their days fighting each other over who had the rights to the land and its limited resources. As their population continued to grow, fortune seekers from the mainland spread out in search of new lands and riches, and it wasn’t long before they reached the Celtic Realm. Unlike their predecessors who were peaceful shepherds, these mainlanders were ruthless power-hungry warlords that were used to taking what they wanted by force. It wasn’t long before the two sides clashed, and once innocent blood was spilt, both sides were heading for war…

Chapter 1

Draig paced back and forth atop Mount Snowdon waiting for his brother Ironclaw to return. It was his turn to keep watch, and like most nights, he was late.

Where have you been? Draig snorted in discontent after his brother finally showed up.

Sorry… I was out searching for food in the lowlands, and I lost track of time.

Were you alone?

No, Razorwing and Talon were with me, Ironclaw admitted as he looked away. He hated it when Draig questioned him, always playing the part of the older brother.

You expect me to believe that the three of you were out hunting after dark?

Well… we might have run across a village on the way back, and Talon may have accidently set fire to it, Ironclaw snickered under his breath.

If you keep provoking the humans, they will never stop attacking us! Draig snapped in an angry tone.

Why are you so fond of the warm-bloods? They are spreading across our realm like a disease, claiming the land as if it was theirs to claim!

I know you don’t like the humans, but attacking them will not solve the problem.

Then what will…? Razorwing told me that he saw several new castles being built along the northern coast, and when he flew in for a closer look, the humans shot at him with their puny arrows. Fortunately, he wasn’t injured, but clearly the time has come for us to take a stand and fight for what is ours!

Do you really think an all out attack is our only option? Draig questioned in a parental tone.

Yes, and if you and Sapphire would stop opposing it, the dragon council would have the votes it needs to declare war on them!

You forgot to mention Terra, she is still opposed, Draig added.

Not anymore, Ironclaw snapped as the moonlight glistened off his razor-sharp teeth. When she was out on patrol the other day, the humans attacked her after she landed near a stream to get a drink of water. She escaped unharmed, but it made her realize just how dangerous these savages really are.

We have never had these issues before… Draig replied as he thought about the shepherds that lived in the lowlands.

These fortune seekers invading from the mainland do not respect, or fear us. You had better open your eyes brother, war is coming whether you like it or not. If you don’t believe me, go south to Cothi and see for yourself… they are planning to attack the Cambrian clans.

Alright, you have made your point. I will head down there in the morning and see what they are up to. If what you say is true, then perhaps it’s time for us to relocate on the Emerald Isle.

You would rather tuck your tail and run, than vote for war? Ironclaw snarled as his tail whipped back and forth in disgust.

When the Romans invaded our land centuries ago, we took refuge on the Isle… and when their empire fell, we returned and not a single drop of dragon’s blood was spilt. All we have to do is wait, because the humans are as fickle as the wind, and they come and go like the seasons.

You are wrong about these mainlanders, they are building their castles out of stone, and they will not leave unless we force them to.

Brother, war is not the answer.

Your weakness will get us all killed! Ironclaw snorted as he stomped the ground in anger.

I am too tired to argue with you, Draig replied as he turned to leave.

Run you coward… Ironclaw muttered under his breath, as he watched his brother fly back to his den. Once he was out of sight, Ironclaw abandoned his post and headed down to Glaslyn Lake where Talon and Razorwing were waiting for him.

What did your brother say when you told him about Terra? Talon asked the moment he saw him.

The fool wants to relocate the clan rather than fight for what is ours!

It’s too bad you’re not the older brother, then you would be on the dragon council instead of him, Talon snarled in an irritated tone.

I know, he’s very stubborn, even for a dragon, but I did convince him into going south to Cothi in the morning.

Do you think he will change his mind after he sees how many humans have moved into that area?

Not unless they attack him while he’s down there… Ironclaw snickered in a sinister tone.

What do mean? Razorwing asked, sensing that he was holding something back.

Well… even though our attacks on the villages have been stirring things up, what we really need is something more personal… something that is sure to make my brother realize these primitives are not our friends…

What are you planning? Talon interrupted.

Just a little something to get his attention…

Stop teasing us! Talon snapped at the air with anticipation.

Come closer, Ironclaw whispered as he looked around for a moment, making sure they were alone. We’re going to attack him when he gets to Cothi, and blame it on the humans.

Oh, you’re so evil, I love it, Talon replied as he flicked his tail with delight.

We can’t do that, he’ll have our heads, Razorwing objected.

Don’t worry, my plan is fool-proof. We’re going to steal a fishing net from the humans, and then drop it on him while he is busy looking down at the village. He will blame the humans, believing that they used a catapult to launch it at him while flying too low. After he breaks free, I bet he will vote for war, Ironclaw snarled.

What if he doesn’t escape the net? Razorwing replied.

Then I take his place on the council, and vote for war.

Okay… but where are we going to get a fishing net from?

The Water Dragons have been complaining that the humans are fishing with nets in the waters off Aberdovey. All we have to do is get over there and borrow one before daybreak. Then we’ll continue south so we can intercept Draig in Cothi.

For your plan to work, you’re going to have to abandon the post... aren’t you worried you will get in trouble? Razorwing asked in a reluctant tone.

Who’s going to know? My brother and the rest of the clan are asleep in their dens, and he is the only one who gets up early. I bet we can ambush him and be back before anyone realizes we were ever gone, Ironclaw added as he glared at Razorwing