THE CURSE OF THE DRAGON PRINCESS
THE CURSE OF THE DRAGON PRINCESS
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Copyright © Kate Lawrence, 2023
Main Characters:
Jaina: Daughter to King Proudmoore
King Proudmoore: Jaina’s Father
Lord Banor: King Proudmoore’s Guard
Dragon Prince: Jaina’s love interest
Setting:
The Kingdom of Alara, a castle surrounded by a beautiful garden full of flowers and fruit trees, a cave with an outcropping of boulders, a forest trail.
Time:
History.
Plot:
The Curse of the Dragon Princess follows the story of a young woman, twenty years old, who is on a quest to find the man of her dreams.
She is fleeing from an arranged marriage and is desperate to find the man she has been dreaming of for the past three years. She rides her horse at full speed through the dark woods, searching for the castle that looms ever nearer.
When she arrives, she discovers a cave filled with bats and a mysterious man with golden brown eyes and messy black hair.
She soon discovers that he is the Dragon Prince, cursed to remain in the cave until the curse is broken. With the help of her courage and determination, she sets out to break the curse and free the Dragon Prince from his prison.
Along the way, she must face many obstacles and challenges, including a powerful witch, a dragon, and a mysterious creature that lurks in the shadows.
What makes the story special: The story is special because it is a story of courage, determination, and love, and it is sure to captivate readers of all ages.
CHAPTER ONE
The sound of a horse's hooves pounding upon hard packed dirt echoed off the rocky hills behind me as I rode at full speed, my heart hammering in fear. I held tightly to my reins and kept myself balanced as best I could with only my knees to keep me steady.
It would not do to fall from the saddle now. Not yet. I was only twenty, barely old enough for marriage. My heart pounded so loud that it was like an orchestra, making my blood sing. My legs were shaking as I sped through the dark woods towards the castle that loomed ever nearer.
My hand was sweaty around the reins and it made my grip on them slippery. If I fell out of the saddle, there was no telling what might happen. My eyes scanned the dark landscape as I flew past, searching frantically for any sign of movement, any noise.
The road ahead of me looked like any of any other forest trail, but something about it bothered me. The trees were too thick here to see the road. As if they were hiding something. Something that might cause my death.
I didn't dare slow down, though I knew that I wouldn't make it without stopping. I felt like I might pass out if I did.
I could hear the thumping echo of my hooves on the hard ground even over my own heartbeat. Sweat trickled down my back, chilling the skin underneath my dress as the night chill seeped into my bones. My mind wandered and my body followed the images it conjured up. It seemed like everything I saw turned into some horrible monster or creature of evil waiting just below my path. A small voice inside me asked me where my life had gone wrong, but I pushed the thought aside.
My horse was fast, thanks to the blessings of the Fates. She sensed my panic and picked up her pace. Her coat shimmered in the faint light and shone almost like silver. I could tell she had been trained well. She responded perfectly to every command my voice uttered. When her head moved forward I knew that she could sense danger before my hands could even raise them to point, and she slowed to avoid hitting anything. I pulled on her reigns and leaned forward, urging her faster. Faster, faster, until she began to gallop once again.
We tore through the woods, taking turns in and out of trees, leaping across fallen branches, and ducking low to avoid being struck by branches from above. We leaped over logs and rocks, jumping and dodging, never slowing down. My feet ached as we hit the rough terrain that made traveling difficult, but I ignored the pain. Every inch of my body cried out in agony.
I tried to calm my racing pulse, trying to get my thoughts together. I needed to concentrate. The castle was closer now. I could feel it, like a distant beacon calling my name. I forced myself to take deep breaths, trying to regain control. It was hard to remember who I was, what kind of a lady I was. But somehow I managed.
A small clearing came into view in front of us and I slowed the horse to a trot, pulling her to a stop next to a large oak tree. I dismounted and tied my horse to the trunk of the tree.
My eyes scanned the surrounding area for any sign of danger, but all I saw were trees, rocks, and more trees.
I turned slightly, taking in my surroundings until my eyes came across an outcropping of boulders that surrounded a cave that had opened into the earth. The moonlight cast long shadows along the ground and I shivered, wishing that I had thought to bring warmer clothing. I looked at my horse, then glanced around the edge of the cave entrance.
Nothing moved. I couldn’t detect any animals. No birds singing, no deer running through the underbrush. I couldn't see anything except shadows and darkness, though there was still no sign of trouble. It was dead quiet.
With my heart beating rapidly against my chest, I stepped lightly towards the cavern entrance. Taking one last calming breath, I walked towards the cave opening, my footsteps echoing against the rocks. As soon as my boots touched the cold earth my breath caught in my throat.
Everything was black. Even the faintest bit of light disappeared completely as soon as I crossed the threshold of the cave. I took another step into the darkness, listening for signs of life as my eyes adjusted to the lack of sight. There was nothing, no noise, no light. I felt claustrophobic and wanted nothing more than to turn around and walk the few steps it would take to return to my horse outside the cave. Yet I kept going. I took another careful step forward, moving further and further inside.
Suddenly, there was a loud cry ricocheting off the walls. Soon the sound filled the caves accompanied by flapping wings as bats flitted about. Their angry cries sounded deafening in the eerie silence, the echoes bouncing off the walls and causing shivers to run up my spine. Bats! The bats' shrieks rose in pitch as they became panicked. They began darting about in all directions, their wings fluttering madly as they sought an escape.
My heart was pounding in my ears and the bats seemed to multiply as they continued to flap about. Then suddenly, one of the bats leaped toward me, screeching loudly. Panic seized my throat and I stumbled backward, losing my footing.
I closed my eyes, praying silently to the God of Death that my prayers had reached his ears, and prepared myself for the impact.
When nothing happened, I tentatively opened my eyes. All around me bats continued to swarm as I slowly rose to my feet. The sounds of their wings filled the air as I stood there motionless, waiting. Shortly, the cave descended into silence once more as the bats fled from their perch in the darkness.
A few moments later, as I stood alone, I felt relief wash over me. I
Impressum
Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Texte: Kate Lawrence
Cover: Kate Lawrence
Lektorat: Royalty Publishers
Korrektorat: Royalty Publishers
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 01.02.2023
ISBN: 978-3-7554-3133-6
Alle Rechte vorbehalten
Widmung:
To readers who love epic tales of bravery and heroism.