The Essence of Thyme: Dragonscale Diversions, #1

By Freya Pickard

Sleeping Beauty with a twist!

 

"I love Dracogmagan's character. She's great: irreverent, mouthy and full of attitude." DoctorWolf

 

For once, Parsley's in the limelight as she and Dracomagan set out to rescue the son of Lord Thyme.

 

But many things stand in Parsley's way; an impenetrable forest, a silent castle and a strange green orb...

 

If Parsley and Dracomagan can't reach Lord Thyme's son soon, he may die or worse, become enslaved to an evil sorceress!

 

This is a humourous take on a well-loved fairy tale with role reversals on every page!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Freya Pickard
• Release date: Jun 12, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533713445

Freya Pickard

Pushcart Prize nominee, Freya Pickard, is the quirky, unusual author of The Kaerling series, an epic fantasy set in the strange and wonderful world of Nirunen. A cancer survivor, she writes mainly dark fantasy tales and creates expressive poetry in order to leach the darkness from her soul. Her aim in life is to enchant, entertain and engage with readers through her writing. She finds her inspiration in the ocean, the moors, beautifully written books and vinyl music (particularly heavy metal and rock). She enjoys Hatha Yoga, Bhangra and Yogalates and in her spare time creates water colours and pastel drawings of the worlds in her head.

Book preview

The Essence of Thyme

Freya Pickard

FIRST PUBLISHED 2016.

Copyright © by Freya Pickard 2016

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission of the publishers.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form whether printed or electronic other than that in which it is published.

Any resemblance to real people, whether living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cover design © Freya Pickard

Cover illustration used with kind permission from Pexels.

in memory of Penny

Chapter One

BEHIND THEM THE FROZEN river remained silent. A chill wind scattered loose flakes, filling up the hollows of their footprints. Before them white-furred twigs gleamed in weak sunlight.

Dracomagan shivered, loosening her weapon in its scabbard. I don't like it, she announced, the air reeks of enchantment.

Parsley hugged herself, feeling the frigid air penetrate her fur-lined hat. I have been chosen, she said. I must find a way.

Dracomagan looked sceptical and stared again at the barrier before them. A tangle of tree and frost, gleaming blue-green, stood motionless. Thorny briar held hazel sapling with brown frosted chains. Beyond them, fallen