by Sarah Stribley

Created on: August 10, 2009

Excerpt From: "The Snake Heart"

Two shadows drifted across the compact earth, like tigers stalking their prey they made no noise.

A whisper of wind flew through hair and tunics, kissing sun bronzed skin and cooling flame bent iron.

The Masterdragon had removed his baldric and sheath back at camp; now he wondered whether he should have left Kiln strapped by his side and endured the obstacle it would have become.

Creature's of darkness and fiends of hell would be lurking amongst the bracken and heather for hours still, and he doubted whether his magic was strong enough to defeat the beasts of the wild.

He looked at Faust out of the corner of his eyes, how calm he seemed, how oblivious to the possible danger around them.

A zephyr danced around them, her silver face translucent and ethereal. Her small thin hands caught at Faust's thick ebony hair, then gently she kissed his smooth forehead. Triko stood, amazed at the wind spirit's boldness, for zephyrs were generally shy. The Dreamcaster had won her over somehow, perhaps she had liked his quiet behavior.

Triko had grown used to his companion's constant silence, once he had thought he was mute, a eunuch perhaps. Faust rarely spoke, one never knew what he was thinking or feeling during an intense situation. His face remained an emotionless mask so people often thought he must have a heart of stone and ice instead of flesh and blood.

He was odd in other ways though, and there were whispers that he was half-Lesteth half-god, a deadly combination. It was known that he was the only Dreamcaster to exist in two millennia though few knew the significance of his title.

A centaur stepped into the clearing, his torso covered in henna tattoos and his cervine body shone a warm amber in the moonlight. He stopped in mid canter, his tawny eyes glowing, riveted to the Dreamcaster.

Triko stood still, eyeing the mythical creature warily. It continued to watch Faust, to stare into his soul it seemed then suddenly it blinked and turned its face away. Triko's eyes caught sight of a long scar running from the upper ridge of the centaur's cheekbone to the base of his neck. It had healed badly and keloid tissue had formed a raised pink line that would be with him for life.

A name surged into the Masterdragon's mind.

Aeoles, a Stormwhisperer of great power.

He was legendary, the only one to have survived the flooding of Atlantis.

The mage bowed to Faust, there was no mockery in his actions. The Dreamcaster bowed in return

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• Next Page >>