The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10) (149 page)

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Authors: Craig Halloran

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BOOK: The Chronicles of Dragon Collection (Series 1 Omnibus, Books 1-10)

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Epilogue

Weeks later, Nath stood inside the throne room at Dragon Home. The piles of gold and treasure were as high as ever. Gemstones twinkled and winked in the grand torchlight. Balzurth sat on the throne, resting his great jaw on his clawed fist.

“Why, you’re not even 250 years old,” his father said. “You don’t really think your days of adventure are over yet, do you?”

“Well, we defeated Gorn Grattack. Stopped the war. What else is there?”

“You don’t really think men, elves, orcs, and dwarves are going to start getting along, do you?”

“Well,” Nath said, scratching his mane, “I don’t suppose, but…” He glanced at Selene.

“Son,” Balzurth said, reaching his great clawed hand down and patting him on the head. “You’ve done so well. But evil never rests. Not only must you be vigilant for all, but also yourself. Don’t think for one moment that all the dragons are going to behave.”

“I’ll keep them in line.”

“Ha!” Balzurth’s short laugh shook the throne room, loosening the piles of gold like shale. “Just like I kept you in line, eh, Son?” He turned his great frame and head toward the enormous mural in the rear of the throne room. “Every living thing has a mind of its own. Remember that. It’s their choice to do right or wrong. Same as it was yours. Same as it will be with your children.”

“Children?” Nath said, jaw dropping.

Selene locked her fingers with his.

“You will have children,” Balzurth said. “Nothing prepares you for that. They are full of so many wonderful surprises. They can be trouble as well, just as you were to me, I was to my father, and my father to my grandfather. Be firm, just. But always love them, no matter what. ”

Balzurth turned his great scaly neck back toward him. His golden eyes were watery. “It’s brought me nothing but joy, watching you grow up and become fully dragon, Nath. It aches my heart to have to go, but my time on this world is at its end. I’ll see you soon. Never forget how much I love you, Son.”

Nath’s heart burst in his chest. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He didn’t want his father to go. So much time had been missed, wasted. Now he was going, just like that.

“Don’t go, Father! Not yet!”

“Oh,” Balzurth said, his eyes brightened.

“Stay for a little longer at least?”

“I wish I could, Nath, but there is an appointed time for all, including me.”

Nath fell to his knees and laid his hands on his father’s tail. A flood of emotion overcame him. He trembled.

“Son, have no regrets. It’s quite natural for the child to leave his parents and live life on his own. We’ll be together soon enough on the other side of the mural. Have faith, Son.”

Nath sniffed. Even with all the power he’d mastered, he felt like a child once again.

“Father, can you tell me something?” He looked up in Balzurth’s eyes. “Was I really hatched from an egg?”

A smile cracked on Balzurth’s face. “You need to ask your mother that.”

“My mother?” Nath stood. “I really have a mother?”

“Yes, and when I leave, you’ll have the power to find her.” Balzurth headed closer to the mural.

Nath watched in silence. Stunned, his tongue clove to the roof of his mouth.

With one last wave goodbye, Balzurth slipped into the mural.

“I love you, Father!” Nath blurted out, but Balzurth was already gone.

Nath’s chin dipped down to his chest.

Selene rubbed his shoulder.

He patted her hand. “Well,” his said, lifting his chin and tossing back his mane. “I guess we should search out my mother.”

Selene hugged him and spoke in his ear. “I’ll see you later, Dragon King.” She kissed his cheek, turned, and headed out of the throne room. The great doors sealed shut behind her.

Nath stood gaping for a while before he climbed up on the throne. There he sat, a dragon-scaled man, fist under his chin on a seat meant for someone ten times bigger than him. He contemplated all he had done. All that had happened. He snapped his fingers, and a ball of flame appeared. With a huff, he blew it out. “I’m bored.”

Bong! Bong! Bong!

The pounding on the great doors stirred the piles of coins in the room.

Nath sat up and said, “Open.”

The great doors swung inward. The stout, black-bearded figure standing in the threshold seemed so tiny in comparison.

A broad smile formed on Nath’s lips. “Brenwar! What are you doing back here?”

In a new set of black plate armor, Brenwar marched into the room and took a knee.

“Rise,” Nath said, “and don’t ever do that again.” He hadn’t gotten used to the formalities of being king yet. “Unless you have to. So, what brings you back to visit?”

Brenwar rose to his feet and gazed up at Nath sitting on the throne. “If you get off your hind end and come down here, I’ll tell you.”

“Oh,” Nath said, hopping down out of the massive chair. “Better?”

Brenwar nodded and grumbled, “A little bird called me out. It says to me, ‘We need to find Nath the Dragon King’s mother.’ Unless you’d rather sit on that throne up there.”

“You know where she is?”

“I know enough. Are you coming or not, your majesty?”

“Will it be dangerous?”

“Of course.”

“Then what are we waiting for?”

Author notes

I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks. Thanks for reading. Thanks for reviewing. Thanks for contacting me and telling me that you liked these stories. It all means so much, and it motivates me.

As for ending a series, well, I hate it. Endings are really, really tough, and I know readers who like the characters will miss reading about them. I’ll miss writing them, but remember it’s fantasy, so it never really ends. That’s why I left some options open at the end. I’d think it’s safe to assume at some point, Nath Dragon will return in another series of adventures.

I hope this last book met your expectations. My goal, as always, is to entertain and provide an escape for the reader the best that I can. I want you to have fun but not relax, so you keep turning the pages. As the story was originally designed for younger readers (even though most readers that contact me are much older than I anticipated, which is great), I wanted to adhere the best I could to having a positive message, to stress the importance of trust, friendship, faith, courage, redemption, wisdom, loyalty, and family. I wanted the characters to grow, fight, and overcome the forces of evil. I hope I showed that through the actions of my characters.

Feel free to drop me a line any time, leave a review, and tell me what you think. I always love to hear from you. Your comments are always welcome.

Do good always,

Craig Halloran

Important! Nath Dragon’s adventures will continue in a new series, Tail of the Dragon, Book 1, is available on Amazon! Click here!

Nath meets Sansla Libor (Humor)

About the Author

Craig Halloran resides with his family outside his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. When he isn’t entertaining mankind, he is seeking adventure, working out, or watching sports. To learn more about him, go to:
www.thedarkslayer.com
.

Check out all of my great stories …

CLASH OF HEROES: Nath Dragon meets The Darkslayer

The Chronicles of Dragon Series

The Hero, the Sword and the Dragons (Book 1) Free eBook

Dragon Bones and Tombstones (Book 2)

Terror at the Temple (Book 3)

Clutch of the Cleric (Book 4)

Hunt for the Hero (Book 5)

Siege at the Settlements (Book 6)

Strife in the Sky (Book 7)

Fight and the Fury (Book 8)

War in the Winds (Book 9)