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  An Elf, a Dragon, and a God’s Intervention

  Tales of Ferrês Story #2

  By: K.M. Jenkins

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  An Elf, a Dragon, and a God's Intervention (Tales of Ferrês, #2)

  Acknowledgments

  An Elf, a Dragon, and a God’s Intervention

  Afterword

  Become a Dragon Ryder!

  Join My ARC Team!

  Connect with the Author

  K.M. Jenkins’ Published Books | Tales of Ferrês Series

  K.M. Jenkins

  Copyright © 2018 K.M. Jenkins

  All copyright for all material within, remains with the author.

  All copyright for the cover art is held by the author and is not transferable.

  First Edition

  Published September 20, 2018

  All rights reserved.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or re-distributed in any way. The authors hold all copyright.

  This book is a work of fiction and does not represent any individual living or dead. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the authors’ imaginations , are used fictitiously or with permission.

  Cover design by KJ Magical Designs, LLC

  Editing by Allison Reker

  Formatting by K.M. Jenkins

  The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of a copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by fines and federal imprisonment.

  For permission to reproduce or distribute any part of this book, contact the author directly at: [email protected]

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank Allison D. Reid for being the awesome editor she is. Thank you, for turning my error filled pages into finish works that everyone can enjoy.

  An Elf, a Dragon, and a God’s Intervention

  Blake and Meisha glided towards the tops of the forest trees, eager to begin their quest for the fire rubies. Soon they would complete the mural that lined Meisha’s cave. Blake was excited about finally getting the mural finished for Meisha. She was so in love with shiny things, but then what would you expect from a red dragon. In many ways her greediness for jewels had begun to affect him. Blake started to notice that even his living quarters had begun to cluttered with treasures from their adventures.

  The wind ruffled his cropped black hair, wiggling his sharp ears with its pounding power. His eyes gleamed as he looked beyond Meisha’s thick neck into a clearing. Mindspeech came in handy for ryders when flying in high altitudes, especially with the wind snatching sound away.

  “Blake, do you see anything? I am beginning to feel famished. Do you feel like taking a break?”

  “The sun is hitting the lunch hour—I believe we can stop for a meal. Besides, the chance of finding the rubies later will be far greater than right now. Feel free to choose your landing spot, but make sure that it isn’t within range of the forest. We don’t want to announce our presence just yet.”

  “Aye, little one.”

  Blake braced himself as she flew toward the safety of the mountain cliffs south of their location. These mountains were the home of the dwarves. They weren’t friendly with him after the prank he played last summer on their King. Apparently, it wasn’t wise to blast fire around the room and singe off dwarf beards. Ryders have had limited access into the courts since. The only ryder with free access was Argoth, the King’s brother, most likely because dwarves show more kindness to their kin.

  Meisha landed with a thud in a small clearing encircled and shielded by sharp boulders. Blake was pleased with the shade they provided after he had been flying in the heat of the sun all morning. The only problem he faced was seeking food for himself, from the look of the sharp rocks Blake imagined dozens of ways he could get impaled.

  He guessed that Meisha sensed his thoughts, for she gave him a nudge with her red-scaled snout hoping to calm him.

  “Don’t worry, little one. I will go and find food for both of us—you just sit here and relax. While I am away you can contemplate how we will enter the forest once the appropriate entrance is revealed.”

  Blake didn’t respond with words. Instead he just gave her a nod to reassure her that he was listening. She spread her long wings and launched herself into the air. Blake watched Meisha until she was out of sight, then turned his attention to his surroundings. There wasn’t much to look at besides rocks and moss.

  He walked around in a circle until he found a spot that was comfortable on the soft moss and sat down with a plop, preparing himself for a long wait.

  BLAKE DOZED OFF WITHOUT realizing it, rubbing his eyes awake. I only shut my eyes for a second. What was that? Blake’s acute hearing allowed him to detect sounds in the surrounding landscape that most others couldn’t. The subtle pelting of pebbles put him in alert mode. His ears twitched at the sound of padded foot beats on the soil. He wasn’t entirely sure what kind of creature could be making that sound. Not that many creatures had come to live in this inhospitable land of rocks. The only thing he could guess was that a dwarf might be nearby, and that wasn’t good.

  With his hand on his sword hilt he waited, praying to the gods that it was a mountain lion, or anything other than one of those grumbling dwarves. Salza grant me this one pardon, Kero will have my head if I start anything with the dwarves again.

  He heard it coming closer, step-by-step. When the anxiety was too much to bear, Blake jumped into the air, slashing out with his sword. He did not want to harm the intruder, just show that he was armed. But to his surprise, he found himself lying flat on his back with his legs and arms sprawled out around him.

  How can this be? I didn’t even see anything move. What in the world could be so fast?

  “Hello, there! You aren’t one who can react very swiftly, are you?”

  He looked around to find the source of the voice. “Where are you?”

  “I’m over here, to your right.”

  Blake found himself facing a wolf-like creature, known throughout the lands as kyres. From what he could tell by the kyre’s voice and the look of its body, it was a she.

  “So, may I ask why you are here dark lady?”

  “Lady? Well that is a new one.”

  “And why is that?”

  “I’m not much of a lady. Actually, I am more animal than anything.” She laughed.

  “Lady wolf, not to be rude, but you have yet to answer my question.”

  “Oh, yes, I forgot about that. I saw you and that red dragon flying over the forest, so I came to investigate.”

  “Hmm... are you saying that you live inside the Forest of Ferrês?”

  “Yes, my family and I live on this side of the forest to make sure that intruders don’t enter it and live.”

  “Oh...” he gulped. “Are there by chance any others around the forest besides you and your family?”

  “Oh yes, my kind have packs all over the forest,” she said. “But I am afraid you came to the forest at the wrong time of the season. The pups are beginning to leave their dens and the adults are far more territorial than usual.”

  “Mmm...that could put a damper on things.” Blake rubbed his temples thinking about solutions to the problem presenting itself. “May I ask what your name is before we go on with this conversation?”

  “Oh, I am sorry I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Blackmoon. I am the daughter of DarkDeath.”

  “DarkDeath!”

  “Yes, he is the King of the forest. No creature ever stands a chance against him once they cross hi
s path.” Her tail thumped in amusement. “He isn’t one for letting an elf fly into his forest on the back of a dragon to take things that belong to him.”

  Blake’s mouth twitched in response to the threat. He looked at his surroundings while thinking of the best response to make after such a remark. “Perhaps, I should introduce myself,” he said giving her a smile. “My name is Blake.”

  “Oh my lady! You’re the Fire Lord!”

  Blake smiled, “I guess you heard of me.”

  “Of course I have, the whole forest has been abuzz since last summer,” she barked with laughter. “The dwarves are still up in arms about what you did to their King’s beard.”

  Great, of all the things to be known for, he scratched his head. Leave it to those dwarves to go overboard with their ranting.

  “What am I known for among the forest?”

  Blackmoon looked at him. “Who said that?”

  Blake felt sorry for the little krye when Meisha came crashing down on the rock right above her head. Darkmoon screeched in terror when she realized there was a dragon over her. The high pitch made Blake’s ears ring. He wanted to scold Meisha when he saw Blackmoon’s body shaking like a fuzzy maraca. Blake put his arm around the krye to soothe her of the fear that touches all creatures when they are in the presence of the great dragons.

  “Well, what am I known for? Do you think you can answer it fuzzball?”

  “Play nice, you scared her half to death.”

  She rolled her giant eyes, “Very well.”

  It took a few moments for Blackmoon to get her bearings. Blake could feel her heartbeat slow to a steady pace as the young kyre calmed herself. Then the most unexpected thing happened. She howled, but he didn’t know if it was out of fear or excitement.

  Blackmoon’s eyes shined as she locked eyes with Meisha. “You’re known as the mighty red that rules the skies, Meisha!”

  Meisha purred deep within her throat. She was always a sucker for praise. Blake smiled at her. “At least someone is held in high regards among the worlds beyond our own.”

  “Perhaps we should invite little Blackmoon to lunch?”

  “Dragons—you’re all the same,” he smiled. “Butter you up with compliments and you’re no different than a purring kitten.”

  “Humph...don’t flatter yourself so much little one.” She gave him a wink and snaked her body over to him revealing his saddle pack on her side. From the look of things she had done well on her hunt for food. The bag was overflowing with all kinds of goodies. His mouth was watering with anticipation.

  “Blackmoon, would you like to join us for a bite?”

  Her tail wagged with the eagerness of any creature that is given the promise of food.

  “Yes, please.”

  Blake reached up and untied the pack letting it fall to the ground with a thud. He opened the top and began rummaging through to see all the contents. There were several radishes, carrots, onions, and several herbs that were great for stew. At the bottom of the bag he found a nice pair of rabbits. Apparently Meisha knew more about his cravings than he did. Usually elves hate the idea of eating meat, but he found that he couldn’t get enough of the delicious protein.

  “Well Blackmoon, looks like we’re having rabbit stew.” He winked in her direction. Blackmoon licked her chops as her tail wagged in response. “Sounds delicious already.” Blake settled himself down and began preparing lunch for the trio.

  Once the food had been served, it was gone within minutes. Also unlike other elves, Blake wasn’t much for table manners. He licked each finger as he watched Blackmoon lick the remaining broth off her mouth.

  “You’re looking for those rubies, aren’t you?”

  Meisha’s head rose up from the little nest she had made on the rocks. “How did you know this, small one?”

  “Because, the child goddess sent me as a guide.”

  Salza wants us to have the rubies. But why? What are the gods up to now? He looked at Meisha, who was deep in thought. Apparently even she wondered what the gods were up to. This could be either a good thing, or an extremely bad one.

  Then it dawned on Blake. “Blackmoon, I thought you said you came to investigate? How were you supposed to serve as a guide if you didn’t even know us?”

  “That is why I was investigating,” she yawned. “We were told by the child goddess that a red dragon and her rider would come for the rubies. I just needed to make sure you were the ones.”

  Blake nodded his head in response, looking toward Meisha and wondering what to do next. Apparently kyres weren’t the most patient creatures when it came to following orders.

  “What are we waiting for?” Blackmoon snapped jumping to all fours. “Let’s get going!”

  Meisha gave him a nod of agreement. “The sooner we go, little one, the sooner we can understand what the child goddess has in store for us.”

  THE FOREST FLOOR WAS littered with fallen twigs and leaves from the winter months. Blake could feel the life returning to the slumbering trees as Blackmoon led him deep into the forest. He had to pace himself; the journey to the rubies was going to be a long one.

  Blake was surprised at how Blackmoon’s chatty demeanor had changed from the moment they left the cliffs of Tõrin. She hadn’t said two words to him since. If he hadn’t been able to see her walking just two feet in front of him, he wouldn’t have believed she was there.

  The sun was waning on the horizon and Blake started to dread the idea of staying overnight in this forbidden land. He didn’t even feel comfort from Meisha’s presence hovering above the treetops. She was always scouting ahead for danger. “At least one of us needs to be able to see what is coming. As far as we know, Blackmoon could be leading us into a trap.”

  “Don’t be so hasty little one,” Meisha teased. “There has been no reason not to trust the kyre.”

  He sighed letting her win another argument. It was always easier to play dumb with Meisha. Like all dragons, she was a sore loser. Blake was so deep in thought, he didn’t realize Blackmoon stopped until his foot was practically on her tail.

  Blake watched as her hackles rose, what has she walked us into. He looked ahead to see a wide-open clearing. In the center of the clearing was a large stone obelisk. The surprising sight for him was the three large fire rubies protruding from its core.

  “We’re here,” Blackmoon growled.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She looked at him, burning deep into his soul with her yellow eyes. “This fight was ordained by the child goddess,” she stated. “I hope you and Meisha will survive.”

  Blackmoon dug her claws into the earth, tucked her tail and bolted for her life. She looked like black lightning flashing across the ground. “Meisha, did you get all that?”

  “Pay attention to the ground, youngling!”

  Meisha let loose a battle cry. The ground shook beneath Blake’s feet as he looked on in horror. A creature from Zorric dug itself out from under the obelisk, melting the soil into black goo as it fought for freedom. “Damn! It had to be a shadow wraith.”

  Blake drew his sword preparing to charge. Meisha swooped down slamming her torso hard onto the surface. Her jaws flashed as the sun’s last rays gleamed off her white fangs. The wraith lunged, slashing at her underbelly. Fire filled the air as she released blasts upon the creature. Nothing Meisha did seemed to affect it. She lashed at it with her tail, clawed it with her talons, and bit deep into its hide with her teeth. The wraith just kept regenerating and cutting deeper and deeper into her hide.

  Blake couldn’t wait any longer. If he didn’t act, he would lose Meisha to the wraith. Blake jumped over her tail in mid swing. He slashed the wraith across the chest with his sword, not deviating from his training. Magic never worked on these defiled creatures. The only way to defeat a wraith was to slice it until it was too weak to regenerate. But something was amiss. This wraith didn’t seem to be weakening, no matter how much he hacked at it.

  Blake was getting winded and he didn’t know h
ow much longer he would last. He didn’t see the wraith’s attack until it was too late. The blow threw him hard into the obelisk, knocking the wind out of him.

  Meisha jumped in, giving him time to recuperate from the blow. His head was reeling. Was it his imagination, or were the rubies glowing? Their light shone down on him, almost like the rubies were trying to tell him something.

  “You can’t defeat him with a sword...”

  “Who said that?” He looked around. All he saw was Meisha fighting a wraith that never died.

  “You know who I am, Fire Lord...”

  The ground before him started to glow and a pink blossom grew at his feet. The peaceful scent filled his nostrils, reminding him of Vladimir, his home among the elves. He reached towards the flower and picked it up. “Salza.”

  “Yes, Fire Lord...” Salza sang. “The rubies are what fuel the creature. Destroy them. Protect your dragon; the fire is within your being to overcome these odds.”

  Blake stood shakily to his feet. He turned to the rubies, admiring their beauty. They searched for years hoping to find these very rubies. Why did the gods have to make things so difficult? “Perhaps the answer lies within the core of fire...”

  Salza’s final words rang in his ears. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Whatever it meant, he knew he was running out of time. Meisha was weakening fast. In only a few minutes, she would be overcome.

  Blake prepared to strike the rubies hard with a fire blast when he saw something within them dancing. The core of the rubies was fire. Blake smiled. Out of all the crazy things he had done in his long life, this was going to top them all.

  He concentrated his fire ability into his sword, slamming the tip deep into the center of the rubies’ fire core. Blake breathed in deep, letting the power fight against his mind. Slowly he conquered the force, letting the fire seep into his sword and up into his body. He began to burn brightly. Blake was no longer an elf. He was a burning flame.

  Blake turned to the wraith that was getting ready for a death strike on Meisha. He pointed the sword, and let the force erupt from him like a volcano. The wraith screamed, as did the forest.