Omensent: Princess Of Dragons (Book 5)

Omensent

Princess of Dragons

Book Five of the Dragon Lord Series

By Barry Gibbons

Omensent

Princess of Dragons

Book five of the Dragon Lord Series

By

Barry A. Gibbons II

License Notes

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Omensent

The Dragon Lord Series

Omensent

Birth of a Dragon Lord

Book one of the Dragon Lord Series

*****

Omensent

Rise of the Shadow Dragons

Book two of the Dragon Lord Series

*****

Omensent

Wrath of the Dragon God

Book three of the Dragon Lord Series

*****

Omensent

Revealing the Dragon

Book four of the Dragon Lord Series

*****

Omensent

Princess of Dragons

Book five of the Dragon Lord Series

Prelude

The tall slender elf hurried along the dark avenue that led through the large elven city, making an effort to keep to the shadows to avoid being seen. He slowed as he approached a set of crossroads which had been illuminated by torches, then boldly stepped into the light, revealing an aged face framed by shoulder length silver hair.

He paused for a moment, and looked back and forth along the cross street to make sure that the coast was clear. It would not be good for him to be discovered. If it were revealed that he had violated his exile and returned to his homeland, all of his careful planning would be for nothing.

It had been over a century since he had been forced to leave his beloved island for attempting to start a rebellion against the throne, and he had seen much during his travels among the lesser races. Most elves never left their sacred island, and lived their entire lives without ever meeting someone from another race. But
he
had traveled abroad during his exile, living among the lesser races, both human and dwarven, and had learned much during that time.

At first, he had been miserable. Being forced to associate with members of the lesser races was a huge insult to his pride, and he had found life extremely difficult. But after several decades of drifting from place to place, observing the various races as they hurried about their short, seemingly pointless lives, he began to realize that some few of them had somehow managed to beseech their various gods into granting them powers that raised them above others of their kind. Priests and clerics blessed with the power of healing, wizards and sorcerers capable of wielding great magic, witches and warlocks able to delve into the deepest regions of the netherworld, all powers granted to them by their various gods and goddesses. A plan quickly began to formulate a plan in his mind. A plan that would enable him to return to his beloved island, and seize control of the throne of his ancestors.

Even though he had spent his many centuries of life worshipping Petra, the Goddess of Fertility and Nature, he knew that some few elves had given themselves over to Hetris, the God of Strife and Deception. His followers were the darkest of elves, many of them murderers and assassins, who chose to forsake their families, friends, and loved ones to give themselves over to Hetris, who expected only the vilest of deeds to be carried out by His chosen people. The worship of Hetris had long been outlawed among the elves, forcing His followers to hide their allegiance, and hold their vile rituals in secret, or risk being put to death.

He remembered that as a child, his father would regale him with the stories of those few who still sought out Hetris despite the risks, and were rewarded with tremendous powers that enabled them to accomplish incredible feats and unbelievable atrocities. Elves with the ability to become a part of the shadows themselves, control the various elements, or change their appearances with only a moment's thought. Legendary figures whose exploits resounded throughout the ages.

He immediately knew what needed to be done. The goddess Petra had never done anything for him, even though he had been a devout follower of Her teachings for many centuries, so it was an easy thing for him to turn his back upon Her, and seek out the dark god Hetris.

Now, after a century of exile, he had finally returned to his homeland, ready to take his revenge upon those who cast him out among the lesser races.

He hurried through the crossroads and back into the shadows, then quickly made his way through the darkness until he arrived at a deserted plaza near the edge of town. He slowed as he reached the large ornate fountain in the center of the plaza, then stopped as a second figure appeared from the darkness nearby.

"What news have you?" The shadowy figure asked in a hoarse whisper. The dark figure wore a long hooded robe that cast their face shadow, concealing their features from any who happened to be watching.

"Recruitment among the young has been quite successful, just as you said it would be." The silver haired elf answered quietly. "There were many who seemed quite taken with the old stories, and were eager to jump at the chance to gain powers of their own. A number of them have already performed the ancient rite. Entire families have been wiped out this night."

"That is good. Hetris will be pleased. He may even grant some of their wishes." The hooded figure looked around to make certain that they were alone. "And?"

"And everything is going exactly as planned." The silver haired elf murmured. "Petra's followers have grown so frightened that something will have to be done."

"Very good." The hooded figure murmured in approval. "The slaughter tonight may be the push that they need to force them into calling upon the Dragon Lord for aid. The Alena has already suggested the idea several times now, though many have objected to bringing in an outsider for aid. However, after tonight, I think that they'll have little choice but to send a messenger to seek out the Dragon Lord and ask for his help."

"Does the Alena suspect anything?"

"Of course not." The hooded figure whispered with a snort of derision. "He is far more concerned with trying to convince anyone who'll listen that it would be beneficial for the elves to open up relations with the lesser races. He has no idea of our plans."

"The Alena were never the most intelligent of creatures." The silver haired elf sniffed disdainfully. "It's almost an insult to call them our cousins." He gave the hooded figure a curious look. "What is our next step?"

"We wait." The harsh voice informed him from the shadows cast by the dark hood. "If the stories about the Dragon Lord are true, he will answer Petra's followers' plea for aid, and hurry here to our beloved island."

"But why bring the Dragon Lord here?" The silver haired elf asked in a confused tone. "What good can come of luring an outsider to our island?"

"That does not concern you." The hooded figure snapped impatiently. "You need to keep your mind on the task given to you by our god, and let me worry about the task He has given to me."

"I just thought that I might be able to aid you." The silver haired elf frowned darkly. "What do you wish me to do, then?"

"Continue to convert as many of our people as you can to our cause. Our lord needs more followers so His powers continue to grow, and we'll need every elf that we can gather if we want our plans to succeed."

"I hope you know what you're doing." The silver haired elf murmured in a dubious tone. "The stories of the Dragon Lord all say that he is a fearsome warrior,
and
a sorcerer with incredible powers. He could be a dangerous person to deal with."

"So can I." The hooded figure growled grimly. "Besides, he is only a human."

"But this is a human who has fought dragons
and
lived to tell the tale." The silver haired elf pointed out in a doubtful tone. "Any human who can face one of the great serpents and survive must be formidable."

"Are you saying that you fear this human?" The harsh voice had a slightly mocking tone that caused the silver haired elf blush in humiliation. "Do you tremble at the thought of the Dragon Lord coming to our island? Are you afraid that he may release his tame dragons upon you?"

"No human is a match for one of Hetris's faithful." The silver haired man sneered, wrinkling his nose in disgust. "And the Dragon Lord isn't even human, at least, not entirely. He has the blood of dragons in his veins, which makes him more beast than anything. And there has yet to be a beast discovered that can best one of Hetris's children."

"That's what I wanted to hear. I..."  The hooded figure stopped as a pair of sentries carrying torches appeared in the distance. "I must go. I must not be caught speaking with you, or all of our plans may be destroyed."

"I must not be seen as well." The silver haired elf murmured. "If my return from exile were discovered, the entire island would be in an uproar."

"Continue with the plans as you were instructed." The hooded figure hissed, stepping back into the shadows. "Hetris shall let you know when the time has come to finally strike.

"

"It shall be as you say." The silver haired elf nodded, then, before the hooded figure could disappear into the darkness, he took it's hand softly in his own. "Stay safe, dear one." He murmured in a voice throbbing with love.

The hooded figure didn't reply, but merely disappeared into the darkness without another sound.

The silver haired elf stared into the shadows where the figure disappeared for several moments, turned and hurried back the way he came, eager to report their progress to his brothers.

Chapter 1

"You need to concentrate, Leia." Damion said as he watched his daughter with a disapproving expression. "Concentration is the key to everything when it comes to focusing your magic."

"I
am
concentrating!" The young girl snapped, brushing a stray lock of hair from her eyes in irritation. "I'm just getting tired. We've been at this for hours now."

"And we're going be here for several more hours if you don't start focusing."

The young girl gave her father a sour look, then began to stare at the apple that he had placed on the table before her. Her eyes suddenly narrowed, and the apple slowly floated up off of the table. "I'm getting a little sick of making apples float around the room for your amusement." She said in a waspish tone. "There are other things that we could be doing right now."

"You need to learn how to control your magic, and this exercise will help."

"I already know how to control my magic." She told him defensively, taking her gaze off of the hovering apple, which immediately dropped to the floor and rolled away.

"Sure you do." A scruffy looking man agreed blandly as he lounged lazily on a nearby bench. "That's why you set your bedroom curtains on fire." He grinned at her tauntingly "Again." He added with a laugh.

"Shut up, Sly." The young girl growled, fixing the scruffy little man with a dangerous look.

"He's right." Damion told her in an unyielding tone. "You could have accidentally hurt someone."

"It wasn't my fault!" The young girl objected with a scowl. "I was having a nightmare! I can't control what happens when I'm sleeping!"

"You're still having nightmares?"