The Dragon Rider Read online

  About the author

  T.J Weekes is a twenty-four-year-old inspiring author, who spends most of her time reading or writing. She has been writing since she was just fourteen years old, and has always wished to see her book turned into a film.

  With this dream, she hopes to push her work to the best of her imagination.

  T.J. Weekes

  The Dragon Rider

  Vanguard Press

  VANGUARD EBOOK

  © Copyright 2019

  T.J. Weekes

  Chapter artwork by Paige Stueven

  The right of T.J. Weekes to be identified as author of

  this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the

  Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  All Rights Reserved

  No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication

  may be made without written permission.

  No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced,

  copied or transmitted save with the written permission of the publisher, or in accordance with the provisions

  of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended).

  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 (PAPERBACK) 978 1 78465 486 3

  Vanguard Press is an imprint of

  Pegasus Elliot MacKenzie Publishers Ltd.

  www.pegasuspublishers.com

  First Published in 2019

  Vanguard Press

  Sheraton House Castle Park

  Cambridge England

  Printed & Bound in Great Britain

  Dedication

  I would like to firstly thank you all for reading my work. It has been a long road to get it here, but without the love and support from those readers online none of this would’ve happened.

  I’d also like to thank my mother and father for their continued support of my work, and for pushing me when I wanted to give up. Without them, I know I would’ve stopped.

  Prologue

  Centuries ago, dragons and their Riders were free from any battles. The lands on either side of the twelve apostles lived in perfect harmony and wealth, but all of that changed when a rare dragon egg from the sacred Cave of Noelle was stolen. The egg was the sole life-force that kept the dragons and their Riders connected in ways you could never imagine. The dragons once held great power that would often be channelled through to their Riders. The Riders were able to tap into their dragon’s power, with some Riders being able to bend certain elements; but since the egg was stolen, their powers vanished with it.

  They were unable to move for days on end as the power drained out of their body – nobody knew where the dragon egg had gone. King Albert from the land of Athena had sent his men on their horses to search all the villages, but nothing was ever found; the egg had simply vanished.

  King Albert demanded the people to come forward if they knew anything and even placed coins up as a reward. Many people had come forward with things they had made up, apart from one. A fellow member of King Toban, the ruler of the Dark Mountains, had come forward saying it was the king’s men who had carried off the egg.

  King Albert immediately sent his men off to the Dark Mountains to confront King Toban, but on arrival for their meeting, they were ambushed. King Toban had sent the fellow member over to the land of Athena in hopes that King Albert would take the bait.

  When the men had set foot into the Dark Mountains, they were set upon by rogues. The rogues had outnumbered King Albert’s men, who sadly perished. Since then, a century has passed and the dragon egg has never been returned. Hopes of the dragons gaining back their powers had vanished, along with the hope of a mass dragon army.

  Since the disappearance, the amount of Dragon Riders has fallen. Only a few Dragon Riders have been chosen over the past few years, and all men had to be trained in the event of an attack.

  In the kingdom of Athena, a lone priest would write down each name of the men chosen by their egg to join the long list of Dragon Riders. Never has a dragon left their Rider’s side. The men that are destined to become Dragon Riders are fierce men that are willing to risk their own life in order to protect the kingdom they serve under; but most of all their dragons. When a dragon is hurt, their Rider also feels the pain. They are connected in ways we mere humans do not understand.

  My mother always told me that the dragons appear to the Riders in their dreams when they are young; but, of course, being a child you only think it is your imagination. All that changes on the day of your eighteenth birthday.

  On the night of your eighteenth birthday an egg appears, and that egg is your dragon. Once that dragon has been found by its Rider, it will hatch and leave a marking on its Rider. No two markings have been found to be the same.

  Mother always told me that the marking given by the dragon represents the dragon’s inner power and ability that it could have had. I always wished I could be a Dragon Rider and often dreamed about serving the kingdom. When I told my mother about my dreams, she dismissed it, since a woman could never be a Dragon Rider. Only men have ever been chosen.

  In the history of Dragon Riders, the priests have only ever written down men. People believed that the egg that had been stolen from the Cave of Noelle could have held the key for more Dragon Riders.

  When women talked about wanting to be a Dragon Rider, they were mocked and sometimes tortured by their fellow villagers, with some men joining in. The Riders were all self-righteous men that thought too highly of themselves.

  The role of a Dragon Rider is to protect the land of Athena and help those in need. It’s their duty to be the first line of defence in a war, and they are trained harder than any soldier in the land. If a Dragon Rider fails to help, then the land is bound to perish.

  When a Dragon Rider is found, they are put through various challenges to find out what category they fit in. There are two types of Dragon Rider Defence Teams. Fighter Type dragons are the ones that head straight into the battlefield. Strategic Type dragons are the type to fly around as they come up with a plan on how they can take out their enemy. Using these two types of Dragon Defence Teams has seen the kingdom of Athena succeed in many battles.

  Men from each village would have the honour of being selected to become a Dragon Rider. The first and only from my village was my best friend, Markus. Our village sits on the side of a mountain, overseeing the River of Peace and the Kingdom. It’s a hallowed ground filled with kind and loving people. The name for our village was given to us for our contribution to soldiers and the Dragon Riders. We help provide weaponry and food, and this is why we were given the name Village of Knights Edge.

  When Markus was chosen as a Dragon Rider, our village celebrated for days on end. Everyone was so happy that a simple farming boy could be chosen. Markus was a mischievous thing. He was always getting into trouble with the women in the field, but he always had such a big heart. He always loved helping people, and would always help those in need.

  Markus was a skinny boy with shoulder-length dark brown wavy hair. He had the bluest eyes I had ever seen. He was so kind to me and always treated me like a princess. When I found out he had been chosen as a Dragon Rider, it broke my heart. To know I was losing my best friend killed me; however, I had to be happy for him. He was perfect to be a Dragon Rider.

  The night of his eighteenth birthday, he had been out in the field gazing at the moon when he noticed something shining in the tree-line. After closer inspection, he had found a green egg. The green egg had hatched at the slightest contact of his skin, leaving a marking on the
base of his neck.

  I hadn’t found out about him being chosen until six dragons and their Riders landed in the fields just outside Knights Edge. As soon as I saw Markus walk towards the Dragon Riders, I knew I had lost him. Before he left, he vowed to return to me on the day of my eighteenth birthday, and as that day slowly approached, I grew more and more excited.

  Mother had told me he might not remember the promise he made, but I knew he would. He never went against his word, and I knew he never would.

  One

  It was a bright sunny day in the village of Knights Edge, with not a hint of a fluffy white cloud in the blue sky. Birds whistled as they flew around in the sky, enjoying the day ahead of them. Out in the fields, the farmers were getting ready for the harvest that was soon to come. All the plants looked healthy and rich, and the hopes of a good harvest hung in the air.

  Inside one of the many small huts that littered the open field, I was running around looking for my boots. Today was one of the rare days I was not needed in the fields, and I was going to spend it by hunting. Although I still had much to learn, Markus had taught me a few tricks when we went out hunting together. Those days I missed greatly, but the thought of being reunited with him soon filled my heart with joy.

  Grabbing my bow that lay beside my nap-sack, I pushed my arm between the gap of the curved wood and the string, so the bow hung off my shoulder. Tying the small arrow bag around my waist, I made sure I had all the things I needed, before heading towards the door.

  “Abagail, make sure you’re back before supper.” Turning round, I gazed at Mother as she tied a small white apron around the lower half of her dress.

  Smiling, I nodded. “I will.”

  Opening the door, I ran towards the tree line, passing a few of the farmers on my way. Running through the forest, the wind ruffled through my long brown hair as I swiped at large trees with a wooden stick. Laughing at the feeling of being completely free, I continued farther into the thick forest on the outskirts of Knights Edge. As I came to a small clearing, I noticed a few birds sitting on a large log not too far from me. Smirking, I grabbed a rock. Tossing it slightly in the air, I caught it in the palm of my hand, before throwing it in the direction of the birds. At the sound of the rock hitting the log, the birds scattered off into different directions.

  Shaking my head, I grabbed the bow as I climbed onto the large log. Jumping down, landing in a crouched position, I pulled the wooden bow off my shoulder and grabbed an arrow from my quiver tied around my waist. Lining up the tip of my arrow at a large oak tree where a small squirrel was hanging, I aimed the arrow at the small creature. Releasing my finger, I watched the arrow sail through the air. The sound of the arrow piercing through the oak tree echoed throughout the forest, sending some birds up in the trees flying into the air. Smiling, I jumped up from my crouched position.

  “Perfect,” I said, as I placed the wooden bow back over my shoulder. Walking towards the oak tree, I bent down to collect my kill. Although it was sad to see such a cute little animal die, I knew this meat would come in handy in the days to come. Putting the squirrel in a small bag around my shoulder, I headed towards my special spot not too far from the village.

  Walking towards a clearing in the trees that led to a cliff, I gazed out at the scenery in front of me. Being here was so peaceful. The cliff looked out into the River of Peace and overlooked the kingdom of Athena off into the distance. From here you could see the dragons flying around, as they went about their daily jobs.

  Smiling, I sat down on the soft grass below. Just watching the dragons flying about made me yearn to be a Dragon Rider. I would dream about dragons and flying, but I knew I could never be one. I envied the men that were chosen, but most of all I envied Markus. How I wished to be in his place and live as a Dragon Rider. Letting out a sigh, I looked towards the scenery.

  As I gazed at the castle, I wondered what he would be doing. Would he be training? Would he be thinking of me like I was thinking of him? Or would he be flying around with his dragon Torren?

  Sighing once more, I tilted my head to the side. “I hope you’re having fun, Markus,” I softly whispered, as I gazed at a dragon off in the distance. Taking a deep breath, a small smile filled my lips.

  As I made my way back through the forest, the sound of a twig snapping caught my attention. The forests were full of horrible things, and rogues were the worst. Rogues were horrible creatures that craved for blood. They stood like normal men, but their facial features were like anything but normal. Their teeth were pointed and sharp, and they had blood-red eyes.

  People believed that they were once men but were touched by a black healer. Many rumours spread about the rogues, but one story about them was true. The rogues worked for King Toban and often went around tormenting people just for fun. These were the creatures I feared the most.

  Stopping in my tracks, I closed my eyes to listen to the sounds around me. Markus had taught me that closing my eyes would allow my hearing to become stronger, allowing me to sense things only great hunters could.

  Slowly reaching for my wooden bow and an arrow from my waist, I aligned the end of the arrow up with the string of the bow. Taking a deep breath, I spun around, with my arrow pulled back and ready to shoot.

  “Jesus, Alex,” I said, as I stared at the person in front of me. Lowering my weapon, I shook my head.

  Standing in front of me with a smug look on his face was Markus’ older brother, Alex. Unlike Markus, Alex had short brown hair and dark brown eyes. Alex was nothing like Markus, and I was grateful he wasn’t. He was a smug man who thought much too highly of himself.

  Since Markus left, Alex had looked out for me. He often came to the fields to help me get my work done quickly, but it was always an awkward time with him. Although it wasn’t as good as what Markus did, he still offered his help when needed.

  Smirking, he crossed his arms. “See, you still have guts. If it were any other woman from the village, they would have screamed their way out of here.”

  Placing my bow and arrow away, I smiled. “I could have shot you. You do realise that, don’t you?”

  Shrugging, Alex gave his infamous crooked smile. “I highly doubt a woman could shoot as well as a man.”

  Raising my eyebrows, I shook my head. “That’s what you think,” I whispered, before turning round to walk back to the village.

  “Hey, wait for me!” Jogging to my side, Alex placed his arm around my shoulder, only to have it shrugged off. Pulling a face, he looked around. “You were looking at the castle again, weren’t you?”

  “Why? Can I not?” I asked, with a tilt of my head. “It’s not against the law of the High Priests, is it?”

  Whistling, Alex smiled. “Don’t let the High Priests hear that, or you’ll be locked up for sure.”

  Rolling my eyes, I pushed his shoulder. “Sometimes I wonder if you’re really Markus’ older brother.”

  Placing his hand on my shoulder, he gave it a gentle squeeze. “Come on, you know I’m the better brother.”

  Noticing his hand, I took a sharp intake of breath. “Let go, unless you want an arrow through your hand,” I said, and, as if my shoulder had suddenly caught fire, he pulled away.

  Frowning, he muttered, with a shake of his head, “You know, sometimes I wonder if you’re a man in disguise.”

  I shook my head and smiled. “Come on.”

  As we reached our village, I grinned at the women working in the field. They all looked really tired, and some of them appeared to be struggling in the sun’s rays. My mother was the head worker of the girls and guided them in the harvesting month. It was hard work for her, but there was no other choice. It was the only way we could get coins to buy meat.

  Opening the door of our small hut, I noticed that Mother wasn’t there.

  She must’ve headed towards the market for food, I thought, as I placed my bow and arrow bag on the floor.

  Pulling the dead squirrel from my bag, I placed it on the table for Mother to clean
later.

  Walking towards a small mat that lay underneath a small window, I rubbed the back of my neck. It was the perfect place to view the moon at night and watch the stars twinkling away. Lying down on the mat, I closed my eyes. A little nap wouldn’t hurt. Not too long after my eyes fell shut, sleep overcame me.

  Walking around in a dark, damp, misty cave, I looked around for an exit. It was cold and the sound of water dripping from the cave’s roof echoed throughout the small space. As I walked deeper into the cave, two small blue eyes off in the distance caught my attention. Squinting my eyes, I pushed away a large cobweb as I made my way closer to the blue orbs.

  As I got closer to the eyes, they grew in size as a large dragon’s head came into view. A gasp left my lips – the size of its head shocked me. It was bigger than any dragon’s head I had ever seen before. Its scales seemed to be a light shade mixed between blue and white. It took my breath away how beautiful this dragon was.

  The two horns on the top of its head curved downwards in a graceful way, shaping the dragon’s long face. As I gazed at the dragon, I didn’t feel afraid, and I strongly felt like I knew it. Reaching a hand out, I went to touch the base of its head, but as my fingers came into contact, it vanished into smoke.

  ***

  Sitting up, I looked around the room. Touching my forehead, it was damp with sweat. The dream felt so real that I was sure I wasn’t dreaming. It was as if I was living that moment, and it wasn’t just my mind playing tricks on me. I knew what I had dreamt was real, but no one would understand or believe me if I told them.