It has been a while! I have to admit, I’ve been experience some writer’s block. Also, I’ve been busy working on another aspect of my creative life - writing music! It has been a while since I’ve found the juices flowing freely around that aspect of my life and so I’ve been embracing it and riding the wave for the last few weeks.
You can listen to my latest two songs here: “It’s Gonna Be Alright” and “Like A Family”. While you’re there, feel free to list to other songs I’ve written and recorded over the years!
Additionally, I’ve been thinking through the next steps for my book The Darkness and the Light. It’s currently on sale for only $5.99! Please check it out and let me know what you think by writing a review on Amazon. These reviews and ratings really help the Amazon algorithms get my book in front of more potential readers (please and thanks!).
What I mean by thinking through what the next steps are - I’ve been pondering, researching, and have actually spoken with publishers who help aspiring authors publish for a nice fee. They claim to help get your book in front of more people, but it is quite costly and, frankly, I lose more of the prophets, ultimately, by going this route.
I’m considering paying a marketing expert to help me figure out and beat the algorithms that are now drowning my own social media posts in oblivion. They will help me with an actual marketing strategy to give my book a greater presence online and, hopefully, open up opportunities for marketing that I haven’t thought of or could even access on my own.
So, stay tuned! And, if you’ve already read the book, please do me the very generous favor of going to Amazon soon to write a review. This is really one of the most helpful things you can do for authors. If you enjoyed the book, the next most helpful thing you can do for me is to spread the love on your social media.
Additionally, I have started working on the next chapter of my original science fiction story PLANET ZERO! Stay tuned for more chapters of that story!
Without any further delay, here is the next exciting chapter of WHEN DRAGONS LIVED FREE!
CHAPTER 6 – Evil Invasion
The battle began without fanfare, without warning, and without pause. As the sun set finally behind the horizon, the invading dragon riders dug their spurs deep into the sides of their beasts with evil pleasure. Dozens of dark dragons dove downward towards the homeland of Payton the Brave and swooped across the landscape of defenders with fiery hate.
Arrows sprung up from the earthen defenses by the hundreds, some hitting their mark and others soaring into the air past the attacking dragons. Only a few dark dragons fell from the sky in this first wave. Their riders were taken captive quickly and placed in makeshift prisons upon wagons drawn by horses. The evil riders were shocked to find themselves alive as they surely expected to die if struck down from the sky. They watched as their dragons waivered in the sky above now confused amidst the chaos of the battle.
Fire lit up the night sky as if the sun itself was still high in the sky. As the invading dragons breathed their fire the defending dragons, yet unleashed to soar, breathed back all the fire and fury they could muster from deep in their bellies. The defenders screamed in unison as one of the invading dragon riders shrieked in pain as his body was set ablaze by the fire wall below. He plummeted from atop his dragon and landed on the ground firmly, dying instantly from the impact. His tormented pain and agony now over in an instant.
Water was quickly brought to smother the flames and keep them from spreading on the grass below. A few people collected the body and placed it carefully into an empty wagon set aside for the dead bodies of their enemy.
Payton stood atop her dragon with her right arm raised. All dragon riders who were working hard at keeping their dragon friends from soaring upward, kept a watchful eye on their leader, ready to soar at her command. Payton surveyed the battle scene and noticed the largest dragon and its dark rider approaching at break-neck speed, sword drawn at the ready.
She clenched her fist and then pointed emphatically at the sky while yelling, “Soar now dragon riders! Defend your homes! Defend your family! Defend our homeland!” She was the first to soar into the night sky and her dragon pierced the darkness ahead of them with his fiery breath.
Payton pointed her dragon at the huge dragon enemy that seemed intent on singling her out. She patted her dragon’s neck and whispered, “He wants a direct attack. Let’s make him earn it!”
With that, she pulled hard and to the left on her reigns, urging and willing her dragon friend to sweep downward at a steep pitch toward the ocean below. The wind passed through her long and braided hair swiftly and she relished the sensation with a brave smile. She looked back to make sure that her enemy was following.
He was and he was closing fast. Payton let up ever so lightly on the reigns and spoke into the heart of her dragon, “Let them think they have caught us and then fly straight upward when I shout.” Her dragon responded with jubilant understanding.
The dark dragon was now within speaking range, almost close enough for their dragon wings to touch. He roared into the night, “You are no match for the strength of my dragon and your sword is small like a stick thrown lazily into a fire!”
Payton smiled and replied, “Perhaps, but you should learn to watch where you are going!” She yelled ecstatically and her dragon shot upwards with great swiftness.
As the evil dragon rider watched her soar high above him, he turned his attention forward and was shocked to see a sudden outcropping of rock from out of the ocean. It was all he could do to avoid the rocks. As he pulled his reigns sharply to the right he lost his grip and went tumbling into the cold and choppy ocean water. His dragon came to a rest upon the rocks, dry and unsure of what he should do next.
The dark rider gripped the rock and climbed out of the ocean, grunting in disgust and hatred for Payton the Brave. He was mocked and now he wanted revenge. It was no longer enough to destroy; he now wanted to humiliate and torture this young woman who dared to challenge him.
His dragon, Furious, lowered his tail down and the rider, soaking wet, climbed upward until reaching his saddle. He sighed as he tilted his head forward. He then lifted his head upright and removed his helmet. This dark rider looked to the skies around him to make sure his foe was not soaring above and preparing to attack.
The rider had deep black hair, oily smooth and shining in the moon light. His hair had a slight curl to it as it flowed down his neck, just touching the shoulders of his armor. He had a full beard that was thick and just as black, save for a silver streak on each side of his mouth.
He mumbled something to his dragon, replaced his helmet, and yanked on the reigns with hostile fervor. “Where is she?” he asked himself. “Where is the troublemaker?”
By the time he had rejoined the battle, it was obvious that this homeland was resisting with greater success than he had anticipated. Their dragons were brave, and their riders were even braver. This was a surprise. Now he knew the strength of the resistance and he would regroup his forces and attack again with a new perspective.
He soared high into the sky, flashes of fire illuminating the darkness like orange and red lightning. He raised his sword high and yelled something that the defenders of the homeland could not understand until their invaders began to disengage from the battle and gathered in a dark swarm above the ocean before them.
Payton rose to the same level as the dark dragon leader and stared intently at him. He returned the stare and then shouted into the night a horrific scream. The other riders matched the tone and anger of their leader’s scream and then turned into the blackness of the night in the same direction they had come.
June rose up beside Payton, sweat drenched and sword in hand, “What made them turn away?”
Payton kept her eyes on the black void in front of her and answered, “They did not anticipate our numbers or our fearless courage.”
June smiled and let out a joyous, “Haha!”
Payton looked at her cousin now and smiled in turn. “We have reason to celebrate, cousin, but they will return with more.”
“More what?” asked June.
“Everything,” responded Payton. “They will have more…everything. This battle is far from over.”
If you’d like more content from me - don’t forget to check out my podcasts!
The BIG Sci-Fi Podcast:
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Joy & Java: Biblical Discussions To Fuel Your Faith