The Secret of Avonoa: Avonoa, #1

The Secret of Avonoa

Avonoa Series   Book One

H.R.B. Collotzi

Copyright © 2014 HRB Collotzi

All rights reserved

Interior Map Illustration

Copyright © 2022 H.R.B. Collotzi

All right reserved.

Cover Art by Getcovers

Copyright © 2022 H.R.B. Collotzi

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this novel

are either fictitious or used fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-1-962628-10-5

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014910170

Published by HRB Collotzi

Rosemount, Minnesota

www.avonoa.com

Also By H.R.B Collotzi

Avonoa Series

The Secret of Avonoa (Book One)

The Shadow of Avonoa(Book Two)

The Heart of Avonoa (Book Three)

The Traitor of Avonoa (Book Four)

The Krusible of Avonoa (Book Five)

Also:

Dragons of Avonoa Series

The Gatekeeper of Death (Book One)

The People of the Storm Series

People of the Storm

People of the Storm 2

www.hrbcollotzi.com

For Jason My love, My heart Forever

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Also By H.R.B Collotzi

Dedication

Map of Avonoa

Chapter 1: Failure

Chapter 2: Infliction

Chapter 3: Shaman Warning

Chapter 4: Nervous Escape

Chapter 5: On The Hunt

Chapter 6: Tabulations

Chapter 7: Divine Stars

Chapter 8: Revelations

Chapter 9: Ambush

Chapter 10: Guile

Chapter 11: Odor and Tracks

Chapter 12: Watchers

Chapter 13: Somber Tidings

Chapter 14: Passing Ways

Chapter 15: Elucidation

Chapter 16: Ensue to Kingstor

Chapter 17: Crowning Farewell

Chapter 18: Honor

Chapter 19: Advocate

Chapter 20: Questioning

Chapter 21: Relations

Chapter 22: Beguiled

Chapter 23: Temptation

Chapter 24: Defense

Chapter 25: Deliberate

Chapter 26: Control

Chapter 27: Hero

Chapter 28: Acceptance

Note to Readers!

Books By This Author

The Adventure Continues in

More books from HRB Collotzi

Map of Avonoa

Chapter 1: Failure

Y ou failed? AGAIN!? The young gray dragon’s voice rose with each word. He let out a plaintive growl while gouging all four claws into the rock underneath as if he might find some escape through them. By The One, Dak! This makes FOUR times! he moaned, then finally turned one of his protruding eyes back to his friend.

​Dak bared his fangs. Do you think I enjoy this, Tog?

​I’m beginning to wonder! Tog turned to stomp past the other dragons waiting to see if their young ones and friends had passed. The Krusible is the most important test in a young dragon’s life! he said over his shoulder.

​I know. Dak responded to the short spikes running down his friend’s back. Although they were both the same age, Tog had a tendency to treat Dak like a youngling.

​Most dragons don’t take the Krusible more than twice.

​I know.

​Five times is unheard of!

​I know.

​All you have to do is remain silent!

​I know! Dak yelled.

​Tog turned to face his friend. You’ll never get away from the Rock Clouds if you don’t pass!

​I’ll find a way, Dak grumbled.

​Tog shook his head. You say that as if there aren’t dozens of specially trained dragons guarding our entire ruck both sun and moon cycle. Dak rolled one shoulder as if pushing off a pest and turned away. As both dragons unfurled their wings preparing to spring into the air, Tog gave Dak a sidelong glare. What happened this time?

​Milah, Dak answered simply, then launched himself free of the rock.

​Oh no, Tog moaned again while he followed his friend to the sky. Show me when we land.

​As they pumped their wings, Dak turned to scan the Krusible. It was a spacious round depression on the edge of the Inner Mountain seeming as if a giant had lovingly sculpted it out of the side of the rocky crags. While the Krusible itself was smooth enough for hatchlings to slide around when the first winter snows and ice came, the outside edges were hedged with jagged boulders. The ringed stone bowl was naturally secluded – perfect for the test.

​On the day of the Krusible, the adult dragons in charge, usually male, would test the young dragons from sunup to sundown. The young dragons knew not to utter a single word, no matter what test of their wills the adult dragons imposed. The adult testers would attempt every means they could devise – short only of death – to compel the young ones to speak. May the gods help you if you fell asleep! There was no end to the taunts and abuses of their testers who continued with the single motive to make the young ones speak.

​From the air, Dak eyed the handful of young dragons still lying unmoving in the stone bowl of the Krusible, with two large brown dragons watching over them. Milah and Mitashio. The brothers had recently been put in charge of testing the young dragons. Milah caught Dak’s distant gaze and tossed him an evil half-grin before whispering something to his brother. The two bellowed with laughter as Dak tore his eyes away.

​I hate those two. Dak said just loud enough for Tog to hear. He rolled his shoulder again.

​The two dragons flew around the Rock Clouds – large detached rocks and mountains which floated around the towering Inner Mountain with the Krusible. Some of the floating rocks were smaller than a horse, but many of them were mountains in their own right, as large as the Torthoth Mountains in the distance, with caves mottling the sides able to house dozens of dragons in each. The Rock Clouds swam through the air at all times while keeping an invisible anchor to the largest of them all - the Inner Mountain. The Inner Mountain was the only one attached at its base to the earth, yet it reached so high that only the most determined dragons could ascend to the top.

​The land at the base of the Inner Mountain remained sparse of brush and tree even in the summer season. As the Rock Clouds passed over, they often deprived the vegetation beneath of sunlight for days at a time, so only the hardiest of plants survived. A few caves dotted the base of the Inner Mountain, but those were reserved for The Watch.

​As they flew around the edge of a mountain, Dak caught the faint groan of forewarning just in time to see a large rock that matched him in size drift directly in front of him. He beat his wings to rise above it, then pressed on the rock with all four claws, pushing it away to change its course. He didn’t look at his friend, but could feel Tog’s eyes rolling at his playful behavior. Secretly, Dak hoped the rock would knock some little fledgling off their course.

​The weakening winter sun warming his back couldn’t lift Dak’s spirit. Although the harsh cold of winter never reached its fingers completely into the Rock Clouds where they lived, the landscape still took on a shadow of the barren world beneath. Through the warm seasons, the floating mountains grew lush with greenery and trickled with streams and waterfalls, but winter had spread among them early this year. The lakes froze in their valley homes. The leaves departed the trees. Even the cold stone bowl of the Krusible had tried to strangle the fire in Dak’s belly.

​Dak hoped taking the Krusible on the shortest sun cycle of the year would have given him an advantage. He swatted at an icicle that dribbled from the remnants of a waterfall as Tog watched through one narrowed eye. The two friends flew in silence, their mutual frustration stewing. As their claws tramped onto the mouth of the cave where Dak lived with his father, Tusten, neither dragon wanted to bring up the subject again.

​But Tog forced it out before Dak could get very far in the cave. Well? he demanded of the two horns on the back of the black dragon’s head.

​Once inside, Dak sighed, then twisted his long neck around to face Tog crowding the entrance. Putting his nostrils only inches from his friend’s, he brought the memory of his test to the front of his mind. Concentrating on the scene, he breathed hot air and the memory into Tog’s face.

​Dak knew Tog’s sight would be superimposed with Dak’s memory from his own point of view. He remembered the brown shape of Milah stalking past him as he lay in the Krusible, then his deep voice low in his ear. Alright, so you’ve finally outgrown taunts of your heart breaking for that useless dame, Priya. It’s nothing numerous hatchlings before you didn’t figure out sooner. You haven’t the control of mind or body needed to be among dragons, let alone any other species. Perhaps you should be sent to the deep, dark caverns of the Inner Mountain to die for all the good you are to anyone. Especially yourself. You’re a worthless, mindless, idiotic, useless lump of scales. You don’t deserve to even have wings, much less be allowed to use them, you pathetic troll. In this arena, you’re mine and I promise you this; I don’t care what it takes or how long, I will personally make sure you never…ever…leave the Rock Clouds, you mindless worm.

​Tog blinked and Dak knew the memory in his mind had ended. He was back in his own body in Dak’s cave. He stepped further into the cave then stumbled onto his backside, as if stunned for a moment. Suddenly he yelled, That’s it?! That’s all it takes to make you imprison yourself in these rocks forever?!

​That was just the last one, but it was worth it, Dak responded with a grin. I told him his mother is an egg collector. Dak chortled at his joke as he curled up on the floor of the cave. It was the lowest of insults for a female and anyone related to her. Dak glanced up at his friend when he got no response.

​One of Tog’s eyes dilated in shock. Shaking his head slowly, Tog whispered, You don’t understand.

​What’s to understand? Dak’s tail flicked in frustration. It’s Milah’s fault! Those two have taunted us since we were hatchlings!

​Tog’s horns seemed to elongate in his anger. But at the Krusible, IT’S THEIR JOB, Dak! Tog yelled again, striking the stone under him in his frustration.

​Dak snaked his long neck away from his friend. Why did Rakgar put them in charge of the Krusible, anyway? he complained. He only made it easier for them to rain havoc on their enemies.

​A smooth voice answered from the entrance of the cave. Milah and Mitashio passed the Krusible when they were only fifteen winters. Dak and Tog turned to see a small, bright green dragon with shining yellow eyes.

​Oh, wonderful! Dak rolled his own midnight black eyes then rested his head on his claws. Priya’s here.

​Priya had a short, rounded snout, and like most females, she didn’t have a single horn on her head. She only had a few short spikes on the tip of her tail. Although her claws were shorter because of her stature, Dak knew from experience she didn’t often miss her mark.

​Fifteen winters is the youngest any dragon has passed the Krusible, Priya continued as she slinked into the cave. It was logical to put them in charge of testing when Thornac wished to be done. She dipped her head at Tog in greeting then shifted her narrowed gaze back to Dak. I guess four claws does not a dragon make, she quoted the old saying, adding the negative. Before he left for the Krusible, Dak had insisted the ancient adage would hold true. He thought his fourth attempt would be the last. Don’t tell me they tried to make your heart break for me again, Dakoon, she sneered at him.

​In his past attempts at the Krusible, the testers always had a tendency to tease Dak about his close friendship with Priya. In all these years, Dak’s heart hadn’t even come close to breaking for Priya, but that didn’t prevent the insinuations that it would, thereafter pairing them as mates. Dak looked at Tog and jerked his head toward Priya. Tog put his nose in front of hers and gave her the same memory he had just received of Dak’s last test.

​After Priya blinked to clear her eyes, she waved the thought away with one claw. They threaten the one thing you hold most dear, your freedom. She shook her head. You have to admit they’re very effective in their duties.

​But those two are worms! Dak growled at her.

​Now, stop there, Dak! Tog said firmly. Although their wings are worthless, the surface worms are still actually dragons.

​Dak waved a claw at the thought. Yes, but they can’t speak. They’re not intelligent as real dragons, just like those two slugs in charge of the Krusible.

​They may not do it well, but Milah and Mitashio can speak, Tog countered.

​Dak nodded. You’re right. The surface worms don’t deserve such an insult, just because they aren’t intelligent. Milah and Mitashio don’t deserve to lick the slime from a worm’s belly.

​Tog nodded as well. I’m sure worms everywhere would thank you – if they could.

​The brothers are only this hard on you, Priya insisted with a grin. And you know why, Dakoon.

​Tog snorted, Dashing Dan. He chuckled quietly.

​Snap it, Tog, Dak scolded him.

​Dashing Dan was a nickname Dak picked up as a hatchling. Dak was an entirely black dragon. Most dans, or male dragons, were shades of gray or brown, very dull and lusterless. However, they made up for their lack of color with their size. Dans were very large and usually had lots of horns, spikes and barbels. The dames, or female dragons, were usually covered with brilliant colors as well as patterns. Because Dak had only two horns on the sides of his head, which curved gracefully back like a gazelle’s, and his scales were a deep lustrous black color, he appeared more feminine than most dans. However, dames usually found him very attractive. It was a good thing he was large too; he eventually fought his way away from the nickname.

​Hearing the old nickname got under his scales and he took it out on Priya. And don’t call me Dakoon, he snarled at her.

​I’ve always called you Dakoon! she stretched her neck to stare back at him. Why should I change it now?

​Dak growled low, curling tighter on the ground. They’d had this conversation numerous times and Priya knew how Dak felt. He also didn’t like his given name because it too closely resembled the prophecy of The One. Over thousands of winters the prophecy of The One, who would unite dragons and humans, had slipped from reverence to myth, from myth to story, from story to joke, and finally from joke to blasphemy. None of the dragons wanted anything to do with the idea that the dragons and humans would unite, so Dak hated any reference to the commonality.

​Yes, Tog piped up with mock sincerity, she’s always called us by our given names. She has no respect for chosen names.

​Dak snorted at Priya in consent with his friend’s words, but she answered without batting an eye. On the contrary, I have the utmost respect for names. She cast her eyes down as her cat-like pupils dilated on a memory long buried from others.

​That’s because there’s nothing wrong with your name. It just means ‘princess’, Dak said.

​And yours means ‘dark one.’ There’s nothing wrong with that, she told him. You should be proud of your name. And you, Priya jabbed her nose at Tog, your name is Toggil because of the unique way your eyes move. You can see in two directions at once, an advantage any warrior might use majik to gain. Why would you try to overshadow it?

​Tog means ‘quick’, he retorted. I’m a fast flier. I like it better.

​‘Tog’ and ‘gil’ mean ‘quick’ and ‘eyes’ in Faerie tongue.

Dak wrapped his claws over the spiny fans covering his ears. Yes, he growled at her, we know how fluent you are in Faerie tongue. It’s a wonder you’re not running around working majik with Visi instead of annoying us here.

​The faeries may claim their language is the most musical for majikal use, Tog added, but I’ve heard majik can be done in any language. Do you use Faerie tongue in majik, Priya?

​She narrowed her eyes at him. The faeries gave dragons the gift of speech. We use their language for names and titles out of respect for them. You know perfectly well I don’t do majik. I’ve seen Visi do it, but I only know the language as a consequence of growing up with the witch dragon. Priya shrugged off the insult as she had many times, but Dak noticed she didn’t say whether knowing Faerie tongue was a good or bad consequence.

​Whenever this shadow came over her, Dak was reminded of the stark difference in their upbringing. Although the three friends had hatched about the same season twenty winters ago, no one knew of Priya’s existence until seven winters later. While it was normal to wait a few moon cycles before introducing a hatchling, seven winters had been extraordinarily long. And to add to the mystery, the prophetess dragon, Visi, had raised her. No one other than Rakgar knew her real mother. To this end, his tongue had remained still in these long twenty winters. If he ever told Priya, she had also kept her silence. But when she was introduced after seven winters as the daughter of Rakgar, or Priya, she was readily accepted – if not for her status, for her beauty.

​She snapped her maw at Tog then impaled Dak with her stare. Perhaps we should call you Oon-Foslee, ‘One Who Never Learns.’ It seems you chose that name by your failure at the Krusible today.

​He growled again as he eased his body from the floor. My failure has nothing to do with any name except the ones Milah called me.

​It shouldn’t matter what anyone calls you, she growled back. She kept her voice even, but she settled back on her haunches slightly as she mirrored his attack position. Until you have respect for yourself, you won’t pass the test.

​I will pass if I get a fair test! He didn’t wait for her response before he threw himself across the space between them.

​Priya slipped to the side to avoid his jaws closing on her neck. You’ll never pass if you don’t listen to the advice of your betters, she said calmly as she swiped him across the face and slashed him with her spiked tail. Dames may be small, but they’re clever. That is what made them superior hunters.

​The swat of her tail hurt, but Dak was used to it. Like you? he snarled at her as he feigned an attempt to snag her tail before he rolled to rake a claw across her face.

​Possibly, she said as she moved her face, but still received the claw lightly on her shoulder.