Praise for the Riders of Fire series
Ezaara & Dragon Hero—Storylines NZ Notable Book Awards 2019
Ezaara & Dragon Hero—Quarter Finalists, Epic Fantasy Fanatics 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards
“A great fantasy read.” Dean O’Gorman, actor, Fili the dwarf in The Hobbit
“Played like a movie in my mind. Mueller is the kind of writer that engages all 5 senses.”
“An explosive series. Nail-biting, fast paced and taut with suspense.”
“A lot of heart and a lot of action.”
“New stories in same genre as Anne MacCaffrey's Pern books. About time someone took up the torch.”
“I may have stumbled upon another favorite series here. I'm eagerly waiting to dive into the next adventure of the Riders of Fire!”
“A spellbinding story from a powerful and equally promising new voice in epic fantasy.”
“A page turner that is literally impossible to put down.”
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Ezaara, Dragon Hero and Dragon Rift and the Riders of Fire series are works of fiction. All characters, events and locations in this book are fictional. Any resemblance to persons or dragons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. No dragons were harmed in the making of this book, although there may have been a few injuries to tharuks.
This book is copyright. No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying, recording or by any information retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for short excerpts for reviews, in fair use, as permitted under the Copyright Act. Dragons’ Realm, the Riders of Fire world, and its characters are copyright.
Ezaara, Dragon Hero, Dragon Rift, Riders of Fire © 2018-2019 Eileen Mueller
Typesetting © Phantom Feather Press, 2020, American English
Cover Art by Christian Bentulan © Phantom Feather Press, 2018-2020
Dragons’ Realm Map by Ava Fairhall © Phantom Feather Press, 2018
Phantom Feather Press Logo by Geoff Popham, © Phantom Feather Press, 2014
Phantom Feather Press
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www.phantomfeatherpress.wordpress.com
Magic, every time you turn the page.
Dedication
For my readers all over the world.
You are the wind beneath my wings.
Riders of Fire Books 1-3
Table of Contents
Ezaara — Riders of Fire Book 1
Map of Dragons’ Realm
Lush Valley
Western Pass
Dragons’ Hold
Misgivings
Dragon Flight
Fishing
Queen’s Rider
Prophecy
Knife’s Edge
Deadline
A Testing Time
Trickery and Stunts
Tharuk Attack
Healing
Rider of Fire
Test of the Sword
Suspicions
Betrayal
Secret Plans
Healing Calls
The Wastelands
Zaarusha
Silent Assassins
Imprisoned
A Link Reforged
Escape
Naobia
Dark Secrets
Deadly Intent
Tooth and Talon
Shari
Traitors
River of Sathir
Dragon Hero — Riders of Fire Book 2
Prologue - Eighteen Years Ago
Lush Valley
Death Valley
Scorned
Through Fog
Western Settlement
Trapped
Captive
Last Stop
Bitter Truth
Hunted
Tharuk Attack
Turning Point
A Narrow Escape
Storm Brewing
Snowed In
Star Clearing
Haven
A Nasty Surprise
Weathering the Storm
Soldiering On
Insight
Change of Plans
On Fire
Slipping Away
A Wing Down
A Rude Awakening
Dragons’ Hold
A Risky Approach
Commander Zens
The Creature’s Ploy
Life in Death Valley
Piaua’s Promise
A Terrible Discovery
Hope Awakened
Ezaara
Revelation
Tharuk Crackdown
Closing In
Reunion
Giant John
A New Path
Dragon Rift — Riders of Fire Book 3
Six Weeks Earlier
Dragons’ Hold
War Council
Prank Gone Wrong
Wizardry
Snake-tongue
Erob’s Rescue
Death Valley
Discoveries
Stuck
Surprises
Return
Strangleton
Gossip
Dragons
Mage Gate
Rumors
Vengeance
Kierion’s Folly
Recovery
Rumble Weed
Riona’s Trap
Jael
Dragon’s Jaws
Dragon Stunts
Dragon Race
Feasting
Broken
Spangles
The Cage
Torture
A Crow’s News
Devil’s Choice
Weakness
Mage Fire
Retaliation
Dragons’ Hold
Homeward Bound
The Rift
Home
Shadows
Prophecy
Dire News
Hand-fasting
Promise
More Riders of Fire Adventures
Free Prequel Novelette—Silver Dragon—Riders of Fire
Acknowledgements
About Eileen
Herbal Lore in Dragons’ Realm
Ezaara
Map of Dragons’ Realm
Lush Valley
The scrape of a blade sliding from its scabbard cut through the hum of the market square. Ezaara dropped her herb basket. Spinning, she drew her sword.
Tomaaz. Wasn’t it enough that he’d beaten her last time? And the time before? Of course not—today he had an audience. Sensing a fight, people backed toward stalls of plaited-onion wreaths, wood carvings and hats, clearing a ring around Tomaaz and Ezaara. On the far side of the marketplace, painted scarves fluttered in the breeze.
Tomaaz lunged.
Ezaara blocked his blow, then feinted. In a flurry of strokes, he drove her backward toward an apple cart. Typical. Quick to attack, he loved to corner his opponents.
“Take five to one for Tomaaz,” Lofty yelled. The clink of coppers sealed bets. Folk always favored her brother.
Ezaara whirled as his blade whistled past her face, the whisper of its passage kissing her cheek. That was close, too close. She ducked as he lunged again, then she danced out of reach, saved by her footwork. They fought their way past brightly-patterned bolts of cloth. Tomaaz thrust to her right. Dodging, she bumped the table and the bolts went flying.
“Hey, my cloth,” yelled Old Bill as Ezaara leaped over the bolts and Tomaaz gave chase.
Ezaara faced her brother. Perhaps she could distract him. “Seen any pretty girls today?” she taunted, thrusting under his guard. “Look, there’s one behind you.”
His blade answered for him. He was stronger. And faster. She blocked him, arm aching from the impact. Tomaaz’s sword sliced dangerously near. He was so sure he could beat her. Slowing her steps as if she were tiring, Ezaara pretended to stumble, landing on one knee. “Ow!”
Tomaaz faltered. “Ezaara, are you all right?”
Driving her sword under his arm, Ezaara tapped
