Ice Dragons, An Archer Adventure, Book 9

By Katharine Giles

Trouble is brewing in the Kingdom of Palori after a dragon horde makes its lair in a nearby glacier. Before the dragons attack the city, a terrified Chion takes his loyal followers to a hideaway and leaves those in the city to fend for themselves.
King Ichos sends Archer and Aradia to Palori to protect his grandson and remove the dragons from the city.

Chion doesn't doesn't want their help until his mother convinces him to let Archer protect the kingdom. Because there are too many dragons for his guard, Chion relents but keeps Pazia and Aradia under armed guard while he sends Archer to the city with an escort to attempt the impossible. But while Archer is protecting his kingdom, Chion's life hangs in the balance after a dragon scout finds his hideout. Can Archer and Aradia save Chion before the dragon horde arrives?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Katharine Giles
• Release date: Apr 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463760871

Katharine Giles

Her many adventures gave Katharine an advantage when she wrote The Archer Adventure Series. Born in Wyoming, her family moved to the West Coast so early in her life that she barely remembered days on the dude ranch where her grandfather worked as foreman and her cowboy father sang Western songs to the dudes around evening campfires.Katharine's parents loved to travel America's highways and always explored side roads when an interesting sign coaxed them off the Interstate. This is how she discovered getting lost could be an adventure. She learned to fly and toured the Western states with her pilot husband to attend small airport Fly-Ins that hosted everything from Barbecues to Pancake Breakfasts.She's been salmon fishing over the Columbia River Bar in Oregon, deep sea fishing at San Pedro, California, and Mazatlan, Mexico. She's traveled East to West across Mexico on the famous Copper Canyon train, visited the dolphins in Topolobampo Bay and toured Santa Catalina Island (the Channel Islands West of Los Angeles) by boat, seaplane and twin-engine plane that landed at the airport in the sky.She later took scuba lessons and became a PADI Certified Diver. A passion for cooking prompted her to write three cookbooks and compete in a Pace Picante Sauce cooking contest where she won $1,000 First Place prize with a creative soup recipe. After obtaining a Diamond Certificate from The Gemological Institute of America and completing their Colored Stone Course, she became a silver smith so she could design and create custom jewelry for family and friends. Along the way, Katharine added roller skating, bowling, sailing, ballroom dancing, and competition shooting to her list of interests.A few memorable adventures as a solo long-haul driver across America include picking up a load of Christmas trees on a mountain top, dropping a load of tires in a cow pasture where the cattle surrounded her truck before she made it through the gate because they were expecting a hay delivery, and frantically searching for a police escort when she got her big truck lost in the middle of New York City. Getting lost in the big city turned out to be more traumatic than the time she drove her 18-wheeler, with its 53-foot trailer, to the end of a dead-end road.Katharine's many travels by air, land and sea took her down America's Interstates from Victoria, B.C., to Key West, Florida, and from Montreal, Canada, to Tijuana, Mexico, and she's visited every state except Alaska. While she continues her passion for writing, she enjoys painting acrylics on canvas and daily walks with her dog, Jasper.

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ICE DRAGONS

An Archer Adventure

Book IX

Katharine Giles

Copyright © 2018 by Katharine Giles.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written permission of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

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

The publisher has no control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Cover Design: ©2018 Katharine Giles

Cover Image: ©2018 Shutterstock, #704565706

Distributed by Smashwords

Ebook formatting by www.ebooklaunch.com

Visit the author website: http://www.thearcheradventures.com

Digitally created in the United States of America

Version: SL20180413

For Gretchen

Table of Contents

Glossary & Phonic Pronunciation Guide

Chapter One: Tragedy in Balycon

Chapter Two: Pacion’s Fate

Chapter Three: Dragon Horde

Chapter Four: Tyrant King

Chapter Five: Dragon Attack

Chapter Six: Palace of Tears

Chapter Seven: Saving Palori

Chapter Eight: The Gold Spaceship

Chapter Nine: Deadly Sanctuary

Chapter Ten: The Great Blue Dragon

Preview Book X: Silk Ghosts

An Archer Adventure

More Books by this Author

About the Author

GLOSSARY AND PHONIC PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Akro (Ack-roh): Frozen Planet in Water’s Galaxy

Amethina (Am-eth-ee-nuh): Archer’s Birth Mother

Aradia (Uh-ray-dee-uh): Archer’s Teacher & Guardian

Archer (Ar-chur): Son of King Ichos & Amethina

Arctran (Arc-tran): Son of King Ichos

Baccio (Botch-ee-oh): Crystal Master of Lemandia

Balycon (B-owl-ee-kawn): Archer’s Home in Tropical Earth Sea

Carpidor (Carp-id-or): King Ichos’ Great Blue Dragon

Chion (Ch-eye-awn): Ruler of Palori, Son of Arctran

Damani (Duh-mawn-ee): Crystal Master of Skye

Darcion (Dar-see-own): Keeper of the Crystal Ball, Palori

Equinos (Ek-ee-nohs): Keeper of the Crystal Trident, Balycon

Ichos (Eye-kohs): Ruler of Water, Archer’s Father

Ixtar (Ix-tar): Ice Dragon of the Frozen Sea

Japhron (Japh-rawn): Crystal Master of Balycon

Kelos (Key-los): Lita’s Ichonaut Servant

Koda (Code-aw): Carpin Steed on Water

Lita (Lee-tuh): Chion’s Mother

Marcoli (Mar-coal-ee):Crystal Master of Water

Pacion (Pass-ee-own): Keeper of the Crystal Ball, Balycon

Palori (Pal-or-ee): Kingdom in Frozen Sea

Pazia (Paws-ee-uh): Balycon’s Teacher

Ricon (Rye-kawn):Captain of Palori’s Sea Guard

Zirco (Zer-koh): Archer’s Grandfather, Ruler of Skye

A call for aid

Meant more afraid

Of the tyrant of the sea.

But the crystal chose

To disclose

A different tragedy.

When one so fair,

With jet black hair,

Was kidnapped in the night.

To protect those who lived

In the frozen sea

From a horrific sight.

And then I saw the fatal flaw

In the crystal

Of the past.

'Twas then I knew

The false from true

And brought Palori

Home at last.

…Archer

Archer’s adventures recorded by Korina, Story Teller of Skye.

Chapter One

Tragedy in Balycon

A forest of blue coral rose from the seafloor through the white kelp and, like trees in a frozen meadow, proudly wore the white garlands on their spindly branches. Only a moment ago, Archer had been staring at Akro's peaceful sea in Water’s crystal ball and the next moment he found himself entangled in the garden’s monstrous leaves. While he worked at untangling himself, he barely noticed the school of purple fish darting through the leaves like frolicking butterflies.

Archer hated to be closed him in and he nearly panicked when the kelp grabbed his ankles and wound around his body like a shroud. That’s why he stayed clear of all kelp if there was an easy way around it. While the thin, narrow leaves embraced him, he looked up when Aradia’s red swimsuit reflected off the leaves. She disappeared from view while he struggled to get free of the suffocating cage.

Archer freed his left leg and right arm and called, Aradia, where are you? These leaves are so thick, I can’t see you.

Close by, she replied.

If you were close, I could see you.

Archer pushed the clinging leaves off his face and found a pink reflection on the leaves in front of him. The reflection of Aradia’s red swimsuit on the garden’s white foliage confirmed her words. Before he could join her, he glanced up and found her smiling at him.

Why did Marcoli put us in this mess? he asked. And why didn't someone tell me what to expect?

I should have warned you that Marcoli planned to send us into the garden to give us cover, she told him.

Why do we need cover?

Before Aradia answered his question, a motion in the corner of Archer’s eye made him lurch to the right. Terrified he was being attacked, he spun in the water and stopped abruptly at the sight of a purple fish peering at him through a break in the leaves. Archer closed his eyes and tried to calm his pounding heart.

Are you okay? Aradia asked.

This is more than cover, Archer replied. It's a jungle. I thought Marcoli sent us to Akro to see the sights. How are we supposed to see anything from here?

I'll give you a tour of Akro’s gardens after I know the open water is safe, Aradia replied. Before I can do that, we have to stay where we are.

Why can’t we go now?

Aradia smiled and told him, I should have told you earlier but wanted to surprise you. Your father sent us here to see Carpidor, his favorite dragon.

That doesn’t explain why Marcoli put us in this jungle, Archer remarked. Are we hiding from someone?

Aradia flashed Archer a smile and told him, We’re hiding. But that someone you’re worried about isn’t a who. It’s a what.

Before Archer could ask Aradia to explain her reply, she pushed the leaves aside and cleared a path through the foliage. She motioned Archer to follow and disappeared behind the leaves before he had time to react to her invitation.

Wait for me, Archer called and pulled free from the leaves wrapped around his ankles.

Archer easily stayed close to Aradia because he followed the the pink leaves created by reflections from her swimwear. As long as he didn't lose those pink leaves, he didn’t panic. He swam as fast as he could without catching her but when he did find her, she waited in the middle of a small clearing.

If we can’t leave the garden, why are you in a hurry? Archer asked.

Marcoli sent us to this area and suggested we stay here and be quiet while he searches the sea, she told him.

Why?

You’ve been so concerned about your discomfort, you forgot to listen to the sea around you, she replied. I asked Marcoli to check it out and he told me that Carpidor is swimming this way.

How come I miss everything?

Listen to the sounds in the water and look at the current at the top of the garden, she replied.

I am listening and I don’t hear anything, Archer told her.

Aradia shook her head in frustration, placed a finger against her lips and told him, Your next lesson will be about how to listen and how to recognize what you hear. Please be quiet. Carpidor is nearly here.

Are you sure it’s Carpidor rather than a wild dragon?

Because Marcoli placed us near Carpidor’s lair, it’s probably your father’s dragon. Listen closely and you’ll hear him.

The suspense was more than Archer could stand and, eager to see what Aradia described, he reached out and grabbed the leave to push them aside.

Don't do that, Aradia scolded.

But I tried to listen and I don’t hear anything.

Be still and pay attention to your surroundings, Aradia suggested. Have you forgotten you once told me you wanted to see your father’s childhood pet. Akro is Carpidor’s home and we’ve come to see that famous dragon.

Before Archer could reply, the hair on the back of his neck began to rise and his muscles tensed. While his body responded to a hidden danger, he glanced at Aradia. He couldn’t see or hear anything beyond the garden but his body’s response to something approaching their hiding place made him heed Aradia’s warning. A small opening in the leaves let him peek at Akro’s empty sea where he found nothing but an undersea glacier a mile or so away. Although he could scan the sea around the garden, he didn’t find anything to explain his fear.

Aradia warning convinced Archer to release the leaves and duck behind them a moment before the formerly calm water became a raging torrent and swept across the garden like a speedboat had passed overhead. The turbulence parted the leaves, gave him an unobstructed view of the surrounding sea and Aradia swam close to put her hand on his arm. When she didn’t speak, Archer glanced at her but she was scanning the sea and he didn’t ask why she’d moved close. She pointed into the sea and he followed her gaze.

Look, she told him. Your father’s dragon is coming to meet us.

Archer’s eyes widened and he muttered beneath his breath, Thank you, Marcoli.

Be quiet and be still, Aradia told him.

With eyes full of awe and disbelief, Archer told her, I am still. I can't believe that dragon’s real. It doesn't look anythng like the dragons on Water.

Carpidor is special, Aradia replied. That’s why your father sent us here.

Archer stared at the dragon swimming toward them and told her, Carpidor is more than special. How can a dragon grow that large? He’s not only big, he’s blue!

The dragon that appproached appeared to be headed toward a the cave yawning at the base of the distant glacier. He swam at a leisurely pace and turned his head from side to side to scan the sea around him. Akro’s sun reflected off his pink eyes and the reflections skipped through the water like wayward fish. While Carpidor’s tail propelled him to his destination, his webbed feet worked like rudders to guide him. Blue armored scales, tipped with gold, covered his massive body and silver claws glistened in Akro’s light. Though Carpidor would pass Archer and Aradia within a hundred yards or so, the wave he generated shoved the leaves aside and left Archer and Aradia hanging in open water.

Don’t move! Aradia instructed. He won’t see us if you don’t move!

Archer froze when Carpidor turned his head and stared at them. Prepared to leave in a hurry, Archer and Aradia waited to see what the dragon might do in the event he happened to be hungry. They exhaled together when Carpidor showed no interest in his uninvited visitors and continued toward his lair.

He’s larger than a whale! Archer remarked. And scary looking too.

Carpidor is the largest dragon in your father's realm, Aradia replied. Your mother told me that he’s lived on Akro for centuries. I've heard wonderful stories about how your father tamed him.

Where did Father find a dragon that large? Archer asked.

Your grandfather gave him a blue dragon egg when he was a child. Your father loved that blue egg and nurtured it until it hatched.

But where did it come from?

No one knows where your grandfather found it.

How did Carpidor get here?

Your father kept him on Water until he grew so large that his size threatened his dragon collection. Although Carpidor has lived on Akro for centuries, he’s never forgotten your father. Your mother told me that your father often visits Akro to swim with him.

I bet that’s a sight, Archer responded.

As if telling them goodbye, Carpidor turned his head and stared at them. Archer and Aradia held their breath until he continued on his way.After the great blue dragon disappeared inside the distant cave, Aradia released Archer’s arm.

Now that he’s gone, I can take you to visit one of your father's favorite places, she told him.

Aradia motioned Archer to follow, turned and led him to the other side of the kelp garden. His mind on his father’s great blue dragon, Archer barely noticed that he stayed close to the pink leaves so he wouldn’t lose her. Because he wore a tank top and trunks made from white metallic fabric, he doubted Aradia could find him in this garden if she looked for him. By the time Ardia left the garden and entered the open sea, he was directly behind her.

I thought I might lose you, she told him when he joined her to swim at her side.

There was no chance of that, he replied. After seeing Carpidor, I didn’t want to be alone in a garden that grabs me every chance it gets. Are you planning to take me through the open sea? What if Carpidor comes back?

Aradia pointed through the water at the base of a nearby mountain.

Carpidor is in his den on the other side of the white kelp and we’ve nearly reached our destination,she replied. She pointed at a distant glacier and asked, Do you see that cave?

That cave is so large it would be difficult to miss, Archer told her.

The gaping hole in the glacier glowed blue and, terrified that Carpidor might come after them, Archer swam at Aradia’s side across the open sea. She stopped at the cavern entry, met Archer’s eyes and flashed him a smile. Her wave invited him to follow, but before he could return her wave, she entered the cave and disappeared. By the time he swam through the opening, Aradia had crossed the cave and waited at the entrance to a narrow tunnel.

Instead of joining her, Archer stopped and scanned his surroundings. Akro's sun pierced the overhead ice and the cavern walls reflected images of the purple blossoms on the cavern floor. A forest of white coral stood against one wall and the lacy branches rose through the plants and dressed the coral in purple flowers. Akro's fish darted through a collection of sculptures of various species of sea life that magically transformed the cave into an unusual aquarium. After Archer finished inspecting the garden, he glanced at Aradia and found her watching him.

Did Father tell you to show me this garden? he asked.

He sent us to see Carpidor, Aradia replied. I wanted you to see this garden. There’s another garden nearby that your mother asked me to show you because it’s one of her favorite places.

Who did the sculptures? Archer asked.