Suddenly There Were Dragons: Autumn Leaves Burning

By Wanda Lee Stafford

There were refugees everywhere, from the race of man, from the Dwarven race, from the Elven race. Hawks eyes narrowed as his thoughts raced, he had seen so many burnt hamlets towns and cities, now even whole country's had fallen to these foes.

Even though he now had more information about the enemy it did not seem to help, rather he thought just the opposite. Kaelin joined him, using hand signals the Elven prince conveyed certain messages to Hawk, the first thing he told him was that both of the men he had sent to the North and South had returned, at about the same time he had returned from the East. Hawk himself had taken the West.

He shook himself silently, he moved grasping Kaelins arm and hand he flashed back that he was about to leave to rejoin the others at the assigned area, there to meet and compare on what they were seeing, this way all four directions will have been checked.

Smoke drifting their way from the city, was making both of their eyes sting and burn both muffled their coughing as best they could. When he had arrived at this spot he had seen miles of prisoners in chains being marched to the South. Somehow he also understood that the other two men and the prince would all be reporting the same thing.

Devastation burning and looting wherever the foe went, no one seemed able to fight these fell and evil things, again he wondered if the combined might of the Elven nation, the Dwarven nation and the remaining nations of men would be able to stop this unrelenting force, or would this truly be the end of the world as they knew it!

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 19, 2011
• ISBN: 9781462060573

Wanda Lee Stafford

A vigorous woman and mother and grandmother, army veteran and clean nut! Would like to win the beautiful grandmother award! A whirlwind at 5 foot two strawberry blond hair admittedly with a touch of gray with large green eyes and tapered ears. (hence the interest in elves!) Definitely eccentric always with a big heart rescues too many animals for her husband’s agreement. With the suits of armor and dream catchers scattered amongst the walls and pictures of her family and friends, beautiful daggers and swords as well as a lot of angels, it is easy to see that she has many interests. Large collection of different Indian ceramics no matter where one looks there is plenty of caller. There’s always something new to be seen every time you drop in always lots of angels and too many other things to list! Last surviving member of her family although one would swear she still talks to them! With a rather strange and quirky sense of humor, one is always amused at how time goes by because of the fact that she is a very entertaining presence. Looking forward to just enjoying family and friends and of course her husky Smokey bear. Loves to travel and enjoys company.

Book preview

Suddenly there were

dragons

Autumn leaves burning

Wanda Lee Stafford

TITLE.jpg

iUniverse, Inc.

Bloomington

SUDDENLY THERE WERE DRAGONS

Autumn leaves burning

Copyright © 2011 by Wanda Lee Stafford.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-4620-6056-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4620-6057-3 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 10/11/2011

Contents

FOREWARD

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

FOREWARD

WALKING DOWN THE HALL, AFTER having breakfast with her family, Aleathenia could not shake the feeling that something was out of place. It was as if evil surrounded her yet she knew this was not true.

True there had been fell and evil things trying in the past year or so to enter their lands. All of them when captured, killed themselves rather than talk. This disturbed her deeply, any loss of life was abhorrent to any elf. But these fell and evil things would not stop until they were killed.

The Princess walked quickly, there were so many homes or empty as she passed them she remembered the quiet laughter of the children, other signs that she had not noticed at the time, she had always taken these things for granted and had not realized that this was what she was doing.

Even though she was traveling at nearly a run she noticed these things as she raced past home after home. If you were to look back from where she had come you would not see any trace of her passing. And if you did not look closely you would probably not see her either. The cloak she wore blended into her surroundings so well making it more difficult to really catch more than a glimpse of her.

She had trained as a warrior, and with the aid of her teachers, she had become a formidable foe. She had risen through the ranks and at this time was the commander of the second battalion. And she rushed back to the rendezvous point her thoughts wandered, it all seems so surreal she thought.

A few days ago no one could have made her believe that her sprawling city which had stood for several millennia would be up nearly empty, although it was a plan that her Father the King and his advisers had been addressing for over a year now. They had sent small groups with trackers and soldiers to protect them on their way to the capital city of Kaliathenia.

The trackers and soldiers returned spoke to the King and the War Council about what they had encountered both going and coming back. The evil encroached upon their lands encircled them completely now. The last group had left over a month ago yet no one had returned to report and take the next small group out.

Knowing this meant they had not been able to return due to the enemies strength, or they had been ambushed before getting to the capital. Not knowing if they had arrived safely, or if they had been caught by their enemies never reaching safety made her heart ache.

CHAPTER ONE

Listening to the sound of the soothing water running thru the small stream where she sat felt calming, she had bathed her wounds and bound them as best she could, and wondered how many others of her command still lived. They had been scattered like autumn leaves when the attack had come without warning. In the path of the dragons that had suddenly attacked them without mercy killing with a speed even the elves could not match. She had known then that all of the rumors were true and that they all should have listened and maybe her homeland would not now be a waste land filled with the dead and dying and lying in ruins.

Now it was too late the dragon fear had scattered her best soldiers and cavalry even the Elven Home Guard had disappeared, she did not even know if any of her kin still lived. And if the histories were correct they were the eldest of all the races on the planet. Suddenly she heard a noise coming in her direction, she quickly and quietly leapt to her feet, taking cover behind a large elm listening intently and looking with her night vision for Elvin kind could see the heat signature of people or animals even on the darkest of nights.

The sounds were muted and definitely coming in her direction. She could now make out the heat signature of many, and quickly realized who and what she was seeing. The survivors she was praying for, Trevalin of the Home Guard was in the lead with several hundred warriors of his command that had been able to fight clear of the destruction and death of her homeland, she stepped out from her concealment upon seeing who it was, they were guarding she went into her Father and Mothers arms.

Anderanian her Father murmured, hush darling we are alright, turning he handed her over to Queen Theanialia her Mother held her daughter whispering words of comfort, Aleia finally getting herself under control, asked her Mother if she had seen her Brother’s Anderanian, and Kalentheranian.

Sadly her Mother shook her head, saying that each had, of course been in charge of different commands in other parts of the city, but she did not feel as if she had lost any of her children, and fiercely she told Aleia she would have felt it if they had fallen in the battle, looking deep into her Mother’s eyes, Aleia, felt this was true or at least her Mother believed it to be true. And that was good enough to allay her fears for her brother’s safety.

Still so many had fallen, for she had seen them fall to the foul and treacherous attack. But the spark of anger was helping to replace her fear and loss. She lowered her head for a moment of prayer for their people, that they find peace and joy in the blessed isle, haven of all the souls of the Elvin people.

Suddenly raising her head she began to take stock of what was left of their people as more and more had begun to gather. Clothing in disarray scorched, bloodied and torn in a quite a few cases, and dirty, something you would normally never see, always a peaceful nation, their line of clothing were always the very first to run out at fete’s, on peddler’s wagons and in all the stories the Elvin products flew to their customers hands as if they had picked who would own them.

Waiting to see what would happen next. Slowly she looked around her, realizing that first they had to regroup, and take stock of their losses. And look for a defensible place for she was uncertain if there would be another attack. Since the entire city had fallen and the refugees were here in this glade, now would be a good time to start. She saw Trevalin, Quavelin and Thonheslin in conference with her father, Quavelin, captain of the royal honor guard. Turning to her mother the queen, she said she would start, to put the survivors in some semblance of order. Also to organize and stock what had been managed to be saved from the city as it had fallen.

Just as she finished her sentence she noticed that Hawk, had materialized and was in the circle around her Father the King and the others. She continued forward until, by the same sense that had been keeping him alive. Hawk turned and saw her approaching, following Hawks gaze, Anderanian placed his hand upon Hawks shoulder and nodding in his daughter’s direction, told him, go to her, she has much need of comfort my friend.

Hawk turned to the King, looking into his eyes he nodded his thanks and began to stride in the direction that Aleia was taking to join the war council, suddenly Aleia found herself standing in front of Hawk the silver of his ring glinted from his hand which was still wrapped around the hilt of his sword he was begrimed and torn, bloodied and sweaty, but he was alive and that was all that mattered to her at the moment. She saw her star jewel shine from around his neck, seeming to light his face above the jewel, steel gray eyes met hers, and then she was in his arms, and he was whispering to her, for now she was shaking and crying a reaction from the horror of the night that they had somehow managed to live through.

Aleia, Hawk’s pet name for her, I’m sorry, we tried to reach the city in time to warn you of what was coming but we were attacked and overwhelmed, she reached up and placing her hand against his lips saying hush, I know beloved for do you not wear my heart and soul about thy neck?

With a quick look around them, Hawk pulled Aleia further into the shadows of the trees, Aleia I must return