Dragons of Chaos

Vhalos, lost in his magic, watched as the spell swam into focus within his crystal ball. Images of his aspirations coming to life before him. The smokey pictures of what was to come flashed and filled with color as they blurred into existence. His hands gripped the crystal ball tighter, leaning closer for a better look.“Where is she? I must find her.”The possibilities of his greatest triumph were within reach and he could already taste the sweetness of victory. If only he could find her...the key...She was the final ingredient missing from the universe bending to his will.He watched as the magic revealed the out-linings of the continent, closing in on a more prominent place. Lands passed by like time, getting ever closer to the final destination. Finally, his vision burst through a hazy sky, acreage, and landscapes pouring into view. Splotches of color took on more definite shapes, as it moved closer still. Forrest animals, big and small, taking shape, giving clues of location. The

This was not how she had imagined her day would go. Here, in her favorite place of peace and serenity when the days got stressful and hard. Tall trees offered shade from the blistering sun, and the cool wind cooling the skin and calming the soul.No, today it would be none of those things.This day, her sanctuary showed a revelation she knew was possible. A reality no one ever believed would come to pass. Perhaps it was unrealistic for a town of such peace to assume they were safe from chaos. Today's reality proves, no one can escape the oncoming war.War had come and chaos took over.Evrah stood, shaking, from head to toe, in a white-hot rage at the scene before her. Here, in the view of the eagle eye's nest atop Karlear Mountain. She was trapped with no way to stop the destruction in front of her.Forrest Keep, a once busy town so full of peace, but no longer.A place of vibrant villagers turned to nothing but scattering ants, running and screaming for their lives. Death upon wings

Evrah descended the final few feet and landed on the outer edge of the bank of the Keepers River. Flames danced along the waves, prancing from one piece of debris to another until a single flame and fire became one. It was building in heat and intensity.She stood, staring, calculating a way through the gauntlet of liquid inferno and waves. Each time she found a way through, the wind brought more debris and complications.Tracing the water's edge, she paced, looking for a way into the village that wasn't burning. Her need to get to her family and this obstruction was getting worse by the second, as was her frustration.Her last thought before jumping in. This just may be how I die..so be it.She stayed underwater as much as she could, bobbing up every few feet to see where she was. It was a slow task, but she focused on the progress to steady her nerves. She kept her head low, as the winged destroyers flew overhead, still blasting flames at anything untouched or moving.She ducked int

The soldiers dropped to their knees, the captives quieted, and the dragons returned and took up a position around the village. Evrah inched closer, putting her face against the wood, trying to see what had caused everything to stop. A deep voice spoke. The kind that caresses flesh, as it slowly spreads poison against the skin.Smooth and venomous.Evrah could not see the body the voice belonged to, but his words found her ears just fine.“Where is she?” the voice demanded.A soldier, just outside the wagon, stood and spoke in her language.“We did not find her, Master. She must have been warned and fled before we arrived. We have checked everyone...alive. She is not here.”She didn't see what happened, but she watched the man's dead body fall, shaking her hiding place, as it bounced off and landed on the ground. The light through the hole, flashed as a dark robe swished, scraping the wooden wagon as it went by, shouting.“Find her! She is here...or she is close...What of her family? H

Evrah looked around, they were completely alone. Even the night creatures had quieted and stilled. She had no intention of entertaining this old man, as she was in no mood for parlor tricks today.She assumed he must have been one of the many travelers and swindlers who came to town predicting they knew the future. They were all fools, and those who bought into it were bigger ones. They always drew a crowd, foretelling of woes with one hand and robbing folks blind with the other. She had never paid much attention to any of them, and she wasn't going to pay attention to this fool either.“Death would a great favor at the present. Go away and leave me be.”She dropped back into a sitting position only to be dragged back onto her feet, the old man's voice worried in her ear.“Not now. We have no time. You must come with me now. You have about four seconds before the choice is made for you.”She had planned to object but just then the old man pointed off into the dark, and she thought she