Bronze Dragon: Riders of Fire - Prequel Novelette

By Eileen Mueller

A life-changing hunting trip. Terrifying beasts in the forest. A dangerous hunt for a missing sister and mother. And a mysterious bronze dragon.

When Hans goes on a hunting trip with Pa and his brother Guin, everything goes wrong. They accidentally kill a terrifying armored beast in the forest, and then find a dead dragon rider. But that’s only the beginning. What Hans discovers when he returns home to his village, rips his life apart.
Hans and Guin must hunt down the dangerous beasts to recover their family.
They soon run out of options. There’s only one hope left. A hope that will save his family and give him a new destiny. Dare Hans dream of the impossible? And what must he sacrifice to save his kin?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eileen Mueller
• Release date: Dec 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463163153

Eileen Mueller

Eileen Mueller is a double SJV award-winning author of heart-pounding fantasy novels that will keep you turning the page. Dive into her worlds, full of magic, love, adventure and dragons! Eileen lives in New Zealand, in a cave, with four dragonets and a shape shifter, writing for young adults, children and everyone who loves adventure.Visit her website at www.EileenMuellerAuthor.com for Eileen’s FREE books, new releases or to become a Rider of Fire!

Book preview

Bronze Dragon

Riders of Fire – A Prequel Novelette

Eileen Mueller

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Bronze Dragon and the Riders of Fire series are works of fiction. All characters, events and locations in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to persons or dragons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No dragons were harmed in the making of this book, although there may have been a few injuries to tharuks.

This book is copyright. No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying, recording or by any information retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for short excerpts for reviews, in fair use, as permitted under the Copyright Act. Dragons’ Realm, the Riders of Fire world, and its characters are copyright.

Bronze Dragon, Riders of Fire © 2018 Eileen Mueller

Typesetting © Phantom Feather Press, 2018, American English

Cover Art © Eileen Mueller, 2018

Dragons’ Realm Map by Ava Fairhall © Eileen Mueller, 2018

Phantom Feather Press Logo by Geoff Popham, © Phantom Feather Press, 2014

Phantom Feather Press

29 Laura Ave, Brooklyn, Wellington 6021, New Zealand

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www.phantomfeatherpress.wordpress.com

Magic, every time you turn the page.

Dedication

For Kurt, who loves dreams.

Mine would be nothing without you.

Contents

Map of Dragon’s Realm

Prologue

The Hunt

Homecoming

Survivors

Tharuks

Dragon Mage

Home Again

Plans

Handel

More Riders of Fire Adventures

Silver Dragon – A Free Story

Ezaara – Riders of Fire, Book 1

Dragon Hero – Riders of Fire, Book 2

Dragon Rift – Riders of Fire, Book 3

Eileen’s Adventures for Younger Readers

Dragons’ Realm – A You Say Which Way Adventure

Attack on Dragons’ Realm

Dragon Tales

Acknowledgments

About Eileen

Become a Rider of Fire

Map of Dragons’ Realm

Prologue

Handel kicked off the ledge and beat his bronze wings, gliding over Dragons’ Hold. Idelian shifted in the saddle as Handel caught a thermal, spiraling up on the warm current. Flashes of color winked over the forest and fields as dragons and riders harvested crops. Handel zipped along the ridge of Dragon’s Teeth, the vicious peaks that formed a natural defense around Dragons’ Hold.

Idelian’s weight shifted in the saddle as she leaned forward, anticipating his dive to the basin below. A shame we can’t ride thermals all day, she mind-melded.

Handel snorted. A shame indeed. But our riders must eat this winter—unless you want to share my food? He sent her an image of him killing a buck and feasting on it.

She burst out laughing. Maybe I should sprout wings too, and grow horns so we don’t have to harvest. Actually, a fine buck wouldn’t be too bad, if you roasted it for me.

As long as you like it crispy… Handel shot out a gust of flame.

You mean burned—I think I’ll pass.

I can’t help that I’m a terrible cook. Furling his wings, Handel flicked his tail up and dived.

Idelian’s thrill at their breakneck speed rushed through him.

He pulled up short of the forest, skimmed the foliage, then ascended again. This was the life—being one with his rider and enjoying the moment. There’d be time enough to work, soon. He’d just take a few more moments to—

Snarling creatures flashed through his mind. They shook their tusks and raked their claws in the air, their piggy snouts drooling.

A dark smothering blackness crept through Handel, making his scales prickle. His visions of these strange beasts had started last night. It wasn’t their ugliness that disturbed him—not everyone could have the grace and majestic beauty of dragons—it was the malice radiating from these creatures and a sense of doom. He hid his thoughts from his rider, but, as usual, Idelian picked up on his new mood.

A song for your thoughts, she mind-melded, shifting in the saddle to pat his shoulder. Mind you, I won’t sing a funeral dirge today, even though it may suit your mood.

No one’s singing any dirges, Handel responded, rising on another thermal. I’m just thinking.

She laughed.

Sometimes it was a blessing that she didn’t share his gift of prophecy. His thoughts were as dark as the smoke from a funeral pyre.

She rubbed a dry spot on his scales, scratching an itch Handel hadn’t realized he had. So, where to, today? she asked, shooting a mental image of the lake and them toasting fish over dragon flame.

Unfair. You’re tempting me. Handel shot her back a picture of him sunning himself on the shore.

A shame we have so much work to do. She sighed. If we’re quick, we may have time after. Do you want to go to the orchard or the fields first?

Wings streamlined against his body, Handel headed down to the orchard. The fruit trees were small blobs with people plucking fruit, like busy beetles, below them. As they flew down, the sweet scent of ripening plums and peaches assailed him.

Even better, she mind-melded. Toasted fish, with peaches for dessert! I’m sure they won’t notice if we borrow a few.

Borrow? Handel slowed his descent and circled over the orchard before back-winging and settling on the grass.

Within moments, workers were tipping plums into one of his saddlebags and peaches into the other. When they were full, Handel grabbed the long handles of a basket in his talons and they headed for the cavern in the mountainside that led to the storage cavern below the kitchen.

Liesar was there, silver scales flashing as she released a basket of apples from her talons into the arms of two waiting lads. The boys struggled to carry them, a handle apiece, down to the storage area. Working hard, there, Bronzie, she said, heading back into the sun, her rider hunched low in the saddle.

I saw you sunning yourself earlier, too. Not a bad day to stretch our wings, he replied. A youngster stepped up to retrieve the basket. He landed so more workers could unload his saddlebags into waiting wheelbarrows.

Easy, boys, called Benji, head of kitchens and stores, as boys with full barrows raced down the tunnel. "Thank