James Wyatt - Dragon Forge: Draconic Prophecies, Book 2 (The Draconic Prophecies)

Praise for James Wyatts Storm Dragon

Wyatt effectively mixes political intrigue with action. This high-stakes adventure, full of violence, magic and suspense, should entertain gamers and epic fantasy fans.

Publishers Weekly

an action-packed adventure Wyatt churns out an exciting tale of power and self-destiny.

Mania.com

The books carry a contemporary, yet distinctly fantasy, feel to them and are packed with adventure and mysticism that is the hallmark of entertaining and fast-paced writing.

Galaxy Books, Faves & Raves

Theres plenty going on here and, once again, its not just another D&D quest shoehorned into novel form. There are magic items that have to be found but there are also political machinations and evidence of a world that is slowly beginning to embrace some forms of technology. This makes for a world that comes across as well rounded and engaging Theres also a real sense of purpose about the writing that I found refreshing. Wyatt doesnt hang around or take you off down blind alleys, he starts you off at point A and you just know that things will end where theyre meant to.

Graemes Fantasy Book Review

T HE D RACONIC P ROPHECIES
B Y J AMES W YATT

Storm Dragon
Dragon Forge
Dragon War
(August 2009)

T HE D REAMING D ARK
BY K EITH B AKER

The City of Towers
That Shattered Land
The Gates of Night

T HE D RAGON B ELOW
BY D ON B ASSINGTHWAITE

The Binding Stone
The Grieving Tree
The Killing Song

For Amy

Three drops of blood mark the passing of the Time Between. The three dragons are joined together in the blood, and the blood contains the power of creation.
One drop is shed where the Dragon Above pierces the Dragon Below, the Eye stabs at the Heart.

Blood joins them, and so begins the Time Between.
One drop unites Eberron with the Dragon Below.
Blood is drawn from a serpent binding the spawn of Khyber and the fiend that is bound.

Bound they remain, but their power flows forth in the blood.
One drop unites Eberron with the Dragon Above.
The touch of Siberyss hand passes from flesh to stone, held within the drop of Eberrons blood.

The Time Between begins with blood and ends in blood.
Blood is its harbinger, and blood flows in its passing.

G eneral Jad Yeven strode into Kelass study and stood at attention, waiting for his superiors acknowledgment. His eyes scanned the familiar roomthe large oak desk with its sheaves of parchment, the bare plaster wall behind. Nothing was out of place.

Take off that face, Kelas snapped. I hate talking to dead people.

Yevens face changedits distinctive nose smaller and hair growing out of the generals severe military cut. The changeling stood a little less erect.

What face would you prefer? he asked.

Haunderk.

The changeling sighed. He preferred changing in front of a mirror, especially for Haunderk. He wanted every freckle in place, the eyes just the right shade of amber. Those details could come later, thoughas far as Kelas cared, the tousled sandy hair, pasty white skin, and light brownish eyes were enough. The generals bulky muscles melted into a wiry frame, and he compounded his slouch by losing a handbreadth of height. Haunderk took shape, and he found himself wrapped in the comfort of a familiar body and personality. The generals austere military uniform began to chafe.

Thats better, Kelas said, smiling. Theres the spy I trained.

Forcing his face into a smile was far easier than changing his entire appearance.

Kelas stretched, resting his feet on his desk and his hands behind his head. Have a seat, Haunderk.

Haunderk sat straight in the wooden chair across the desk from Kelas. The desk was almost baredark, polished wood, with only a single sheaf of papers off to one side. What had Kelas been doing when he entered?

I have learned nothing of Gavens whereabouts, Kelas said. You dont have any news?

Nothing. The last time I saw him, I expected him to either die or become a god. Detachment, he reminded himselfHaunderks face made it easier. Emotion would cause trouble. Suffering. Report the facts.

Kelas scoffed. And he lacked the sense to do either. Haunderk couldnt decide whether he agreed or not, so he said nothing.

What about the woman?

Rienne.

Yes. She didnt say anything about plans, goals? Dreams?

Haunderk cast his memory back over the time hed spent with Rienne, from Stormhome to the battlefield at Starcrag Plain. What stood out in his memory was not anything shed said, but her kindness to him, her acceptanceeven once she knew he was a changeling. He realized that he didnt want Kelas to find her, then chastised himself for letting his emotions interfere with his work.

He decided on a straightforward, honest answer. At the time, they were both very focused on immediate concerns.

If I had any idea of the extent of Gavens understanding of the Prophecy, I would have given you different orders.

No, Haunderk said. It was important to bring the general to you at the moment of his defeat. If hed had time to repair his ego, he would never have cooperated with you.

A question tugged at the corner of his mind. Would he have been able to betray Gaven if Kelas had ordered it?

He stifled the question. He was a professional. He would do what he was ordered.

And how is General irBrassek now?

Haldren is firmly in our camp. Hes still driven by ambition, but he knows the best way to achieve what he desires is to work with us. Detachment, again.

Good. The queen still wants his headand Yevens, for that matter.

She needs someone to hang, to appease the Thranes, Haunderk said.

And to show that shes still in control. If the other nations see Aundairs army acting without her command, it will seem as though we have already seized control.

That army took heavy losses at Starcrag Plain.

Kelas nodded. The Thranes did as well, or they might already have retaliated.

I wonder what makes Aurala angrierthe army acting without her command, or its failure.

Its not a bad situation for her. The renegade generals let her deny any responsibility for what happened. If theyd succeeded, she could have claimed credit. With their failure, she doesnt have to take the blame. Although shed be happier if she could bring the generals forward and punish them publicly.

Too bad I didnt bring Yeven in alive. And we still need Haldrens help. Haunderk was cold-hearted, efficient.

Kelas ran his fingers through his short black hair. I think its time for General Yeven to meet another untimely end, he said.

Easy enough for a man already dead. Just a question of how to do it. A trial and execution? Or an arrest gone awry? No regret.