Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns

Dragonia 1: Prologue

Prologue

Year 425 D.A.

Stealing a small ship and deserting the war had seemed a good idea at the time, but now Galedar began to second-guess the decision. A strong wind grabbed the sails, pushing the small ship northwest. Galedar and Brom tried to move the tiller to redirect the rudder. They needed to change the direction of the ship, but as they used all of their strength, the tiller broke. Everything else from then on ended in failure. The wind thrashed against the sails, causing an accidental jibe, snapping the boom in half. Their course was set northwest, and there wasn't anything they could do about it. Rain streaked down from the sky. Galedar had never seen such a storm. The two men dug their nails into the wooden mast, holding on for dear life.

Northwest of Kaeldroga, the direction the ship traveled, was mostly unexplored waters. Few ships had traveled this way and returned; the ones that did, returned with wild stories about dangerous exotic beasts. Galedar wasn't thrilled to explore whether the rumors were true.

They found no sleep. The storm refused to let up, pushing them further out to sea and toward danger. Early the next morning, before the first sun rose in the sky, the ship thudded against something hard. It jarred both men from their stupor. They sat on the deck of the ship, clutching whatever they could. The men stared at each other. Another thud shook the ship. Galedar stood, careful to keep hold of the mast. The sky was dark, but as he focused, he saw a thin sliver of white sand glowing in the twilight. A grin spread across his face.

"Land!"

Brom's eyes widened as he glanced to Galedar.

A large wave slammed against the ship. The impact knocked Galedar off his feet and over the rails onto the sandy beach. Galedar pushed himself up. The ship wavered, tipping over toward him. He tried to scramble out of the way, but he fell back onto the ground. Hands clamped onto his shoulders and he was dragged through the sand. He rolled over and saw the top of the ship slam onto the beach, shattering where he had just lain. Brom looked down at him, holding out his hand. Galedar accepted it.

"Thanks," he croaked.

"Why did we sail north again?" Brom asked, pulling seaweed out of his red beard.

"We were supposed to travel south, around the war, until the wind swept our ship up here," Galedar said.

Galedar helped Brom to his feet, and the two of them warily studied the land.

"Where are we?" Brom asked.

"I don't know," Galedar replied with a shaky voice.

"I never knew there was land north of Kaeldroga. How did we reach it in only one night?"

"The storm."

Brom raised a brow.

"The wind was pushing us hard. I've never seen a ship travel that fast before. I'm surprised the sails didn't rip."

Brom's hands began to sweat. He cleared his throat. "I don't like the stories that come from this far north."

Galedar laughed nervously. "You mean the monsters? Surely you don't believe them."

Brom shrugged. "I don't know what to believe. Everyone who travels northwest by sea either disappears or returns crazed with tales of monsters."

"Do you think this is where everyone disappears?"

Brom tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Galedar raised his eyebrows. "What if there are other survivors like us here?"