Rayne of Fire Read Free Page A

through drier grasslands. Mountains bordered them on the right.
Sporadic trees, rocks, and boulders broke up the flat landscape.
    Since leaving
the stream, Keegan had constantly surveyed their surroundings. As they passed a
cluster of boulders, his hand found the hilt of his sword. “Show yourself!”
Keegan shouted at the boulders.
    “Well done,
water-prince.” The leader of the Raptors came out from behind an enormous
boulder, clapping his hands. His two companions came up on horseback and
flanked Rayne and Keegan.
    Cold fear
gripped Rayne when she saw what was draped over the leader’s shoulders: a large
drake. The intelligent, yet deadly, dragon-snake fed on fire and was often used
in battles against Pyros. This one stretched as long as Keegan and was as thick
as his thigh.
    “I have an
early wedding gift for you both,” snarled the leader. He threw the drake to the
ground in front of their horses. Flames flew from his palm and hit the drake,
who immediately hissed as though in pain. Its scales sparked and its body
expanded. Within seconds, it had grown to four times its original size.
    Rayne’s mare
bucked in fright. She lost her grip and fell to the ground, landing only a
meter from the drake. She couldn’t breathe, let alone move. In an instant,
Keegan was at her side. He kicked the drake, which merely startled the
creature, but it was enough.
    Keegan tossed
Rayne onto his stallion. “Ride south. Don’t stop until you get to your father’s
castle.”
    The drake
shook off its stupor. Its red eyes stared at Rayne as though searing her soul.
Cold sweat coated her neck. Her heart pounded, and all she wanted to do was get
away from this place. Time seemed to slow as the drake sprang toward her,
dodging Keegan’s blade.
    “Go!” Keegan’s
yell penetrated through the blood pounding in her ears. The stallion took off
as if he’d been smacked.
    Terrified,
she kicked the horse, imagining the drake chasing her, his venomous fangs ready
to penetrate her back. She risked a backward glance. The drake wasn’t there.
Rayne slowed her horse and realized the drake had remained by its master. Her
relief was short-lived. She looked past the drake and reality struck.
    Keegan
clashed swords with the three Raptors, but was soon overpowered and battered to
the ground. Even from a distance, she could tell they were beating him
mercilessly. It felt like an iron fist hit her in the chest.
    She turned
the stallion. The Raptors didn’t notice her. They backed away from Keegan,
allowing the drake full access to his defeated, motionless body. The fear of
losing Keegan crushed her fear of the drake. Rayne leapt off the horse while
still several meters away and called, “Come and get me, drake.”
    The drake
whipped around and darted toward Rayne. Steeling her courage, she produced a
flame in her open palm and forced serenity into her voice. “I won’t hurt you.”
The drake stopped and cocked its head. Rayne held out the flame as if offering
it a treat. Her heart hammered against her chest as the drake slithered closer
and gingerly sucked the flame into its mouth. She produced another, which it
ate, this time without hesitation. The drake had accepted her as its new
master.
    The Raptor
leader cursed and drew his sword. Before Rayne could react, he stabbed Keegan
in the gut.
    She screamed,
“Nay!”
    The Raptors
laughed.
    Rayne pointed
to them. “Attack.”
    Obediently,
the drake raced toward the men, chasing them beyond Rayne’s sight. “Keegan!”
Rayne dropped to his side. His brown eyes were weary but awake. “I’m sorry…”
She choked on her tears. “I tried to stop them.” She lifted his blood-soaked
tunic, revealing the wound. Her stomach churned with fear and panic.
    “It’s all
right, Rayne.” Keegan’s voice was weak, though calm. “Send four fireballs
through the sky, seconds apart.” He took a labored breath, “Your father knows
our route. His scouts will spot the signal and come.”
    “I need to
tend