The Dragon Eaters

  * * *

  Tina sat on the banister of the Thorn's Side in front of the ship's navigation wheel. The salty air ruffled her hair and filled her nose. With Leilani and Nana, Beth and Aiden, and Kravek all in their quarters, Tina thought how many lives the events in Likonia had changed. She ran her fingers over the small socket on her necklace in which was set the tiny doorknob which led to her tower. She'd have to remember to set it into a safe place on board the ship again.

  Captain Morgan cleared her throat. “So, you've defeated monsters even Maldavians couldn't overcome and a powerful mage lord, saving both the Maldavians and even magic in this part of the world.” The Kylathian offered a satisfied grin. “What are your plans now?”

  Tina's fingers rubbed on the doorknob set into her necklace. A smile spread across her lips. “What else? Save the world.”

  Tina and Captain Morgan shared a brief laugh over the small, personal joke. Then Tina rose from the banister. “There is one last thing I have to do now that we've set sail. Excuse me.”

  “Before you go.” Captain Morgan reached into the breast pocket of her doublet and pulled out a narrow, golden plate with runes lining one side of it. She held the plate out toward Tina. “I told you I'd be returning this to you soon.”

  Tina wiggled her whiskers. She reached out and touched the plate, and it shrank in size until it was small enough to fit on the back of her ear.

  After putting it back into place, she smiled at Captain Morgan. “One of these days, Jessica, I'll prove you wrong. But I'm glad it wasn't this time.”

  The grey feline swept her captain's hat from her head and flashed a toothy grin. “I await the day.” She plopped her hat back onto her head and adjusted her eye patch.

  Tina ran down the banister and dropped onto the deck. Climbing under the door leading into the hallway where the personal quarters stood, she glanced at the small split in the wood where her doorknob had been placed before. Passing it by, she went to Kravek's quarters. Once more squeezing under the doorway, she adjusted her glasses to see if Kravek was still awake.

  But his eyes were closed, and it looked to Tina as though the black bull had fallen asleep. It was getting into the evening anyway.

  Glancing around, Tina spotted Kravek's hide backpack resting on the floor under his bunk. She walked over to it and settled down on her knees as she looked at the side pocket of the backpack. Touching the small button which held the pocket closed, Tina whispered quietly. The threads holding it in place unraveled. The button fell off, and she caught it. Setting it into one of the pockets on the back of the pack, she removed the doorknob from her necklace. It grew in size to fit the palm of her hand.

  Pushing it against the hide of the pocket, she whispered one more brief incantation. The metal of the knob punctured through the hide of the pocket flap, then spread just enough to hold the knob in place securely. After pulling the knob back through the button hole, she closed the flap. Rising back to her feet, Tina brushed her robe off and turned around to head back to the door. After all, saving the world isn’t a one person job.

  The End

  Author’s Note

  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for taking the time to delve into this world of my creation. I hope you enjoyed the book. It wasn’t until the later years in high school that I took much interest in writing. To me, it seemed as though all my writing and English classes were about reading sentences out of a book and putting them down on paper with whatever corrections a particular lesson required me to apply. It wasn’t until my junior year in high school when another student shared some of his writing with my class that I understood what could be done with a little imagination and hard work. I had read books before then, but I never really thought that someone like me could write a book. Seeing another student create an interesting story opened up a new world to me, and it made me want to share new worlds with others. I have spent years developing my own writing skills since then, and through many hardships and trials, devoted myself to the pursuit of becoming an author. I hope you enjoyed The Dragon Eaters and look forward to future publications. This is only the beginning.

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