Snippets From Maldene– The Dragon

All good fantasy epics have at least one dragon, and Maldene no exception by far.  There’s actually a whole bunch of them, but that’s getting way ahead of myself.  The attached scene is the first time we see a dragon; just a little guy about 300 feet long.  Well, little only when compared to what comes up later.  🙂

Anyway, enjoy the scene, and if you want to read more, just purchase a copy of the book (ebook, paperback, or hardback) at http://www.maldene.com/ordering.


Far overhead the great dragon circled, casting its immense shadow across the entire hill. Its flapping wings stirred forth a fierce wake behind it as it began to make a large slow circle.

“It’s coming around for a pass at us,” Starke said. “Take cover!”

“We’re sitting ducks down here,” Shong said as the dragon swooped around closer, “we can’t fly the way it can.”

Eldar’s eyes brightened, “There’s an idea; Sabu, can you do anything about that?”

While everyone else was running to find cover, Sabu stood calmly and briefly thought about it. As Quickfoot was diving behind a large rock, Sabu, still out in the open, looked up and answered.

“I believe that I just might be able to,” he said, holding out his arms. “Now hold still.”

“If you could hurry it up a bit,” Eldar said as the dragon drew closer.

“Ligit, Aro, Kant, Flueer!” he incanted.

Eldar suddenly found himself floating a few feet above the ground.

“Hey, this is great,” he said as he pushed himself off into the air.

Eldar’s joy was interrupted, however, by the oncoming presence of the dragon. He quickly flew far to the side of the dragon’s path. Sabu, oblivious to the oncoming destruction, was looking up admiring his own handiwork.

“Hmm,” he said thoughtfully, “maybe next time if I try it with just a bit more-”

“MOVE IT!” Bronto cried as ran over towards Sabu, leaping through the air to push him out of the way with a body tackle.

“Wizards!” Kor-Lebear shook his head.

Gorath stepped forward, directly in the path of the dragon.

YOU SHALL PAY FOR MY BROTHER, BEAST!” he shouted, hands outstretched as if ready to catch and wrestle the creature.

Swiftly the dragon dived, mouth opening as wide as any cavern through which they’d trekked. Gorath screamed forth his anger, reaching up for the creature’s neck as it came upon him. Sharp teeth, each the size of small trees, dripped saliva as the beast gave but a single roar and then plunged down at the twenty-foot tall giant.

 

The sound of mountains cracking, of the earth giving way under sudden pressure. These are the same sounds heard when an immense mouth clamps down upon a giant’s large stone-hard body, instantly reducing everything from the waist on up to a fine soup of blood spraying forth from the dragon’s mouth, leaving only the legs to stand there, entrails hanging loosely. Claws, sharper than any steel, slashing at the remains, to send it instantly splintering into a fine shower of bone fragments and a spray of blood. Swooping up goes the great dragon, leaving behind nothing to show for the large giant.

 

“It didn’t even look like it was trying,” Lindel said quietly to himself.

Meanwhile Bronto was getting up off of Sabu, lightly scolding the wizard for his foolishness.

“You’re vital to us my friend,” the big man said, “now stay out of the way and think of something while I protect you.”

“Huh?  Oh, sorry,” he said, now brought back full to reality.

“Gorath is no more,” Shong said as he came over to Bronto, “and it’s coming back for another pass.”

“Let’s give the wizards time to do something then,” Bronto said as he went back out into the open.

Filmar came out, sword ready, as Starke came out a small distance away.

“Let’s not bunch up,” Starke said, “else he might get us all at once.”

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