The Chase: Book One from Igsylgard The Kingdrom Of Dragons

Chapter One: A Traitor's Daughter

Over twenty-thousand years ago, the human race and the dragonfolk were both on the brink of extinction. They battled fiercely warring and raving. The death toll was catastrophic. The humans believed the dragonfolk were soulless creatures and a scourge upon the earth; better as trophies than as living beings. The dragons looked down upon mankind, believing they should worship and cower before their power and mysticism. Neither was willing to relent. That is when Elohim, Lord and master of all folk and nation came down to arrange a pact between human and dragon. If either race should cease to exist, so the other would too die out and perish. If they could not get along – they served no purpose on the world he created. The dragons being too prideful spat on this agreement. Elohim was furious – he told he dragonfolk that if they could not learn to respect mankind, they would be forced to live as man does. No longer would taking human form being a learned trait – dragons from then on would be born in the shape of man – and have to learn to be dragons.

"That's why I can't pull my wings out yet?" Semi asked looking up at the maid. The woman began to answer when the building began to shake. The furious roar of dragonfolk pierced the air. The Old Tale would have to wait. If the men had begun fighting as dragons, nothing within fifty kilometers of the palace was safe. The palace grounds covered a space of thirty kilometers.

"Suada take Semi and Auster. I am going to find father – we have no choice, we have to leave." As the eldest among the children stood the other two leaped to follow suit. "If he has joined the battle it may to late – hide quickly you know what to do if I don' return." Aura told the nurse-maid, handing her small sister over and forcing her brother's clutching hand from her skirt.

"Yessim" the maid nodded grabbing the boy's hesitant arm as the small child wrapped her tiny legs around her hip. She quickly turned around and opened the closet. She slid the slightly hidden bottom door open and coerced the boy inside, handing the boy the small girl whose thumb was firmly jammed into her mouth. "Stay here, stay hidden, stay quiet. I will be right back." She whispered to the boy. She closed the door and the closet and went to leave the room. As soon as she opened the door, the heat rushed to her face. On the right side the blaze had all but destroyed the building, to her left the bodies of slaughtered maids, attendants, and family lined the walls. She looked back to the right, the beams were falling, but the fire was all but doused, the building was fortified of stone and alabaster, not much wood to burn but enough to light every room and hall ablaze. The white and gold patterned carpet was singed black and stained red. The tresses that lined the hall were all but a shadow of what they were just hours ago. She inhaled sharply. The skies flashed with fire and lightning, the shadows of dragons and flaps of wings mingled in the air. Thinking back on the Old Tale the woman understood now why humankind feared the dragonfolk.

"Pantha!" a voice called. Suada turned back to her left to see Aura running toward her. "They are coming, we have to get the little ones out. It's too late mother and father are -." As the girl reached Suada and out of breath grabbed her arms, Suada tried to pull her out of the way. It was too late, an arrow was lodged in her chest.

"Rhea, Rhea.... Aura!" Suada called out shaking the girl. Eyes barely open, the girl's hand placed something cold into hers. It was understood. Suada was certain she would never forget how she looked then. Aura was beautiful. No one in their right mind would say otherwise. At sixteen she appeared very much a grown woman. Her thick blacked braided locks smelled of roses (as well as smoke at the moment), her lips were round and plump, chin round and jutting forward so teasingly slight. Aura's cheekbones were high and her cheeks only just shallow enough to show without looking gaunt. Her eyes were large and almond shaped with thick eyebrows perfectly shaped making it haunting as they had always been perfect. Her back markings danced around her long neck to betray a shockingly stunning design. Her arms were long and she had very feminine hands. Her bust was average but with her curves they fit perfect to shape. Her hips were wide which only made her deep mud colored skin seem like it was by a quite purposeful design. She looked like a softer version of her mother. Her white and gold dress was unrecognizable. Torn, singed and bloodied yet she made it look beautiful.