Shadows of Illyria: Draken Slayer

By JM VanZuiden

Draken Slayer is a dark fantasy fiction short story, part of the Shadows of Illyria: Tales from the Realm Series. Written by author JM VanZuiden, the Shadows of Illyria Series is a unique twist on fantasy fiction, incorporating his real-world combat experience into the characters and events of an epic fantasy world. Draken Slayer is told a flashback suffered by the main character of the Shadows of Illyria series of novels, Aldric. In his nightmare, he relives his a life-changing event from the past where his unit was tasked hunting a pack of dangerous Draken (dragons), and experience the inglorious thrill and devastation of real combat, and the loss that comes with it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JM VanZuiden
• Release date: Apr 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370052745

JM VanZuiden

JM VanZuiden was born and raised in northern Illinois in a small town on the Mississippi River. After two years attending a local community college, JM joined the US Army at age 21. After being stationed at Fort Hood, Texas for three years, he was deployed with the US Army’s 1st Cavalry Division to Iraq in 2004 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. His experiences as a combat soldier have greatly impacted not only his writing style, but his world view.JM now resides in Springfield Illinois with his amazing wife of seventeen years and four children. He now works as a Veterans Service Officer, helping his fellow Veterans, and enjoys expressing himself through his writings, primarily horror and fantasy short stories.

Book preview

Shadows of Illyria: Draken Slayer

Copyright 2017-2018 JM VanZuiden

Published by Aarden Press at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be sold and is strictly for your enjoyment. Please, share with your friends and family, and consider buying the full-length novel this short story is taken from: www.illyriabook.com

Shadows of Illyria: Draken Slayer

Corporal Herboren, you are on point.

Aye, Lieutenant, you respond.

Scanning the surroundings, you find only warm sun-shine illuminating emerald blades of grass dotted by a rainbow of spring flowers. Wrapped under this blanket, small hills and valleys are dotted with bush-es and a healthy variety of trees, creating an idyllic scenery. Furthermore, an invigorating bouquet of aromas fills your nostrils with the sweet smells of spring all the while being serenaded by birds singing cheery songs as they flitter about.

You are in the northwest corner of the Empire, near a