The Dragons Blood Key: Legend of the Dragon's Blood Key - Book 1 by Linda L Barton Page B

against the Evil Queen. If you drink it with
purity of heart, you will receive that which you need to be
triumphant over her dark magic.”
    Cassy reached up and rested her hand over the glass vial hidden inside of the Breast Plate, feeling
a warm sensation under her fingertips. “Thank you, Othan, I will
remember.
    Frier walked over to Cassy and took her hand
in his. “You will not go against Queen Alona alone. I will stay by
your side; no matter what the future holds.”
    Cassy could see the compassion burning in
Frier’s bright green eyes. “Thank you, that means a lot to me.”
    “Hey, I’ll be there with you too,” Aaron
chimed in. “There is no way I’m gonna let some wicked Queen do
anything to my sister.”
    The determined expression on Aaron's face
made Othan chuckle, “It sounds like your brother is a brave warrior as well. Queen Alona will inevitably be defeated by two such fierce warriors standing by your
side.”
    Frier and Aaron felt pride as they held
their heads up high.
    “The Evil Queen will soon face her demise,”
Frier growled, with Aaron nodding in agreement.
    Cassy was glad to have Frier and Aaron with
her. She glanced up at Roupert and noticed the pride in his eyes. “Thank you all. I’m so pleased that you are here with
me.”
    Roupert reached out and gently touched her
on the cheek. As their eyes locked, he could see Abigail’s face
gazing back at him with the memories of the time they spent
together, flooding back into his mind.
    “Are you okay?” Cassy asked, seeing the
emotions escaping from the safe place in his mind where Roupert had
kept them safely hidden.
    “Ah, yes, I am fine. Come, we must go.”
Roupert cleared his throat then walked toward the bridge with the
others following closely behind.
    “Goodbye, my friends,” Othan called out, as
they crossed the bridge.
    “Goodbye,” they all waved back to him, and
then they disappeared into the woods on the other side.

Chapter 12
    The woods seemed to grow exceptionally dense and dark, as the group got
further away from the bridge and Othan.
    “Dang, it’s creepy here,” Aaron groaned as
he looked around at the tall trees that seemed to be closing in on them.
    Frier looked at Aaron, confused by this
statement. “What is creepy?”
    “It means scary. Somewhere that you don’t
want to be,” Aaron grinned nervously.
    Frier looked around at the trees. “Yes, it
is creepy here, but if you stay close to me, I’ll protect you.”
    Cassy watched the conversation between her
little brother and the young dragon and realized that this was something that no one
at home would ever believe. She was glad that they had met Frier
and Roupert, for she knew that she did not want to face the Evil
Queen alone.
    “Well, I hope you two are going to protect
me,” Cassy teased.
    Frier and Aaron exchanged glances, feeling
confident in their ability to protect Cassy.
    “We will be by your side, but you are the
Champion. The Blood Key has chosen you, which gives you the power
to conquer the Queen,” Frier said with reverence.
    Taken aback by the statement, Cassy was at a
loss for what to say. She knew
that she was supposed to be the chosen Champion, but she had never
completely understood what it meant. At seeing the look of
innocence and trust on their faces, she suddenly felt the enormity
of what she was facing, this causing fear and doubt to consume her
entire being.
    “Cassy, are you alright?” Roupert asked,
seeing the emotions surging through her.
    Cassy wanted to scream, NO and run away, but where would she go?
She finally steadied her nerves and answered him. “I ’m fine . I was just thinking of what’s ahead for
us, that’s all.”
    Roupert understood her concern, for he was
experiencing the same fear. Would she finally bring about the fall
of Queen Alona and restore the Dragon rule over the Kingdom of
Walandra? As he gazed at Cassy, he again saw Abigail looking back
at him. Stop, you must not let your heart go to that