Dragon blood

[Jane Toombs]

Main Characters:
Heroine: Zorna, who has special abilities--gray eyes, dark hair
Hero: Torm, a Traveler from places unknown with unknown talents--turquoise eyes, auburn hair
King Fedder: Weak, easily led--gray hair, pale blue eyes
Queen Vella: Strong, ambitious--green eyes, blond hair
Prince Sark: Believes anything he wants is his due--brown eyes, hair and mustacher
Agwan, the Seer: has many wizardly talents: Scant white hair, hazel eyes that change color during spells
Xerenith (call me "Nith): Black dragon of many powers, including mind-talking, winged, formidable talons and can shoot flames from his mouth, plus his tail has a deadly poison barb on the end. He can be villain or savior and sometimes seems to be both

DRAGON BLOOD

Zorna, the Chief Scanner, stood at her view-post atop the wall that surrounded the city of Topaz. Both gates were open, with caravans and those riding harthers entering and leaving. Topaz sat in a pleasant green valley because of the river Havasu that flowed along one side of the walled city. But her attention was fixed on the other side, where greenery gave way to sandy wastes, then mountains. She should be able to see everything in her range of vision, but instead there was a large blank space. Calling up her Scanner vision that turned her eyes from gray to black, she drew in her breath. Impossible! A huge black dragon crouched there, staring directly at her with his sinister yellow eyes.

[CharmedGirl]

Puffs of smoke billowed from his snout, and Zorna tensed, suddenly more frightened than the time she envisioned someone slicing another's head off. Because the dragon looked ready to charge at her.

Her hands shook, and a bead of sweat broke out across her forehead. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The dragon flew up into the sky, and twisted through it like a tornado. He was fast, and gaining speed every moment he was in the air. He was amazing to watch and she couldn't drop the vision. She had to see more, even if she was terrified of how dangerous he was.

"Zorna, Zorna, what's happening?" Someone said, then grabbed her arms and gave her a little shake. Still she couldn't break the connection. "Come back to me. Don't let your vision destroy you."

[Jane Toombs]

Angela. Please remove 'horror flick' because this is intended to be a kingdom in a fantasy world that isn't ours and this sounds very Earth contemporary. You can substitute anything else that sounds unmodern. Otherwise your paragraph was great. Warning to whoever comes next: I hope whoever has grabbed her isn't intended to be the hero because she really hasn't met him yet and whoever this is sounds like he or she knows her. And, remember this is in a view-post high on the wall, so not much room. There's a cast of characters to chose from or you can add one--whatever. Jane

[CharmedGirl]

Angela. Please remove 'horror flick' because this is intended to be a kingdom in a fantasy world that isn't ours and this sounds very Earth contemporary. You can substitute anything else that sounds unmodern. Otherwise your paragraph was great. Warning to whoever comes next: I hope whoever has grabbed her isn't intended to be the hero because she really hasn't met him yet and whoever this is sounds like he or she knows her. And, remember this is in a view-post high on the wall, so not much room. There's a cast of characters to chose from or you can add one--whatever. Jane

Okay thanks for letting me know all this Jane. I just saw that it was a paranormal story, so I went with contemporary. And I was making the person who grabbed her to be Agwan because he knows of her special abilities.

By the way, the name is Bec not Angela. Not that I'm offended because Angela is a nice name and all. LOL

[adesray]

Agwan, the seer, held her by the arms shaking gently.

Zorna's eyes turned back to gray as she went back to her normal vision. "Was that..."

"Aye. I believe so. It would seem that Xerenith has returned," Agwan tapped his finger against this lips in thought before adding, "but for what purpose?"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, my dear. We must go to see King Fedder."

Zorna had moved behind a proportion of the stone wall. Yet even with the stones between her and Xerenith she thought she could 'feel' him.

Taking a deep breath, she shook her head in agreement with Agwan.

Agwan's white hair reflected in the moonlight. His hazel eyes lined with wrinkles, showing his life span of many years. As his feet shuffled down the hollowed halls of the castle, Zorna followed.

Telling King Fedder was pointless. Queen Vella was the true leader of the people, but Zorna would never speak this aloud. To do so would put her life in great danger.

Once Agwan and Zorna reached the King and Queen's chamber, a guard was sent to summon the leaders. Zorna stood behind Agwan hidden by the shadows. Her ears were opened and listening, her eyes turning a dark black as she scanned the crowd.

Once the thrones were occupied, Agwan shared his news.

[CharmedGirl]

Agwan, the seer, held her by the arms shaking gently.

Zorna's eyes turned back to gray as she went back to her normal vision. "Was that..."

"Aye. I believe so. It would seem that Xerenith has returned," Agwan tapped his finger against this lips in thought before adding, "but for what purpose?"

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, my dear. We must go to see King Fedder."

Zorna had moved behind a proportion of the stone wall. Yet even with the stones between her and Xerenith she thought she could 'feel' him.

Taking a deep breath, she shook her head in agreement with Agwan.

Agwan's white hair reflected in the moonlight. His hazel eyes lined with wrinkles, showing his life span of many years. As his feet shuffled down the hollowed halls of the castle, Zorna followed.

Telling King Fedder was pointless. Queen Vella was the true leader of the people, but Zorna would never speak this aloud. To do so would put her life in great danger.

Once Agwan and Zorna reached the King and Queen's chamber, a guard was sent to summon the leaders. Zorna stood behind Agwan hidden by the shadows. Her ears were opened and listening, her eyes turning a dark black as she scanned the crowd.

Once the thrones were occupied, Agwan shared his news.

"The black dragon is back among us again."

"Xerenith?" Queen Vella inquired, her voice more than a fraction annoyed. "How did we allow that to happen?"

"Yes how indeed." Agwan answered unashamedly, having no qualms in questioning the motives of the Royals. For he could get away with such blatancy without being reprimanded.

They'd imprisoned the black dragon less than a month ago for being a public nuisance. He'd taken to the skies, breathing dragon fire over the city of Topaz. Why was anyone's guess? Yet, Xerenith's reason was because it brightened a town that was so lacklustre.

Agwan's hazel eyes roamed the room, settling on Prince Sark. He figured the boy would have something to do with this. He was always around when there was trouble.

Prince Sark bowed his head, not meeting anyone's eyes. "I had nothing to do with Xerenith escaping."

"Then you know who did?"

The prince nodded, and his eyes came up slowly to meet those of his mother. He swallowed hard, knowing he'd suffer consequences for what he knew, but he told them anyway. "Ask father all about what he's done."

[adesray]

King Fedder shifted uncontrollably in his seat. Zorna watched from under veiled gray eyes. Queen Vella's face was frozen with shock. Agwan's face was red and flushed with anger. And Prince Sark seemed more pleased with himself than he should be.

Zorna waited for King Fedder to speak and explain away the Prince's accusation but he remained eerily silent. How many scanner's had been harmed while trying to coral Xerenith? How many villagers would now be harmed as he roamed the skies, lighting the night with his flame?

Gulping deeply, Zorna was set to leave. She could stand this no more. She would seek out her own help and rid the castle of Nith.

But before Zorna could leave the room, she heard a voice speak. "Husband? What have you done?"

The rustling of robes echoed in the hallowed hall as King Fedder stood and paced. His finger tapped his lips, his brows knitted together as he concentrated. A smile spread across his face and his eyes looked to the ceiling, his hand going up as if something had dawned on him. When he looked back to his wife a pleasant, relaxed expression dotted his visage. "Wife, I thought it best."

Sitting back upon his throne, the King seemed immensely pleased with himself. Zorna could stand it no longer. She jumped forward, words pouring from her lips before she could stop herself. "You thought it would be best!!! Best for whom? For you? What about your subjects? What about all those people who perished while trying to protect this kingdom from Nith. What did he promise you? Hmm? What is so important that you would let the dragon go?"

The King frowned. He seemed to be rethinking his decision.

"Well, my King? Do you not have an answer for your behavior? What makes you believe that you can place all the villagers in danger just because you think it is best?!" As Zorna spoke, her eyes turned black. She scanned the room seeking a power source. What she would do to the King when she found one, she didn't know. Her anger was building up in her body until she felt as if she was ready to explode.

Agwan must have sensed the change in Zorna. "Guards! Guards! Restrain her."

Zorna turned her fierce gaze towards the seer. His hazel eyes were changing color. Before Zorna could make one move she was on the floor gasping for breath.

[Jane Toombs]

Hey, right on track. We're off and running. Jane
For Bec: Sorry aout the wrong name. Jane