Read Online Dragon Stones (Book One in the Dragon Stone Saga) by Kristian Alva - Free Book Online Page B

deceiving. You have underestimated me, and that
will be your doom.”
    The captain chuckled. “Is that so?” Two more
soldiers stepped inside. They shut the door behind them, so the
villagers couldn’t see what they planned to do.
    “Yes, it is so. I was simply waiting for all
of you to arrive.” Carina’s hands glowed fire-red, and she jerked
her fists in the air.
    “By Golka! Captain, she’s a mage!” one of
the men shouted. “Stop her!”
    The door hinges melted shut, trapping all
the men inside. “The door! It’s sealed shut! She’s cast a spell on
it!” another cried.
    “Kill her!” The men descended on Carina, but
it was too late. Her body had turned bluish-white. They touched her
skin and their hands burned.
    “Augghh! She’s on fire!” the men screamed.
The heat inside the cottage increased, and the air began to
crackle.
    “Enjoy my hospitality, you
fiends! Incêndio! ” Carina roared, and the men burst into flames, screaming in
agony. Their clothing, hair, and bodies burned in icy blue fire—the
mage’s flame. The spell took enormous reserves of energy, and
Carina collapsed, taking her last breath. The cabin filled with
acrid smoke, and it started to creep into the root
cellar.
    Smoke trickled into the
cellar. Elias could no longer see anything. He stumbled and fell in
the darkness, swearing as his hit the ground. The cellar was almost
empty, but he knew there were some onions and turnips in the
corner. He felt around in the darkness until he found the
vegetables, and then added them to his pack. Holding back tears, he
exited the cellar. “She sacrificed herself
to save me.”
    Fragrant black smoke filled the air; all of
Carina’s herbs were burning. Elias had cover to escape. He had to
leave now—before the rest of the village discovered what was
happening. As he reached the forest’s edge, he could hear dogs
howling and villagers shouting. Behind him, his neighbors screamed,
“Fire! Fire!” Elias ran, without looking back.

    ***

Chapter 6: Thorin
Ulfarsson
    Elias ran for many leagues without stopping,
until he was far from the village. When his side ached, he
continued to walk as fast as her could. The weather was miserable,
and a slow drizzle of freezing rain began to fall. He walked deeper
into the forest, staying off the paths.
    “ I should have obeyed my
grandmother the first time,” he thought.
He would return the stone to the tree where he found it. After
that, he would travel to the Elder Willow, as his grandmother had
ordered him.
    Elias was grateful for his wool cloak, which
kept him warm even when wet. Elias was also thankful for the
weather, because the rain would help hide his tracks. He eventually
reached the clearing where he had found the stone over a week ago.
As he walked towards the tree, he was surprised to see a boy on the
ground, face down.
    His curiosity overcame his fear, and Elias
went to the boy’s side, tapping his shoulder.
    “Boy—are you alright?”
    The figure spun around in a flash and
grabbed his arm. Elias was shocked to see that it wasn’t a boy, but
a little man! A black-bearded dwarf, no more than four feet tall;
his face wrinkled like an old potato. But none of his hair was
streaked with gray. It was impossible to tell his age.
    His eyes were like bits of black coal. “Who
are ye?” he asked.
    “I—I’m Elias! I’m here to… return something.
I thought you were a boy.”
    He laughed. “I’m a dwarf! Haven’t you ever
seen a dwarf before?”
    Elias shook his head. “No—never. Are you
hurt? Why are you lying on the ground like that?”
    “I fell from the tree. I was tryin’ to reach
inside. My old bones don’t move like they used to. Dwarves don’t
belong in trees, I’ll tell you that much.” He groaned and touched
his forehead, which had a quickly rising bump. “Blast! I can’t wait
to be gone from this freezing, miserable forest and back to Mount
Velik!” He got up with some difficulty, and extended his hand.