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

could live up to the trust placed in her.
    Realizing that Cassy was in no mood for
conversation, Aaron turned to Frier.
    “I don’t understand something. I thought
dragons were supposed to be big and scary creatures.”
    Frier shook his head, unsure of what Aaron
meant. “I do not understand your words. Why would you believe that
a dragon would be big and scary? I am the only one of my kind, so
what gave you that idea?”
    “I’ve read stories of great fire-breathing
dragons, and…” Roupert cut him off before he could continue.
    “It is late, and we need to rest. You may
continue this conversation once we defeat the Evil Queen,” Roupert
swallowed hard, hoping that Frier would not challenge his
command.
    At seeing the determined look on Roupert’s
face, both Aaron and Frier decided it was best to leave this
conversation for a later time.
    “Yes, you are correct. We need our rest,”
Frier said as he lay back on a pile of soft grass. As he closed his
eyes, his mind wandered back to what Aaron had said about stories
of big fire-breathing dragons.
    How is that possible? Roupert told me
that I am the only one of my kind, the words swirled around in his mind as he floated off to
sleep.

Chapter 14
    The sun peeked over the tree line, casting
its warm glow down on the sleeping group. Feeling the remaining
chill in the air, Cassy pulled her blanket up tightly around her
neck. “I don’t want to wake up yet.”
    “Me either,” Aaron groaned.
    Roupert sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I know,
but we must discuss our plans before leaving. Frier, will you
please start the fire?”
    Once he heard no response, Roupert turned to
where Frier had made his bed the night before. “Frier, where are
you!”

    Panic gripped the group as they frantically
searched for Frier.
    “I don’t understand, he was there when I feel asleep last night,” Aaron
cried.
    Roupert felt a tightening in his chest.
“Alona!”
    Cassy felt her heart stop beating with the
fear that Alona had somehow taken Frier. “Do you think she has
him?”
    “That is my fear. She must have learned of
his existence. If she learns of his true identity…” Roupert felt
his heart consumed with fear.
    Aaron watched helplessly as Cassy and
Roupert spoke. “I don’t understand what you mean about his true
identity, and why would the Evil Queen want Frier?”
    Cassy and Roupert looked at each other
unsure of what to say.
    “Come on, Frier is our friend. If the Evil
Queen took him, I want to know
why,” Aaron cried.
    Roupert reached out and rested his hand on
Aaron’s shoulder. “I have not been entirely honest with Frier about
his past.”
    Aaron narrowed his eyes, wondering what
could be so terrible about Frier’s past.
    Roupert drew in a deep breath, trying to
gather his thoughts before he spoke. “Frier is a member of the
Royal Family. He is Prince Frier, the beloved son of King Ashlym
and Queen Privlana.”
    Aaron stood dumbfounded, not moving or
blinking.
    “ On the day Queen
Alona took over the Kingdom, I was entrusted by the Lillients to
take the egg of the unborn Prince’s far away from the Kingdom and
to keep him safe. I was to watch over it until the day the Champion
came to free the kingdom from Queen Alona.” Aaron was surprised to
learn the truth of Frier. His heart beat wildly in his chest as
Roupert continued.
    “On that day, the Lillients commanded that I
do not reveal to Frier his
heritage, or that his mother still lives enslaved in the great
dungeon deep under the castle. They feared that he would seek
revenge against the Evil Queen and fall victim to her power.”
    Aaron stared at Roupert, his eyes wide with
fear. “But if the Evil Queen has Frier, it’s up to us to save him.
We promised to do this together.”
    Cassy could see the fear in Aaron’s eyes,
and she had to agree with his desire to save Frier from Alona.
Unfortunately, she knew they could not charge the castle for the
queen surely had a trap ready for
them. “What can we do,