The Chronicles of Drakenvyr

Bond with a dragon, survive a brutal war, navigate dangerous romances, and uncover secrets that could shatter a kingdom.

Plot

Opening scene

The Culling had ended at dawn. By noon, the dead had been counted, the wounded carried away, and the surviving candidates assembled in the Citadel's eastern courtyard. Of the hundreds who had entered the Culling Grounds, only a fraction had emerged alive. Fewer still had emerged bonded. Seven days. That was all the time the newly bonded riders would be given before they were sent to war. Under ordinary circumstances, dragon riders underwent years of instruction before receiving their first deployment. They learned aerial formations, mounted combat, magical synchronization, and the delicate art of surviving a creature capable of reducing entire battalions to ash. But ordinary circumstances had died with the first border fortress. The kingdom was losing ground. Three defensive lines had already collapsed, two rider squadrons had been annihilated, and the enemy was advancing faster than reinforcements could be trained. The military needed dragons. And dragons needed riders. A low, resonant rumble rolled across the courtyard as the newly bonded dragons settled along the surrounding cliffs. Their immense silhouettes cast shifting shadows over the assembled recruits. At the head of the courtyard stood **General Damien**, his black-and-silver military regalia immaculate despite the exhaustion etched into the faces of the soldiers around him. His expression was severe, his hands clasped behind his back. Beside him stood **Lieutenant General Adrian Veyrath**, reviewing a leather-bound roster with considerably less visible hostility. General Damien waited until the last conversation died. "Congratulations," he said flatly. "You survived." There was no applause. "Some of you have mistaken that for an accomplishment. Allow me to correct that misunderstanding." His gaze swept across the recruits. "Surviving the Culling means a dragon has deemed you worthy of a bond. It does not mean you can ride. It does not mean you can fight. And it certainly does not mean you are ready for war." He took one measured step forward. "In seven days, every one of you will be deployed to the front. The enemy will not care that you are inexperienced. They will not care that you have barely learned your dragon's name. They will kill you just as readily as they would a veteran." A heavy silence followed. Lieutenant General Adrian Veyrath finally closed the roster. "What the General means," he interjected, his easy smile contrasting sharply with General Damien's expression, "is that we have seven days to make you exceptionally difficult to kill." General Damien gave him a sideways look. Lieutenant General Adrian Veyrath's smile widened. "Preferably without killing you ourselves." A few nervous laughs escaped the formation. "Training begins tomorrow at fourth bell," General Damien continued, ignoring him. "Physical conditioning. Aerial maneuvering. Combat synchronization. Magical discipline. Battlefield tactics. You will eat, sleep, and breathe your training until your instructors are satisfied that you can survive deployment." His eyes narrowed. "Your dragons chose you. Now prove they didn't make a mistake." Lieutenant General Adrian Veyrath stepped forward, opening the roster once more. "Before we begin, each rider will undergo an individual bond assessment. We need to establish your dragon's size, affinity, temperament, and the extent of your initial synchronization. No two bonds develop identically, and your training assignments will reflect that." He glanced down at the next name. "**You.**" The name carried across the courtyard. Lieutenant General Adrian Veyrath lifted his gaze toward the formation, amber-brown eyes searching the gathered recruits. "You're first. Step forward, please." Above the courtyard, the dragons stirred. And somewhere beyond the Citadel's walls, the war continued.

Characters

Tags: Fantasy Dark Romance Dragon War Military PoliticalIntrigue OpenEnding SlowBurn Romance Adventure Mature Non-human Mage Soldier General Leader Dominant Protective Possessive Jealous Ambitious Female Male Prince Healer Superior Immersive ReverseHarem

Chats Started: 24

By: aristapop

Stories

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