Dragonsown: Surface- Young Adult Adventure Fantasy

Dragonsown- Surface

PROLOGUE

         In the darkness, he felt Siah stir, and Severn was awakened from a deep sleep. 

        No Siah, not enough time has passed. Please go back to sleep, he implored her.

For Severn, enough time to heal his wounds would never pass. He was content to rest within the safe abyss of his mind— forever if need be. In sleep, he could pretend the horrors of their past were just nightmares. Yes, it was best they remained asleep. Siah persisted, and soon other voices joined hers. Some in agreement, some only angry at being awakened.

Stubbornly, Severn blocked them all, determined to return to his slumber. Siah refused to be ignored. Her thoughts stabbed his mind like human spears, bringing back painful memories. Yes, my love. Of course, I remember what you have sacrificed, he assured her. You are right, it is my responsibility. From the bottom of his soul, Severn heaved a great sigh. One could only hide from the past for so long. In the darkness, for the first time in a long time, his large amber eyes opened, their vertical pupils adjusting to the inky black.

CHAPTER 1

          For Kael of Renwick, it was to be a morning of many feelings. As he ran freely through the valleys of his father's land, the rising sun warmed his back, fresh grass crunched beneath his boots. A smile spread across his face, but it fell away swiftly as the ground suddenly rose to meet him.

Grass and dirt filled his nostrils. Sneezing, Kael sat up. Studying the area around him, he frowned. Kael would have sworn he had been tripped. Approaching footsteps thudded behind him. Cursing, Kael tried to quickly pick himself up, but felt his brother's hands land on his shoulders, pushing him down again. Keaton leaped over him and sprinted off, laughing his irritating maniacal laugh.

He looked back at Kael long enough to yell, "Lucky for me twins aren't identical in every way!" and threw a rock in Kael's direction. Dodging it, Kael now felt annoyed. He needed to catch up to his brother or he would have to listen to Keaton gloat for the rest of the day. His twin was insufferable when he won! Determined to make a strong last attempt, Kael found his legs and jumped up. Taking off at a full run, he soon forgot about his inopportune tumble. Keaton and Kael loved to race. It was a rare time they were able to spend on their own without a chaperone. Their father hadn't been letting them out of late. "Trouble brewing," Lord Graydon would say as an explanation and leave it at that. Their father was a man of very few words, which was probably for the best since most often his words weren't kind. While Keaton had grown bored and taken to pulling pranks on the staff, Kael didn't mind the time at home. It gave him a chance to train with his horse, practice his archery and have time away from Keaton. He got along with Keaton, mostly, but he sensed distance growing between them lately. Since birth, they had been inseparable, but at age fourteen they were beginning to differ in opinions. Kael frowned, after having just been knocked to the ground, it was clear they were starting to differ in maturity as well. Reaching the edge of the forest, Kael inexplicably came to a halt before entering the trail. Far ahead, Keaton whooped like a mad man. The wind rushed by forcefully, bending the treetops, their branches complaining. All around him leaves rustled, and the back of Kael's neck prickled. For a moment, the path pulsed with his heartbeat. Then everything stilled. Cautiously, Kael stepped onto the path. Shaking off his apprehensions, he picked up a jog. His chances of catching up had shrunk significantly but he didn't want to risk another fall. His knee still hurt from the first one. Scanning the trail ahead for potential hazards, Kael noticed movement among a cluster of bushes. Now walking, he stared hard as they shook and quivered. Only animals large enough to do him harm could make bushes move like that. The rippling along the thicket's edge suddenly ceased and along with it, Kael's breath. He stopped and focused on a darkened area where he was sure he had seen something stir. Gradually, a slight shadow emerged between the leaves. The forest was quiet. Kael watched the shadow for so long with no further movement, that he began to feel a little ridiculous. He started to chuckle but choked it back when the shadow turned to him. Kael stood frozen in place, eyes wide, as a rustling began moving towards him. He opened his mouth, but fear gripped his tongue. From what seemed like miles away, Keaton called, asking him if he had given up.