Lightning struck the ground, crackle-walking between trees, briefly illuminating a hunched, hooded shape on a nearby path. The path was steep, and the person moved slowly but steadily through the torrential downpour, approaching the unlit castle. Once inside the barbican, the figure stopped, leaning its back against the wall under an overhang, breathing heavily, a hand gently caressing its rounded abdomen. She looked back at the valley below, and wondered where her pursuers were. She hadn’t seen them, but she knew they were there. He would never let her escape…
“Who is it?” came a deep, melodic voice. “Show yourself!”
The figure moved into the courtyard. The rolling clouds above thundered and flashed; For an instant, she saw water cascading over blue scales, great white wings stretched up, a head with long teeth and silver horns.
“My name is Danelle,” the figure said, pulling back its hood. She bowed, letting her long, wet blond tresses fall over her face. She brushed them aside. “I beg your indulgence.”
“My mother has told me about you,” said Hassakkor with disgust. “You are not one of our friends.”
“That may be so,” Danelle said. “I’ve made… mistakes.” She paused, wincing. “It’s very important that I go to Caerelon. I must speak to Kaylen Thyr.”
“No,” said the dragon. “I am tasked with protecting this place.”
“I’m familiar with your mother’s teachings,” the woman stated. “I believe mercy was among them.” Exhausted, she dropped to her knees in the mud. “I am in great danger. Please.”
Hassakkor looked at her carefully, considering.
“You are with child,” he said.
“Yes,” she whispered. Even above the roar of the storm, Hassakkor heard her.
From A Journey of Dragons, here is the dragon Sytherek’s consideration of the kehklik, a unique species in the lands of Syraqua…
Sytherek lay atop a mesa, head held high, motionless except for his searching eyes. His perch offered an exceptional view of two neighboring kehklik hives, one young, one old. Recent events had rekindled his interest in the creatures. He observed, contemplated, and formed hypotheses; later would come elegant experiments, in which humans might play an involuntary role. His goal, befitting his species, was nothing less than liberating the hidden potential of the kehklik. Brother Symurall could play with the silly humans who’d washed up on the beach; Sytherek’s grand plans involved the evolution of something new.
The hives lay at the edge of kehklik territory; they were entirely separate, each with its own queen and distinct population. The older hive was the healthier and larger of the two. A lone proto-queen had established the younger hive, only twenty years earlier, without apparent assistance, extending her species’ domain. Across thousands of square leagues, hundreds of hives lay scattered. The distance between colonies was almost a constant: an hour, as measured by the relaxed flight of a dragon. It was as if no kehklik would travel more than a dozen leagues from its queen. When circumstances forced a kehklik outside its home territory, the likely result was confusion or even insanity. Behavior was universal; any kehklik colony could replace another, and the change would hardly be noticeable.
That is, except for a remarkable exception: The hive at Jozin’s Peak.
Sytherek once again rebuked himself for failing to monitor the kehklik hives along the coast. He’d never had faith in Symurall’s plan to isolate the humans of Tramora; however, rather than oppose his brother, Sytherek had implemented a private backup plan. Taking proto-queens and placing them along Syraqua’s northern shores, he’d created a defense against human incursion. As many years passed, his attention was drawn away by other concerns, and the hives had been left to their own devices. Only one guardian hive survived, near Jozin’s Peak. In a strange turn of fate, that lone colony had grown to unusual magnificence in isolation; it had even attempted to fulfill its intended destiny, thwarted only by Symurall’s intercession on behalf of Kaylen’s people. Yet in their defeat, the kehklik had demonstrated unexpected, original, strategic thought – proof that a key existed to unlock the sentience of the kehklik. Sytherek treasured that discovery, grudgingly admitting gratitude – rather than annoyance – for his brother’s actions. He would find a way to recreate that key, and apply it to other hives.
Other mysteries lacked answers as well. The finale of The Reckoning, the unprecedented and unique kehklik assault on humanity – that, too, required an explanation, in case he had need of such power…
May I present Alanora Thyr, Lady of Caerelon and primary human protagonist of “A Journey of Dragons.” Maria, my adorable mate, wanted to get this just right for me, and since she draws with real ink on paper… well, eprfection takes time. My lovely wife got it perfect; we have our color artist working on the digital version for later…
When I first became acquainted with the world of Syraqua, the first character who came to mind was Alanora. She was just there from the beginning. Heck, she was there before I even knew about Syraqua itself!
But even while Syraqua and Caerelon grew in form and content, I didn’t see Alanora as the main human protagonist.
As I wrote the book, the story unfolded and Alanora’s role increased to the point where she, in some cases, is more prominent that her husband, Kaylen. Their relationship is something unusual… to quote Kaylen from the second book:
“Alanora threatens to use glue and rope to keep this city together. I prefer conversation over beer, and maybe a late breakfast.”
Alanora gives the inspirational speeches and dives into the fray; Kaylen is the negotiator, the one who moderates her passions. Together, they made an unbeatable and unbreakable team.
But it isn’t the story I thought I was writing when I started. The characters had their own ideas of who they were. :)
As for Alanora’s ancestry: The original founders of Caerelon were a combination of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Irish. They were descendants of people brought to Syraqua by the ancient dragons Yssahjorna and Morgrannon, the parents of Symurall, Sytherek, and Kyazura. Yes, dragons abandoned Earth because of humans, but for some reason took people with them.
