This part and the last part were so much fun to write (can you tell I really like writing about dragons?)!  I was having serious writer’s block when I got to these parts and all of a sudden, I had inspiration!  I’m pretty happy with how they turned out.

Anyway, I’ll let you read.  No one probably cares how much fun I had, do they? 🙂

 ~The Sacrifice~ 

 

Part Twenty-third: Taken By Surprise

A river of fire was pouring from the dragon’s open mouth when something ducked beneath the blast in a streak of blotched fur. Cyrus slipped under the flames and then jumped up with a snarl, his teeth clamping down around Abadalyx’s throat. The fire flickered out, and the dragon reeled, shaking his head vigorously. The dog’s teeth could not bite through the shimmering scales, but they found a hold and kept it as the monster flailed. Abadalyx bent his long neck down to his stumpy forelegs, and began to tear his claws down the German Shepherd’s sides. Cyrus growled and twisted but held on as the powerful talons scraped over his fur, and lifted for another swipe.

Continue reading “The Sacrifice”: Part twenty-three →

Did I mention we just got a trampoline?  It’s all kinds of fun!  All five of us kids are enjoying it.  I was going to post a picture, but I didn’t get one taken yet. *sheepish grin*

Spencer and I jumped on it last night in the rain–it was all kinds of fun.  People should go run around in the rain more often. 🙂

Anyway, The Sacrifice.  I think you all are going to go bonkers about this one too.  I’m a little scared about your reactions. . .

We’ve just about hit the climax, and then the last couple parts are winding down and tying up ends.  I’m so excited!  We’re almost done!

 ~The Sacrifice~ 

 

Part Twenty-second: Asking for Death

“Around that bend, sir,” Gimel whispered.

Sir Richard took a deep breath. “Thank you,” he whispered back. “When I go, I advise you to run. Return to the City, or wait for me where we tied Velvet, if you must.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” his guide said seriously. “But I cannot follow such advice.”

“Of course not,” the knight muttered, gathering up the reins. Cyrus growled. Before Sir Richard could motion for him to be quiet, a low but menacing snarl came softly in answer. Sir Richard dug his heels into Jael’s sides and urged her around the corner.

Continue reading “The Sacrifice”: Part twenty-two →

I have a feeling you all are going to freak out about this one. . . :-/

 ~The Sacrifice~ 

 

Part Twenty-first: Trying to Save

Penelope knelt down beside the stream and gulped water from her cupped hands. Wonder of wonders, Abadalyx had brought her out to get a drink again. Never mind that he was breathing down her neck this time, she did not care. Getting water once a day was a grueling schedule, but at the moment she was just thankful the beast was not going to let her die of thirst.

The Princess rubbed the driest part of her sleeve across her wet mouth. How un-princessly! She fingered the gold embroidery that hemmed her dark purple cloak. Never forget that you are a princess, the Queen whispered in her thoughts. “I’m trying, Mama,” she whispered, eyes filling with tears.

Continue reading “The Sacrifice”: Part twenty-one →

Are we to Part 20 already?  Wow, this story is going fast!

Enjoy! 😉

 ~The Sacrifice~ 

 

Part Twentieth: Danger

“Tell me how to reach the dragon’s lair, and then ride Velvet back. You have guided me well.”

“I haven’t guided you anywhere, sir—not yet.” Gimel’s voice was almost challenging. “I don’t want the dragon to take you by surprise. I’m coming.”

Sir Richard frowned. “On foot?”

“If that is the only way, sir—yes.”

The knight looked into the hard, brown eyes of his guide, under his dark, curly hair. He was not going back, no matter what Sir Richard said. That much was obvious. Why was he so determined? It was not his princess. The King had chosen one of the Shepherds to guide him. And he was so young; the knight did not think him over twenty—if that old. “I cannot let you. It is too dangerous.”

“Any way is dangerous, sir. But the Princess is in the gravest danger, and you are wasting time.”

Sir Richard sighed. “Very well then, lead on. But be cautious.”

They tied Velvet to a tree, at the edge of the foothills and started around the mountain, Sir Richard guiding Jael slowly after the young Shepherd. “Do your people consider yourselves part of the City?” the Knight asked at last. “I would have thought Her Majesty was one of your people by your dedication.”

Gimel frowned over his shoulder. “No, we do not consider ourselves part of the City. Princess Penelope has little to do with us, but she is a maiden and I a man; and her City gave my people refuge when the dragon drove us out of the hills—and most likely the beast would have killed us too, had she not sacrificed herself. Look now,” he added, pointing. “Here is our path up the mountain.”

The new path zig-zagged slowly up the opposite side of the mountain, not so steep but still rocky and uneven. The end of the trail, at the mountain’s peak, was out of sight from the ground between the sheer mountain-sides. Sir Richard took a deep breath and flipped the visor of his helmet shut. He gripped the carven hilt of his ancient sword, which he now wore openly, as he felt his heart-beat quicken.

 ~The Sacrifice~ 

 

Part Nineteenth: The Guide

Velvet came to a complete stand-still, whinnying in distress as Gimel tried to urge her forward. Sir Richard pulled Jael to a halt and sat watching his guide’s fruitless efforts. Could this really be the best horse the King had in his stables to send? They could not even get it up the mountain. Well, that made it a smart creature, if nothing else. This was madness. He did not even know for sure if he was going to be able to get Jael—an experienced warhorse—all the way up to the dragon’s lair.

Velvet nervously started walking again, at last, and they continued up into the foothills winding around trees. Sir Richard could not see the dragon’s lair, but the sky was hazy with smoke around the mountain-peaks. He knew the horses could sense the danger and were uneasy—especially Velvet, who had probably never seen a dragon and did not even know what she was afraid of, poor creature! Cyrus could smell it in the air too, but the German Shepherd walked quietly beside his master steed, with only the barely-bristling hair along the back of his neck showing how tense he was.

They came at last to the end of the foothills and looked up at the sheer mountain-sides. The monster’s cave was fully visible at last, high above their heads, at the top of a cliff. A horrible place for a fight—at least when your opponent was big enough to fling you off the edge.

“The horses cannot get up this,” Sir Richard said, looking at the steep path upwards, to the left of the cliff-face. He wondered if the dragon had made the narrow trail.

“I know,” Gimel answered. “We’re not going that way. We’re going partway around the mountain and climbing up from behind the lair. It’s less steep, and we might surprise the dragon. Come!” He lifted Velvet’s reins, but she reared suddenly and turned back towards the foothills, breaking into a gallop in spite of all his efforts.

Sir Richard swung Jael around and followed the terrified horse back the way they had come. He found his guide in the foothills; Velvet standing and quiet at last, except for her heaving breath, but trembling all over. “She will not go further, Gimel,” the Knight said quietly.

This part was very hard to get right, but I think it turned out well!  I’m so excited we’ve gotten this far!

 ~The Sacrifice~ 

 

Part Eighteenth: The Sword of Ereth

Why was the King alone, yet surrounded by empty chairs? One of them had probably been for the Princess, and the other might belong to a prince, or another princess; and the other impressively adorned one that matched the King’s must belong to the Queen. But where was she? Probably still in bed, Sir Richard realized. It wasn’t even six. Though all this hurry would most likely be in vain: if the dragon was going to kill her, he could hardly be expected to wait four and twenty hours, could he?

“You are the Knight of the Eagle, who came to the Gate yesterday?” King Cedric asked. The knight could not accuse him if he sounded tired and uninterested.

Continue reading “The Sacrifice”: Part eighteen →

Better late than never, right?  Sorry I didn’t get this up on Friday, we had a lot going on!

 ~The Sacrifice~ 

 

Part Seventeenth: If

Abadalyx released his crushing grip on the Princess’s arm and brought his forepaw mercilessly down on her shoulder, hard enough to force her—as he intended—onto her knees beside the small stream that flowed over the edge of his rocky porch. “Drink!”

Penelope gulped water from her cupped hands, relishing its cool freshness on her dry throat. It more than made up for a sore shoulder and knees—as well as her ruined garments. She wondered how such mushy ground could have hurt her knees so badly, as she glanced down at her muddied skirt. What had induced her to wear white? Oh well, it wasn’t like it mattered much how she looked.

Continue reading “The Sacrifice”: Part seventeen →

Sorry I haven’t been posting very much lately!  Life just gets busy.  Spring is obviously here, ’cause I’ve been outside a lot, taking pictures. 🙂

Anyway, The Sacrifice.  Which I hope is more interesting than my rambling!

 ~The Sacrifice~ 

 

Part Sixteenth: In A Hurry

Five o’clock in the morning.

Sir Richard stalked down the inn’s dim, silent hallway; Cyrus trotting at his side. He wanted to run, but then his cloak might flare, and his sword had to stay concealed. The landlord was walking quietly about the main room, sticking daisies in small, clay pitchers on the tables in the main dining room. Hearing the stairs creak, he turned as Sir Richard came in. He opened his mouth for a good-morning-how-did-you-sleep, but the knight asked his first question before he could begin: “Where is your king?”

Continue reading “The Sacrifice”: Part sixteen →