I've been writing longer than I've been drawing so I thought I'd put in a sample of my writing. The story below is a work in progress. Please, feel free to tell me what you think.
Sitting in the shadow of the forest, alongside the road that leads to the Vampire City, lies a small wayside inn called “The Brass Lantern.” A sign on the front door of the inn boasts the finest lodgings, the softest beds, and the best ale and dragon’s blood wine for miles around.
Inside, just past and to the left of the desk behind which stands the innkeeper haggling over the price of a room with a weary traveler, is the inn’s tavern. It is full to overflowing at this time of the evening, filled with the guests of the inn, as well as the local folk who come in for a pint after a long day. Back in the dark recesses of the tavern, at a small table, with her back to the wall, sits a woman dressed in a rich brown leather duster. Her hood is up and partially hides her face in shadows. The small candle in the glass bowl on the table flickers casting a tiny glow on her face. Her eyes, blue as Cornflowers and with tiny golden flecks in them, shine bright in the flickering light making it seem as if they glow in the dark like a creature of the night. Every so often, she can be seen muttering to herself. Consequently, no one wants to get too close to her, and this suits her just fine.
Unbeknownst to her fellow patrons, Anira is carrying on quite a conversation alone in her corner in the dark. For you see, Anira is speaking, mind to mind, with her dragon, Tariel. Tariel is waiting for her a few miles away, resting after a very prosperous hunt. Fully sated, she is stretched out on a large, flat rock that still holds some of the warmth of the waning afternoon sun. The beautiful golden dragon is perfectly content to rest and “speak” with Anira while the latter gathers information on the whereabouts of the man they seek. This man knows of dragonkind, and they have heard rumors that not only can he communicate with dragons, he can produce wings and fly like them. Suddenly, Tariel is roused from her rest when Anira’s voice becomes much louder in her mind.
“Tariel, meet me in the forest about a half mile behind the inn, it’s time to go. I believe I may have learned his name. I have been hearing interesting stories about a man named Sadron,” said Anira excitedly.
“I am on my way, Anira. Please, be sure no one follows you, for I would hate for my blood to end up in a chalice on the tavern’s bar, “ she said wryly.
Tariel rose gracefully into the sky, and with two beats of her gigantic wings, she carefully and stealthily glided to a small clearing and settled down to wait for Anira. While she waited patiently, she again wondered why these beings felt it necessary to eat dragon flesh and drink dragon blood. Anira would never think of doing such a barbaric thing.
When Anira reached the meeting place, she stood in the shadows of the trees for a moment before entering the small clearing where Tariel waited for her, admiring her friend’s beauty, then entered the clearing and walked up to her friend and companion. Tariel brought her head down to Anira and gently nuzzled her neck. “Anira,” she purred softly in Anira’s mind, “You were not followed I trust?”
“No love. No one saw me leave, and no one followed me. I made sure of it. How could I go on if anything were to happen to you, my precious one?” Anira gently replied, “We must go now, and find a suitable weir for the night. It is not good to be out in the darkness so near the city of vampires. They thirst for blood, and we are both at risk. We can resume our search tomorrow when the sun can protect us.”
Tariel extended her wing and lowered herself so that Anira could climb up and seat herself securely upon her back. Once settled, Anira gently stroked Tariel’s long graceful neck to signal that she was ready. With two beats of her wings, Tariel was again airborne. With two more, she began her ascent to the clouds. They flew high into the mountains, Tariel searching for just the right cave to shelter in for the night, preferably one with the hot sand that she so dearly loved. Anira loved these moments alone in the sky, just she and Tariel. There was nothing else in all the world like this feeling of “oneness” with her dragon. Tariel “spoke” to Anira and told her that she had found a cave that she deemed suitable, and as they glided down to it, Anira again thanked the Gods for guiding her to that special cave so long ago...…
Part 2
Tariel beat her strong wings in an easy rhythm and climbed higher and higher into the clouds. When she had climbed so high that the air became thin, she looked back over her shoulder and checked Anira to be sure she was still seated securely on her back, and then began her gliding decent. Tariel tasted the thin air with her long reptilian tongue searching for that one particular taste/scent that told her a cave with cool water and hot sand was near. Slowly, gracefully, she glided through the clouds, circling down toward the mountains.
Seated high upon her dragon’s back, Anira laughed and rejoiced in the thrill of flight. The wind blew through her long hair and whipped it about her face. She was always happiest at these times. The thoughts of home and family were far away, kept at bay at least for a little while.
Tariel’s voice gently intruded on Anira’s thoughts. “Anira, I have found it, the perfect weyr,” and with that her decent became much steeper as she headed straight for the side of a huge mountain peak.
Squinting against the setting sun’s bright rays, Anira shielded her eyes as best she could to try to see where Tariel was headed. There up ahead, on the side of the steepest cliff she had yet seen in their travels, was a shadow that must be an opening into the side of the mountain. Before she could ponder the question further, they were coming in to land on the ledge just outside of a large cavern. Tariel landed gently and carefully extended her wings and lowered herself so that Anira could dismount.
Walking into the darkness of the cave with her daggers at the ready, Anira and Tariel began to check out the cave to be sure they were the only inhabitants. After a careful look around, they decided that they indeed had the cavern all to themselves. Anira put away her daggers and followed Tariel as she went deeper into the cave. Anira could hear and smell the underground river before she ever saw it. Tariel gave a long purr and hurried forward to the next bend and around it moving very quickly for a beast of such great size. As Anira came round the last outcropping of rocks, she was astounded by the sight before her eyes…..
A shaft of the last of the afternoon sunlight streamed down into the cavern through what was once a lava tube that reached clear up and through the mountain to the outside. Inside, the sunlight was caught and reflected throughout the entire cavern by crystals that lined the walls. Farther ahead was the underground river flowing swiftly past them and gently lapping at a small beach of very hot sand. Sand that Tariel was happily curled up in purring contentedly. Anira smiled and walked over to her, thankful for the thick boots that protected her feet from the hot sand. Tariel lowered her head and lovingly rubbed Anira’s cheek with her nose. Anira stroked her long snout and gave her a light kiss on the nose. She climbed into the circle of Tariel’s wings where the sand was comfortably warm and curled up. She snuggled in for the night with Tariel’s wings wrapped around her like a blanket and her head resting against the dragon’s chest. Soon, the warm sand and Tariel’s contented purring lulled Anira into a deep sleep.
Part 3 (coming soon)
Dragon's Quest
Sitting in the shadow of the forest, alongside the road that leads to the Vampire City, lies a small wayside inn called “The Brass Lantern.” A sign on the front door of the inn boasts the finest lodgings, the softest beds, and the best ale and dragon’s blood wine for miles around.
Inside, just past and to the left of the desk behind which stands the innkeeper haggling over the price of a room with a weary traveler, is the inn’s tavern. It is full to overflowing at this time of the evening, filled with the guests of the inn, as well as the local folk who come in for a pint after a long day. Back in the dark recesses of the tavern, at a small table, with her back to the wall, sits a woman dressed in a rich brown leather duster. Her hood is up and partially hides her face in shadows. The small candle in the glass bowl on the table flickers casting a tiny glow on her face. Her eyes, blue as Cornflowers and with tiny golden flecks in them, shine bright in the flickering light making it seem as if they glow in the dark like a creature of the night. Every so often, she can be seen muttering to herself. Consequently, no one wants to get too close to her, and this suits her just fine.
Unbeknownst to her fellow patrons, Anira is carrying on quite a conversation alone in her corner in the dark. For you see, Anira is speaking, mind to mind, with her dragon, Tariel. Tariel is waiting for her a few miles away, resting after a very prosperous hunt. Fully sated, she is stretched out on a large, flat rock that still holds some of the warmth of the waning afternoon sun. The beautiful golden dragon is perfectly content to rest and “speak” with Anira while the latter gathers information on the whereabouts of the man they seek. This man knows of dragonkind, and they have heard rumors that not only can he communicate with dragons, he can produce wings and fly like them. Suddenly, Tariel is roused from her rest when Anira’s voice becomes much louder in her mind.
“Tariel, meet me in the forest about a half mile behind the inn, it’s time to go. I believe I may have learned his name. I have been hearing interesting stories about a man named Sadron,” said Anira excitedly.
“I am on my way, Anira. Please, be sure no one follows you, for I would hate for my blood to end up in a chalice on the tavern’s bar, “ she said wryly.
Tariel rose gracefully into the sky, and with two beats of her gigantic wings, she carefully and stealthily glided to a small clearing and settled down to wait for Anira. While she waited patiently, she again wondered why these beings felt it necessary to eat dragon flesh and drink dragon blood. Anira would never think of doing such a barbaric thing.
When Anira reached the meeting place, she stood in the shadows of the trees for a moment before entering the small clearing where Tariel waited for her, admiring her friend’s beauty, then entered the clearing and walked up to her friend and companion. Tariel brought her head down to Anira and gently nuzzled her neck. “Anira,” she purred softly in Anira’s mind, “You were not followed I trust?”
“No love. No one saw me leave, and no one followed me. I made sure of it. How could I go on if anything were to happen to you, my precious one?” Anira gently replied, “We must go now, and find a suitable weir for the night. It is not good to be out in the darkness so near the city of vampires. They thirst for blood, and we are both at risk. We can resume our search tomorrow when the sun can protect us.”
Tariel extended her wing and lowered herself so that Anira could climb up and seat herself securely upon her back. Once settled, Anira gently stroked Tariel’s long graceful neck to signal that she was ready. With two beats of her wings, Tariel was again airborne. With two more, she began her ascent to the clouds. They flew high into the mountains, Tariel searching for just the right cave to shelter in for the night, preferably one with the hot sand that she so dearly loved. Anira loved these moments alone in the sky, just she and Tariel. There was nothing else in all the world like this feeling of “oneness” with her dragon. Tariel “spoke” to Anira and told her that she had found a cave that she deemed suitable, and as they glided down to it, Anira again thanked the Gods for guiding her to that special cave so long ago...…
Part 2
Tariel beat her strong wings in an easy rhythm and climbed higher and higher into the clouds. When she had climbed so high that the air became thin, she looked back over her shoulder and checked Anira to be sure she was still seated securely on her back, and then began her gliding decent. Tariel tasted the thin air with her long reptilian tongue searching for that one particular taste/scent that told her a cave with cool water and hot sand was near. Slowly, gracefully, she glided through the clouds, circling down toward the mountains.
Seated high upon her dragon’s back, Anira laughed and rejoiced in the thrill of flight. The wind blew through her long hair and whipped it about her face. She was always happiest at these times. The thoughts of home and family were far away, kept at bay at least for a little while.
Tariel’s voice gently intruded on Anira’s thoughts. “Anira, I have found it, the perfect weyr,” and with that her decent became much steeper as she headed straight for the side of a huge mountain peak.
Squinting against the setting sun’s bright rays, Anira shielded her eyes as best she could to try to see where Tariel was headed. There up ahead, on the side of the steepest cliff she had yet seen in their travels, was a shadow that must be an opening into the side of the mountain. Before she could ponder the question further, they were coming in to land on the ledge just outside of a large cavern. Tariel landed gently and carefully extended her wings and lowered herself so that Anira could dismount.
Walking into the darkness of the cave with her daggers at the ready, Anira and Tariel began to check out the cave to be sure they were the only inhabitants. After a careful look around, they decided that they indeed had the cavern all to themselves. Anira put away her daggers and followed Tariel as she went deeper into the cave. Anira could hear and smell the underground river before she ever saw it. Tariel gave a long purr and hurried forward to the next bend and around it moving very quickly for a beast of such great size. As Anira came round the last outcropping of rocks, she was astounded by the sight before her eyes…..
A shaft of the last of the afternoon sunlight streamed down into the cavern through what was once a lava tube that reached clear up and through the mountain to the outside. Inside, the sunlight was caught and reflected throughout the entire cavern by crystals that lined the walls. Farther ahead was the underground river flowing swiftly past them and gently lapping at a small beach of very hot sand. Sand that Tariel was happily curled up in purring contentedly. Anira smiled and walked over to her, thankful for the thick boots that protected her feet from the hot sand. Tariel lowered her head and lovingly rubbed Anira’s cheek with her nose. Anira stroked her long snout and gave her a light kiss on the nose. She climbed into the circle of Tariel’s wings where the sand was comfortably warm and curled up. She snuggled in for the night with Tariel’s wings wrapped around her like a blanket and her head resting against the dragon’s chest. Soon, the warm sand and Tariel’s contented purring lulled Anira into a deep sleep.
Part 3 (coming soon)
