The Caged Dragon (Cycle of Dragons Book 1) by Dan Michaelson (websites to read books for free txt) 📕

I looked at the Vard, trying to decide what I was going to do, before knowing the answer. I needed to get away. Alison had escaped. At this point, there was no reason for me to linger any longer.

Another rumble, and the Vard spread out, putting space around each other, looking out into the forest.

I jumped off the wagon, staggering into the trees. I ran in the opposite direction the wagons had gone, presumably back to Berestal, and headed into the darkness. The branches and undergrowth pulled on my clothes and yet, even as I went, there was something out there in the distancethat seemed to call to me. It was a different sense than what I had noticed from the Vard. Rather than the strange feeling that I was being pulled, there was a soft light.

I had seen that with the dragon.

If it was the dragon, I knew that it had no interest in harming me. It had an opportunity to do so before, and had not. If the dragon didn’t want to hurt me, then maybe it would help.

I ran through the forest. I needed to catch up to Alison, but I had no idea where she’d gone . I continued running, twisting through the forest, ducking underneath branches, the pale light glowing ever brighter. I kept my focus on it, and the further I went, the more I felt compelled to reach that light. It was almost as if it were summoning me. That energy continued to build within me, a drawing and desire for me to head toward it.

I started to slow. I couldn’t follow that light.

I needed to find my sister. Joran. Maybe even Elaine. They were all out here.

The roar of the mesahn sounded distant to me, but still closer than it had been.

I paused, looking around. I had no idea how long I’d been running, or where I even was. All I knew was that I had raced blindly into the forest, away from the wagon caravan.

And it meant I might be lost.

As I spun in place, looking around , I didn’t see anything that would help me find my way. Stories of my childhood came to me. Stories of men who got lost in the forest, and who had wandered aimlessly, some never to be seen again.

I should’ve paid better attention as I had run from the caravan. If I could find the Djarn path I might be able to make my way back out , but without that…

I steadied my breathing.

Focus on what I can do. Find my sister. Find Joran. Find Elaine. She might save us.

Shouts came from behind me. They were muted, but they were coming in my direction.

The Vard.

And if they were coming in my direction, that meant I hadn’t gone nearly far enough.

I started forward, heading toward the light. What other choice did I have?

18

My breathing sounded loud in my ears. Each time I forced my way through the underbrush, it cracked, and that sounded far too loud. I was trying to move as quickly and quietly as I could, but it felt like I was plunging ahead, making far too much noise.

The light lingered in the distance. It was like a beacon, a lantern light against the storm, and it called to me. If I was right, and if that was the dragon, then I had no idea what I was thinking going toward it. It was a mistake, but there wasn’t much else that I could do.

I hadn’t seen any sign of my sister, Joran, the other person that I had freed, or Elaine.

All I saw were trees. When I looked behind me, it was dark, full of shadows that seemed to dance and flicker, almost as if they were alive. Every so often, I heard a shout, and I knew the Vard were still behind me, as if they were trying to herd me forward toward some dangerous place. There was a part of me that began to wonder if I was making a mistake going after this light, but it was the only thing that was a constant within the darkness. The only thing that seemed like something that I could strive for.

I lost track of how long I had been walking. I was tired. There hadn’t been much rest, given everything that we had gone through throughout the last day. I felt as if I had been running indefinitely. Still, a strange energy bubbled up within me. Fear, most likely. Worry for my sister. Concern for what would happen if the Vard were to catch us. And faintly, a hint of a thrill at having seen a dragon.

I tried to deny that to myself, but it was there. There was a time in my life when seeing a dragon would have been the epitome of what I wanted. I had longed to experience what it was like to get close to a dragon, to feel the heat coming off it, to speak to one. But in reality, what I had really wanted was the opportunity to ride a dragon. That had been so long ago. When I was a child. Before everything had changed. Back when my brother had been in line to take over the farm.

I knew better than to hold on to those dreams now.

I had to push those thoughts away. There was no point in holding on to them. The only thing that I needed to do was to keep moving.

A shout came again. I couldn’t help but feel as if it was closer. Far too close.

The shout felt like a promise, as if the Vard were alerting me to the fact that they were there, that they were coming for me, and would make sure I knew I wouldn’t be able to escape from them.

Sadly, I probably could not.

I paused near a tree. I was getting thirsty, my stomach rumbled, and the air hung with the