So, I am currently working on two works in progress (WIP) at the moment. This is a first for me, and I have no idea which I will complete first, or even if I will get any completed. This one is tentatively titled Tales of the Dragon Islands. It will cover events in the world Eric and the Deliverers visit in Book 3 of the Deliverers Series.
This story takes place about 3,000 years before the Deliverers arrive on the Islands. I have a basic idea of what the tale will be about and what will happen, but I think I will be discovering a lot of information as I write.
Prologue
Autumn, 785 Year of the Dragon (YOD)
Jongchin, northern coast
It
is a time of fear and some unrest on the Dragon Islands. The northern parts of
Jongchin have fallen victim to raids from fierce warriors that come over the
sea from the northeast. They are vicious and ruthless. They are supported by a
silver dragon that breathes snow and ice. As I said, they attack the northern
coast of Jongchin as well as the northwestern portion of Ang.
The
raiders are looting and pillaging, setting fire to villages and crops. Some
have even stolen children between the ages of 12 and 15. When the silver dragon
comes, it is met by our own dragon, the Golden Dragon of Ang, who guides and
guards our people from the holy seat of Dragon Home on the island of Ang. Ang
is the Head of the islands. The others are Jongchin, the Heart; Shua and Shuay,
the Claws; and Hindra, the Tail.
It
is hard to defend against these attacks as our coastline is long and our
enemies vary the location of their attacks. Their ships are stout and strong,
built to travel long distances. Because of this, our generals estimate the
north men come from hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles away. The mindset of
the Golden Dragon is not to attack, but to defend. So, to our knowledge, she
has never ventured out in search of their homeland.
I
for one, wish the Dragon would lead us against the north men, as the silver
dragon does against us. However, that is not her way. She is as a mother to
us—guarding and protecting us. Our ships are less sturdy than those of our
attackers. They are built for trade and for battles close to shore, not long
journeys upon the open sea.
Now
perhaps, the tide is turning. We were able to salvage one of their warships
almost intact. The Dragon met theirs in the sky as they were conducting one of
their raids. The ship was making off with a dozen or so of our children,
captured after their parents were butchered and their farms burned. The two
dragons battled in the sky, and the silver dragon was driven off. The Golden
Dragon snatched the ship from the water and laid it down upon the sand.
We
killed all aboard save for our children. Alas, not one of their parents
survived. Most were taken in by relatives, but there were a few who had no
remaining kin. These the Dragon took with her back to Ang. It is my
understanding that they shall be cared for in an orphanage. They will grow to
serve the Dragon on Ang and shall want for nothing.
Meanwhile, we are examining the ship. While we on Jongchin are farmers, not seafaring folk, some of the finest shipwrights and sailors are coming from across the Islands to study all aspects of the captured vessel. It is my hope that we shall soon be able to build ships every bit as sturdy as those of our enemies. Then, perhaps, we can take the fight to them.
