Kadazar

By Julia Winson

On the night of his birth, Kadazar, a griffin, receives a prophecy. It claims that he will become a great king of Lastania. When still a child, he befriends Evening Star, adventurous yet disliked by others for her unusual abilities.

When Kadazar turns sixteen, a cruel and powerful dragon, Midzar, invades the peaceful land of mythical creatures. Their home is changed beyond recognition. Many lives are needlessly lost.

Thrown together to get revenge on Midzar, the friends need to bond like never before…

An adventure to experience, Kadazar is the story written by an adolescent as her spine-tingling debut.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Apr 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781528956420

Julia Winson

Julia was born in Poland in 2003. She came to England together with her parents before her third birthday, able to name only a few animals and colours in English. She has always had a great imagination and has been surrounded by books from her early days. As a child, she wrote many short stories. Together with her family, she lives in Yorkshire, where she attends a secondary school.

Book preview

Kadazar

Julia Winson

Austin Macauley Publishers

Kadazar

About The Author

About The Book

Dedication

Copyright Information ©

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1

A King Is Born

Chapter 2

The Promise

Chapter 3

Underground

Chapter 4

The Eyes of Death

Chapter 5

The Ruby Sword

Chapter 6

Abarrican Quest

Chapter 7

Across the Sea

Chapter 8

Golden Sand

Chapter 9

Kittletow Cave

Chapter 10

Alone

Chapter 11

Thunder Sharktooth

Chapter 12

Shadows in the Stars

Chapter 13

Betrayal

Chapter 14

Ice Cliff Clan

Chapter 15

The Star Day Feast

Chapter 16

Star Teller

Chapter 17

The Return of Fear

Chapter 18

The Loudest Call

Chapter 19

The Last Goodbye

Chapter 20

Fire and Ice

Chapter 21

The Silent Cry

Chapter 22

A Final Whisper

Chapter 23

The Mystical Maze of All Hopes

Chapter 24

The Cave of Gold

Chapter 25

The Kandrox

About The Author

Julia was born in Poland in 2003. She came to England together with her parents before her third birthday, able to name only a few animals and colours in English.

She has always had a great imagination and has been surrounded by books from her early days. As a child, she wrote many short stories.

Together with her family, she lives in Yorkshire, where she attends a secondary school.

About The Book

On the night of his birth, Kadazar, a griffin, receives a prophecy. It claims that he will become a great king of Lastania. When still a child, he befriends Evening Star, adventurous yet disliked by others for her unusual abilities.

When Kadazar turns sixteen, a cruel and powerful dragon, Midzar, invades the peaceful land of mythical creatures. Their home is changed beyond recognition. Many lives are needlessly lost.

Thrown together to get revenge on Midzar, the friends need to bond like never before…

An adventure to experience, Kadazar is the story written by an adolescent as her spine-tingling debut.

Dedication

For my brother, Tomek

Copyright Information ©

Julia Winson (2019)

The right of Julia Winson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528956420 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2019)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Acknowledgement

I am very thankful to all who have contributed to my book being published, especially my publisher, Austin Macauley, who had faith in my writing and took me under their wings; all my teachers, who challenged me and helped me to achieve; my parents for their support; and my little brother for being my motivation.

Chapter 1

A King Is Born

Midnight.

Darkness.

Beneath the pale glow of the full moon lay a pair of young griffins. The proud smiles on their faces gave away the fact that they had good news to share. Their joy was not unexplained; in between them rested a tiny heaving body: a baby griffin. The mother was relaxed but strangely mysterious, beautiful like the dusting of Stars scattered across the night sky. The scars that left their marks across her pale feathers did nothing but highlight the air of incomprehensible courage floating around her and increase her look of mystical strength and power, constant reminders of how she had been abused during her childhood, brought up by cruel creatures known as Darkness Dwellers after her parents disappeared for unknown reasons. She grew up knowing nothing but hate, pain, fear and death.

The father was proud and obviously well-cared for; he had no marks serving as a reminder of any bad treatment, no scars criss-crossing the skin beneath his dark-grey feathers. He had spent his whole life protected in his family’s home, unaware of the dangers lurking behind every twist and turn of life.

He had not realised that there was a whole world out there, just waiting to be explored.

He was never aware of just how dangerous living life itself could sometimes be.

***

Call him something rare. Something special and powerful, a name that will show all the griffins how important our son is! demanded Silver Claw. Beside him, Destiny smiled softly.

He’s not any more special than any other young griffin. At least, not yet.

Thunderstorm. Call him Thunderstorm! Silver Claw announced, his deep, rumbling voice echoing in the silent night. Not many dared to disagree with Silver Claw, especially when he was determined to get his own way.

But Destiny was not like many others.

Kadazar, she whispered. I like the name Kadazar.

What? snorted Silver Claw. No, no ‒ wait ‒ Kadazar actually sounds good! Strong, powerful… Yes, Kadazar will be his name.

Beside Thunderstorm, Destiny smiled contentedly.

***

According to the Ancient Law of Griffins, every newly born griffin had to be taken to the Star Teller, someone granted with the rare gift of the ability to communicate with the Stars. Kadazar’s parents had no choice but to obey this law, so that night, Silver Claw and Destiny visited Ember, the Star Teller. Normally, he gave a short speech about the child’s life and the luck they had with the Stars, giving as much detail as the Stars allowed him to know. The parents expected to stay for at least a few minutes. However, they had a surprise in store for them. Once they had given Ember time to consult the Stars, they listened intently, waiting for the speech. But it never came.

A king is born. A great king. That is all the Stars will say.

***

Years passed, and as Kadazar grew up, he showed no sign of being a great king. There was no mystical air of power lingering around him, no sense of mystery, determination or any unusual strength. In fact, he was terribly weak-willed, especially when facing Evening Star, another little griffin three months younger than him. Soon, the Star Teller’s prophecy was completely forgotten.

The strangest and most unusual thing about Kadazar’s behaviour was the fact that he showed no pride or desire to order everyone around. Both his parents ‒ unusually proud griffins ‒ were shocked. At this point in Kadazar’s life, at the age of six, the young creature should be prouder than ever! At his age, most griffins were frustratingly arrogant, racing around the herd, squabbling over random things for reasons which did not exist, driving everyone insane with their pointless orders. They were overconfident and fierce, occasionally reacting violently when disagreed with. But Kadazar was nothing like that. Why was he simply letting everyone take control?

***

Anyone could order Kadazar around, but one griffin was much better at this than even his parents. This was Evening Star, his best friend, fierce, strong-willed and determined. The Stars had predicted her to be a survivor with a weight of suffering on her back, and yet, the only tragedy of her life had been the death of her mother shortly after her birth. Her entire family was shrouded in mystery; she had no one but her father. She did not order everyone around like most griffins her age did, and yet she was far more successful in getting her way. Her technique included no shouting or demanding attention. She did the work with words instead. It was enough for her to ask politely and look at someone with those magical eyes. They were so deep and thoughtful, as blue as the distant sea, much too wise for the face of a six-year-old. She, herself, looked like the average young griffin, but her eyes did not. She radiated power possessed only by a few Star Tellers. Whenever she spoke, most creatures obeyed her commands without question.

Especially Kadazar.

It wasn’t simple beauty, it was magic.

Among most creatures her age, Evening Star was extremely unpopular. Her flaws, which were few but played great parts in the trouble she caused everyone, were picked upon by all the young griffins, apart from Kadazar. They spent so much time complaining about her bad temper, vengeful nature and even physical weakness that they rarely ever realised there was more to her than what they pointed out. Most creatures were blind to her brilliant imagination, adventurous streak and fierce loyalty to her friends and family. Evening Star was an adventurer, a risk-taker. The young creatures said they hated her because she always got her own way and, despite being the worst-behaved griffin in the whole herd, managed to wriggle out of any serious trouble she ever got herself into. This was partly true, but the main reason for their dislike of Evening Star was fear. It was not only the eyes that helped the young griffin get her own way. There was something else; something they couldn’t quite place. All they knew was that her anger cast stone-cold fear into their hearts.

No one but Kadazar managed to see the brave, adventurous and playful Evening Star behind her unwanted disguise of frightening power and a family background wrapped in mystery. The Star Teller found their friendship rather special. He said the Stars had sent a message about the two griffins.

These friends shall struggle through times of pain and suffering, but both have the valiant hearts of true griffins. When darkness overtakes the herd, they will fight back.

***

Time went on and soon Kadazar’s personality was fully developed. The Star Teller’s prophecy was slowly becoming less realistic, fading away to nothing. Soon, it was obvious Kadazar would not fulfil it at any time soon. He was no King of Lastania. Some of the spiteful creatures made fun of him, claiming the Stars had misidentified him when they gave the prophecy. These creatures, however, were faced with another unusual side to Kadazar. However much they were rude to him and called him names, this unusual griffin never chose acts of aggression as his way of proving them wrong. Despite multiple situations where chaos could have broken out, Kadazar kept calm, defending himself and Evening Star when necessary, but never resorting to violence.

***

On the day of Kadazar’s sixteenth birthday, a beautiful sunny day in winter, a massive party was prepared. Kadazar and his friends were in the middle of a chaotic game, with the sound of Chubby, a small, clumsy-looking eight-year-old hippogriff playing cheerful music on his drums. Suddenly, a messenger skidded into the garden. At once, the party fell silent. Messengers were sent by the King, and they were never sent unless the peaceful land was in peril.

Midzar’s coming! he screeched and raced off in a cloud of dust to warn the others and spread the dreadful news. Silver Claw herded the family and all the party guests into their house before leaping into the air and with a cry of I’m going to help!, he spread his wings and took off into the sky. In a split second, Kadazar realised what was happening. Midzar, a dragon possessing the greatest known power of evil, had invaded their herd in an attempt to kill their king, Ziarro III, and take over. Ziarro ruled Lastania, the island on which Kadazar lived, better than anyone had in centuries, but the country’s king had always shared a bond of enmity with Midzar.

A cry knocked Kadazar out of his thought.

I’m going too!

Evening Star.

Of course, she would go. She could never resist an adventure. The fact that she could die did not stop her.

Kadazar couldn’t let her go alone.

He had to be there to support her. Leaping into the air, he took off after his friend, who was now a blur of fiery golden feathers. He heard the scrape of claws on stone as Chubby, who was trying, but failing, to follow them, was caught by Destiny, who grabbed onto his wing and pulled him back into the house, ignoring his squeals. Kadazar turned his attention back to Evening Star. She was far ahead of him now. Gathering his courage, he sped forwards. Lastania was in danger, and he would not allow it to fall.

***

They heard the sound before they saw the actual place. The fearsome battle cries of griffins mingled with the blood-curdling roars of dragons and heart-wrenching screams of creatures Kadazar had known all his life. They were no longer fighting to secure their victory; it had become a battle for survival. In the midst of the yells and shrieks, Kadazar heard booming explosions and a constant and unmistakable crackle of fire. Rivers of blood criss-crossed the battlefield. For the first time, Kadazar wondered whether this really was a good idea. However, he saw Evening Star waver and knew at once that he had to be there to help her. They only just managed to glimpse the ruins of the palace before a great cloud of smoke billowed up out of nowhere, swallowing them both.

***

The two young griffins emerged from the cloud of smoke, coughing and spluttering, their eyes watering. Below them, a great battle was being fought; the greatest battle fought on the peaceful lands of Lastania for centuries. Evening Star didn’t even have a moment’s hesitation ‒ she dived straight down, plunging into the midst of the battle, going straight for Midzar and piercing his skin with her sharp beak, tearing at it with so much determination that Kadazar was certain Midzar should already be dying. It took Kadazar a while to notice, but suddenly, he saw the reason for her violent onslaught. Struggling for breath at Midzar’s feet stood her father, slashing at the dragon with his claws. It was all Kadazar could do to follow Evening Star and prevent himself from losing her in the crowd. He couldn’t let her do this on her own. He dived down, following her lead, and copied her moves. I should be glad Evening Star’s my friend, thought Kadazar, I wouldn’t be here to help without her. He jabbed at Midzar’s skin with his beak, barely realising what was going on around him. Vaguely, he heard a crash. A roar. He saw a long, thin tail cutting through the air towards Evening Star.

Evening Star! Move! Kadazar shrieked. However, his words were torn apart in the noise of the battle. He could see the tail advancing towards his friend. Her back was turned, and she was completely unaware.

Go! he screamed again, but he was unheard. The tail descended towards Evening Star at a terrifying speed.

No!

Kadazar threw himself at his friend only a split second before the sharp arrow of Midzar’s tail impaled her. The impact sent them crashing to the ground, their wings a tangled mess.

Evening Star struggled to her feet to find Kadazar, lying unconscious beside her. Shaking out her aching wings, she turned to the griffin.

"Come on, Kadazar! Remember the prophecy? This is the evil! Fight back!" Her last shriek was so high-pitched that even Kadazar, who was used to her wildly exaggerated excitement at the slightest hint of danger, couldn’t ignore it. He pulled himself up with a grunt.

Okay, he groaned, his body aching but powered by his determination to help Lastania. Together, the courageous young griffins galloped into the ruins of the palace, which seemed to be the centre of the battle.

They had only just got there when suddenly, everything stopped.

All was still.

Silent.

In the distance, a lone creature uttered a final screech. Rain started pattering from the sky, dripping down their feathers and onto the floor of the palace. In the centre of the room, there lay a body; the unmistakable, gold-feathered body of their faithful, honest king, Ziarro III. Kadazar noticed with a shock that there was no visible breath or heartbeat. He’d never thought of Ziarro, the leader who built Lastania up from the dust, as mortal.

Beside him, he heard a sharp intake of breath coming from Evening Star. As his gaze wandered from the lifeless body of his king, he saw someone else, with golden-brown feathers and powerful wings. He gasped.

No… Star… It can’t be…

But he couldn’t say it.

Evening Star let out an awful high-pitched wail: the unmistakable sound of a griffin in distress. She tore away from the crowd, running straight ahead, skidding on the wet ground.

Towards a body beside the king.

Towards the dead body of her father.

Kadazar watched, unable to comfort his friend. Evening Star’s mother had been dead for years. The poor griffin was now an orphan. And at that moment, Kadazar realised that the worst had happened. Midzar had broken the flow of her life. This was worse than the fact that he had taken over the herd. This wouldn’t just throw her out of balance; it would drag Kadazar with her.

Evening Star would want revenge. And when Evening Star felt vengeful, she was ruthless.

And unstoppable.

Chapter 2

The Promise

Kadazar trudged, head bowed down in sadness, towards Evening Star, who had collapsed beside the body of her father. This was the first time he’d ever seen her helpless. She was heartbroken beyond the ability to fight, furious beyond tears. He wanted so much to comfort her, but how could he when there was nothing he could do to stop the torrent of tears running in rivers from his own eyes? Thunderer, the cheerful griffin whom he’d known all his life, now lay bleeding out onto the palace floor. All he could manage was a choked, It’ll be all right… But deep inside, he knew it wouldn’t. Nothing would ever be the same again. Kadazar sighed and slumped down beside Evening Star. It was painful to see through her constant disguise, to catch a glimpse of the helpless young griffin beneath. She was usually the strong one, the one who always got into fights and arguments about pointless things. She had been so brave, fought and saved many lives while she distracted Midzar, and yet she had failed in her only quest. She did not deserve to suffer like this. Would anything ever be