 Blurb
(Cover art by Taria Reed) Morbunda is a land still divided centuries after a devastating war when the last dragons turned on their human allies. Men rebuild, but war soon erupts again, this time a battle between human religions. The foundling, Kerik, bitterly accepts his destiny when the specter of war threatens his friends, the twins Donal and Lyla Logan. Nothing can stop the fanatical army rolling toward their home except a battle dragon as of old, and the most powerful of ancient fire serpents is reborn in Kerik. But human learned how to kill dragons in the last war. Kerik can’t turn back the invaders from the north alone. Driven by need, Lyla discovers her own gift, a magic that is anathema to everything a dragon is. Kerik fights on despite weapons created only to kill him while he battles his attraction to Lyla. But the real war in the one against his cruel dragon nature as the beast inside him slowly crushes his human soul. Excerpt Copyright © 2012 Susan Gourley All rights reserved — a Crescent Moon Press publication Kerik gulped more air and drank in the heat as the bones became his own. Something deep in his soul tore open. He screamed as it clawed to life. It rose as a demon of fangs, wings and death. Again he screamed and fire erupted from his mouth. His flame ignited the tent roof. The beast rose from the flames of the alter where it had been created. Not created. Where it had been freed. Kerik tried to pull the horrible creature back but it shredded his being and rose higher. It spiraled up through the open smoldering tent. He went with it and looked down at the frozen Daughters and Knights. The beast took Kerik higher until he could see all of Logantown. The horses in the far pasture galloped toward the south end of their field and shrieked their terror. People spilled from their dark cottages and pointed skyward with their arms tight around their children. Close to the Daughters’ camp, Lyla and Donal huddled in the sheep pen. They clung to each other and stared their horror at the fire creature. Kerik knew this flying creature was dangerous. The fires within burned hotter than anything he’d ever believed existed. He couldn’t allow it to hurt Lyla and Donal or destroy Logantown. It needed to be controlled. How did the thing hold him? He tried to touch it but had no use of his arms. The front legs of the beast swung at something unseen. He turned his head and the creature turned with him. Why could he not see it? Damn the beast. It must have magic. He called on his strength and the fires built in the beast’s heart. Understanding flooded him. Kerik beat his long black wings and lifted higher into the night. He was flying. He soared as he’d dreamed of doing for most nights of his life, but the joy he’d found in his dreams was missing. All he felt was horror at what he was. The horses milled in a tight bunch in terror of his existence. The twins shrank into the sheep pen filth at the sight of him. He glided out across the plains and found flight as natural to him as walking. With the acceptance of his true self, no matter how abhorrent, came the knowledge of his namesake. The first Kerik had entrusted everything he was into the spell residing in his bones and now it had been passed on to his descendant. Much of it was foreign memory and the learning of things Kerik knew nothing about—magic. He considered flying forever and never going back. Could he fly to the end of the world and find a place far from Daughters and wars? There must be a place. But the histories Vala had shared came back to him and interlaced with the clear memories from the bones that were now his own. There was no place for a dragon to live in peace. As long as the followers of Umbron and Bellam did battle, the world would be at war. And Kerik had made a promise to Vala. That promise had spared his friends. He could protect Lyla and Donal now, but he could never be with them. He would never be able to give his love to Lyla. She was lost to him. He wept but shed no tears. Dragons did not cry. Purchase e-Book Purchase Print Biography Susan Gourley is a high school teacher with a great love of the written word. She writes epic fantasy but enjoys reading nearly all types of fiction. She resides in Pennsylvania, living her dream with her wonderful husband and six children. First Dragon is the opening book in her second epic fantasy series. Visit her at: http://www.susangourley.com Happy reading! (((hugs))) Louann
Becca
11/22/2013 01:06:56 am
Cool cover. Comments are closed.
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