Dragon Storm: Ellis and Pathseeker E-Book

Alastair Chisholm

• Herausgeber: Nosy Crow
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

The third book in the thrilling, magical, and action-packed fantasy series, Dragon Storm, illustrated throughout and perfect for 7 - 9 year olds! In the land of Draconis, there are no dragons. Once, there were. Once, humans and dragons were friends, and created the great city of Rivven together. But then came the Dragon Storm, and the dragons retreated from the world of humans. To the men and women of Draconis, they became legends and myth. It's the Maze Festival in the city of Rivven, and young dragonseer Ellis and his dragon Pathseeker are determined to be the first to complete the three mazes in the grounds of the king's palace and win this year's tournament. But after they discover someone secretly using dangerous dragon magic, Ellis and Pathseeker face a far greater challenge - and it will take all of their skills and courage to find their way back home, and keep the existence of the dragons a secret from the king. An exciting new fantasy series from the highly acclaimed author of Orion Lost, brilliantly illustrated throughout, and perfect for fans of Beast Quest and How to Train Your Dragon.

Leseprobe

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Also in the series:

TOMAS AND IRONSKIN

CARA AND SILVERTHIEF

Coming soon:

MIRA AND FLAMETELLER

KAI AND BONESHADOW

ERIN AND ROCKHAMMER

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IN THE LAND OF DRACONIS, THERE ARE NO DRAGONS.

Once, there were. Once, humans and dragons were friends, and guarded the land. They were wise, and strong, and created the great city of Rivven together.

But then came the Dragon Storm, and the dragons retreated from the world of humans. To the men and women of Draconis, they became legends and myth.

And so, these days, in the land of Draconis, there are no dragons…

…Or so people thought.

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1

ELLIS

“The king! The king is coming, hurry up!”

Cara and Tom dragged Ellis along the streets of Rivven, scrambling and squeezing through the crowds. Ellis clutched his notebook and tried to read as they ran.

“Which way?” shouted Tom.

“Left!” called Ellis. “Take a left here!” He turned, but the crowd swept him along and he lost his balance. Tom heaved him back with one powerful hand and together they 2forced a path through the crush and reached the bottom of a narrow lane.

“Are you sure?” asked Cara, peering up.

Ellis nodded. “This is Rat Lane. It cuts up to Hill Terrace. It’s quite an interesting side street because—”

“Come on!” roared Tom. “They’re nearly here!”

They scrambled up the lane and within a minute they reached the top, coming out on to a quiet corner of Hill Terrace, and skidded to a halt.

Tom grinned. “Perfect!”

At the heart of Rivven was a huge rocky hill that towered above the city, and on top of the hill was the Royal Palace, with steep white 3walls and flags flying in the breeze. A road curled down from the palace gates and opened out into a wide cobbled street that passed below Hill Terrace.

This was King Street, and today it was the route of the Spring Parade. The crowds heaved and pushed below them, but from their perch Ellis, Tom and Cara had a perfect view, and watched the parade roll past.

First there were the King’s Guards. The horses were dressed in their finest saddles and polished 4buckles, and the riders’ breastplates and swords gleamed in the pale sunshine. At their lead trotted Captain Hork, head of the King’s Guards, puffing his chest out in glory and wearing his extra-tall head plume.

The royal household followed, all the top servants in their finest outfits – the men in red britches and jackets, the women in long flowing yellow dresses. They waved and smiled to the cheering spectators. Next there was a marching band, with drums, and brass horns, and long trumpets hung with flags. They walked in perfect time and the rat-a-tat-tat of their drums echoed off the city buildings.

And then came the king. 5

His carriage shimmered with gold on every surface, with ornate curls and whirls decorating each side, and it was pulled by six horses with coats so black they shone silver. It was open-topped, and carrying King Godfic, His Most Royal Majesty, Ruler of Rivven and the Land of Draconis, Defender of the Realm, and Dragon Scourge.

Ellis and the others watched from above as the carriage rolled past and the crowds cheered.

“Huh,” said Tom. “I thought he’d be taller.”

King Godfic sat hunched in a white fur robe, a golden crown on his head and a rather bored expression on his face. He 6waved lazily to the crowd on either side, but didn’t pay them much attention.

Behind him rolled another carriage. This one had only four horses, but its gold designs were almost as glorious, and when the crowd saw it, they cheered again.

“It’s the prince and princess!” shouted Tom.

Prince Harald, blond-haired and handsome, grinned to the crowds. His tunic was scarlet, with shining silver thread, and he waved as if delighted, pointed to the home-made banners, and occasionally turned to make comments to his younger sister, the princess.

Princess Skye didn’t respond. She wore a 7beautiful blue gown the colour of summer sky, but she kept her arms folded and the dress looked wrinkled already. She gazed out at the crowd, her mouth turned down and a sour expression on her face.

8“She looks like fun,” said Cara, and Tom sniggered. He turned to Ellis.

“Hey, what are you doing?” he asked. “You’re missing the best bits!”

“Hmm?” Ellis looked up from his notes. “I was just thinking, when we came up Rat Lane we could have turned on to Candle Street and avoided the crowd, see? It would have been quicker.”

Cara laughed. “Ellis, we’re here now. You found us the best place to watch from – come and watch!”

The royal carriages passed, and then the princess’s ladies-in-waiting, and then friends 9of Prince Harald, and then royal courtiers, more horsemen, another band, marching troops … and then the procession was past.

The crowds dispersed, and Ellis and the others headed back through town.

“Where does it go now?” asked Cara.

“Around to the Plaza,” muttered Ellis, without looking up. “Over Lion Bridge, through Queen Lira’s Gardens, around Merrin Wall and back to the palace.” He jotted something down.

“You spend all your time scribbling,” said Tom. “You never see anything. That was the Spring Parade!”

Ellis frowned. “I saw it. Parade, king, prince, princess. Look, I made notes.” He 10held up his book.

Cara said, “Ellis doesn’t care about the parade, Tomas. He only cares about what comes after.”

“What’s that?” asked Tom.

“The Maze Festival,” said Ellis shyly, and Tom laughed.

“Oh, of course!”

At the end of the Spring Celebrations came the Maze Festival. Every year, the citizens of Rivven were allowed into the palace grounds for one day. There was food, and drink, and entertainment … and a competition, for all the children, to solve three ornate mazes in the palace gardens – mazes hard enough to challenge even grown-ups. 11

“Ellis has been thinking about it for weeks,” laughed Cara. “I bet he’s got a brand-new notebook all ready!”