4. Dragons

“If you’re in control, why are your legs shaking so hard?” Doubt taunted.

CHOICES is the first book in the Chronicles of a Hero fantasy series. This is the story of Wendell P. Dipmier, who I’ve been writing about since 1990. I hope you’ll join me on this new adventure….as I tell the honest, complete story of this amazing 17 year old, exclusively on Life of Fiction.

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Chapter 4

“Dragon?” I squeaked out. 

“Yes,” Delnar said… too calm for my taste. “She protects your inheritance. To receive it, you must meet her first.”

“Meet. A dragon?” I said.

He nodded. “Exactly.” 

Meeting a bone fide dragon face to face would have been the coolest moment in my life,…if it wasn’t for the bone fide dragon face to face. My brain hit a wall at this point. Reason, saturated with outright paranoia, didn’t altogether care if this was a dream. Dragons were usually hype-intelligent entities with too many sharp teeth. I don’t know any teenagers who aspire to be a chew toy.

“Has she…eaten recently?” I whispered. Many of my children’s books growing up were about the fiery serpents. Wingspans the breadth of a house, I dreamed of flying through a cloud-packed sky on the back of the giant creatures. I’d wave a sword overhead as we dove towards the encampment of enemies, the dragon moving in perfect harmony to my will. Movies often portrayed dragons in a darker light, snatching and eating everyone but the hero, who eventually dispatched them.

The High Elder hesitated. “The thought hadn’t crossed my mind as important.”

My back pushed against the bars of the gate. “But you brought me down here!” I slapped a hand over my mouth.

‘Too loud, Wendell. Way too loud,’ grumbled Doubt.

“Open the gate,” I hissed softer. “Come on, Delnar.”