Onyx Dragon (Book 1) Read Free

Garret began, “may I present to you Wrothgaar, Son of Ulrich of the Tribe of the Wolf.”
    Wrothgaar bowed his head in respect. Siobhan smiled and nodded.
    “Wrothgaar, this is Siobhan, Queen of the North, and daughter of King Magnus V. At her side is Prince Eamon.”
    “It is a pleasure to meet you, Wrothgaar,” the Queen greeted him.
    “Likewise,” Wrothgaar answered. “And may I say you are more beautiful than I had ever imagined.”
    Eamon snickered, receiving a questioning glance from Garret. The Queen herself chuckled. “Why thank you, my friend. And may I say you are every bit as impressive as your father?”
    Wrothgaar nodded in thanks.
    “Please sit,” Siobhan said, motioning for him to take the seat at the opposite end of the table. She relaxed in her seat, Garret taking the chair around the corner of the table to her left. Eamon remained standing, but leaned against the right hand corner of the table, eager to hear the Northman’s story. Fergis and his men departed to return to their posts.
    “Help yourself to the fruit and wine,” the Queen offered.
    Wrothgaar selected a goblet but passed on the fruit, eyeing it disapprovingly.
    “What is it that troubles you, my friend?” Siobhan asked softly.
    Wrothgaar took a moment to gather his thoughts, taking a sip of the wine.
    “Two days ago,” he began, “a neighboring settlement just to the South of the North Shore was attacked. The people, including the women and children, were killed, and the houses were burned to the ground. Not even the livestock were spared.”
    Siobhan gasped, leaning in closer to the Northman.
    “How did your other settlements not see this attack?” she asked.
    “I do not know,” Wrothgaar answered. “The settlements are fairly distant from each other. But I believe the sounds of battle would have carried that far, at least. My tribe was completely unaware of the attack until we saw the smoke rise in the distance. There was also no sign of the attackers.”
    Siobhan scowled. “Who do you think these attackers were?” she asked. “Wild men?”
    “I do not think so,” Wrothgaar explained. “The islanders would not be so bold as to come to the mainland and attack. They are primitive, and wield weapons of brittle bronze. They would not stand against even the most unskilled warriors of our tribes.”
    Siobhan thought for a moment. “Do you have any ideas, then, Northman?” she asked. “I know of most of the inhabitants of this island. The only people I am unsure of are the travelers that have arrived in the Southern Kingdom.”
    “I have not heard of these travelers,” he said. “All I know is that my people were attacked by an army capable of being unseen. Many of the women of our tribes think the attackers were witches, or perhaps sorcerers in service to you.”
    “Unfortunate,” the Queen lamented. “I would hope that only a small minority believes this.”
    “Of course,” Wrothgaar replied, taking another sip of wine. “Old wives will have their tales. But our elders do not believe it. They know something terrible walks the land and that you are not likely to have a hand in it. Your generosity has benefitted our tribes in many ways. And no one of any importance truly believes that you or your mages would wield such terrible magic against them. Magic that not only kills animals and people, but nature itself. The grass was dead, the crops withered, and the bodies of the villagers, what bodies were left, were dried like husks. Their faces were twisted and gnarled, as if they all died in absolute pain and agony.”
    Eamon leaned in closer to Wrothgaar. “Were there even any wounds to show that they had been attacked with weapons?” he asked.
    “I couldn’t tell. But, no, I do not think so. We burned the bodies after we found them, so there is very little evidence left.”
    The Prince looked to his mother, whose face mirrored his concern.
    “This is disturbing, indeed,” she remarked. “I do not know what