Pieces (#23) (Dragon's Fire)

By Danielle Kazemi

As the dragons find themselves trapped in the crumbling cavern below, Annabel and Mandy convince knight and dragons alike to come to their aide in rescuing them. This forces both parties to put aside centuries of opposition to accomplish their goal.

Once in, danger awaits them at every turn. The dragons, especially Crispin, are determined to stop Lysander before he puts anyone else in danger. This may come at a heavier price than he imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Danielle Kazemi
• Release date: Nov 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311476913

Danielle Kazemi

Danielle Kazemi is the author of the YA series Dragon's Fire, The Fire Journal, and The Phoenix Token. She's a native from south Louisiana and spends her day balancing between kids and writing.

Book preview

Dragon's Fire

Pieces

Danielle Kazemi

Copyright 2014 Danielle Kazemi

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

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Dragon's Fire

Pieces

Danielle Kazemi

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 1

Annabel Wells struggled to maintain her balance as she pulled one of the large stones trapping the dragons within the cave below her. The rock was wedged in place; dozens of smaller ones pinned it in. There had been a tremendous disturbance earlier and she found herself on the opposite side from where Crispin was. She was outside yet he remained trapped within the sunken cavern where the younger dragons had been moments before. Luckily, the majority of them were safely on this side.

Move that rock to the other side of the pile, she instructed one of the knights helping her and Mandy free those trapped within. She hadn’t thought earlier today she’d be working with knights to free dragons but it happened. There was also the worry they were only helping her to free their friends stuck in there but if they didn’t work together, neither would accomplish their goal.

The knight didn’t talk but simply brought the rock to the position she indicated earlier. He didn’t seem to be focused on anything else except the task at hand.

She admired them slightly for that. They were able to avoid everything else in the world whereas she was trying as hard as possible not to imagine what was happening to Crispin in there. It affected her concentration at times, stumbling over rocks in her path.

Being trapped with knights wasn’t the best thing that could happen to him. They were probably fighting below, trying to make sure the hatchlings – if any remained – were safe.

She hoped there weren’t any hatchlings stuck below. When she was last in, as she hurried out with the few around her, the entire place was being destroyed. Chunks of the ceiling fell upon them and large cracks appeared randomly on the ground. She shuddered thinking about the situation. At least things were better on this side.

Mandy walked to Annabel and asked, How much progress have we made? Her hands were placed on the rock nearby to help balance herself. She still showed signs from where she had been hitting by falling ice earlier upon her skin. There were large rips in her clothes from where the ice stung against her skin. She didn’t appear as strong as she was before.

I think we’re getting a bit closer. Not as much as I would’ve wanted but it’s something, Annabel replied. While they were going fast, it wasn’t as quick as she needed. Every minute the dragons were stuck down there was another they may be attacked by knights in a vicious struggle.

We’re going to get through this quickly. Don’t worry about it. Mandy looked off in the distance at nothing in particular; alone in her thoughts.

Annabel thought about asking the other woman what she was thinking about but if it was something important, she would share it. There was no reason for Annabel to think they were enemies in any capacity. More than once Mandy had proven her worth.

One of the knights walked to where Annabel was and said, We’ve got some kind of clearing. I think one person might be able to squeeze down there but I can’t be entirely sure.

Before the knight finished talking, Annabel already rose from her position and started making her way to the spot he indicated. There was already a large group of people crowding around the area. She pushed her way to the front and peered down the hole.

The knight was right in saying one person might fit in there. She didn’t know who though. It was much smaller than what she hoped.

We need to make it bigger, she said as she took a step back. She dusted her hands against her blue jeans and looked at everyone else. They too were covered in dirt from having spent quite a large amount of time excavating the area.

The knights nodded at her command and proceeded to dig deeper into the ground. A larger rocks were picked up and tossed to the side haphazardly. Smaller ones were pushed deeper into the ground with every step.

Mandy pulled Annabel aside. When they get the hole large enough for someone to actually crawl through it, I want to be the first one.

Annabel looked at the other woman. Her hands were positioned on her hips – she wasn’t in the mood to take no from anyone. Annabel wanted to go down there as well. With the dragons below, they’d need as many friendly people as possible to help. This wasn’t the time to rely on sending in substitutes.

I’ll go with you, Annabel decided finally. There was no use continuing to argue over something she knew the two of them were doing anyway.

Mandy nodded in agreement. She looked at the knights who were hard at work. Her blonde hair blew slightly with the harsh breeze coming through. It was like her – not easily moved by anything.

Annabel sometimes wished she was more like Mandy. She wasn’t worried about anything while all Annabel did was think about all the things that could go wrong while