Daughter of Dragons: Daughter of Havenglade, #4

By H.C. Harrington

NO TURNING BACK

A legendary dragon, a sorceress queen who plays by her own rules, and a blood feud spanning generations.

Havenglade's borders have been breached, and foreign enemies march for Gradur Castle. The sorceress queen Loli will stop at nothing to destroy Havenglade, unifying a realm torn apart for millennia.

The young enchantress Laurena is on a secret quest. One that could turn the tides of battle, but when her magic inexplicably vanishes, she'll have to prove to the realm and to herself that there's more to her than meets the eye.

The survival of the kingdom is at stake.

The final chapter in H.C. Harrington's Amazon Best-Selling Daughter of Havenglade seri

• Language: English
• Publisher: Havenglade Press
• Release date: Jul 24, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463564103

H.C. Harrington

H.C. Harrington is an American novelist, teacher, and lifetime learner. From Orange County, Ca. he studied Anthropology and History receiving his degree from the University of Nevada. He is the author of the Amazon #1 Best-Selling Daughter of Havenglade Fantasy Series, as well as the Fantasy Murder-Mystery The Inquisitor.After setting aside archaeological digs in the Sierra Nevadas, H.C. moved to Chengdu, China to study Mandarin Chinese. During his writing journey, he has lived and traveled to more than a dozen countries.His hobbies include traveling, playing boardgames, creating constructed languages, backpacking, and reading.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Two hundred summers ago

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The waves of the great Southern Sea crashed against unseen rocks far below. Queen Loli stared from atop a familiar cliff she’d stood on once before, in a time long ago. The sapphire sky melded with the endless ocean, forming a distant horizon. Far beyond, in a land lost to her forever, lay the homeland of her ancestors.

Her enemies, perhaps long dead, haunted her memories like a bitter winter without end.

She raised her right hand and ran the fingers of her left over its soft smooth surface. Neither wrinkle, sun spot, nor scar lay claim to her fair skin—white as the fabled tower of Ivorixia in the elven kingdom of Valuk.

Beauty came at a price, but not for Queen Loli.

Your Grace, what is your bidding? a raspy voice called out from behind her, shattering the solemnity of the moment.

She took a last look out at the ocean. The sun’s light flashed off the waves as they crested and fell, reflecting back at her from afar. Turning slowly, she cast aside thoughts of her former life to prepare for the final conflict. A major victory was at hand. With her back to the sea, she faced a legion of dedicated warriors.

Her warriors.

Scraped from the bowels of the harsh Kastig Badlands, they now possessed a single-minded ambition to kill and to obey.

One after another, the warlords had bowed down before her or suffered a painful end in front of their people. As her victories had multiplied, stories spread far and wide of a beautiful but evil sorceress.

She’d win your heart or take your soul. That’s what they said.

They were right.

Some came to follow her.

The Frigur had come to her. Barbarians who slew their enemies while riding on the backs of tikuts—single-horned, leathery-skinned beasts that shook the ground like a great quake provoked by the Maker as they charged into battle.

The Frigur warlord Agir had lain down his great battle axe before Queen Loli, in front of the gates of Xanith Castle as slaves continued to build its tower walls behind them. Agir had worn the furs of his clan, which he’d donned countless times as he rode into raids across the badlands. The bloodstains caked across his furs reminded Queen Loli of what life was like in the badlands.

She had given him the order to bow and bow he had.

They all bowed . . . or died.

From dust comes blood, she called out in a booming voice that echoed out across the open plateau.

From dust comes blood, the soldiers called back in unison.

The sound sent gooseflesh over her skin as the thousand warriors she’d brought to Land’s End—the last holdout in the Kastig Badlands—called back to her.

It was said, in the creation myths of old, that the first men of the badlands had formed from the dust that had whirled together from a magical wind blown from the mouth of the Maker. From that dust came blood.

Then came sons.

Power came to those who shed the blood of their enemies and gave the white blood of new life to their women.

And it was blood Queen Loli sought. That of the bandi warlord Griyat. The last holdout of an otherwise united kingdom. A kingdom of dust and blood. But her vision was of a kingdom where humans and bandi fought side by side at her command. The endless feuds of the past would come to an end, and she could dedicate her sights to expanding outside the brutal badlands.

But Griyat would need to be dealt with first. Griyat, the yellow fang. Surprisingly, he’d joined all the free bandi tribes together under one banner, in the hopes of stopping Queen Loli. He’d inspired a kindred feeling amongst all the scaly, green creatures. Their last stronghold lay just to the west, not far from where they now stood. The first place she had ever set foot on this continent so long ago. It was only fitting that she’d finally come full circle. Back to the place where she’d first won followers through the power of her magic—the ability to shapes minds. It had been unreal at first, how easy it was to control them. Had the crossing of the sea increased her power or were these people just more susceptible? She’d never know.

A mere look to her left prompted the soldier holding a wooden box to march toward her.

He wore the thick, boiled-leather armor of the infantry and the crest of the black dragon, the shortsword attached to his belt clanking as he walked. As he reached her side, he dropped to one knee and raised the box.

She opened it without pause, reached inside, and pulled out a long, black-bladed dagger with silver crossguards. A ruby pommel nut adorned the bottom. Queen Loli raised it high above her head in one hand while her other hand rested against the edge of the blade.

And blood returns to dust!

She sliced the blade along her palm. Blood streamed down her pale skin. A few drops caught on the strong gust of wind coming in from the sea and spattered over the warriors while the rest dripped symbolically into the dry, ashy ground.

War cries filled the air as the warriors pounded their weapons into the hard earth, producing a tremendous rumble.

Queen Loli lowered her arms and silence fell.

Her warriors were ready for battle, and she was ready to take control of a new empire.

Try to keep up, my dear, Queen Loli called back to her young apprentice as she pushed deeper into the thick foliage. Prickly burrs clung in bunches to her clothing as she stepped through the dense bushes. The stifling heat made her regret her choice of clothing. The black silk dress and silver cape wasn’t especially suitable for a midday hike, but as a queen, she didn’t have the choice to dress down like others. It was crucial to stand out from the savages of the badlands if you wanted to control them. Hence the gold at her throat, wrist, and finger. Gold gifts from Magol, warlord of Triki—a vile man from an even viler bog south of the badlands, not far from where her warriors prepared for the final battle with that fool Griyat.

She looked forward to the moment of final victory, but right now she was covered in sweat and wondering if she’d made the right decision to bring Sorceress Yali along. The girl hadn’t been tested yet. Not outside the confines of Xanith Castle. Yali needed to face real danger. She’d grow or die trying.

Your Grace. Yali was finally catching up.

Can’t even keep up with a woman hundreds of years her senior, the queen thought playfully as she wiped a line of sweat from her brow.

She stopped to rest just as Yali burst out from behind the wide leaves of the fan-fan tree that grew thickly on the outer edges of the forest.

I’m sorry. I’m . . . not used to trudging along like this, Yali admitted. Leaning heavily on her wooden staff, she looked back at the queen with an anticipatory stare.

Sorceress Yali still had a lot to learn.

The queen herself had chosen Yali to practice magic. She’d felt the girl’s power as she’d walked through the remains of Yali’s village just after a raid. All the men had been decapitated because of their warlord’s refusal to bend the knee when she’d demanded his presence at her castle. Many had failed to make the journey. And each village had been destroyed for the insult.

But in that particular village, as the fires had consumed the pathetic dwellings these savages called their homes, a small, naked girl had wandered alone in a muck-filled pathway. The child had stumbled along silently as smoke and flames billowed from either side of the path.

Though the girl had been covered in soot with greasy, long blonde hair, Queen Loli had approached her like a moth drawn to a flame. She’d felt the magic pulsing between the burning structures and snatched the child up into her arms before leaving the village with the girl clutched tight to her chest.

The child never cried out or struggled.

Yali was a fast learner and had showed no aversion to blood magic. As she grew up, she distanced herself from the other children, preferring to spend much of her time scouring over musty old tomes to learn all she could about the secrets of magic. The queen had spent more time around Yali as her power manifested. At first, the girl had struggled with even simple pyromancy and had been unable to manifest even a minor boil on the skin of the slaves they used to practice on, but before long, the queen started hearing blood-curdling screams from the bowels of her large keep.

Yali had found her spark.

Queen Loli had looked with pride on the smoldering remains of a burnt slave, his arms still posed defensively over his scorched head. The scent of burning flesh had filled the dungeon as Queen Loli led young Yali out by the hand.

Yali had continued to refine her technique over the next few years, needing less and less blood to produce even more marvelous results. She was just past her sixteenth summer when the queen had granted her the title of Sorceress in a grand ceremony in the Great Hall of Xanith Castle and held a feast in her honor. Queen Loli still remembered the magnificent spread her servants had prepared—roast pigs glazed with a sweet honey sauce and candied with bits of green apple; a thick, sour stew with fish caught from the high mountain lakes of the Red Dragon Mountains; white and brown breads of many varieties lined with rich creams and flakes of rare chocolate from the serig kingdom far to the east; roast lizard skewers covered in a spicy rub. The dishes kept coming out of the kitchens all evening and there were tall flagons of fine red wines spread across the long table.

For Queen Loli, the celebration had been one of genuine satisfaction. She’d dreamed of being a queen of unbridled power and scope but knew that wouldn’t be possible as things stood. Havenglade commanded a well-trained and well-equipped army. Attacks to the west would be difficult given the defensive fortifications they’d set in place. But the elves, on the other hand, were at their weakest. They’d suffered embarrassing defeats at the hands of Havenglade’s forces. Rumor had it that their royal family had lost the support of the ancient elven wizards, not only leaving their kingdom vulnerable to other magical beings but also driving the fear of instability into the elven people. The serig to the east were numerous and fierce. As large as desert lions and as cunning as humans, the serig were not Queen Loli’s first choice to attack . . . but with time.

Some were none too pleased with Sorceress Yali’s ascent.

Although he’d hidden it with the face of a content man, Harriv, the young bandi with a gift for fire from a young age, had never amounted to more than a trickster. Not for lack of trying, though. Queen Loli could feel his deepest sorrow and jealousy as her court feasted and toasted Sorceress Yali. Harriv could conjure blasts of beauty that lit up the night air for the children, but such trivialities weren’t useful to the queen. Listening to his mind was like being acquainted with a troublesome child. Harriv had known his chance to be favored had passed and that he’d never be more than a trickster. A malicious thought had passed through his head as he glanced sidelong over at Sorceress Yali, who had been holding a lizard skewer with both hands as a servant refilled her goblet with wine.

A happy girl.

Emotions she hadn’t felt in a long time rose up inside Queen Loli. She was starting to create something out in the barren wastes of the Kastig Badlands, and she’d done it by grinding her knuckles against the ash-covered, Maker-forsaken ground and turning the weak-minded one by one. After nearly two centuries, the promise she’d made to herself that first day after sailing across the great Southern Sea was finally growing legs and beginning to walk. She’d have her sorcerers. Yali would be the first.

But Harriv just wouldn’t do.

She’d taken a deep drink from her silver goblet and set it back on the table harder than she’d meant to, but the clang of metal on hard wood was lost within the fantastic hum of voices talking and laughing inside the Great Hall. When she rose from her throne, the room had quieted as everyone stopped what they were doing and stood, as was the protocol. Captain Jarik of the dust riders let go of the serving girl he’d been holding on his lap and kissing vigorously, and she fell to the floor with an awkward thud as he got to his feet.

Queen Loli thought about those who had driven her from her homeland so long ago. Their faces were now lost to the tides of memory but the anger she’d felt that day had never truly left her, always lingering just below the surface. There when she needed it most. She’d felt an almost out-of-body effect of the blood of the innocents coursing through her veins. A red hue overtook her vision like a fiery, hungry light, eliciting fear and astonishment from those across the table as she walked behind the guests seated.

She’d glided over the floor, stopping behind Harriv’s chair. Patches of long, coarse, red hair riddled the back of his green-scaled head. He was swathed in purple velvet robes trimmed with black. She could see the tension rising in his shoulders. He dared not turn toward her, but she felt the confused fear pulsing from his body. The bandi were much taller than humans but Harriv seemed to slouch lower and lower as if he were shrinking right in front of her.

The queen set a fiery hand on his head, gripping his skull tightly.

Her red glowing hand disappeared behind the thick, gray plume of smoke. Everyone at the long table seemed to let out a collective gasp. Except Harriv. He was silent. She’d quieted his mind. No need for torture. She’d spared him the pain, but it was important that they all see what she was capable of, here, in the Great Hall during this otherwise jubilant celebration.

As she released his charred skull, his body slunk down in the chair before sliding to the floor in a searing pile of death.

The smoke had slowly cleared, the coughing of the bystanders had died down, and guards had rushed over to drag the body out of the hall. The guests had continued to look away from the queen, all but Sorceress Yali. The sorceress had returned the queen’s glowing glare with a toothy grin.

The memory brought a smile to the queen’s face, and she quickly covered her mouth with a gloved hand.

Reveal nothing.

Loli kept her eyes firmly fixed on Yali. In her red robes with her hood down, her blonde hair flowed down around her shoulders, reminding the queen of the little girl she’d picked up from the ashes. She had a sudden, strong realization of how much time had passed in this new land. Nearly two hundred summers. Everyone around her had lived and died several times over, yet she still carried on.

Come to me, the queen said as she reached a low stony ridge where the forest gave way to sharp rocks and open air. A foul smell pervaded the forest. She couldn’t tell if it was coming from the surrounding thicket or somewhere along the ridge.

Perhaps an animal’s fallen and died on the rocks below.

Something else lurked within the stench. Something that gave her chills.

Are you all right, Your Grace? Sorceress Yali asked with a concerned expression, before looking back at the route they’d taken.

Yes, but keep your wits about you, young sorceress. We are being hunted.

Yali moved closer to the queen, glancing around and taking in their surroundings. What is it? she whispered.

Just stay close to me and be ready to defend yourself. Stir up your magic. If trouble strikes, we’ll need to move quickly or die, Queen Loli advised as she focused on the task ahead.

The blood of innocents churned through her as a sensation of pleasure spread through her body.

We are close.

They’d need to find an open area. They were far too vulnerable in the forest. She led Yali down the ridge as they dropped from one granite boulder to another, careful not to slip on the loose pebbles that peppered the larger rocks.

Crouching low, she listened for something—anything. Had she heard it or was the wind off the slope of the ridge playing tricks on her?

Her instincts were her luck, and right now she needed luck. It wasn’t often that she found herself without an escort of loyal warriors to defend her, but they’d have only slowed her down and perhaps scared it away.

But fear was a friend at times.

As she climbed over a jumble of stones and made her way from rock to rock down into the ravine, she had a sinking feeling. Was a dread misfortune destined to overtake them?

She shook off the fear. Sometimes you need to trust yourself.

It wasn’t long before their feet found the floor of the ravine where a lazy creek meandered south toward the Southern Sea.

Yali wiped the sweat from her sun-reddened forehead and took a deep breath.

This was surely the place.

Queen Loli kept her eyes peeled for movement. The threat would likely come from above since the ravine was long and narrow with little cover from approaching predators.

Your Grace, I fear for your safety. For what reason did we not bring guards to protect you?

This is a game of cat and mouse. But these mice are more than they appear to be, Queen Loli said with a sinister laugh.

What is the cat we—

A streaking shadow from above silenced Sorceress Yali. The shadow covered the queen and flashed past with a quickness that elicited a moan from Yali.

But the queen was already moving.

To the ridge! she called out as she ran to the edge of the cliff they’d just climbed down from. Focusing on the magical essence inside of her, Queen Loli prepared to face the predator. She put her back to the tall stone cliff and kept her eyes out for the attack.

What is it? Yali whispered in a raspy voice that spoke of her fear.

Queen Loli pointed to the sky. There!

A large winged creature came into view as it descended into the ravine.

The young sorceress screamed out in terror and dropped her staff. The sound of the staff hitting the rocky ground sent a flutter of echoes through the ravine.

Queen Loli grabbed Yali’s arm and squeezed tightly.

Now is not the time to fall apart, she growled without taking her sight off the fantastic beast.

Long wings stirred up a billow of dust from the dry floor of the ravine as the creature landed on the far side of the creek. Its fur was red as blood with a mane flowing like the fires of Mount Dumoria. A long tail curved over the creature’s back, its shiny stinger glimmering from the light off the water of the shallow creek.

Your Grace. The tremors had left Sorceress Yali’s voice and she sounded more composed. "What manner of lion is that?"

"That’s no lion. That’s a blood manticore. When I give the word, dash to your right with all your quickness and blast the beast with flames if it comes after you," Queen Loli told her in a low voice.

She hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but the girl was much more precious to her plan than the manticore. The risk needed to be worth the reward. Precious stones were forged under the harshest pressures. If Yali was to rise at the queen’s side she’d need to prove her mettle.

The great beast stood taller than even the largest of her bandi warriors. Its teeth were like curved longswords and its claws sharp enough to cut through steel armor like a war-knife through parchment.

It let out a mighty roar that echoed through the ravine.

She held up her right hand and a red glow pulsed brightly from her palm.

Without warning, the manticore sprung across the creek, its wings flapping in a great arc to give it an incredibly long bound.

The queen kept her eyes on the beast as it closed in. She could see the hardened scales protecting the manticore’s red chest. She’d have to hit it from the side—if she could.

It roared again, just feet away from the two women as they braced for a predatory pounce.

The manticore reared back, tightening its muscles, ready to spring forward and rip them to shreds.

Just as the manticore began to lean forward, Queen Loli called out.

Now!

Sorceress Yali dashed to her right and Queen Loli to her left as the manticore landed sideways against the stone cliff with a crash, its massive front paws turning as it propelled itself toward Yali.

A sliver of fear penetrated the queen. Is she still a little girl? Or a sorceress?

As the manticore moved in, Yali took a step back, slipping on some unseen stone, and landed on her back. The staff once again fell from her grasp.

Stupid girl. The queen shook her head but quickly wiped the frustration from her mind. She’d need to act fast.

Queen Loli watched as sparks and smoke rose from behind the manticore, which was blocking her view of the fallen sorceress.

The manticore hissed then slashed at Yali with a mighty paw.

Yali rolled away from the ridge and desperately tried to get to her feet, stumbling on all fours, her red cape flapping wildly behind her.

She’s going to die. The thought brought forth a rush of anger.

Queen Loli raised her hands above her head in an arc until they came together in a thunderous clap that reverberated through the ravine.

The charging manticore wobbled to the left and then to the right before losing its balance and falling on its side. Yali couldn’t get to her feet, either. She stumbled as the queen raced toward the fallen beast, hoping to get close enough before it could regain its equilibrium.

As she came around the side of the hulking creature, its mighty stinger shot out toward her, grazing the black leather of her tall boots. All the magic in the world wouldn’t save her from a manticore’s poison.

She came around its body just as it lifted its massive head, presenting a tremendous and terrifying maw full of sharp, blood-stained fangs. The manticore growled with a terrible fury that sent the queen’s heart racing.

Focusing on the eyes of the great beast and exhaling slowly, Queen Loli projected all her power towards it as she stared into those sharp malicious eyes, hoping it would be enough.

The monster convulsed, its massive wings flapping uncontrollably as spittle spilled from its sharp tooth-filled maw.

Stay back! Queen Loli commanded.

Her powers were working. She could read thoughts of confusion, anger, and fear coming from the manticore.

Yali wobbled over to the queen’s side and watched on in silence, slumped over her staff.

The convulsions stopped and the manticore struggled to regain its feet, pressing its stinger against the creek bed for balance.

Your Grace, I can burn it.

The queen waved a dismissive hand at her sorceress.

"Burn it? It belongs to me now."

The rain beat down fiercely across the badlands as column after column of Queen Loli’s warriors lined up along the muddy battlefield.

With her hood drawn up against the wind, the queen glared out into the downpour as a single bandi warrior in bloodied, ragged armor limped toward her, head bowed, Griyat’s axe at his side.

The queen glanced over at Captain Krulex and nodded, her face as solemn as a tomb.

The captain stepped forward, between the queen and the approaching bandi. Her soldiers looked on, standing tall as the wind caught hold of the rain and swirled through the air of early evening. Dark clouds closed in on them from overhead.

Even the weather has no shame. I won’t be denied my glory lest the Maker rains bolts from those angry clouds of His.

That’s close enough, the captain called out, bringing the queen back to the moment.

He’d drawn his longsword and pointed it toward the approaching bandi. The thin blade swayed with the movement of his arm.

She wanted to enjoy every little bit of this victorious moment. The sight of her soldiers, tired but beaming with pride. The sound of the rain as it beat down on armor and boiled leather alike, producing a pattering sound not unlike the war drums of her raiders. And the smell of smoke and death that billowed from the devastation all around her. The last stronghold of the bandi race. The land of the yellow-toothed warlord Griyat. He’d become the lord of ash and rot.

And where was Griyat now?

The bandi warrior stopped a safe distance from Captain Krulex and bent the knee. He bowed his head low and extended both hands, Griyat’s war axe held tightly in his grasp.

Captain Krulex stepped forward and stopped in front of the kneeling bandi. Grabbing the axe, he gave the enemy a frontal kick to the left shoulder, sending the pathetic creature into a large muddy puddle. The splash elicited snickers from within the ranks. Rather than reprimand her warriors, the queen let it pass. They were entitled to some light entertainment after their hard-fought victory.

The captain turned to the queen and marched slowly toward her, presenting her with the weapon of her enemy.

She took it in her hands. The weapon was nearly the length of her body and heavier than she’d imagined. Finely forged steel, sharp as any she’d seen and with a rough leather-bound handle. The sweaty, worn grips made it more than just a symbol like so many of the swords of lords from far and wide who never had need to draw a blade or even the know-how to harness a magnificent weapon. She passed it off to the Queen’s Justice—Golbet the bone crusher—before anyone could see her struggling to carry it. Golbet’s masked face contrasted a muscular, tan chest covered with scars delivered by the whip of his childhood master. Now, he was a man of unshakable devotion to his queen and unbridled bloodlust for his duty. He placed the huge axe in a wooden crate and slowly twirled his own axe, waiting for the queen to give the word.

As Captain Krulex turned stiffly and rejoined the ranks, his visored, dragon-shaped helm caught a flash of light from the heavens just before the thundering noise crashed from the sky.

Where is Griyat? The queen’s voice boomed out across the open battlefield with a deep, resonating echo that brought several of her own soldiers to their knees.

The fools were such cowards about magic.

The bandi had yielded some time ago, yet the traitorous coward still hadn’t shown his face. Did he mean to kill himself, denying her the glory and himself the embarrassment, or did he mean to fight till the end, dying in battle even after surrendering his army?

Before she could consider her next move, a rumble went up the ranks. Advisor Haliq whispered into her ear that Griyat was coming.

She caught sight of a figure approaching down the middle of the long row of soldiers, but the rain blurred him enough to hide any features.

The queen’s eyes drifted to Sorceress Yali, whose face could scarcely be seen under the hood of her dark cloak. Her outer robe was soaked through with rain. But for her part, she stood with the other apprentices, waiting patiently for the conclusion to their long campaign.

Griyat finally came into view. His scaly, green head was shaved on either side, except for a streak of orange hair that stood from his brow to the back of his head.

In truth, Queen Loli had never seen the nefarious warlord.

He came as close as the last bandi. Unprompted, Captain Krulex again walked out to have a man between an enemy and the queen—as was his duty.

Griyat stood nine feet tall if he was an inch, his broad shoulders standing out from the surrounding soldiers’. Solid mounds of muscle pulsed with the bandi warlord’s deep breaths. His face was cracked or deeply wrinkled, the queen could not be sure which, but his grotesque facial features and famous yellow teeth reinforced her impression of the savage. He wore heavy chainmail that had seen better days. Bent rings and gaps peppered the length of his chest. Tall steel greaves rose from his dark leather boots. He held a massive helm, the crown forming into a spearpoint not unlike the helms of bandi riders who would lower their heads and skewer their foes.

Captain Krulex drew his sword and pointed it at Griyat. The warlord stood motionless, his eyes looking past the captain to Queen Loli. He’d never laid eyes on her and was no doubt admiring her beauty, the queen concluded.

Griyat, Krulex called out with a deep voice,