The dragons, p.1
The Dragons, page 1
part #2 of The Onis Chronicles Series
THE ONIS CHRONICLES
* * *
THE DRAGONS
From the Series:
REIGN OF THE ANCIENTS
PART 2
By: R.E. DAVIES
Copyright and Disclaimer
Copyright © 2021 by RE Davies
ISBN: 978-1-7374498-4-3
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be used, reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author. For information email: redaviesauthor@gmail.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Original cover artwork, used under license from: danielegay/Adobestock.com, Warpaint/Shutterstock.com, Atelier Sommerland/Shutterstock.com
Cover design and editing by RE Davies
Book design and production by RE Davies
Map illustrations © 2020 by RE Davies
All Character Illustrations © 2022 by RE Davies
Song Composition © 2021 by RE Davies
www.redaviesauthor.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MAP OF ONIS
NOTE TO READER
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE: Silvers
CHAPTER TWO: Helpless
CHAPTER THREE: Despondent
CHAPTER FOUR: Decisions
CHAPTER FIVE: Stones
CHAPTER SIX: Onward
CHAPTER SEVEN: Gorge
CHAPTER EIGHT: Blood
CHAPTER NINE: Gortax
CHAPTER TEN: Awaken
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Brakdrath
CHAPTER TWELVE: Perception
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Strategy
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Reactions
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Pynar
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Voices
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Du Noir
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Trust
CHAPTER NINETEEN: Faolin
CHAPTER TWENTY: Bells
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Drakka
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: Run
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: Heat
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Fire
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: Ignisar’s Lair
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: Burning
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: Encouragement
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: Shoreline
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: Blue Sea
CHAPTER THIRTY: Fonzar
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: Intentions
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: Honor
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE: Cordial
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: Golds
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: Startled
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX: Dragons
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: Rage
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: Pain
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: Bewildered
CHAPTER FORTY: United
GLOSSARY
Pronunciations
Ancient Language
Drow Language
Dwarven Language
Elven Language
Bestiary
AWAY ON A JOURNEY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book is once again dedicated to my supportive family, and
also, to all of those who have encouraged me along the way.
Your love and belief in me keep me moving forward
on this incredible journey!
“Believe in yourself and all that you are.
Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle.”
-- Christian Larson
NOTE TO READER
I am so excited to have you continuing this journey with me!
Between writing “Part 2: The Dragons” and “Part 3: The Rising” I decided to share my character sketches with you. Eight illustrations have now been added to each book, but if you missed any from Part 1 and would like to see them, you can find them on my website listed below, under the gallery tab.
I’d love for you to connect with me, R.E. Davies (@REDaviesAuthor), on Facebook, or you can sign up to my Readers List via my website for news about giveaways, upcoming books, links to songs, maps, and other great information! Be sure to check your inbox and spam folder for your confirmation email. You will not be subscribed until you confirm your email address.
As a new author, I humbly request that you remember to leave a review or rating for the “Reign of the Ancients” novels in order to help others discover Onis for themselves. Your feedback is very important to me and greatly appreciated.
Enjoy!
RE Davies
www.redaviesauthor.com
MAP OF ONIS
Welcome to the land of Onis!
Double click the map to zoom and expand.
PROLOGUE
OR
the final chapter of “The Prophecy”
It was frigid on the mountaintop, not just from the ice and snow, but from the aura emanating off of the dragons, sending shivers up Laila’s spine. She could not have prepared herself for the number of dragons she would be faced with, nor the hatred radiating from them. Dozens of Silvers glared at her, showing remarkable restraint, as she stepped slowly through the pathway they were creating for her, assembling on either side. They watched as she traversed the path before her, like a prisoner running a gauntlet, a random dragon snapping its jaws threateningly at her every few feet. Her body trembled as she tried to keep calm, holding her head high, exerting a false appearance of confidence. The beasts emitted low growls, baring their teeth as she passed, eagerly anticipating the finale.
Laila tried desperately to look straight ahead and not be intimidated by the fierce creatures surrounding her, but she couldn’t help glancing to and fro as she’d catch some of their thoughts floating around between them. None were good thoughts. All the dragons seemed to want her dead, with many confused about why Aeris would even tolerate meeting with her at all. The dragons ranged in size and age as she progressed through the masses. She even noticed a very young dragon not much larger than herself tucked behind her mother’s wing, full of curiosity.
As she reached near the center of the mountaintop, the final dragons parted, revealing before her a great Silver perched on a large jagged platform. The colossal dragon stood tall and proud with its head held high, staring down at her, studying her. She was by far the largest of all the Silvers, and the quills cascading down her neck were like a thick thatch of fur. Her once-shiny silver scales appeared dull and darkened with time, and her face was even wrinkled and sagging through her scales with age.
Laila had practiced in her head a hundred times what she planned to say to the monarch dragon if she should be so lucky as to be granted an audience. However, standing here now, she couldn’t remember a word of it. The thoughts of the dragons were crowding her mind as she tried to block them out.
When the great dragon before her heaved a low rumbling breath impatiently, she realized it was now or never.
“Great Aeris,” Laila began. She spoke aloud in the Ancient tongue, speaking firmly in an attempt to show bravery, even though she felt very little of it at this moment. She recalled Turathyl had warned her not to mind-speak directly to the monarch unless she permitted it, so believed it best to address her this way. Kneeling down, she bowed her head in obeisance before continuing. “I have traveled very far to speak with you about the war that rages between your kind and the elves.” Laila looked up at the great dragon towering over her, searching anxiously for a reaction. Aeris continued to stare at her apathetically. “I have come to beg your forgiveness for the wrongs of the past and plead with you to put an end to the war. I wish to speak of peace among our races and all of the races of Onis.”
For the first time, Aeris reacted to the young elf, but it was not as Laila had been hoping for as the monarch erupted with a loud rumble of dragon laughter. She shifted on her platform, her old bones and the rock beneath echoing their struggles, and she brought her massive head closer to Laila to get a better look at the strange little elf.
The young girl kept her eyes averted from the blackness of the dragon’s intimidating stare and remained still. Aeris was so close Laila could hear the air flowing through her nostrils, could smell her foul breath as it wafted over her face, could hear her saliva drip against the ground and her tongue as she wet her muzzle. Laila winced as the dragon sniffed at her hair, realizing that at any moment, the monarch could easily snatch her up in her jaws. Although only a few seconds had passed, it felt like an eternity as Laila stood her ground, feeling the judgment and hatred of the old dragon pouring over her.
After Aeris’s amusement and curiosity had ceased, she glanced nonchalantly over at Turathyl, her next in command, and ordered, ‘Kill it,’ then began to turn away, the other dragons all roaring and cawing with excitement.
Having heard her command, Laila disobeyed Turathyl’s advice and shouted with her mind to Aeris as she dropped to her knees, ‘No! Please! Give me a chance to explain!’
Startled, Aeris whipped her head back around and glared at the elf with disdain. ‘How is this possible?!’ she boomed toward her. ‘No elf can commune with dragons!’
Laila grabbed the sides of her head as the voice came blaring into her mind. When it eased, she looked back to Aeris.
Attempting to display a little more courage, she slowly brought herse lf back to her feet and said with conviction, ‘I, Lailalanthelus Dula’Quoy, born of Lady Leonallan Dula’Quoy, have come before you, aided by the spirits of the land, to ask for your help in putting a stop to the war.’
‘The spirits?’ Aeris asked apprehensively. ‘I am not naive, little elf. Only dragons can invoke the spirits. You are nothing. You have come to my home, attacked my children, and now further insult me by speaking nonsense.’ She took a step aggressively toward the edge of the platform, scowling down at Laila, digging her claws in over the side. The young elf grew more nervous under the gaze of the resentful dragon but tried her best to hold her ground.
‘I was curious to see what was causing such a disturbance to my mountain. Now that I have seen you for myself, I am no longer impressed. You have no right to ask of me what you do. You are too young to even grasp what it is that you are asking of me. This is not a war that I started, it was the elves that started it, but it will be I that finishes it when I rid the land of you all!’ Aeris growled, enraged.
Turathyl took a slight step forward, her head bowed in homage. ‘Monarch,’ she interjected, and everyone turned their attention to her. ‘Great Aeris. I sense something different in this elf. Does she not remind you of anything? One of our own cubs, perhaps?’
Indulging Turathyl for a moment, Aeris glanced over the elf with scrutiny. Looking upon her golden locks, pointed ears, and tiny form, she saw an arrogant elf cub standing before her and nothing more. However, she was reminded of something else...
‘Dula’Quoy? Is that your name?’ Aeris asked, more calmly.
Laila nodded.
‘Lady Leonallan Dula’Quoy. Yes, I remember now.’ She looked over to Turathyl. ‘Did you not extinguish the life of Lady Leonallan some sixteen years past?’
As though struck through the heart, Laila whipped her head around and stared at Turathyl in shock. Turathyl felt her eyes bearing into her but dared not return her glare, afraid to blow her cover if she showed her emotion and guilt over that act. Instead, she looked only at Aeris and replied, ‘You did issue that command, Great Aeris.’
‘Yes, I did. But as I recall, it was you that carried it out, was it not?’
Turathyl ached as she nodded her head in confirmation.
Aeris let out a chortle of dragon laughter. ‘So, that is what this is? You thought you might fight your way up the side of my mountain and have your revenge by toying with me and killing my kind?’ She laughed again. ‘Be my guest. There is the slayer of your mother. I heard she mangled her up very well to send a clear message to your people. Go ahead, let us see you, little elf, slaughter the dragons and win the war!’
The mountaintop was filled with dragon laughter at the notion, and Laila’s heart began to pound hard in her chest. She clenched her fists at her side, fighting back her anger.
Turathyl looked at Laila, seeing the pain and hatred filling her eyes as they glistened, filled with tears. She shook her head slowly to the girl, hoping that she would stay focused and not be overcome by emotions. Laila clenched her jaw, wanting so much to lash out at Turathyl, to call her out on everything, to scream at her for her lies, but she didn’t. Rather than succumb to her anger, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. And then another.
As she stood there completely still, trying to calm herself, she felt the spirits surrounding her, dancing about her, taunting her to grab them. Ignoring their taunts, Laila hoped that she could reason with the ancient beings without the aid of the spirits’ powers. Instead, she mind-sent out for all the dragons to hear, ‘I am not here for revenge. I am here because I believed in the prophecy that was told to me. I believed that I could make a difference and that you could find it in your great heart to forgive and take pity on the other races. They are no match for your greatness, but they deserve to be here.’
‘Prophecy?’ Aeris inquired, slightly intrigued. ‘Of what prophecy do you speak?’
Turathyl stepped in again, making sure all could hear, ‘I believe she speaks of the Omi Méa.’
The mention of a Great Spirit called the attention of her kin and monarch, and she reminded them of the prophecy from long ago, nearly forgotten by all.
‘Following the death of the Earth Mother, the One Mother, of Onis Caelis, the land of Onis will endure a great suffering. Valleys and streams will dry, becoming cracked and barren. The soil will spoil the harvests, leaving wilted crops and famine throughout. The hatred and anger between the races will grow as they struggle to survive, blaming one another for the destruction of the land, and the Reign of the Ancients will be like no other, full of wrath and vengeance.’ As Turathyl recited the words, the interest of the other dragons piqued, particularly that of the younger generations who had not yet heard the prophecy.
Laila again felt the spirits tugging at her, insisting that she surrender to them. So, ignoring them no longer, she opened her arms and tilted her head back, letting all four spirits enter her one after the other until her body surged with their power.
Turathyl continued, ‘When the land of Onis and its people have endured their suffering, there will be born of an elf a Great Spirit who will unite the races. That spirit will engage all of the races and will know no boundaries between them.’
The air on the mountaintop stirred as a slight gale began to form. Laila stretched her arms out while keeping her eyes shut, pulling from the air. It whirled around her, lifting her as it had before, but only a few feet off the ground, and more controlled. The dragons watched the young elf curiously as Turathyl continued reciting the prophecy.
‘That spirit will confront the ancients of the land and ask forgiveness for the two-leggeds’ past actions. The Great Spirit, the Omi Méa, will be guided by the earth, the air, the fire, the water, and the phantom realm to bring forth peace among all the evolved races.’
Thunder rumbled through the sky, and rain began to shower lightly over them. The rain was warm from the spirits as it quickly gained in intensity and melted the snow, wetting the mountaintop with a glossy finish. The dragons’ interest was piqued by her display and by Turathyl’s tale of the prophecy, but they were not yet impressed—having similar control over the air spirit.
The gold spirit shone next within the elf, and she let it flow forth readily, as it caused the mountaintop to quake and crack. Then, a spiked wall erected around Laila, pointing outwardly towards the dragons. They jumped back from the sharp points, becoming uneasy of the elf, and looked back and forth between each other, unclear of what to do. Those nearby flew away from her while still staying close enough to watch, enthralled with the story and the strange little being.
When the ground ceased quaking, Laila brought down the rain harder, then summoned the droplets with the blue spirit. The raindrops pooled and swirled, dancing throughout the sky in unison like a large flock of birds, creating a beautiful mural of shapes and patterns. The ancients watched the beautiful display, slightly soothed by its hypnotic movements.
‘The Omi Méa will bring about a new era and replenishment of life over the land, changing all that was, and all that will be.’ Turathyl bowed her head toward Laila upon concluding the prophecy.
As the elf closed her fist to the sky, the rain became bright like little lights, and then each droplet burst into fire, showering down toward them like miniature meteors. They all ducked low, becoming frightened of the display, cawing out their displeasures. Laila held her hands out toward the dragons, and the tiny fires fizzled out right above their heads before they could make contact. After the fire stopped, the rain continued to pelt down over the dragons, their wet scales sparkling like gems in the storm.
Never before had any of them seen such a spectacle involving all four spirits by a single two-legged. Several of the dragons were growing nervous, unsure of the elf or what the prophecy was predicting, while others had become captivated, eager for it to be true, and tired of the war themselves.
Seeing the demeanor of her dragons shifting as they watched the elf curiously and cautiously, Aeris grew worried of their intrigue, whether being reminded of the prophecy or hearing of it for the very first time. The great monarch dragon’s displeasure increased, unable to see past her enmity for the elven race.
