Scorched: Kingdoms of Ash, #2

By J.J. Fitch

~The second book of the Kingdoms of Ash Trilogy~

Born of greed and bloodlust, a fire will rage across the Three Kingdoms, until nothing is left but a scorched ruin. 

Lana and Aden are finally together again, but war is brewing in the Three Kingdoms. When assassins brutally kill their entourage and try to capture their dragons, Lana and Aden dive headfirst into war preparations. It’s either kill, or be killed.

But not everything is as it seems. Before time runs out, the sisters must discover who the enemy truly is and what price they’ll pay for their freedom. Life as a young woman is hard. Life with a dragon is even harder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.J. Fitch
• Release date: Apr 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540131812

Book preview

Chapter 1

The wagon rolled over another dip just as Aden was beginning to fall back asleep. She flew a few inches into the air, and splayed her arms and legs in panic, falling back down onto the hay bed in a heap. That was the sixth time in the last hour. She would never get to sleep.

Aden looked at the sleeping bodies on the floor of the wagon. On the far side, Warren slept with his arm wrapped over his face. His little brother, Matty, lay next to him, his head atop Warren’s feet. Aden’s twin sister, Lana, slept next to the gate, her eyes twitching in rapid motion. She turned over and shoved her hands under her pillow. A light smile played on her lips; the swaying motion of the wagon lulling her into a deeper sleep.

Fine, Aden grumbled, as she pushed herself out of bed. Keep sleeping. Don’t worry about me.

She slipped out the back of the wagon, swinging open the gate and hopping down to the ground. Jethro, the First Ranked of the Golden Troops, had provided their sleeping quarters. Sure, it was nice to kick back and ride along, as the troops carried them to the Capital city to join King Oreal. But if Aden had known the wagon would look more like a prison on wheels, she would’ve reconsidered his offer. There was even a lock on the gate, although it was never used.

Aden nodded at the guard watching their wagon. Someone was always there, day or night, watching and waiting. She’d been told it was for their protection, but sometimes it felt like it was more to keep an eye on their movements. Aden couldn’t even find a desert rock to pee behind without some soldier dressed in gold armor peeking around the corner. Pervs.

Come here, Mus, Aden called. She looked up at the sky and whistled. Time to eat.

For a moment, Aden could see nothing but the most severe blue sky, and clouds above her head. It was still early morning, but they’d been on the road for at least four hours. The Golden Troops didn’t sleep long. Five hours of sleep and they were moving again, making great time trekking across the arid desert of the First Kingdom. If they kept this up, they’d be in the Capital city in no time.

A rustling of wings caught Aden’s attention. She spun around and saw a black blur dart across the horizon. It spiraled high into the sky, and dove at breakneck speed towards her head. Aden was about to duck and cover her face, when the blur spread its pair of paper-thin wings, and suddenly stopped at eye level.

She held out her arm. The dragon flapped his wings one more time, and rested his claws on her biceps. He crawled up her arm and curled around her neck, nestling his scaly face in the loose strands of her auburn hair. A curl of smoke wafted from his nostrils.

Only recently had they discovered Mus’ new talent as a reptilian torch. It wasn’t very powerful yet, but he could spit a few orange flames every now and then. Aden wasn’t sure how she felt about the newest development. The dragon’s ability to bond with her and change her into a fearsome warrior already made her nervous. The fact that it could throw flames, only made the ancient tales of Drakon warriors and the destruction they wrought on the Three Kingdoms all the more terrifying.

A second and similar black blur darted through the sky, swooping straight towards the wagon. Aden watched Lana’s dragon, Vir, squirm through the bars, making his way inside. Lana wouldn’t be sleeping for much longer. Her dragon wouldn’t allow it. They were like roosters, always waking everyone up. Except... you could eat roosters.

I’m up, I’m up, Lana called.

Aden’s sister threw open the gate, and stared out into the sunlight with blurry eyes. Vir had nestled into her hair, digging his claws close to her scalp. Lana shook her head, and slowly began to untangle the dragon from her hair.

Is he ever going to let me sleep in? she asked.

Aden shrugged with a smile. I guess not. They hardly seem to sleep anymore. Two hours and they’re good for another twenty-four.

Lana groaned. Gods, I hope he doesn’t expect me to adapt to his schedule. I think I’d die.

Vir snapped his jaw as if he disagreed, and jumped into the air. Mus followed a split second later. They spiraled up in the sky, the orange red sun burning above. It was time to hunt.

Neither dragon had taken to the shriveled up dried meat the soldiers provided. After a rejected and flaming hunk of food nearly caught the wagon on fire for the third time, Jethro had reluctantly agreed to let the dragons hunt for their own food. As if he could stop them.

How are they going to hunt in the Capital? Lana asked, shielding her eyes from the sun. The dragons disappeared in a dive towards the ground, no doubt a desert rat in their sights.

Haven’t you been listening to anything the soldiers said? Aden asked.

Lana shrugged.

They said the Capital city is a mess, Aden continued. It’s a wasteland of human filth. And you know what that means? She didn’t wait for her sister’s reply. That means rodents. Tons of them. Climbing along the rooftops and nesting in the gutters. They’ll be fat and happy, picking off the rats and the mice that live there. Trust me.

Lana giggled, clasping her hands over her mouth. Aden waited for the shaking of her shoulders to subside before raising an eyebrow at her.

I was just thinking, Lana said. It’s a good thing Momma Witt isn’t coming. She nearly dies every time she sees a mouse.

Well, it’s also a good thing for her, Aden replied with a growl, running her fingers over the hilt strapped to her side, because the next time I see her, I’ll run my sword straight through her.

Lana shook her head from side to side but didn’t say anything. The tracks across her back were still healing from the whipping Momma Witt had last given her. But they were nothing compared to the hundreds of thin white scars lining Aden’s back.

Let’s get out of here, Aden said, circling back around the wagon.

Lana followed close behind. When their guard was out of view, they darted off the worn road into a thick cover of spiny desert plants. Holding their breaths, the sisters waited for the inevitable soldier to follow them, and drag them back to the parade. But no one came.

We shouldn’t stray far, Lana said. She listened for the thumping of the soldiers’ feet marching on the hardened mixture of sand and gravel. We don’t want to lose them.

We won’t, Aden said, pulling Lana out of the bush, and stalking further away from the path. I just need a minute to pee without someone watching over my shoulder.

They ventured further into the mess of plants, until the sound of the caravan was almost gone. Aden used her good hand to loosen the tie of her pants, and dropped them to her ankles.

A little privacy, please, she said.

Lana sighed and continued through the bramble until Aden was out of sight. She didn’t resent the Golden Troops like Aden. They had saved them from being stoned by a group of wanderers. If the soldiers hadn’t shown up, Lana and Aden would’ve ended up as chow for desert scavengers, their bones picked clean and scattered across the sands.

If anything, Lana was excited about seeing the Capital for the first time. They’d lived in the First Kingdom all their life, and nowhere in Lana’s memories could she remember stepping foot out of Ridgeback village. Anything was possible in the Capital. And with the dragons by their side, they wouldn’t have to get the typical job of a girl of their status. Lana didn’t want to sell her body for food. She’d rather die.

Beware of King Oreal’s intentions.

A deep voice behind her caused Lana to jump into the nearest bunch of trees. The spines scraped along her arm, and tiny droplets of blood popped up on the surface of her skin. Lana’s eyes unfocused as she stared into the air. Another one of her episodes came swiftly over her, freezing her body in place.

Do not be afraid, the voice continued.

A warm hand clasped Lana’s chin. The stranger watched Lana’s eyes until awareness slowly came back into the darkness of her pupils. She blinked a few times, and licked her lips, her eyes focusing on the stranger’s face.

It’s you, she said, taking a step back.

It was the same dark stranger who’d first found them in Ridgeback, and told them that the eggs they’d found were dragon eggs. He’d insisted the eggs were a gift, and not something to be sold. Lana and Aden eventually learned that lesson the hard way, after Pip Bangor stole the eggs, which forced them to break into his family’s cave and steal them back. Luckily for them, the eggs hatched before they could escape the cave and sell them at the town market.

What do you want from us? she demanded.

The stranger tilted his head and smiled, flashing his brilliant white teeth. I want to protect you.

But why? Lana glanced over his shoulder, praying that Aden would come looking for her. She didn’t trust the dark man and the way he seemed to appear out of nowhere, like magic. Or the way that he looked at her – as if he knew her.

I have my reasons, the stranger said. He pulled his cloak tight around his body and cocked his head, listening to the faint sound of the soldiers in the distance.

They’ve realized you’re missing, he said. The soldiers are looking for you.

She strained her ears, but couldn’t hear anything.

Why are you here? she asked. Lana was tired of veiled messages and people treating her like a child. She was fifteen. Certainly old enough to understand adult problems.

Be careful of King Oreal. He wants your dragons, the stranger continued. And he’ll stop at nothing to have the dragons on his side. Even if that means getting rid of you.

Lana ignored the cold feeling that had settled in her stomach. How do you know?

The stranger smiled again. I have worked closely with King Oreal. I know his ways. Just be careful around him. He has bigger ambitions than a man of his talents should have.

A noise in the bushes behind him caught Lana’s attention. Aden was coming around the nearest spiny bush, kicking up rocks as she shuffled. The stranger pulled his cloak even closer to his body and sprinted away, disappearing in the thick branches.

Where have you been? Aden demanded when she caught sight of Lana. I thought you’d been taken by a jackal. I was about to sound the alarm.

Lana shook her head, closing her lips tight. She didn’t need to add to Aden’s suspicion of the Capital. If she shared the stranger’s warning, Aden might plant her feet and refuse to go any further.

I got lost, she said, shrugging her shoulders.

Aden huffed and shook her head in amazement. Typical Lana. She could get lost in her own backyard.

The far off sound of the soldiers calling their names caused them both to straighten up.

I think they know we left, Lana said with a grimace.

Exchanging a glance, the sisters laughed and ran toward the sound of the voices.

Chapter 2

The Capital loomed ahead of them, shining white amongst the powdery yellow rock and sand that surrounded the city. It sat high on the crest of a hill like a giant nest, defensive walls encircling the exterior in a military fashion. Aden and Lana stared with wide eyes as the setting sun lit the Capital with the last few rays of sunlight.

It’s bigger than I imagined, Lana said. She held up her thumb and placed it in front of her view of the Capital, barely blocking out half of the giant city. I didn’t think a city could be that big.

Imagine how many people live there, Aden said, shaking her head in disbelief. How do they all get enough air to breathe?

The sisters