Prologue

//This is the prologue of a novel I tried and failed to write. It was for nanowrimo [link] last year. I only managed to write a prologue, and chapter one and two. and a few pages of plot notes.

Prologue

This story tells the tale of a world where people live each with their own dragon. Not a pet dragon, for dragons will not be pets, but a dragon which was hatched in the cot of its human baby and which is inexorably linked to each other. As the child grows the dragon sleeps in its egg it bonds with the child and their thoughts become mingled. For a time it was tried to place two eggs in with the child, this was a failure because each of the sleeping dragons’ consciences would fight and compete for its child’s mind. The children would grow up with an over whelming sense of loss and confusion and the dragons never stayed.

But there were two whom for this was not the case. None remember who but someone gave two children a pendent at there devotion ceremony as babies or so it is said. Each pendent clasped a beautiful stone in the shape of an egg, a stone which gave off a very faint glow and the pattern slowly, almost imperceptibly, changed and swirled. What no one knew was that the stone was in fact a dragon egg. A dragon egg far smaller that a normal dragon egg. They were eggs of rare diminutive dragon which differed from normal dragons because they were nocturnal.

Chapter One

Chapter One


The wooden wheels of the cart rolled and grumbled as it ground its way along the gravel road. The small caravan was nearing one of the major stops on its route to the great planes. Dusk had already fallen and the road was only lit by the last dregs of twilight and by the moon. It was not the safest time to be traveling, but after the delays they had when they set off and one of the short cuts that the party would have normally took had been washed out the previous season, they were behind schedule. They could have set up camp but they wanted to get to the next town so they could be ready for the market the next day. As they came over the rise of Caratci hill and the city of Belandor came into view, a young man sat up from where he had been laying in the back of a cart. “Are we there yet?” “No we’re not, we’re still moving! But that is where we are going if you must know” replied the burly party leader. You can see that it’s Belandor by the twin light towers on each side of the harbor entrance. “Light towers?” “Yes those tall white towers over there, the ones with fires burning at their tops.” The young man squinted in to the distance. “Hey they are kind of big” Yes they are the second biggest light towers along this coast.” “Hmmm. Ok. Can you wake me up when we get to the city gates?” The young man said as he flopped back down. The party leader just shook his head paused and then chuckled to himself. He was a nice enough passenger, a little odd but pleasant enough to be around. He couldn’t shake the feeling though that there was more than meets the eye with him though.

As the gates of the city loomed up Farren the party leader banged on the side of the cart and told the traveler haul his ass out of cart. Otherwise he would be charging him extra to cover the cost of paying the gate cargo tax on him if he continued to lie there, doing such a good impression of a sack of potatoes.
With a jump and a half twist the caravans passenger had somersaulted out off the cart and was standing beside Farren with a couple of copper and silver coins in his hand. “That should cover what I owe you” “Yes that will do.” The young man started to walk off and was about to be lost in the hustle and bustle of those entering and leaving the city when he stopped and turned. Looking back at Farren and his men he took a custard apple out from his jacket pocket and tossed to Farren. “Here this is for you and your daughter.” “Oh, um thank you!?.” “Ok Go enjoy yourself in Belandor, keep out of mischief”. But by then he was gone. Looking down at the piece of fruit, Farren shook his head. Where did he find a custard apple in these parts? Didn’t he know how much one of them cost?? Shrugging his shoulders he turned back to his men and hurled some abuse at them to hurry up and get a move on they had a big day ahead of them tomorrow.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

Devon stood out on the balcony of her room and looked out over the sea. The gentle breeze blew her hair back. She loved the feeling of the wind in her hair. Her dragon Maethea casually flew out of the chamber and made a lazy swoop around one of the spires on the minor towers at the lower levels of the palace before returning and perching on the iron work of the balcony. It’s such a beautiful day out there Maethea, Devon commented as she absentmindedly stroked his neck. “Yes it is Devon, pity about you having to be inside when you go down to the senate.” “Oh I had forgotten about that”. Devon frowned. “Do you think I would be able to miss it today?” “Well you could, but there would be hell to pay if you did.” “I know I know”. “It probably wont be that bad, it’s just it would be such a nice day to go down to the harbour and watch the ships come and go”.





The seating of the senate ended early that day as there were only a few items on the agenda left over from the day before. As Devon was filing out of the senate building, with Maethea perched on her shoulder, she bumped into Simon de carvel. He was one of the minor lords of the city. Devon didn’t really like him although she wouldn’t go so far as to say she disliked him either. He was several years her senior. Her mother and his own had been friends in the past. She could vaguely recall paying some childhood games in the rear garden at Simon’s house. Although Simon apparently had played games with her, Devon could only recall back to a time when Simon had become to find girls to be annoying and as most boys his age did, unfashionable to be around. After her mother died, Devon would rarely see Simon normally it was only at the odd formal function. Simon was asking her how she had found the days deliberations. Devon replied “For the most part it was not very enthralling although some of the trade discussions were interesting.” “What do you think of Parvel discussions?” Simon enquired. “I’m in two minds about them. I think that they will be very good if they do eventuate, but I have little faith that they will. So there will probably be a few who feel that their toes have been trod on when it falls through”. “Yes quite possible”. Simon responded. He was about to ask another question but Devon quickly made a polite excuse that she was required else where and bid him a good day. Simon bowed graciously and they parted.

“I thought you enjoyed discussing trade politics” Maethea said as the two of them made their way down the corridor. ‘Yes I do, but how to make it a painful experience! ‘Simon has the ability to make any subject a tedium to discuss. He is just so unexciting some times’. He is not that bad is he? Devon just shrugged her shoulders, causing Maethea to bob up and down.
Devon decided to take the long way back to her day quarters by way of the palace wall. Maethea launched him self from Devon’s shoulder and began swooping around her. The sunlight glinted off his green and gold flecked wings. Devon knew she had some time before she would be meeting with her eunuch to discuss the day’s events. She stood at the walls edge between one of the castalerastrations. From this point of the wall you could survey the whole harbour. The docks and warehouses, the promenade the beach, the market place and the shore side restaurants and cafes were all bathed in the early afternoon sunshine. The sunlight sparkled off the waves in the harbour which was bordered by the great white light towers that showed the entrance to the harbour. They may not have been as tall at the one at Abenterth but they were far grander. Devon looked about and being sure that there wasn’t any body about she reached into the sleeve of her dress and pulled out a small yellow dragon that had been concealed there. It was fast asleep. “Wake up sunshine” Devon said as she gave the dragon a poke. The dragon wriggled a little. Devon poked it again and began to scratched its neck. The dragon uncoiled its self and yawned. Sleepily it turned its head to look up at Devon. ‘What time is it’ ‘Early after noon’ Devon replied. “Gah! why so early?’ complained the dragon. ‘Well Keriadal it is such a beautiful day that I thought I would bug and annoy you until you enjoy it’. ‘You would do that to me!’ replied Keriadal in mock horror. ‘Especially to you’ Devon picked him up and kissed him on the top of his head. Now look out there isn’t that beautiful? ‘Well a little I guess.’ Kearidal replied in a teasing tone of voice. With that Devon flicked him over the edge of the wall.

Wind and shadow.

Wind and shadow

How the land does lay.

In the fields once did run

The daisies and violets

Under the blazing sun.

Wind and shadow

But all is gone, it is now but grey.

Oh the shadow, no longer now the summer is gone

Through the grass and in the meadow

Now the wind does blow

When they come

All that is left is sand

It is now undone

Wind and shadow

How the land does lay

Wind and shadow

It needs a lot of work. In fact it really sux, but completely by accident it balances nicely. Not lyrically but visually.

(hint: count the number of lines per paragraph)

I just had the words wind and shadow going through my head today and I thought I could try to turn it into a poem. Dont ask me what it means. I'm not sure myself. If you have any ideas then please tell me.

I will rework it some time, but not now.

Comments?