Free Blood of Four Dragons by Lisa Jones Page B

happiness by providing the people with more food and an end to floods but trade would greatly increase as well. The king agreed, Zebial immediately sent out word to have the entire middle of the country evacuated and he waited. Two weeks later after all people and animals had been cleared out, Zebial flew to the southern half of the country at the edge of the river of separation. From there he flew close to the ground, slowly using his fire breath to burn a canal five hundred feet wide and five hundred feet deep across the entire country. Upon finishing and breaking his levee Zebial allowed the canal to flood thus creating what is today known in Rozim as the river of life, connecting the southern half of the country with the north. Flooding and hunger was eliminated, there was no longer a need to fight each other over resources and the kingdom united into what we know today as Rozim, all due to Zebial.
    Though many among men held onto hate in their hearts, including the young wizard Zangoath who determined he would learn to own these beasts and rule the world. Zebial spent three thousand and seven hundred years guiding, protecting and nurturing the races of the world until the dark spell of Zangoath, who by that time had gained control of the fog crystal came upon him. For three years until Xamuiez himself intervened he ravaged under the spell of the dark lord Zangoath. Remaining a hostage within himself, forced to watch his evil deeds, he sleeps now until it is time to awaken. Before the time of the curse he is still remembered fondly by some kingdoms as a lover of nature, children and he had a habit of nursing injured animals back to health. Zebial was also a master builder and architect and is responsible for five of the seven castles in the realm of Rozim from ancient times still standing today. His counsel given to the first Vaulk king is still used to this day as a guide on everything from ethics to martial strategy.
    Anortast – The second male dragon, incapable of flight, his skin is different than usual dragon scale. Nothing has ever penetrated his skin and there are no soft spots on his underbelly as other dragons have. His scales appear clear and diamond like instead of colored and reptilian. Looking like glass they seem fragile, but are indestructible as far as anyone knows. Anortast more than makes up for lost flight by his sheer size and armor, in addition his breath is of ice not fire and his tail is a spiked club as agile as an arm. Anortast grew to an immense size barely smaller that his elder brother Zebial. While Zebial preferred warmer southern climates, Anortast preferred snow and ice as that was his gift. Before being cursed by Zangoath he would provide the peoples of the kingdoms with a soothing light snow on scorching summer days, earning one of his nicknames, king of mercy. His wrath under the dark spell however was terrible, a city in the northern mountains where the winter is year round in what is today the kingdom of Grazlin that he attacked still lies frozen, villagers, animals and every action of a regular day frozen forever. The village stands frozen in time exactly as it was twelve hundred years ago when Anortast froze it as the people of the area want it kept to remind them to remain vigilant against creeping evil. Anortast developed a special relationship with the dwarves. Over the years he gave them all his scales that he shed. These the dwarves turned into shields of great power. His teeth he shed were also given to them and made into daggers for the dwarven nobility.
     
    Iezlear- The firstborn female dragon, her powers include flight, wind and fire. Born under the care of Bultan, Iezlear’s egg hatched in his study under candlelight and the old wizards loving, dancing eyes. She is known as the mother of the world among the mortal races. From her all dragons have descended or will descend. Before Zangoath she was so lovely to look upon that her very presence would cause the masses to weep