The Dragon and the Crown

By Jon Boogerd

Tara had always known that she was different, but when her entire world is shattered she learns that she is next in line to be High Queen in a magical land of elves, orcs, wizards, and giants. Now in order to take claim of her throne she must complete eleven tasks given to her by the rulers of Iliragon, the first of which is to recover a lost crown from the treasure hoard of the great dragon, the mightiest creature Iliragon has ever known. Along the way she will meet friends and enemies, learn about the parents she never met and the land they ruled, and find a love she never thought she would.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jon Boogerd
• Release date: Sep 12, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301437757

Book preview

The Chronicles of Iliragon

Book One

The Dragon and the Crown

By Jon Boogerd

Copyright 2012 Jon Boogerd

Smashwords Edition

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Chapter One

Tara and the Man in Black

If you had asked anyone that knew Tara to describe her, they would have used a variety of words to do so. Her friends would have said that she was pretty, that she was smart, and she was really good at sports, although she also had a bit of a temper sometimes. If you had asked some of her classmates, they would have described her as being popular, athletic, and attractive. And her teachers would have told you that Tara was a good student who studied hard, an outstanding athlete, and a little bit of a hothead at times.

All of these were good ways to describe Tara, and no one would have said otherwise. But there was one other person who could have told you a bit more. That was the woman that Tara knew as her Aunt Jessie, and Jessie didn’t tell anyone the things she knew about Tara, because no one would have believed her anyway. No one would have believed that Tara could leave the house as Jessie put a kettle on the stove for tea, run a mile down the road, and be back before it started to whistle. None of the people she talked to would have taken her seriously if she told them that Tara could use the front bumper of her pick-up to lift the wheels off the ground with as much effort as most people would put into lifting a gallon of milk. People would have called her crazy if she told them that Tara was able to learn things much faster than a normal person does, and had already taught herself three languages for fun.

But all of these things were one hundred percent true. Jessie couldn’t really explain any of them, but she never tried to deny them, and she certainly never told anyone else about them. She had tried to help Tara learn about her powers, to gain control over them and not accidently break plates when she pulled them out of the dishwasher.

Jessie was, of course, not Tara’s real aunt. She didn’t even know who Tara’s real parents were. When Tara was about a year old an old man in a black cloak had brought her to Jessie. He had told her that Tara was a very special child, and when she hit her teens Jessie would begin to see just how special Tara was. But until then Jessie had to keep Tara’s true nature a secret, and she had to keep her safe.

She had asked him what she was supposed to do when people came asking where she had gotten a daughter from all of a sudden, and the man in black had responded by saying that she was going to be Tara’s aunt, and that everything else had been taken care of for her. At that point she had thought maybe the old man had worked for some government organization, but she couldn’t figure out why a man from the government would wear a cloak like that.

Before the man left she had asked him one more question. Jessie had wanted to know, of all the people in world, why had he chosen her to watch Tara if she had been so special? The man’s response had been simply to say that he knew Jessie was right for the job. She didn’t fully understand what he meant, but after that he told her he would be back for Tara on her eighteenth birthday, and then he had walked out her front door and vanished into the night.

The next few weeks after that she would find things in her mail about Tara that never had return addresses, and the postman never remembered seeing them. There was a birth certificate, a social security card, immunization records, everything she needed for Tara. She had tried to learn something about the people listed as Tara’s parents on the birth certificate, but could never find anything, and the doctor who had delivered her had died less than a month after the birthdate listed for Tara. For a while she tried to follow any lead she could, but when everything just kept leading to dead ends she had decided that the best course of action was simply to raise Tara as her own child and wait for the eventual return of the man in black.

And so she had, and she loved Tara just as much as any mother had loved their own child, even more than some. After a few years she learned that the man in black hadn’t been lying about Tara being different. As a child she was always a little stronger, faster, and smarter than the other children. But it was when Tara had hit puberty that the changes had really started to take hold.

During a middle school softball game Tara’s incredible strength had begun to manifest itself. She had hit a home run ball practically into orbit, and no one had ever been able to find where it landed. It was a couple months later when she was going for a run to get ready for cross country season to start that she discovered that she could run faster and longer than she had even imagined possible. She also discovered that she could read faster and retain more than ever before.

Jessie had told Tara everything she knew about her, and they were both anxiously waiting for Tara’s eighteenth birthday, so they could finally learn the truth about her. Jessie couldn’t even begin to understand how Tara felt. Growing up, spending your entire life not knowing anything about who you were or where you came from. But Jessie had done her best to make sure that Tara did know at least one thing about herself. That no matter who her parents ended up being or where she had come from, she was the most important part of Jessie’s life, and Jessie loved her with all her heart.

It was a Friday night, and Tara would normally have been out with her friends, but instead she had decided to stay home with Jessie. Tara’s seventeenth birthday was just over a month away, and they were making plans for what they wanted to do that day. Jessie had offered to throw Tara a party for her and all her friends, but Tara had refused. Tara was fairly popular at school, and had lots of people she called friends. But because she didn’t want anyone to know how different she was she had never really gotten that close to anyone else. Jessie was more than just her parent, she was Tara’s best friend because she was the only person Tara wasn’t afraid to be herself around. And so they had decided that on Tara’s birthday they would go into the city to have dinner at a fancy restaurant that Tara wanted to try and then they would go and see a new movie.

After they had made their plans and were working on making dinner, Jessie decided to bring up something that she had been thinking about the whole time they were looking at their options for Tara’s birthday.

You know, she began as she stirred the sauce for their meal. It’ll only be one more year after your birthday until the man in black returns.

I know, was Tara’s reply as she sat at waited for the water on the stove to boil before she dumped in a pack of noodles. She sighed as the bubbles began to rise to the top of the pot. I wish it was this year. I’m sick of waiting.

I know sweetie, Jessie said as she put her hand on Tara’s shoulder. She knew from the look on Tara’s face that she was feeling down about it, so Jessie tried to cheer her up a bit. I just can’t wait until he comes so he can finally tell us what planet you’re from.

I’m not from another planet, Tara said. Trying to figure out where Tara had come from had always been one of their favorite games, and she was trying not to let a smile break through.

I guess you’re right, you’re definitely not some kind of superhero, Jessie said sarcastically. A real superhero would be able to fly.

Yep, you’re right, replied Tara, finally allowing herself to smile. All I can do is run really fast. I must be from earth.

Well you’re certainly not from around here, I know that much, said Jessie as a loud knock came from the front door. It sounded like someone was trying to take the door off its hinges. Now who is coming out to our house and making all that racket? Tara, it’s probably one of your friends, be a dear and go answer it please?

The water was at a full boil now, so Tara dumped in the noodles before she left the kitchen to walk to the front door. Jessie’s house was way out in the country, so they didn’t get a lot of unexpected visitors, but maybe Jessie was right and it was some of her friends coming out to see her. She was almost there when the wooden door splintered and exploded off its hinges. Tara ducked underneath it as it flew back down the hall. She looked back to the doorway to see a creature ducking through the hole it had made in the front of the house.

The creature was forced to hunch over inside the house, because it had to be at least ten feet tall and was built like something out of a comic book. It was covered from head to toe in black metal plate armor, and the only features she could see of its face were two glowing red eyes and a mouth of long sharp fangs. There was an enormous sword across the thing’s back, but based on the creature’s size it didn’t need the sword to do any damage. Tara found herself preparing to try and fight the monster that stood before her, until she heard the back door explode with the same force and she heard her Aunt Jessie scream.

She started to run back to Aunt Jessie when the huge beast lunged at her. It was too big for the hallway and the plaster and drywall were ripped away as it threw its enormous fist at her. Tara was too fast for the thing and as she dodged its blow she threw one of her own. She hit it right in the middle of its armored chest, which she realized was a mistake as she pulled her hand away. Her hand felt broken, but the beast had apparently at least felt something as it reeled backwards from the force of her blow.

As the creature recovered she prepared to throw another punch when something behind her exploded. She turned to find that what she could see of the house behind her had either been ripped away or left burning. Shock went through Tara as the home she had spent her whole life in was destroyed around her. And then she turned back to the huge creature in time to see one of its massive fists just before it impacted against her abdomen. Tara felt her feet lift off from the floor and the monster’s fist followed her up and drove her into the ceiling. Pain shot through her as her back left its impression in the plaster.

She hit the floor hard, and then felt the creature’s massive hand wrap around her torso and pick her up. She tried to punch it again, but the impact had knocked the strength right out of her. She could smell smoke now, and hoped that Jessie had gotten away to safety, but then the creature slammed her against one of the walls, and then the other. She could taste blood in her mouth, and she tried in vain to fight back one more time. The creature threw her down the hall and her body ripped a trench through the ceiling before she crashed through what remained of the back of the house. She tried to get to her feet, but couldn’t even find the strength to push herself up with her arms. She heard the sound of a sword being drawn, and then a high, shrill voice.

No Brugar, said the voice. The creature’s armor made a sound as it lowered its sword arm. She could see another creature walk past her field of vision. He was at most five feet tall and thin, wearing flowing black robes, and his skin looked gray and dead, but his eyes were the same glowing red as the other creatures. As he walked past her she saw that he was dragging Jessie behind him. We must bring Princess Tara to the master. He wants to kill her before her people, to show that he is the true king of Iliragon.

What of the other? Brugar asked. His voice was deep and gravelly, and as he spoke Tara heard him bend over and pick something up off the ground.

The master gave no instructions about her, responded the first voice, a hint of joy now in its tone.

Excellent, replied Brugar, as Tara heard a sword piercing flesh and the scream of a woman in mortal pain. And then there was a sickening sound as the sword was withdrawn and Aunt Jessie fell down beside her. She heard them approaching her and then they stopped. And there was a sudden stillness in the air, as if the air had ceased moving. The hush was finally broken by a commanding voice, soft yet with undeniable power behind it.

You two are not supposed to be here. Leave now and return to your master.

We are not afraid of you, Harbinger, said the higher of the two voices.

I know that you two fear Rhendahl, came the commanding voice once again. And you know that Rhendahl fears me, at least for now. Unless you want me to show you the true extent of my power, then I suggest you leave now.

There was a long pause where the two assailants seemed the consider his offer, and then she heard them turn and walk away, there was another loud explosion, and then the only sounds were the crackle of flame and Aunt Jessie’s labored breaths.

Tara found the strength to crawl over to Aunt Jessie. Her body was already beginning to recover from the assault it had taken, but she still didn’t have the strength to stand. She didn’t know if the owner of the commanding voice was still around, or if he intended to harm her, but she didn’t have the strength to fight him now anyway. If the creature that had done this to her was afraid of him, then what chance did she have?

She reached Jessie and put her hand where Brugar’s sword had pierced her, but it was no use. The wound was too big and she had lost too much blood. Jessie didn’t have a lot of time left. Tara felt tears well up in her eyes and begin to drip down onto the ground.

I’m sorry Aunt Jessie, I tried to stop them but-

’s okay, Jessie managed to cough out along with some blood. Her hand shook as she raised it to Tara’s face. Her skin felt cold against Tara’s cheek. I-I love you…Tara.

I love you too, Tara replied, and then Jessie’s hand fell to the ground and the life went out of her eyes. The only person that Tara had ever cared about was gone.

In the light created by the fire of her burning home she saw the shadow of a man approaching her. She looked up and wiped the tears from her eyes to see a tall old man in a black cloak walking towards her. He stopped a few feet short of Tara and looked down into her eyes.

I’m sorry for your loss Princess Tara, he said, his voice firm yet kind. I know that you must have a lot of questions for me, but I’m afraid that they’re going to have to wait. I need you to come with me now.

Questions immediately flooded through Tara’s mind. Some of them she had wanted answered almost her whole life, but they were all replaced by one that she had never thought she would have to ask before now.

What were they, and why did they attack me and Jessie? she asked him. The man in black looked at her a bit impatiently, but he gave a response anyway.

Their names are Brugar and Kalit, and they are servants of the Rhendahl. They were sent here tonight to take you back to him, but I cannot allow that. I’ve kept you safe this long, and although Rhendahl’s actions have forced me to implement my plans sooner than I had intended to, I will not sit by and let him have his way. As a result, time is of the essence.

Who is Rhendahl, and why is he after me?

Rhendahl is a dark lord that once tried to destroy Iliragon, the land where you came from. Your parents were the high king and queen there, and they fought Rhendahl in the last Great Iliragonian War, which ended after Rhendahl killed your parents and then disappeared himself. He is evil incarnate, and he is after you because once you are dead there will be no more members of the royal family to stand between him and the total destruction of Iliragon.

Tara was still on her knees looking at the body of the woman who raised her as her own for nearly sixteen years. Ten minutes ago they had both been wishing that the man in black would come sooner so that they could finally learn where Tara had come from. Since she had been a little girl Tara had always had a bit of a temper. When she was little almost anything could set her off. Jessie had helped her learn to control that temper, just as she had helped her to control all of her abilities. But now Jessie was gone, and it was all the fault of this…Rhendahl. She felt her blood begin to boil as she thought about the fact that this was apparently the same monster that had taken her parents from her. Tara looked up at the man in black, and she knew that he could see the fire in her eyes.

So, I’m from this place called Iliragon?

Yes, was his quick reply.

And my parents were the rulers there?

Yes.

And that’s why I have these powers?

Yes. You are Princess Tara, daughter of Joseph and Rebekah, the last high king and queen of Iliragon and heir to their throne. There is powerful magic that runs through your blood, and it gives you extraordinary powers. Some of them you already know, and some you will still have to discover. Now, unless you have more questions I would like to take you to Iliragon now.

Tara did have one last question, When do I fight Rhendahl?

When you’re ready, the man in black replied without hesitation.

I’m ready now, said Tara, as determined as she had ever been about anything.

No you’re not, said the man in black. Tara felt her rage lessen a bit at the remark, because she knew it was true. Brugar had nearly killed her in a matter of seconds, and he was only a servant to Rhendahl. She didn’t really know anything about Rhendahl, but she knew that if she fought him now she would never survive. The man in black must have sensed what she was thinking because he added, When the time does come for you to fight Rhendahl, you’ll be ready.

Then what do we do now? she asked him. Her anger was subsiding, being replaced with a desire to acquire the skills she would need to defeat her enemy.

Now I take you home to Iliragon and get you started on your journey. There is much to be done before you can hope to destroy Rhendahl. Come with me, princess.

And with that the man in black turned and drew the shape of a door in the air, and then pushed against the center. Tara watched as the imaginary door became real and swung open to reveal darkness on the other side.

Tara hardly understood what she had just seen, but the man in black simply stepped aside and gestured for her to go through the doorway. She took one last look at Jessie, and put her hand to the face of the woman who had raised her, had taught her everything she knew, and had protected her and her secret for all these years. Tara leaned over and kissed Jessie’s forehead and said goodbye before she stood.

She looked at the house, which was now fully engulfed in flames. Their closest neighbors were nearly a mile away, but one of them must have seen the smoke and called the fire department because she could hear the sirens approaching. She took one last look down at Jessie, who looked almost peaceful. There was nothing left here for Tara. She had no reason not to go with the man in black.

She left behind everything she knew and stepped though the doorway into the unknown.

Chapter Two

The Crystal Palace

It was dark after Tara stepped through the doorway. She turned around to see that there was now a path behind her that led into darkness instead