Richard: The Dragon's Curse: Richard, #3

By Michael W Hickman

Everything is looking up for fifteen-year-old Richard Plantagenet. After defeating his chief political rival, Senator Spartacus, Richard's rulership of the Milky Way kingdom seems assured. He's also more adept at using his powers, like teleportation, shielding himself from harm, and conjuring things out of thin air—though this latter ability is still mostly used to make cheeseburgers.

More important to him than all those things is the foxlike Amber, the love of his life and soon-to-be mother of their two children. Unfortunately, her pregnancy has brought out her feral side. Her instincts are driving her to protect her cubs at any cost, even to the point of digging her fangs into Richard's neck when he accidentally surprises her.

But Amber is the least of his problems, for in the darkness of another dimension looms the greatest threat of all, the great dragon. This massive and ancient evil will soon have a chance to escape its prison, and its only aim is to destroy the kingdom once and for all.

The Dragon's Curse is the thrilling third volume in the Richard series, an epic saga of love, intrigue, and cosmic adventure.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael W Hickman
• Release date: Nov 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798985477788

Michael W Hickman

Michael Hickman currently lives in the hills of Ohio, where he works as an IT manager, programmer, and network administrator. In his off time, he can usually be found hunched over his keyboard, pounding out his next novel, or taking care of his two rescue dogs, Max, a Great Dane mix, and Bruce, a Beagle. In addition to writing, Michael enjoys camping, hiking, and spending time with his two sons and four grandkids. He’s also into genealogy, which led him to discover not only that his family roots extend back to the early settlers of Ohio, but that he’s related to Samuel Clemens and Zane Grey.

Book preview

Prologue

On a rocky world in another dimension, a golden-scaled dragon sat on an outcropping on the side of a mountain. There were many mountains on this world, but none were volcanically active, unlike the ones the dragons had once lived in.

This world was in constant twilight, and when the dragons looked up, which they rarely did, there was only an empty void above them.

Smoke seeped from the corners of the dragon’s mouth as he looked out over the barren landscape. He was Askook, the biggest and most powerful of the dragons, and he ruled over them. His long tail, spiked at the end, swung lazily behind him as he flexed his muscular body, covered in scars from the many battles he had been in with other dragons to defend his place as emperor.

This world had little vegetation and no game for the dragons to prey upon, but this did not matter. At one time, before they had been banished here, they had eaten their fill on the multitude of worlds they had once ruled over. But here, they did not need to eat. Their scaly bodies needed no nutrition. It was part of the curse of the dimension they now lived in. They did not age, nor did they die, except in battle with one another.

Smaller dragons had gathered at the base of the mountain as if waiting for something. Most were black, and a few were gray, but there was only one golden-scaled dragon.

A long time ago, Askook, the golden emperor, had ruled the Milky Way with an iron-clawed fist. But then he and his kind had been banished to a blighted world in this cursed dimension.

Blowing a ring of fire, Askook took flight. As the ring grew, he folded his wings, plunged through it, and was gone.

Appearing on the other side of the world, he soared across the sky with his massive wings spread wide.

Gazing up, he saw what the other dragons had been waiting for. High in the sky was a small, swirling white patch of space. He smiled. It was nearly time. The barrier between the dimensions was thinning. Within a few weeks, perhaps a month, it would open, and they would once again have a chance to rule the Milky Way.

He blew another fire ring and dove through it. It was time to gather the other dragons.

On Aries Prime, the ancestral seat of the dragons before they had been banished, a white humanoid fox walked on all fours down a passageway in the Spartacus family castle. The castle’s halls were empty. As the long, muscular fox made his way toward a large wooden door with a dragon carved into its dark surface, he moved like a ghost in the night. His paws made no noise, making him the perfect assassin. He wore a white cape emblazoned with the image of two foxes fighting each other.

As he approached the doors, they opened inward. He did not slow his progress as he strode into the large study beyond.

At the back of the room, an older woman sat at a large desk. She turned slowly but saw no one. Her eyes narrowed, and she floated in her hoverchair to the middle of the room. An elaborate crystal chandelier in the shape of a dragon hung directly over her head.

I know you are there, she called out in her high-pitched, raspy voice.

And who has called for my services? the white fox said from somewhere in the room.

I am to be your employer. I have a delicate job that needs to be done, she said, turning her hoverchair in the direction she thought the voice had come from.

And what service may I do for you and your family? This time, the voice came from behind her.

Come out, and we shall talk of it.

The service first.

I want you to kill the king, she said coldly.

Her eyes went wide as a knife was pressed to her throat, but they quickly narrowed into slits. No one treated her in this fashion and lived to tell of it, but she was impressed by how this fox creature could move so silently.

So, you are the one who can clean up the problem my grandsons could not?

He lowered his knife and stepped in front of her. Standing on his rear legs, he peered down at this old human. He would have preferred to kill her, for he hated all humans. But when his pack sent him to do a job, he had no choice but to obey its leader, his father.

I am, he said with a growl as he stared into her sharp, dark eyes.

He did not care who this old woman was. He was here to do a job, and his pack expected nothing less from him.

She floated back behind her heavy hardwood desk. As the young white fox padded across the room to stand on the other side, she stared at him. She would have preferred that his pelt be used as a rug in front of her desk, but she needed a job done. From what she had been told, none were better at assassination than this fox creature.

As I told you, we need you to kill the king.

His face betrayed no emotion.

Does this not bother you?

They sent me to perform a service. If it is to kill the king or the fox he dishonored by mating with her, that is all the better. And now she carries his cubs. It makes no difference to me. I will do you this service to restore honor to her pack.

Very well. She pulled open a drawer and took out a heavy leather bag. The coins inside jingled, and the sound made his eyes narrow. She set it on the desk and slid it across to the other side.

He whipped out a dagger and made quick work of the cord that tied its top. When he pushed the bag over, metal coins with the young king’s profile pressed into their centers spilled out.

I will send these back to my father, the head of our pack.

You will keep none for yourself?

This service, I will do for you. I will take my fee when I see his blood spilled on the floor. It will give me greater pleasure when it mixes with her blood.

Even though she hated these fox creatures, she found herself liking this one. And what is your name?

Raider.

Chapter 1

An Unwanted Duty

One of your kingly duties is to visit industrial complexes that provide the Royal Fleet with needed materials, AAL told Richard as they walked down the curved staircase after leaving Richard’s privy chambers.

You mean Antonius?

Exactly. And I know what you are about to say. You don’t want to have anything to do with that fat man. Am I correct?

You know me all too well, AAL. And yes, you know as well as I that he is on Spartacus’s side and all but ignored me at his party after I was proclaimed the rightful king.

Still, he is expecting you and has requested a visit.

This surprised Richard. I wonder why?

Perhaps he has had a change of mind.

Yeah, and if he dropped five hundred pounds, he would still be fat.

AAL gave Richard a flat stare.

All right, I will keep my mouth shut when I visit him.

Later that night, Richard and Amber stood in their privy chamber in the underground complex on Earth. I wish I could accompany you, my love, she said.

Richard embraced his fox-like mate and ran his hands through her red fur. But your physician, Reynard, wants you to rest because our cubs are growing much bigger than he thinks they should, Richard said.

She leaned her head against his chest. I know, my love, but if we take the needle ship back to Krel and dock in your ship—

Our ship. What is mine is yours, sweetheart. But no, please do as he asked.

She snuggled into Richard’s chest and nodded.

He rubbed her belly, which protruded much more than he would have expected at this stage of the pregnancy. The last thing he wanted to do was place her and their cubs in harm’s way.

Andreas stood in the doorway. Is Mother going to be all right? he asked softly.

Andreas came from a water world with two forms of humanoid life. One lived in the ocean, while the other lived on the planet’s only landmass. He was a hybrid of both species, and neither wanted him. When Richard and Amber visited the ocean world for repairs to his ship, they’d met Andreas and discovered he was being mistreated and lived in squalor. Now he was their son.

Amber climbed out of bed and went over to him. She pulled him as close to her as she could. Yes, my little cub, I will be all right. This is a normal part of a female’s life. Your brother and sister are big because they are growing strong and healthy.

He looked up and kissed the side of her muzzle. Then he turned and walked away with a smile on his face.

On the way back to his room, he stopped in the middle of the hall and moved a hand to his chest and the other to his right side with a pained look in his young eyes.

As Richard walked out into the common room the next morning, Fern and Captain Pricher entered through the double doors. Fern, a centaur and the head of the palace, had dark eyes with streaks of gold, black hair that hung down past her shoulders, and brown skin. She wore a black leather top with light brown straps that crossed between her shapely breasts. Her horse half was pure white, contrasting with her dark hoofs.

Captain Pricher was over seven feet tall, with curly blond hair. He had the body of DaVinci’s David. Andreas called him Uncle Apollo. The boy had a habit of collecting aunts and uncles. He also called Fern his aunt.

Captain, is my ship ready to depart?

Sire, when you give the word, I will arrange to transport you to the ship.

Very good. The word is given. Richard had always wanted to say that.

Your majesty, will Amber and Andreas be staying in the palace? Fern asked with a hopeful tone in her voice.

Not until I return, and perhaps not then. Amber feels very safe where she is.

Richard saw the centaur’s disappointment. Walking over to her, he reached up and touched her arm. I am sorry, Fern.

Could I go and see them? Captain Pricher cocked his head to the side as he waited for his answer. He could not understand where Amber would feel safer than in the palace.

I am sorry again. I dare not allow anyone to know. It is not that I do not trust you or the captain. If word were to somehow get out... Well. I’m sorry.

Tears filled Fern’s eyes. She was very fond of Andreas. She had lost a colt, and her mate, Ixion, the centaur ambassador, felt it would help her get over her grief if she held this position. He also wanted her to be close to Amber so that when she had her cubs, Fern could help protect them.

When I return, I will bring them back for a visit, said Richard.

Fern wiped the tears from her eyes as she smiled down at him.

Richard took a shuttle to his ship, which was surrounded by ten military shuttles. He leaned in his seat against the porthole frame and watched Krel drop away below him. He wished with all his heart that Amber could be by his side, but he took solace that she and Andreas were safe in the underground complex back on Earth.

No one on Earth knew of the complex, which lay under the Atlantic Ocean. It had been built by a race of beings that had left the Milky Way over a million years ago.

Damn, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think Earth was safer than Krel, he thought.

Unable to sit there and do nothing, Richard stood and walked past his knights. He wanted to sit in the co-pilot seat, and when he reached the front of the ship, he was glad the pilot was alone.

She was studying her holo instruments and did not notice him standing by the empty seat. A moment later, she glanced to the side and did a double-take. Sire?

May I sit here, please?

Of course, sire.

Richard slid into the seat and looked out the front at his approaching ship. After all this time, he still could not believe how much the ships in the kingdom looked like the ones on Battlestar Galactica. The one difference was that they did not have launch bays on the side. The shuttle bays on the kingdom’s ships were on the bottom.

The bay was open at both ends, and he shivered at the memory of being sucked out into the icy void of space when Senator Spartacus had tried to kill him.

The Spartacus’s and Plantagenets were two of the kingdom’s founding families. That the Plantagenets had been chosen to rule had made them mortal enemies for over twenty thousand years.

Richard shivered again as Senator Spartacus’s words echoed in his mind, the last thing he’d said to Richard before the bay’s shield had failed: Hello, cousin. Long live the king.

Sire, the pilot said softly.

Richard focused his eyes on her. I am sorry. I was lost in thought.

He sat back and stared out the front windows. On the bottom of the outer hull of the shuttle bay was a golden lion’s head with a dragon clenched in its teeth, the symbol of his family, the Plantagenets.

As they approached the opening, several shuttles were in the bay, all for his use. Once the shield had sealed around the shuttle's hull, Richard stood and readied himself. Walking down the ramp, Captain Hatt was waiting for him.

Welcome on board, your majesty, she said.

Thank you, Captain. It is good to be on my ship and out in space.

She peered into the shuttle as though expecting to see someone else.

Will your son, Andreas, be joining us? The crew is quite fond of him.

Richard sighed. No, Captain. He is staying with Amber.

Very well. She sounded a little disappointed.

I also wish they could have come with us.

The captain escorted her king to his stateroom. It looked similar to the last, with three seats set in the middle of a larger room. It would work for Amber and Andreas but would have to be added to when his two cubs become old enough to sit with them. This whole section had been replaced after the attack, which still stuck in his craw.

Instead of relaxing, he made his way to the bridge. Once there, he walked over to AAL, who was standing by the ops station. Leaning close, he whispered, I thought you were staying on Krel? I want you to stay close to Amber, just in case she goes into labor.

AAL nodded and said softly, I will be leaving soon, Richard. I just wanted to check over the systems before you depart.

Thanks, AAL.

Richard turned to the captain. Where is the complex I am supposed to visit?

It is around a proto system five hundred standard light-years away.

It must be a mineral-rich system.

It is, your majesty.

Sire, AAL said, if I may have your leave, I will return to Krel.

Yes, of course.

Helmsman, once his shuttle has cleared the ship, please take us out of orbit, Captain Hatt ordered.

Aye, sir.

On the first day out, Richard climbed into bed, lay back, and stared at the ceiling. I wish I could be with Amber, he thought.

Shaking his head, he disappeared.

In her room, Amber was lying on her side when she felt the bed move. All right, young man. You should be in your bed and sleeping by now.

Her eyes went wide as someone kissed her neck. Turning quickly, she pounced.

Damn it, Amber! What the hell...

She instantly realized that she had her fangs pressed to Richard’s neck. His eyes were wide.

She pulled back and glared at him. What the hell, indeed! You know better than to scare me like that!

Andreas charged in before Richard could answer. Get away from my mother...

He stopped beside the bed and looked from his father to his mother. A moment later, he cocked his head to the side and said, Is this another one of Father’s pranks, Mother?

Rubbing Richard’s neck where her fangs had dug in, she said, Yes, Andreas. As I told you before, your father has a strange sense of humor. She slapped Richard on the cheek.

Hey, your slaps hurt, babe.

Next time, Father, you should not try to scare Mother. You know she is pregnant, and scaring a female could cause a miscarriage.

When did you get so smart? Richard said with pride.

Come here, my little warrior, Amber said.

As Andreas climbed over his father, one of his small knees slipped between his legs. Grimacing, Richard held himself. Kid, you have bony knees.

Oblivious to the pain he had caused, the boy snuggled between his parents with a grin. Richard was happy to have his family together but disappointed that he and Amber could not be alone.

Seeing his look of disappointment, she leaned close and kissed his face. Next time, do not try to surprise me. She gave him a knowing smile.

"Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind.

After a week of travel, the ship arrived at the proto-system. Richard was impressed. From this distance, he could make out two fuzzy protoplanetary disks. As they moved deeper into the system, a gigantic industrial complex came into view, feeding off the first planetary disk.

This is amazing, Richard said to no one.

Cargo ships streaked toward and away from the complex. Newer-looking ships made their way past as if on a shake-down cruise. Richard’s ship approached the complex and came alongside a castle on an astroid. The castle looked like the one near Krel, only ten times its size.

This guy doesn’t do things halfway, does he, Captain?

The captain and many other crew members gave Richard an I wish he would talk like everyone else in the kingdom look.

One of your shuttles is being prepared to take you over to his residence, Captain Hatt said.

Very well. Let’s get this over with.

Your majesty—

Richard let her get no further. I am still working on the way I talk, Captain. I have spoken this way for nearly sixteen years, and I find it more difficult to change than I thought it would be.

Very well.

She raised a hand to her ear and listened. "Sire, the shuttle is ready.

Chapter 2

An Unexpected Welcome

Antonius’s estate was on top of a sculpted asteroid, surrounded by a transparent bubble. Richard’s shuttle approached and slowly pushed its way through.

As the shuttle flew over the well-manicured lawns, Richard saw sculpted hedges, fountains, and ponds of many different sizes. The castle sat on a steep-sided hill, with other outbuildings scattered behind it.

Richard did not expect to meet Antonius when they landed, but he prepared himself for the possibility anyway. Even though Antonius had not been friendly before, Richard hoped they could start again on a new foot. This was the first mission he had taken on his own. AAL had always been with him before, but he’d felt Richard could be on his own this time. Twenty Royal Knights would escort Richard everywhere he went. Captain Pricher had seen to that. Thirty others would secure his way.

The shuttle landed, and Richard waited for his knights to secure the area. When he finally stepped onto the ramp, he gazed at the protoplanet behind the castle. It was a fantastic sight.   The protoplanet’s matter swirled around a glowing center. Giant factories ringed the edge closest to the castle, and robotic ships darted in and out of the matter, bringing raw materials to the waiting factories. There were thousands of factories, and countless cargo ships coming and going. This was something he’d never imagined he would see, and he had seen many marvelous sights since arriving in the kingdom.

When he pulled his eyes away, to his surprise, he saw that Antonius was waiting for him on the pad. Antonius’s three servants, more like guards, stood close to him in case he fell, and the same drone hovered above his head to stabilize him. He was dressed in the same brilliant blue shirt and orange pants. On his head was perched the same red-rimmed hat. Its top was a yellow pyramid that reminded Richard of the one on his DNA.

Richard did not wait for Antonius to float his way. Instead, he strode up to Antonius, who struggled to drop to one knee. Richard narrowed his eyes as he held out his hand. As Antonius pressed his plump lips to its back, Richard thought, Gross!

The drone helped Antonius back to his feet. Welcome to my home.

It is an honor to be here.

All but two of Richard’s Royal Knights had entered the castle to secure the premises. To the side of the ramp leading up to it was a slide. This was not a normal slide for kids. Instead, when you stood on a lighted circle, you were frozen in place and zipped to the top. Richard had slid on one the last time he had visited this man.

Antonius floated over to the ramp and motioned for Richard to stand on the lighted circle first. The last time Richard had visited Antonius, Amber and Kit had been with him, and Amber had enjoyed riding on it. He wished she were by his side now.

Before Richard could stand on the disc, two of his knights hurried past him, and one went sliding up first. Richard stepped on the next circle, and it carried him up to the castle’s entrance. Antonius went next, and then his servants. The other knight rode up last.

At the top, Antonius smiled and said to Richard, Please join me, for it is time for the evening meal.

Richard followed Antonius as he floated into a large banquet hall. The sound of his footfalls echoed throughout the hall. He and Antonius were the only two to dine tonight. Richard’s knights took up positions around the hall, close to him.

Antonius drifted over to the immense banquet table, over two hundred feet long and over twenty feet wide, and Richard took a seat across from him. He could not understand why the table needed to be so long.

Servants brought platters of food to each side of the table, and Richard and Antonius selected what they wanted. By now, Richard knew what he liked. Food in the kingdom was similar to Earth’s, and he was getting used to it.

Antonius’s two plates overflowed with food. Richard had just one plate for his meal, but he had another filled with desserts.

Wiping his double chin with a napkin he kept in his sleeve, Antonius said to Richard, I want to apologize for the last time we met. I was rude to you, and it was uncalled for.

Richard swallowed the bite he’d taken of a pastry and wiped his mouth. Apology excepted, and I hope this is a start to a good friendship.

Antonius looked pleased.

Maybe AAL is right, and he has changed his mind about me.

After an hour of pleasant conversation, Antonius offered to show Richard his castle. Richard had always loved old castles, and though this one was not all that old, it was still a castle.

As they left the dining hall, Antonius turned to Richard’s knights. Your king is quite safe here within these walls. I would be honored if you good knights would partake of the food your king and I were eating.

The captain of the knights hesitated.

I will be all right, Captain, said Richard. Please enjoy our gracious host’s accommodations. I will be safe with him.

The captain bowed his head to Richard and followed one of Antonius’s servants through a service entrance, looking none too sure.

As Antonius floated in front of Richard, and with his servants close at hand, he told Richard of his family’s rich history as they moved down a spiral stone stairway. Eventually they came to the lower part of the castle, which, at first glance, reminded Richard of a dark dungeon. There were multiple rooms with solid-looking wooden doors. A few even hand small openings with bars over them, and torches lined the rough stone walls.

Antonius showed him the many artifacts his family had collected over the millennia as they went in and out of rooms.

Richard was enjoying the tour and felt quite relaxed. Paintings and tapestries hung from many of the walls, and he studied each.

They entered a darker room, and when the lights came on, he saw that it was much smaller than the others.

Antonius floated over to a painting and stopped. It was dark, and Richard had problems seeing it. You may be particularly interested in this painting, sire. It comes from the planet of Beowulf and depicts a scene out of their history. It also shows how we humans feel foxes should be treated.

Antonius motioned, and a light came on over it. The painting depicted a white-furred fox being skinned.

Richard recoiled in horror, and he was about to complain when something struck him on the back of the neck. With a start, he reached up, and found something protruding from his skin. He pulled it out and gazed down at it with shock—it was a small dart.

Spinning around, he saw the drone floating over Antonius’s head. A small hole had opened in its front, and inside, Richard could see the tip of another dart.

Before he could move, the dart shot out of the opening and struck him on the other side of his neck. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the nicely woven carpet.

The last thing he saw before everything went black was Antonius floating over him with a smile on his round face.

Chapter 3

Wilfred’s Cautious Decision

Keep him well drugged, Antonius said to one of his servants. He escaped Spartacus’s traps, and we do not want him to slip out of mine.

Walking past Antonius, the servant reached down and pressed a device to Richard’s neck. There was a hiss, and Antonius grinned as Richard moaned through his gag. Then he frowned as Richard’s bowels released.

Clean him up. We do not want Spartacus to find that his prize has soiled himself, he said coldly.

He floated over to a holo-screen and called up the head of his security forces. Is the drone ready?

Yes, my lord, said a thin man with a long, thin face and short black hair. He was dressed in the same blue and orange uniform as the others.

Send it to intercept the nearest Spartacus family ship.

Yes, my lord.

Antonius turned back to Richard and looked down his nose at him. Prepare him to be handed over to Spartacus, he said coldly, and dispose of the Royal Knights’ bodies. Then target his ship and destroy it.

After everyone had left the room, an older man looked around the corner of the door and then slipped into the room. He hurried over to Richard, dropped to one knee, and brushed the young king’s blond hair out of his eyes.

At the sound of someone approaching the room, he leaped to his feet and rushed over to a dark corner. With his heart in his throat, he waited. He breathed easier as the click of bootheels on the corridor floor receded, and then he walked back to Richard. He wanted to do more, but all he could do was try to make sure his king would not die.

You were kind to me once when I held the door to the privy for you, he whispered.

Anger grew as he thought of Antonius.

I cannot believe he is my son.

Captain Hatt was sitting on the