THE DRAGON GATE
The Dragon Gate Series
Volume 1
by Randy Ellefson
Copyright © 2020 Randy Ellefson / Evermore Press
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means; electronic or mechanical, including photography, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any semblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author.
Table of Contents
Map of Kingdom Alunia
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Prologue – The Lone Survivor
Chapter 1 – RenFest
Chapter 2 – The Pendant
Chapter 3 – The Quest
Chapter 4 – Fresh Wounds
Chapter 5 – A Conscience Riddled
Chapter 6 – Lorian
Chapter 7 – Wizardry
Chapter 8 – Affinity
Chapter 9 – Arundell
Chapter 10 – Aspirations
Chapter 11 – The Ellorian Champions
Chapter 12 – Unrest in the Forest
Chapter 13 – A Ruin Alive
Chapter 14 – Confrontation
Chapter 15 – Destiny Seized
Chapter 17 – Resolutions
Chapter 17 – Resolutions
Chapter 18 – End Game
Chapter 19 – Firestorm
Acknowledgments
About The Author
Randy Ellefson Books
Randy Ellefson Music
Map of Kingdom Alunia
Map of Kingdom Alunia, on the world of Honyn
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Prologue – The Lone Survivor
Lucion stared unseeing into the campfire. His ears strained to hear past the rustling treetops and creaking boles of the dark forest. Gusts of wind tore through the woods as if searching for him, the noise drowning out the chatter of his four companions. If anything else was moving out there, his group would never know it. The coming storm didn’t concern him, but the ogre footprints did. They looked a week old and likely meant no trouble, and he was certain enough of this to have lit the fire and slapped deer meat over it, but the value of alertness wasn’t lost on him. His own prey lay chopped in pieces before him.
The hunter’s gaze shifted to the ruins of Castle Darlonon perched among the looming mountain peaks overhead. For a moment, he thought lights twinkled in some of the windows. A cautious glance at Rogin showed his brother hadn’t noticed the lights, which was just as well. Rogin had told enough stories about people going up there and never coming back that no one believed much of anything he said anymore. Just minutes earlier he’d sworn a dragon had appeared in the night sky, but of course that was impossible. As Lucion turned the deer haunch over, Rogin walked off into the woods to relieve himself and the darkness swallowed him. As if to celebrate, the woods groaned loudly, and the wind howled through the treetops. Lucion shivered.
“It smells so good here,” said a woman’s voice, and the men turned in surprise, seeing an elegant woman breathing in deeply through a pert nose, her full bosom straining against the red silk of an evening gown. Golden hair framed a heart-shaped face and tumbled past her petite waist. She stood at the clearing’s edge, her radiance making the shadowy woods seem all the more dark. Her green eyes boldly danced from one man to the next, appraising them. Captivated by her allure, they hardly noticed she could not have been more out of place so many miles from any settlement.
“I haven’t smelled such fine meat in so many years,” she purred, eyeing Lucion. He could’ve been the most handsome man alive for the way she gazed at him.
Mesmerized by her attention, he pleasantly replied, “It is only fresh deer, my lady, not even seasoned, but you’re welcome to your share of it and all that we have.”
Her bright eyes locked onto his as if the others didn’t exist. He wished that were so, for he wanted her all to himself and trembled as she came nearer. Fine words had never been his to command and he stood at a loss, adoring eyes saying more than words ever could. As she stopped before him, her feminine scent washed over him. He smiled like a schoolboy.
In the silence, she kindly asked, “Why so quiet? Dragon got your tongue?”
Not noticing the subject had come up again, he stammered, “Uh, n-no, my lady. Dragons, well, they uh, they don’t show themselves around here no more.”
Eyebrows arched in surprise, she asked, “Is that so?”
“Yes, my lady. They were banished by the Ellorian Champions some years ago, to another world. The Dragon Gate up there in the castle keeps them away. You’ll be safe here, that I can promise you.” And he meant every word, for his heart would burst if anything happened to her. He didn’t mention that the champions had disappeared without a trace some years ago and that if the dragons ever got loose, no one would be able to send them back. The planet would be destroyed. There was no sense in worrying her.
Seeming amused by his assurance, she asked, “So then you haven’t seen a dragon recently? Tonight, for example?”
Startled, he wondered how she could have known and replied, “Oh no, nothing like that. Uh, Rogin here did think he saw something in the sky earlier, but it was nothing.” He couldn’t tear his eyes away long enough to look for his brother. It was good that this was so, for he might have noticed Rogin was still missing and alerted her to this.
“What did he think he saw?” The seductress slowly ran a finger down his chest. The long, bright red nail was sharp enough to cut through his shirt and draw blood he didn’t notice.
Lucion hesitated for fear of causing concern, but then she leaned closer and breathed him in long and deep, clearly enjoying his scent. Aroused, he confessed helpfully, “A dragon.”
As if expecting that, she
