Free B006T5JMRC EBOK by Aya Knight Page B

Thomas’ green eyes narrowed sympathetically. “From what I’ve read, those who are bitten by one of these creatures will suffer with symptoms for a day at the least. You can expect severe vomiting and temporary hallucinations. I can however, offer you a bit of relief.” He held his hand up above Kale’s wound, ensuring the sleeve of his robe shielded the blackened veins from sight. He knew using even more magic in his current state would not be wise, but he could not allow his friend to suffer in agony. Healing spells of this magnitude were fairly easy. The wound was not extremely large and he was only going to use a little of his strength to ensure comfort, not cure the entire opening in the leg.
    “ Xaranthium mendona. ” With a painless zap the red inflamed tissue returned to normal and the pus seemed to evaporate. Though the chunk of flesh was missing, the opening was much smaller in size and the pain relatively gone. Thomas informed Kale it would still need more time before fully healed and his body would naturally run its course to do so. The old sorcerer could feel the veins on his hand pulsing as the black magical poisons ran up into his arm. He would need to refrain from using any spells over the next couple of days if he wanted to survive.
    “Thank you... I mean it.” Kale yawned heavily. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had... Well, the only friend—but still the best.” He smiled as his tired eyes finally closed.

Chapter 5: A Mysterious Encounter
    K ale drifted into what would normally have been a peaceful rest, but tossed and turned as he passed from one disturbing dream into another. In the final and most troubling dream, he stood before Pan, the mighty dragon god. Pan held his enormous grey head up, gazing forward with wide, hazel-toned eyes. Every step he took pounded against the ground, sending tremors across the area. His body was covered with bone-like spikes aligned down his spine. Above each eye were two rows of small horns, embedded into his skin, nearly hiding his webbed ears. Alongside Pan stood many other dragons; they walked in a significant herd toward a pink horizon. Kale immediately recognized a few of the dragons within the group. He saw the beautiful pearlescent torso of Sylicia, the Ice Matriarch, shimmering with each stride; the large blue fins of Xelanthos, the Ocean Dweller, slapping against the ground; and Zandol, the Emerald Prince, who tucked his large wings upon his back. They looked proud, magnificent, and very much alive. Kale’s heart leapt with glee as he took off in a sprint toward them.
    “Pan! Sylicia! Everyone, it’s me, Kale—the Black Dragon, Firehart!” He called out as loud as he could.
    They didn’t respond. They didn’t glance his way or acknowledge his presence; it was as though he were invisible. He waved his arms high above his head, continuing to shout as loud as his puny human lungs could handle. “Everyone, please ! It really is me, I swear!”
    He continued to watch them roaming past him in silence as his eyes grew wide with horror. Each dragon plummeted head first toward the ground; their bodies exploding into thousands of bloody chunks upon impact. Kale fell to his knees in despair as his eyes began to glass over with tears. The vision of dragons was suddenly eclipsed by the image of General Jedah who now stood before him and laughed profusely as his dark eyes pierced Kale’s. His armored foot lunged forward, slamming forcefully into Kale’s gut.
    Kale awoke from the dream, vomiting brown and yellow chunky fluid from his mouth onto the bed of the caravan. His stomach ached terribly. He crawled his way out of the vehicle and inhaled the overwhelming scent of urine, forcing him to choke back more fluid rising in his throat. The sun beat down on his head as he emerged into the open air. Although still shaking from the ill feeling churning in his stomach, to be awake and outside in the sunny cloudless day was pleasantly refreshing. His leg