The Hunt for the Dragon King

By Harrison McArthur

Myra GreenLeaf is a young elf girl. She lives in the peaceful country of the Agro-Caelestis with her human guardian, Jason Argonaut, and his two cousins, Beatrice and Daniel. Myra has spent her life reading the stories of Draco Rex, the Dragon King, and his Arthurian companions. As far as she is aware these tales were only stories, but soon her perspective about everything she has ever known will change. The dragon flocks are about to arrive for their yearly migration, and the Soolian Empire, ever hungry for conquest, is rattling its sabre. Myra's twelfth birthday is drawing near, and when that day comes the world as she knows it will never be the same again . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Oct 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9780228823704

Harrison McArthur

Harrison McArthur is a young Canadian author who has spent much of his life writing and listening to stories. He has a strong love of history, from prehistoric to modern, and for fantasy. He first fell in love with stories involving magic, goblins, dragons and adventure when he was introduced to the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. From that moment onward he has striven to emulate the father of modern fantasy. Harrison lives in Southern Ontario, Canada.

Book preview

The Hunt for the Dragon King

The Hunt Begins

Harrison McArthur

The Hunt for the Dragon King

Copyright © 2022 by Harrison McArthur

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-2371-1 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-2372-8 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-2370-4 (eBook)

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1 - Lessons in History

Interlude - Silent Regrets

Chapter 2 - A Young Life

Chapter 3 - The Hunt Begins

Interlude - Dawn

Chapter 4 - From the Depths Shall They Come

Chapter 5 - All In Due Time…

Prologue

The world is a dark and dangerous place, filled with the cunning evil of the Great Deceiver. For many years his silent will has been enforced by those who do his bidding both knowingly and unknowingly. All have suffered under his rule because his power is complete. Yet there is a story that is hidden from his evil sight that tells of his downfall. A great journey must be taken by two who were foretold in the deeps of time. They must endure many hardships and trials of both body and spirit. They must hunt for the only thing that can end the rule of the great enemy. They must hunt for the Dragon King.

Chapter 1

Lessons in History

The reading room was small but comfortable. The numerous bookshelves that lined the walls were stuffed with old tomes and dusty scrolls. Two comfy armchairs sat near the window while the fire burned in the stone hearth.

When the door creaked open a young she-elf and an old man walked in.

He was a tall, thin man with a head that seemed disproportionally large for the rest of his lean body. A small black goatee jutted out from his narrow chin. His nose was long and tapered to a tiny point and on the bridge of it sat a small pair of brass-rimmed reading glasses. He was completely bald except for the black hair on the sides of his head. His clothing seemed too large for his skinny frame: a white shirt, a dark brown waistcoat, gray trousers, a pair black leather shoes and a dark red fez. On his right wrist sat a gold armband that jingled and jangled with each movement of his body.

The girl was a young, frail-looking child who stood only 4 and a half feet tall. She wore a sky-blue dress with a white ribbon tied in her long blazing red hair. Her face had the glow of youth and her bright blue eyes were keen and intelligent. Her ears were pointed.

What story are you going to read to me today? asked the girl.

Well, Myra, replied the old man, I am going to read to you the legend about the origin of the Dragon King.

Is it a very long story? asked Myra.

Well, I would have to say yes, answered Mr. Goatmen.

Will I like it very much? asked Myra.

I think that you will fall in love with it, chuckled the old man.

When the two of them sat down by the hearth Mr. Goatmen cracked open the spine of a green leather-bound book. The words were handwritten on pages of yellowing parchment.

The legend of the Dragon King began a long, long time ago, read Mr. Goatmen. "It was a time when the mortal races still used swords and shields in war; it was a time where we hadn’t yet discovered all the modern marvels that we have today. It was a simpler time but its problems and worries were far from simple. This is the time in history where the legend of the Dragon King began.

"His beginnings were very humble, compared to the glory he would earn later in his life but with that detail set aside, this is how it all began.

Deep in the wild and forested lands of Arthuriea, a young dragoness lay at the open mouth of her high forest cave that was delved into the side of a hill. She was lonely because she had no family, no children and no husband.

Mr. Goatmen paused and looked up at Myra.

Dragons, my pupil, are very social creatures and are always together wherever they go. But this dragoness had no one. Would you care to wager a guess as to why this was?

Well, perhaps this dragoness was alone because she lost her flock, offered Myra.

Possibly, said Mr. Goatmen. I doubt that we will ever truly know why the dragoness was alone. The cause has been forgotten.

Mr. Goatmen continued reading:

"The Dragoness had wished for her own family for many years. She wept because her deepest desire was left unanswered.

"She awoke from her dreamless sleep and looked out over the vast green forests and at the high mountains. It was a beautiful sight but it did not please her or raise her spirits. All around her were wild things; living, dying, giving birth and being born. This pained her because she was still alone.

She suddenly heard a wailing cry from underneath her. She looked down from her hillside cave to the clearing below. To her great surprise she saw a human woman lying on the ground with an infant child crying in her arms. The mother was gravely injured. She had three black arrows stuck in her back.

Where did the woman and baby come from, Mr. Goatmen? interrupted Myra.

I cannot say for certain, answered the old man. This was a time when war was common amongst men and monsters. In this period of history, however, humans and elves never ventured into the forests of Arthuriea. I assume that the woman and her child had escaped a battle. The woods was the only place for them to hide. Now where was I?

Mr. Goatmen looked back down at the old book and continued reading:

"The dragoness knew that the woman would not last long. The blood flowed freely from her wounds. She, however, did not seem concerned that her life was coming to an end. She only comforted and soothed her crying infant.

When the dragoness stood up she made her way to the woman and stood towering over them both.

She’s not going to eat them, is she? cried Myra.

O good heavens, no! scoffed Mr. Goatmen. "Really Myra! I must say your imagination is getting ahead of you. Do you really think I would read a story to you if that was going to happen?"

Well, no I guess not, admitted Myra.

Good, said Mr. Goatmen. Now listen to what happens next. This is the important part.

Mr. Goatmen continued reading:

The Dragoness looked down at the woman and infant and saw that the mother was weeping.

"‘Have you come to eat me?’ asked the woman through her tears.

"‘No I have not,’ the dragoness replied. ‘I have come to heal your wounds.’

"‘I thank you for your kindness,’ the woman said, ‘but I am afraid that it is too late. I am dying.’ The infant in her arms wailed and she tried once again to sooth him.

"‘I do not fear my end,’ said the woman. ‘I only dread what will happen to my son. Dragoness, is there any settlement of my kinsfolk nearby?’

"‘No,’ replied the dragoness, ‘there is none. You and your son are the first of your kind that I have ever seen in these forests.’

"‘Then it is as I feared,’ cried the woman. ‘I shall die alone in the woods and my son will be abandoned to his fate!’

"‘You shall not die alone,’ said the dragoness. ‘I will stay by you. I will take care of your child and keep him safe. I will also raise him as my own!’

"The woman looked up in awe at the dragoness and said, ‘You would protect my son? O dragoness, I bless you! Thank you.’

"When the sun set below the horizon the woman died. The dragoness buried her and raised a mound to mark her grave.

"The dragoness named the human child Draco. She loved him as if he were her own flesh and blood. Her heart was lifted and filled with joy because her wish for a family had at last been answered. She deeply regretted that the woman had to die so she could have a child of her own.

"When her human son was old enough to understand his origins the dragoness brought him to his birthmother’s burial mound. She told Draco of how she had promised to look after him and how his true mother had died.

"‘I am certain, Draco, that if your mother could see you now she would be proud of the boy that you have grown into,’ said the dragoness.

"‘My birthmother would be proud of you as well,’ said Draco. ‘Without you I would have died. You may be a dragoness but you are the only mother I know.’

"The dragoness and Draco embraced each other and then returned to their hillside cave.

"When Draco was growing up in the lands of Arthuriea he made friends with all the creatures that lived in the woods: the birds, the deer, the bears, the boars and bees. They played many games with Draco and kept him safe when his dragon mother was away.

"One day Draco went into the woods to look for his wolf friends but he could not find them. He searched along the riverbanks, through the grassy meadows and up into the hills.

Thinking that something must have happened to the wolves, Draco called his animal friends together to help him find them. Before they could set off they had to decide where they should go. The bears said that the wolves were most likely hiding in caves. The other animals disagreed and said that the bears only wanted to go there so they could sleep. The eagles said that the wolves were up in the mountains. The other animals disagreed and said that the eagles only wanted to make their nests up in the high peaks. The animals began to argue with each other and many of them began to fight. In the end Draco made the decision to search in the Deeping Wood.

What was the Deeping Wood? interrupted Myra.

Be patient a moment longer and you’ll find out, replied Mr. Goatmen.

The Deeping Wood was the oldest grove of trees in Arthuriea, the old man read. "The trees that grew there stood so closely to each other that their leafy boughs blocked out the sunlight. Their roots and branches were twisted and covered in gnarled grey bark. Moss hung from the lower limbs and the leaves were black and very broad. The Deeping Wood was a very frightening place. Draco had never before gone into that part of the forest. He secretly feared that he would become lost in the murky darkness. He summoned his courage and together with his animal friends plunged into the unknown grove.

"Draco and the others began calling out to the wolves but their voices were swallowed up by the looming silence of the forest. The only light that there was came from a swarm of fireflies. They sparked and twinkled in the heavy air.

Draco led the way as the search went further into the woods. Two hours passed by and still there was no sign of the wolves. Draco was about to give up and turn towards home when he saw something.

What is it? asked Myra. What did he see?

Draco saw a shaft of bright light in the distance and dashed towards it, read Mr. Goatmen. "He wanted to feel the sun on his face again and to get away from the oppressive darkness. When he reached the beam of light he was standing in a clearing with the sun burning brightly overhead.

"‘I never knew how much I could miss sunlight until now,’ said Draco as he basked in the warm rays.

"When he spoke these words he became aware that he was not alone. He spun around and saw a pair of pale green eyes gazing at him from the shadows.

"‘Who are you?’ Draco demanded, ‘Show yourself at once!’

"The