Book 1: Treoir Dragon Chronicles of the Belador World, Book 1 Read online

  Copyright © 2020, Dianna Love Snell

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Pronunciation Guide

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  More Books

  Author Bio

  A Word From Dianna

  PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

  Note: A complete guide of unusual names, places and terminology for the Belador series is located on any Belador book page at www.AuthorDiannaLove.com, but below are from this book.

  aiteann – ah chin

  Brynhild – burn HILD

  Casidhe – CAH sih duh

  Cavan – cah VAHN

  Connell – kuh NAIL

  Dragani – drah GAHN nee

  Eógan – OH un

  Evalle – EE vahl

  Fadil – fah DEEL

  Fenella – fuh NELL ah

  Garwyli – gar WHY lee

  Germanus - jur MAN us

  gorse – GOERS (rhymes with course)

  Gruffyn – GRUFF in

  Imortiks – im MORE ticks

  Immortuos Grimoire – im MORH tue ose gruhm WAAR

  Jennyver - JENN uh vir

  Lann an Cheartais – lahn nah KAIR tus

  Luigsech – LOO gi sehk (g is hard like ‘egg’)

  Maistir – MY stir

  Medb – MAVE

  Noirre – NOIR ay

  Ossian – AH see un

  Pliny Laelius – PLY nee LIE lee oos

  Phoedra – FAY druh

  Renata – REY not ah

  Ruadh – ROO awn

  Scamall – SKAH mull

  Scáth Force – SCATH (like bath) Force

  Seanóir – SHAWN ore ee

  Skarde – SKARD

  Timmon – tim MAHN

  Tzader – ZAY der

  “If you don’t fight for what you love, then don’t cry for what you lost.”

  ~ Unknown

  Every major war and crisis can be traced to a specific moment in time.

  During the medieval time of chieftains and kingdoms in ancient Ireland, betrayal triggered a dragon war and consequences have rippled through time to today’s world. A supernatural being on a path to expose nonhumans is sparking chaos across the world with Atlanta at the epicenter. Powerful preternatural beings have waited patiently for an opportune moment to strike at their enemies and with no regard for human casualties. Now is the time.

  The Belador supernatural race living secretly among humans freed a cursed dragon shifter, who now reigns as their king. Daegan takes a stand to fight for his nonhuman followers as well as vulnerable humans. Tortured by what he lost two millennia ago, Daegan has vowed to destroy any who threaten his new family and allies.

  Atlanta and the entire human race have one hope of surviving what’s coming for them, but only if fear of the unknown does not drive them to kill their greatest protector first.

  Where it all began ...

  22 AD during the time of dragon kings in Ériu, an island later known as Ireland

  What the hell are ya doin’, Fadil? Daegan roared telepathically as he flew hard in dragon form toward the battle his father’s men fought.

  On the far side a cerulean sky stretched from horizon to horizon. Fadil’s brown dragon flapped his wings just as fast, head down and not a sound in reply.

  Fadil had heard him.

  Fadil! Call off your men! Daegan shouted again mind-to-mind.

  The brown dragon lifted his head at that, but the eyes coming into view did not belong to a friend. Wild hate seared those dragon eyes.

  Fadil, I do not want to kill ya!

  Daegan had to stop this. He didn’t want to kill someone who had been the brother he never had since the age of ten, but neither would he allow anyone to harm his father’s warriors. His men, who would march into battle on Daegan’s word alone.

  Protected by Fadil, a new wave of King Anasch’s warriors topped the hill to the south. The distinctive earth-dragon standard snapped in the rising wind as they marched toward the village.

  Daegan’s powerful dragon, Ruadh, made a wide arc then descended, blasting a fiery path to cut off the approaching contingent.

  Smoke rose from most of the dwellings, many still on fire, in a village on the outer edge of his father’s land. Hundreds of warriors battled below and blood soaked the ground.

  A troll fighting for King Anasch flew through the air, knocked off his feet by King Gruffyn’s Belador soldiers using their kinetic powers. The Belador Maistir, Seamus, protected a group of villagers as the enemy of human soldiers and supernatural beings, including jackal-headed human forms, surrounded them.

  Belador cheers thundered when they realized Ruadh had come to their aid.

  Peace had reigned the entire twenty-nine years Daegan had lived. He’d been tasked with holding that peace because of possessing the most powerful dragon known of in this land.

  No one wanted war with King Gruffyn’s fierce warriors and fire dragon.

  Why would Fadil and his king?

  Daegan’s Beladors had done nothing to incur this attack and deserved to go home to their loved ones. They’d been sent here to secure this small village on his father’s land.

  But King Anasch had declared war by attacking those under King Gruffyn’s protection.

  Under Daegan’s protection.

  All these years of peace.

  Watch your back, Daegan! Seamus shouted mind-to-mind. He grabbed a village child clinging to his leg and tossed the young one over his shoulder.

  Ruadh had already started banking hard to the right, bringing into view the threat closing in from the south.

  Daegan spoke to his dragon. Do not kill Fadil. Give me a chance to stop this.

  He is not your friend to attack you. He should care more for his life, Ruadh replied, then flapped his h
uge wings hard, catching air to lift toward the heavens.

  Daegan and Ruadh fought as one, but his dragon would destroy anyone who attacked them.

  Fadil’s dragon had not slowed even to help his men.

  Go high, Ruadh! Daegan ordered. No better place to battle another dragon than high above the ground to protect those below.

  The brown beast with the eyes of an enemy and wings tipped in black did not rise to meet him.

  Instead, Fadil’s dragon swooped low, flying barely above treetop level, approaching the battle. The ground visibly rocked back and forth in his wake. Massive chunks of stone and earth exploded high into the air as he arrowed toward vulnerable humans as well as Beladors.

  Daegan yelled, Dive, Ruadh. His dragon flipped and shot down fast as a giant spear. Ruadh spewed a fiery ball at the brown dragon.

  Fadil’s dragon rolled to the right to escape, but the ball slapped his tail, sending him flipping. His dragon hit the ground, bounced, and shoved off, flying straight up with wings struggling to lift his giant body into the air.

  That blast of fire had singed the brown dragon’s tail. It also stopped Fadil’s dragon from pounding the Beladors, the villagers, and Fadil’s own army with boulders and burying all of them under piles of dirt.

  Daegan’s dragon curved his body up, lurching away from the ground. Ruadh watched for anything unexpected, but the earth dragon continued to ascend with each draft of air caught beneath his wings.

  Before Fadil’s dragon reached them, Daegan called telepathically, desperate to get through to a man who had been friend until now. Are ya crazy, Fadil? Why are your men attackin’ mine? What has happened to ya?

  A sick thought entered Daegan’s mind. Something he could not accept in his heart, but he had to ask. The truth, Fadil. Are ya the one startin’ a Dragani War?

  Still, he received no answer.

  Instead, the earth dragon angled around and flew at him with furious speed. Fadil’s beast weighed a third more than Daegan’s. He couldn’t kill Ruadh, but he could crush bones that would take too long to heal with a battle raging.

  Ruadh whipped his long body around quickly, twisting at the last moment to rake the earth dragon’s back with a blast of fire. Brown scales heated to the color of glowing embers, then cooled, leaving a black scorch behind.

  Fury collided with Daegan’s desire to not kill this ally. His friend.

  Ruadh had fought along with Fadil’s dragon to save King Anasch’s castle when a high king of the north lands had thought to claim it with twice as large an army as Fadil’s forces.

  But that army had been no match for one dragon, much less two.

  No match for men who fought to protect each other’s backs as if they’d been born brothers of the same womb.

  Ruadh dodged and rolled until they had no choice but to fight. Daegan’s red dragon rammed into Fadil’s. The sudden jarring felt as if they’d flown into the side of a castle. The dragons tangled up, spinning as they fell with their wings tucked in. Claws ripped at each other. Daegan’s dragon couldn’t torch his opponent face to face, not this close.

  An earth dragon would suck that fire inside and send it back as a blast of glowing lava rocks.

  The earth dragon's jaws clamped around Ruadh’s throat, gashing the thick skin. Ruadh’s claws ripped into the brown dragon’s chest over and over until blood poured from a deep gash.

  Ruadh could defeat Fadil’s beast at this point, but Daegan could not kill the man who had bled alongside Daegan in one battle after another. He’d as soon gut himself.

  But if Daegan did not give the order to finish the earth dragon, Ruadh would wear down from battling the heavier beast and risk crushed bones if they hit the ground. If Ruadh could not fly until healing, Belador lives would be at risk.

  Daegan told Ruadh, We must take away the advantage of being in the air and drive this fight to the ground.

  Ruadh countered, Earth is his strength.

  Only if we allow him to use it.

  Opening his jaws to blast a fierce roar, Ruadh pushed off and broke away from the heavy brown dragon to fly up, up, up, then ...

  Daegan shouted, Seamus! Move everyone out of the way. Our dragons are falling to the ground. Save our Beladors and the villagers. King Anasch’s army is Fadil’s problem.

  Aye, sir.

  When Ruadh broke free of the clouds, he flipped around and dove straight down.

  Fadil’s dragon had been slowly ascending and could not maneuver fast enough to avoid the unexpected attack.

  Crashing into the brown beast, Ruadh roared and his claws dug deep while he kept Fadil’s dragon wrapped inside giant red wings.

  Not prepared for this kind of attack from above, Fadil’s dragon wings collapsed in.

  Daegan kept alert as Ruadh tumbled over and over joined as one with the brown dragon, falling as swiftly as a boulder shoved off a cliff.

  Fadil’s dragon kept swinging his huge jaws around as far as his head would turn, snapping desperately at Ruadh’s neck.

  Daegan’s dragon spewed a small blast of fire to stop the vicious jaws from succeeding. Ruadh struggled to hold as the heavy dragon twisted to break free. Both bodies vibrated with power and strain.

  A hundred feet from the ground, Daegan told Ruadh, Free him now!

  His red dragon’s wings flared. Ruadh shoved off hard.

  That move sent the earth dragon hurtling faster toward the ground, still out of control.

  Ruadh’s muscles bulged under the strain of flapping fast enough to avoid following Fadil’s beast to the ground and suffering a vicious hit. He arched his long back, rising until he could bank to the right and glide for a moment to breathe.

  Fadil’s dragon crashed into the ground and bounced. He rolled over and over until stopping in a cloud of dirt and plowed-up grass with wings spread and head down.

  Beladors had raced away from the colossal giants falling to earth. Seamus shouted, Daegan! The Beladors stand to assist you.

  Daegan ordered, Do not touch the dragon.

  Aye, sir.

  In a deep voice rough from spewing fire, his dragon pointed out, Enemy is weak. Easy to kill.

  Pain lanced Daegan’s heart. He argued, Fadil is not my enemy! I would give even an enemy a chance for last words.

  Ruadh puffed out a cloud of black smoke that ended in an angry snarl.

  Daegan’s dragon slowed until he lifted his head and lowered his rear legs to land smoothly in spite of the painful injuries Fadil’s beast had inflicted. But the red dragon feared by all possessed faster healing powers than Fadil’s and would never show a weakness.

  Daegan remained in dragon form as Ruadh stood above the downed earth dragon. Slashes and scorch marks crisscrossed the brown body and wings, but Fadil would live.

  For now.

  After a long moment, the earth dragon rumbled out a furious sound and lifted his head. He pushed his body up until he and Ruadh were almost eye level. That one may weigh more, but Ruadh stood taller, especially with his head held high.

  Fadil’s dragon arched his neck, drawing his head back as if to hit Ruadh with a blast of lava rocks.

  Speaking out loud in Ruadh’s booming voice, Daegan warned, “Do not dare, Fadil. I have shown the only mercy you will see this day if you attack my dragon again.”

  The brown dragon closed his jaws and brought his head forward. Hate seared the reptilian eyes.

  Daegan asked, “Why would your army attack a defenseless village and our Beladors? Our men have shown great restraint with their powers. They have fought your men on equal ground, but kill even one of mine and you will have no army.”

  Fadil’s dragon eyes narrowed into black slits. When he spoke, his dragon normally had a much smoother voice than Ruadh’s. Not this time. Fadil’s dragon bellowed, “Murderer! Ya attacked my father’s kingdom while I was away. Ya burned my cousin to death in front of his mother. Ya savaged our villages. I do not fear ya, red dragon!”

  If Daegan had been in human form, his jaw would h
ave dropped. His dragon boomed, “I did no such thing. I have attacked no one since the last time we fought together against an enemy. What evidence do ya hold to accuse me?”

  The merciless eyes of an adversary glared back as Fadil replied, “A red dragon attacked, shooting fire from above. There is no other dragon of such color but yours. There is no other dragon spewing fire but yours. My da watched the massacre from the castle, too far away for his guards to save the innocent servants, livestock, and children. Innocent children.”

  “No. I swear on my honor that was not me,” Daegan’s dragon shouted. His head and heart could not accept this. Not from Fadil. Not the only friend Daegan had growing up.

  “Your king grows feeble and it is said you want to rule all. Ya were my friend once, but no more. Do not ever fly near my land again. If ya do, I will be prepared to kill your dragon next time. Even a demigod can die.”

  “Let me talk to your father, Fadil, so that we will know what happened.”

  “You question my father’s words? Our people died under your dragon’s fire. That’s what I know.”

  Daegan struggled to accept any of this. Hurt clogged his throat, but Ruadh had no problem delivering his words. “We can war. We can kill. We can blood each other, but that will not change that I did not attack your people. If you leave now and call your army back, I will allow you to live. If your army continues to attack, my Beladors and I will leave them for you to bury. If you attack my dragon again, he will burn yours and eat the ashes.”

  “One day, you will not be all powerful, Daegan,” Fadil warned in his dragon voice, shaking with anger. “When that day comes, you will know the pain of watching those you love die when you cannot save them.” With that, the brown dragon took several steps and pushed off with fast flaps to lift all that weight.

  How could he lose Fadil this way? Why are ya doing this to me, Fadil? Ya know me.

  I thought I knew ya.

  White hot rage shook him. Fadil! Don’t do this!

  For a moment, Daegan wished for another dragon like his to drag to Fadil’s castle, but his father had made it clear there would be no more dragons, or additional children, from his blood line after Daegan. His two older sisters possessed dragon blood, but would not birth a dragon unless they bound themselves to one.