The Dragons Blood Key: Legend of the Dragon's Blood Key - Book 1 by Linda L Barton

grinned nervously.
    Frier nodded his head in agreement. “Yes,
there were many eyes watching us.”
    Roupert glanced at the two young boys and
could not help but smile. “Come, my brave warriors. It grows late.
Let us set up camp and rest. Tomorrow, we will arrive at the
castle, so we need to make our final preparations before we
confront the Evil Queen Alona.”
    Frier and Aaron felt a cold chill move over
their bodies at the thought of facing the Evil Queen.
    “ Come, Aaron, let’s gather wood for the fire,” Frier said, trying to shake
the feeling of dread consuming his entire being.
    “Okay,” Aaron replied as he followed Frier
to the tree line.
    Roupert turned to Cassy. “Come, let us see if we
can find some fresh meat. We will need our strength for tomorrow,
and this will give us time to discuss our plan of attack.”

    The fire in the pit roared, as sparks danced
in the night sky. Cassy was tired. She had eaten her fill of the
roasted meat and was surprised how
much she enjoyed it. In all of her life, she never had thought that
she would enjoy hunting and preparing a meal over a roaring fire.
This trip to the Kingdom of Walandra had opened her eyes to a new
way of life, and she had to admit that she liked it.
    “Oh man, I ate too much,” Aaron groaned as
he lay back on his blanket, rubbing his tight stomach.
    “I was surprised that one as small as you
could eat so much of the roasted beast,” Roupert chuckled.
    “I couldn’t help myself. It was so good. I
wonder when we get home if Dad will
take me hunting,” Aaron smiled, as he licked his lips.
    “Well, I hope you have large beasts in your
realm because you have a healthy appetite,” Frier laughed as he
rubbed his own over-filled stomach.
    HOME. The word almost sounded foreign
to Cassy’s ears now. When she had first arrived in Walandra, it was
constantly in the forefront of her thoughts, but now…
    “Hey, what are you thinking, Sis?” Aaron
said as he noticed Cassy lost in her thoughts.
    “Huh? Ah, nothing really, I’m just enjoying
the beautiful evening after our grand feast.” She hoped this answer
would suffice.
    “We owe our feast to Cassy,” Roupert said
with pride shining in his eyes.
    Aaron sat up with a look of surprise on his
face. “What? You mean Cassy killed the beast?”
    Roupert laughed at the look of surprise on Aarons’s face. “Yes, she stalked
the beast and when it turned its back on her to continue eating,
she killed it with one strike of
my sword.”
    Aaron’s eyes were wide with excitement. “Oh man, I wish I would have seen
that. Cassy, you’re a great hunter now!”
    “Yes, I am impressed too,” Frier’s eyes
beamed with excitement.
    “I was only doing as Roupert instructed.”
While she appreciated the praise, it still caused her cheeks to
glow a soft shade of red. Cassy had never imagined herself doing
something like that, but something was changing inside of her. She
did not know what it was, but she had to admit that she liked
it.
    “Well, forget about Dad teaching me to hunt.
I want you to show me,” Aaron said
excitedly.
    Cassy looked over at Aaron, “I don’t think
that would be a good idea. I’m sure our parents won’t allow me to
keep a sword in my room.”
    Aaron was about to protest then thought
better of it. “You’re right; it would freak them out to know you
killed a beast with nothing but a sword. But Sis, I think it’s
totally cool.”
    Cassy understood the reason that Roupert had
wanted her to make the kill. He knew she would need to know the
feel of the sword in her hand, as well as how it felt to take a life when she faced the Evil
Queen Alona and her guards.
    Cassy had never thought of herself as a
warrior, but that was exactly what she was now. She would have to
face dangers that she had never dreamt of, and somehow find the
inner strength not only to conquer the Evil Queen, but also to
survive.
    “Thank you, Aaron, for your faith in me. It means a lot.” Cassy only
hoped she