Love's Consequence: The Dragonspawn Saga, #1

By G. W. Steen

Castles, magic and sorcery abound in this fantasy tale of a young woman, Eryka Danek, as she sets out on a journey in search of her destiny.

She finds herself alone when a strange storm erupts, destroying her village and killing all its inhabitants, including her parents.

The dark lord, Alazais Moorlange, upon hearing in his mind the reciting of a sacred rune ritual, conjures a vision and sees his next conquest.

Summoning his ageless, shape-shifting abilities, the old wizard is transformed into a young mage; his intent, to deceive and capture his newest victim.

Eryka unwittingly falls under the enchanter’s spell, but it is not strong enough to thwart an intervention by a vengeful ghost.

Will Alazais' powers rule, enabling him to keep this innocent? Or will his nemesis, Hendrik Naguum, save Eryka from suffering the same fate as the vile wizard's wife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: G. W. Steen
• Release date: Jul 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386815877

G. W. Steen

Gretchen W. Steen was born in Wilmington, Delaware in 1952. Literally a dragon herself, born in a ‘Year of the Dragon’ according to the Chinese calendar, her interest spread to dragons from all areas of the world. The myths, legends and persona surrounding these creatures led to a deeper fascination with the beast. Along with her love of fiction, fantasy and romance, her dragon-tale came to life. Ms. Steen, a mother and grandmother, and long time resident of Pennsylvania, now lives in Pensacola, Florida. Her writing was delayed but never forgotten during the devastation and traumatic aftermath of Hurricane’s Ivan and Dennis, which targeted Pensacola in 2004 and 2005. After a 5-year pause, the dystopian conspiracy tale, "What If...The Conspiracy Is Real?" is finally finished. A tale to make you think ... "Maybe it could happen."

Book preview

Dedication

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK my family, friends, my proofreaders and editors, who shall all remain nameless; you know who you are and I thank you. And to those who never gave up on me, and through their own ongoing trials, were steadfast and loyal supporters of my work.

Also, to all the unknown authors who still struggle with their own words, don’t give up. Every voice has an ear, no matter the genre. Enjoy the worlds you create, for they are the literal extension of who you are.

This project, begun over a decade ago, is still incomplete. This volume, Book I in the Dragonspawn Saga, introduces you to a world that will unfold in four subsequent tales:

Dragonchild – Book II

Dragamere – Book III

Sands of a Millennium – Book IV

Dragonblood – Book V

From me to you, enjoy the journey!

G.W.S.

dragon end-of-chapter2base.jpg

Chapter I

House of Sahl

O’er-de-Loch, Ēastseaxe

CE 967 Juny 22

{JD 2074426.510417}

dagger image for insertion in place of asterisk within chapters

MORNING MIST SHROUDED the burh of O’er’de’Loch, perched on a broad plateau, high in the snow-covered mountains of Ēastseaxe, above the fertile fields of the valley below.

The autonomous townspeople flourished within and without its fortified walls, providing sustenance for all. Local farmers collaborated with grain merchants while alchemists worked in harmony with herbalists; smithies of gold, silver and copper shared trade secrets, as did the weavers, dyers and tailors in the fashioning of garments.

Known throughout the countryside for his hunting prowess, Rhyon Danek, the last member of the once noble House of Sahl, provided meat from the forest for his fellow villagers as well as those in the valley below, and cured the hides of the elusive, yet plentiful, silver wolf for trade.

Many years had passed, but the memory of escaping the vicious horde that murdered his family and burned his village still haunted him. His parents, wizards and practitioners of the ancient art of alchemy, and powerful rune-readers, had been wrongly accused of sorcery, held responsible for the passing of a sick, yearling child and condemned to death.

To the accusers, their mage bloodline meant nothing, and he escaped their wrath only by pure fortuity. Now, in his new home, for fear of reprisal, the young wizard kept his practiced abilities hidden.

Dressed in his wolf-skin jacket and cowhide leggings, he walked through the village square just past midnight under a quarter moon, his eyes open for animal droppings barely visible in the meager lamp-light.

With his nose closed to the stench of human sewage, thrown from the windows onto the cobbles at all hours, he led his stallion toward the iron gateway. He was off to hunt wolves; always under the cover of darkness and alone. He knew it would again be profitable, due to his well-learned magic; a tool of his craft allowed him to see in the darkness of the forest as if it were daylight.

He stopped outside the village gateway, a wooden structure attached to a stout fence that surrounded the settlement, and nodded to the village’s guards; both of them volunteers from the community watch, and notorious for perpetual drunkenness on or off ‘duty’.

Off ‘untin’ is we, Rhyon?

E’er seen sprites out by t’lake, dancin’ and doin’ ‘mpious tings wi’each uvver?

Rhyon pointed skyward, his face in shadow, grinning as he said, Good night, you two. Try not to fall asleep; I just saw a couple of blood-drinking bats flying around the old well, hoping to keep them on their toes ‘til watch-change.

The pair looked up and around, wide-eyed, mouths agape, with their hands now tight on their spear shafts.

After securing his longbow over his shoulder, Rhyon grabbed the reins, slipped his leather boot into the stirrup and mounted.

He looked back for an instant at the sleep-numbed town, remembering five years earlier when he had arrived. He had been welcomed without hesitation after displaying his wares and stating his profession. In fact, he was well received ... for a stranger.

Of sturdy build and mild temperament, his demeanor caught the fancy of Shioban Brunea, the aged silversmith’s daughter. As desirable a catch as she was, it was thought by many that she had been bewitched by the sprites of the woodland lake. Therefore, the young woman was ignored by most of the townspeople and treated with disdain—except by Rhyon. He had taken notice of her dark, lustrous hair and the dimple that showed itself whenever she smiled at him.

She was also captivated by him, sensing something magical in his aura, and each time their eyes met, love grew in their hearts for one another.

dagger image for insertion in place of asterisk within chapters

SIX FULL MOONS PASSED, and the love-struck companions had learned by then of their joint proficiency in the conjuring of spells and use of powerful magic. These practices, long believed to be evil, would remain their secret after they vowed an everlasting commitment to each other.

Oblivious to the chill in the crisp night air by the river, Rhyon, standing behind Shioban, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He pressed his face to her hair and breathed in her scent.  Trembling as his lips touched her ear, he said the vows he longed to say, Willst thou, Shioban, taketh me for thy husband, till death doth us part? He waited anxiously, wondering if he had been too soon ... or too late.

As he said this, her heart fluttered in answer to his question. She turned in his arms and faced him. Near to tears, all the tenderness she felt for him now evident in her expression, she spoke, Yes, Rhyon, my love, I will, and I shall bring forth the many bairns you set to grow inside me. He wiped a tear from her face and then kissed her hand in acceptance of their union. Slipping his hand around her back, it slowly slid up into her hair and drew her closer, to meet his anxious lips.

Their love blossomed as did their secret magic, and as the weeks and months passed, Shioban’s figure transformed as life grew inside her.

dagger image for insertion in place of asterisk within chapters

TEN MOONS INTO THE epoch of the dragon, on one late autumn evening, a long awaited birth blessed the House of Sahl.

Born in serene silence and after hours of strenuous labor, their beautiful daughter lay cradled in her mother's warm arms.

You shall be called Eryka, the next Lady of Sahlvoiy, Rhyon said, gazing down at his wife and their daughter, no longer bawling defiantly, suckling hard on the nipple. Spirited, just like her mother ... he said, caressing the child's cheek.

Shioban sighed, Yes, and strong-minded, as you are, husband.

He knelt by the bed. You should rest now. See, the babe has filled her belly.

Exhausted, she nodded and closed her eyes, pulling her sleeping daughter closer to her breast.

The attending mid-wife knocked on the doorframe before speaking, The child must be bathed and clothed, sire.

He stood up, eased his daughter out of her mother’s arms and handed the naked infant to the waiting woman who wrapped her in a small blanket and immediately began patting her back, the resulting sound bringing smiles to both their faces.

Pulling the blanket closer around his sleeping wife, he leaned over her, kissed her forehead and pinched the lone candle's flame between his calloused fingertips.

008 dragon end-of-chapter.jpg

Chapter II

Eryka

O’er-de-Loch, Ēastseaxe

CE 984 Oktober 30

{JD 2080766.88889}

dagger image for insertion in place of asterisk within chapters

SHIOBAN AND RHYON REMAINED true to their teachings as the years passed. They had watched Eryka mature, and through many hardships and trials, witnessed her transformation from helpless infant to an enchanting young sorceress. They bestowed upon her all the knowledge, skill and insight of her ancestors, both of this world and the ethereal; yet joint fears remained that their daughter would experience the same yearning as they had felt to seek her own destiny and leave the sanctuary of the only place she ever called home.

The time has passed too swiftly, Rhyon, Shioban said, Have our teachings been sufficient to allow our child the freedom to choose her own path?

Sweet wife, it is not the age of the child that we consider, but her mind, and witnessing her actions these past days have proved her readiness, Rhyon said.

Shioban nodded slowly and walked off to her garden at the rear of their abode, just as Eryka appeared at the doorway.

Papa, is this not my birth day? Eryka asked, You promised a surprise when I turned ... her words trailed off and her features