Drakonika (Book 1) Read Free Page A

now and he would bump into the angered Eagle and Jackal. His big shoes were clacking on the stones more loudly than would be wise but he didn't have a choice. He couldn't stop.
    Magnus was running for quite a while, banging around walls, unable to slow down before reaching them. When he thought he would finally take a rest, he stepped on the wrong spot and tripped on a gap in the stone pavement.
    BAM!
    Magnus flew forwards and fell flat on the ground like a frog. His black hat, now grey from all the dust fell onto his nose as he hit the floor.
    It took a while for him to get up and sweep the dust off him with his aching hands. He was lucky that he softened the fall, otherwise it could have ended much worse. Barely standing on his feet, he raised his hat and his eyes popped in amazement.
    He wasn't in the empty corridor labyrinth any more. There was much more to see than just stone walls resembling a ghost town. He found himself in a huge plaza.
    The first thing Magnus noticed was a tall tower at the end of the plaza with a giant round clock showing the exact time. Beneath it there was a painting shaped like a nine-pointed star, which he didn't understand at all. Therefore he focused on the clock above which was showing that it was almost noon.
    In the centre of the plaza there were many kiosks but Magnus was unable to recognise what they were selling from the distance. More customers were in his way than would suffice to keep the sellers' purses filled. Magnus was glad he could finally see the inhabitants of Ragna who were not trying to catch him or put him under a lock. He smiled contently and slipped into the crowd at the marketplace.
    A lot of interesting items caught his attention: weapons, food and clothes of beautiful colours. He caught a glimpse of two Ragnan warriors nearby, dressed in a traditional leather armour. Their faces were covered in symbols, which should help them get glory in battle. Gleaming swords in leather scabbards were hanging from their belts and their heavy shoes stomping on the ground were much louder than Magnus'.
    “ Wow,” a thought slipped on Magnus' tongue and if his stomach had not growled again, he would have completely forgotten his hunger. He soon lost sight of the warriors and lords and ladies in colourful outfits took their place instead. When they mixed, they looked like a walking rainbow. Magnus noticed that depending on the various kinds of robes he could see there were people of varied status.
    The sun rays fell on the top of the tower at the end of the plaza and the big clock chimed twelve. A little wooden figure crawled out from a small door at the side of the tower. It should have probably been a mage even though hardly anyone would recognise it. From a door on the other side something like a dragon crept out, spitting wooden flames. The creator of these figures was, upon looking, not the best in his trade. Magnus was standing below the tower, gazing at the two wooden figures in amazement as they were getting closer to each other. He didn't know why, but he favoured the dragon immediately, even though Magnus himself could have probably made him look better. Before the figures could change places and go back into the tower, the mage stopped, cast a wooden “ice-ball” and the dragon crumbled into pieces. Magnus gasped. There were only splints left of the dragon. The mage bowed and entered the tower again.
    Magnus stood rooted to the spot as he looked at the splintered remnants of the dragon which fell down to his feet, while the townsfolk of Ragna were standing around him, clapping enthusiastically for the mage's victory.
     
    *
     
    The rays of sun were falling on the roofs of all houses without an exception, even on the police station which was situated in the left corner of the town, near the guarded city gate enclosed by tall walls from both sides. The watchtower of the police station was much higher than the walls, so there was a great view of the everyday battle between