At last, after many months of writing, I bring you the final part of Dragons by Firelight! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this serialised adventure from the world of the Eagle Rider Saga. For me, it’s been both challenge and fun. The story didn’t quite turn out how I expected (which is normal) but I’m pleased with it, and hopefully someday I’ll get round to giving it a proper edit and maybe even an ink-on-paper publication (we’ll see!).

So, here is Part 8 of Dragons by Firelight. Did you miss any of the previous parts? You can read them here before continuing:

Now, the stars are out, the campfire’s burning. Come gather round for the finale of Dragons by Firelight.

All the best

Lindsey

P.S. If you are enjoying this story you can show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Dragons by Firelight - Part 8

Vaika burst from the cave with a spray of water, the drenching cold shocking Deryn’s senses to alertness. Though the darkness didn’t lift, the night air seemed suddenly alive, the mountains crystal clear despite the shadows. Magic tingled across Deryn’s skin. Vaika kii-ed defiantly.

“What is this?” Deryn murmured, squirming as magic pulsed over her again.

Vaika circled and flew past the waterfall again, dipping her wing into the water. Magic sparked in the wake of her feathers.

Deryn laughed. “It’s a place of power! How did you know to fly us to a place of power?”

“I didn’t,” said Vaika. “At least not consciously.”

“Great Sky King above,” said Deryn. “We might actually have a chance.”

As if hearing her challenge, the dragon lurched into view from behind the far ridge line. It saw them instantly and roared, dark smoke billowing from its mouth and the cracks in its skin, threatening to cloud the clear night air.

Deryn hefted the quarter spear at her side. “Keep close to the falls,” she murmured to Vaika as she drew the runes of Suil, water, Nuin, the spear, and Onn, the craftsman with her free hand.

Vaika hovered in the spray of the waterfall, letting the mist drench them like a shield. The dragon roared again, its great, black wings propelling it towards them with ever increasing speed. Deryn kept drawing runes, wrapping and binding them around her quarter spear until it glowed as bright as a star.

The dragon reared as it reached them, releasing a torrent of fire. This time, Vaika made no attempt to dodge it. Instead, she raised her head and beat her wings forward, sending an answering jet of wind and water towards the dragon. At the same moment, Deryn raised her runic-enhanced quarter spear to the sky, pulling the current of the river up with it.

Water swept over and under them, blinding Deryn for a moment in a watery haze. A ferocious hiss resounded as the fire and water collided. Deryn blinked her eyes clear in time to see the wave drown out the flames and crash over the dragon, extinguishing the burning cracks in its skin. It was swept to the ground, wings dripping, and there it slumped, steaming into the heather. A pained whine escaped its jaws.

Vaika flapped her wings in triumph, sending water droplets flying. Deryn threw her arms around Vaika’s sodden neck feathers and hugged her.

“We did it! We did—”

On the ground, the steaming husk of the dragon stirred. Deryn froze, and Vaika’s wing beats slowed. The dragon shifted, its black skin cracking and crumbling like charcoal. It rose stiffly, shaking out limbs and wings, shedding its charred husk. As the pieces fell away, a light shone from within the dragon, illuminating the lines of its body in pulsing waves of yellow and orange. It grew brighter and brighter until the dragon stood before them free of its skin, a translucent beast drawn with brilliant strokes of fire.

Vaika snapped out of shock first. She swooped upwards, clapping her wings forward in another sharp gust of wind. Deryn held out her quarter spear, letting the tip drag through the waterfall before thrusting it forwards. A second wave, laced with the power of the falls, shot in its wake, drenching them again on its way towards the dragon. But despite the wild magic coursing through the water, when it hit the dragon, it splashed straight through the beast, sending a flurry of rainbows refracting through the night air. The dragon opened its jaws, and Deryn braced for a jet of flame. What came instead was a searing blast of red light. Vaika dodged just in time. It hit the waterfall instead, slicing the current into two streams that hissed with steam.

Vaika whirled around. Deryn dragged another wave of water with her runic-enhanced spear, yet it had the same effect. Or rather, no effect. The water shot through the dragon’s shining outline and hit the ground with a splat. The dragon might look like it was made from fire, but this was a magical fire—a fire unaffected by water.

“What do we do?” Deryn cried.

“Try a different rune,” Vaika screeched.

Deryn quickly sheathed her quarter spear and raised both hands to draw the rune of Peith, the thunderbolt. She hurled the magic at the dragon, feeling it spark with more power than she had ever drawn before. It collided with the dragon, sending an echoing crack through the air. But despite making contact with the ethereal creature, it still had no noticeable effect on the beast other than to madden it further and elicit another blast of the searing red light. Deryn tried Nuin, the spear, Dair, strength, and even Teine, fire, all to no effect, while Vaika used her Eagle magic to deflect the dragon’s attacks. Nothing left even a scratch on it.

At last, Vaika pulled up and stared across the dark valley at the dragon. The beast stared back, challenging them to give up and run.

“I don’t know what else we can try,” Vaika kii-ed quietly.

“There is one thing we haven’t tried,” said Deryn, fingering the handle of her quarter spear. Since she had sheathed it, it no longer glowed with runelight, but its blade was still made of sharp steel. “But you’re not going to like it.”

“I think I’d like anything better than letting this dragon win.”

“It might still win,” Deryn admitted.

“Just tell me,” said Vaika, shifting sideways as the dragon began to circle.

“We charge it,” said Deryn. “No magic. Just pure steel and claw. Everything else we’ve tried has just bounced off or shot through.”

Vaika was silent for a long moment, giving Deryn time to ponder the absurdity of her idea. What was she thinking? If magic couldn’t defeat the beast, how could the strength of her own arm be enough?

Deryn released her grip on her quarter spear. “Forget it. It was a stupid idea—”

“No,” said Vaika. “You’re right. In the City we were trained in all the ways of magic, but here in the north, we have been training for survival. All we need is the strength in our limbs and our bond as Eagle and Rider.”

As Vaika spoke, Deryn felt strength flooding through her body. She took the quarter spear from its sheath and raised it. Though she drew no runes, it seemed to tingle underneath her fingers.

“To death or glory!” Deryn yelled into the night.

Vaika screeched in unison, then shot forward, soaring straight towards the dragon. The dragon reared at their approach, opening its jaws for another attack. Vaika was too quick, darting under the blast of red light to collide with the dragon’s underbelly. Her claws raked over the translucent skin-that-was-not-skin, sparks spraying in her wake, not unlike the sparks off a runic shield. The dragon’s jet of light broke off suddenly as it snapped its head towards them. Deryn fended it off with her quarter spear, the metal clanging off teeth that were more solid than they appeared. Vaika sunk her talons into its belly again, this time drawing forth more than just sparks. Jagged cracks, lined with fierce orange light spidered across the dragon’s chest.

The dragon writhed, trying to shake free, but Vaika dug her claws in deeper, the motion splitting the cracks further. With a pained roar, the dragon twisted upwards, flapping its wings madly. Deryn grabbed hold of Vaika’s harness before she could be thrown from her seat. She clung there as the dragon pulled them all skyward, leaving a trail of bleeding sparks. They flew higher and higher until even the great mountain peaks seemed small below them. The dragon’s jerking movements knocked them in all directions as it tried in vain to dislodge them.

At last, the beast halted its twisting ascent, turning its head, mouth open to devour them. Vaika released her claws. Deryn loosened her grip on the harness, hefting her quarter spear once more. For the briefest second, she marvelled that she hadn’t dropped it, then the dragon’s jaws sped towards them.

“Now,” Vaika screeched.

Deryn thrust her quarter spear forwards at the same moment she felt the searing pain of the dragon’s teeth embed into her shoulder. She screamed, the sound far louder than any she had thought herself capable of making. Her grip loosened on the shaft of her quarter spear, but it didn’t drop from her grasp. She squinted through tear-stained eyes, trying to make sense of the scene in front of her. Her quarter spear stuck out from the dragon’s chest, buried haft deep, green light flickering from the blade. Another scream rent the air, and Deryn realised it had come from the dragon.

The dragon pulled away from them, and Vaika let it go. They watched as it soared upwards, Deryn’s spear still lodged in its chest. The green light from the blade burned brighter, warring with the red-orange flames of the dragon until they burst outwards in a brilliant explosion that lit up the whole sky. Deryn shielded her eyes against the brightness, and when she looked upwards again, the dragon was gone, leaving only flickering tongues of green and red fire painted across the stars.

“…So you see,” said Uncle. “The Firchlis is all that remains of the dragon’s magic.”

Jayne gazed up at the starlit sky, the blackness painted with the ever-shifting lights of the Firchlis. Could they really be the remnants of an ancient magical beast still glowing after all these hundreds of years?

“But what happened to Deryn and Vaika?” Malcolm asked.

“They returned to Baren victorious, of course,” said Uncle.

Jayne turned back to her family, their faces glowing in the light of the campfire. Her parents smiled at the wide-eyed look of wonder on Malcolm’s face. Granda sat with his chin on his chest, snoring lightly. Uncle caught her gaze.

Jayne frowned at him. “If Deryn and Vaika really defeated a dragon, why haven’t more people heard the tale? It sounds like one of the greatest feats achieved by an Eagle Rider.”

Uncle smiled. “Ah, that’s just it. Not long after they defeated the dragon, a pair of Riders arrived from the City, sent by the Captain who had received Deryn’s message for help. The City Riders were highly sceptical of the dragon’s existence and, upon hearing Deryn’s tale, became even more so. But you know what? Deryn found she didn’t mind. She had proven to herself that she could defeat a dragon, and everyone in the village she had come to love knew it too. The thought of leaving them for some other Rider to protect was unthinkable. Plus, she realised that their life in Baren was filled with quite enough adventure for an Eagle and Rider. So she waved goodbye to those Riders from the City and returned to the village to share a celebratory mug of ale with Adrik the shepherd.”

“You mean she didn’t try to convince them or prove that her story was true?” Malcolm asked, incredulous.

“People knowing about what she and Vaika had done didn’t make it any more important,” said Uncle.

“Hmm,” said Jayne, leaning her chin on her hand. “It might have made it easier for us all to believe that dragons exist.”

“Well, Jayne,” said Uncle with a chuckle. “It’s up to you to choose between living in a world where you need proof for everything and a world where wonders fill the sky and dragons might exist.”

As Jayne gazed through the firelight, flames sparked and popped, and for a second, Jayne thought she saw the translucent shape of the dragon rise above them, its wings lined with flame and the golden silhouette of an Eagle Rider flying in for the attack. She knew which world she would choose.

THE END

Did you enjoy this story? Show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

It’s time for the next part of Dragons by Firelight, a new short story from the world of the Eagle Rider Saga. After a break following the publication of Eagle’s War, I’m finally getting back to this story. I’ve been releasing this story as I write it, which has been an interesting challenge, and while Part 7 is not yet the end, the end is now very much in sight!

So, here is Part 7 of Dragons by Firelight. Did you miss any of the previous parts? You can read them here before continuing:

Now, the stars are out, the campfire’s burning. Come gather round for Part 7 of Dragons by Firelight.

All the best

Lindsey

P.S. If you are enjoying this story you can show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Dragons by Firelight - Part 7

Vaika sped into the night. Deryn looked over her shoulder with a mixture of relief and dread as the dragon turned from its attack on the village to give chase to them instead. Against every instinct, Deryn drew the rune of Teine, fire, and set the blazing symbol to float above their heads, keeping the hungry stare of the dragon fixed upon them. Below, the mountains raced by, blurred streaks of ridge and rock. Deryn squeezed Vaika’s wing, urging her to slow. Outflying the dragon wasn’t the challenge. No, tonight they needed to be slow enough to draw the dragon away but still just fast enough not to get caught.

Vaika glided into the next valley, the village of Baren finally disappearing below the horizon. The dragon crested the ridge a few seconds later, already gaining ground on them. Fire glowed in the cracks of its skin and billowed out through its jaws. Deryn ducked and pressed Vaika to the side. Heat singed overhead. Before they could right themselves, another blast of flame hit them from below. Vaika twisted in the air, weaving through the jets of fire. A roar rumbled from the dragon’s mouth, and another volley of flames shot after them.

“I think it’s time for a little more speed,” Vaika cried.

“Go—”

But even as Deryn shouted her agreement, a burning torrent hit her directly on the back, fizzling through her runic shield. Both she and Vaika screamed in pain. The dragon snapped its jaws behind them, the gust of its wings rattling their bones. Deryn clung to Vaika, her vision flashing black. The next few minutes—or was it only seconds?—passed in a disorienting blur of jarring movement, stinging sparks and the smell of burning wool and feathers.

A shock of intense cold finally brought Deryn back to her senses. She blinked, at first seeing only darkness. Panic crept up her throat, a roaring sound filling her ears. Had the fire blinded her? Then Vaika turned, revealing pale moonlight shining through the curtain of a waterfall into the small cave in which they sheltered.

“Are you okay?” said Vaika, craning her neck to look at Deryn.

Deryn laid her head on Vaika’s neck. “I think so.”

“I think you blacked out,” said Vaika. “I was worried you were going to fall if I kept dodging the dragon, so I flew in behind this waterfall.”

Deryn patted Vaika’s feathers. “Thank you. I dread to think what would have happened if I hadn’t had a shield up.”

“Don’t think about it.”

Deryn raised her head. “What about the dragon? Did we lose it?”

They edged closer to the waterfall, trying to peer through the cascading water. For a second, all seemed clear, then a shadow passed by, casting the cave into momentary darkness.

“We’ve not lost it,” said Vaika.

“We might be able to wait it out,” Deryn whispered.

Vaika clacked her beak. “And let it return to the village to finish what it started?”

Deryn shivered, though from the cold or her fears, she couldn’t tell. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “I fear that if we go out there, the dragon will finish us then continue on to the village regardless.”

“That it might,” Vaika agreed solemnly.

“Then we’ve failed.” Deryn slumped in her seat on Vaika’s back.

This was why the Captain of the Eagle Riders had never summoned them to fly a mission. The Captain had known they would only disappoint. Known that deep down they didn’t have the skill or courage. Deryn’s life in Baren flicked through her memory, and all she could see were failed attempts and grumbling. If only she hadn’t spent so long begrudging this village on the edge of nowhere, she could have made a better attempt to help it.

Vaika twisted suddenly, turning her body so sharply that Deryn toppled from her seat and landed on the ground with a hard thud.

“What…” Deryn stuttered, scrambling back to her feet.

Vaika thrust her sharp beak into Deryn’s face, pressing her down again. She fixed Deryn in her golden stare. “Now, you listen to me, Rider. We only fail if we remain cowering in this cave, too afraid to do anything.”

Tears pricked in Deryn’s eyes. “I’m not ready to die. I haven’t even had a chance to be a proper Eagle Rider yet.”

Vaika clacked her beak. “I know you think you’ve been forgotten and overlooked by the other Riders, banished to this northern wilderness for some perceived lack of skill or courage. Maybe you have, maybe you haven’t. It doesn’t matter. This is the challenge in front of us now. It’s what you do now that makes you an Eagle Rider.”

Vaika’s words cut Deryn to the core. The truth of them hurt and frightened her in equal measure, but the thought of ignoring them scared her more than anything. Deryn released a long sigh. “You’re right.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes, getting back to her feet. This time Vaika didn’t stop her. “You’re right,” Deryn repeated, more firmly.

“I am,” said Vaika, spreading her wings. “Now it’s time we went to fight a dragon.”

Deryn laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

Deryn shrugged, then climbed up onto Vaika’s back. “I was just thinking that I’ve finally got my chance to prove myself to the other Riders and it’s likely we’re going to die and none of them will ever hear about it.”

“Maybe so,” said Vaika. “But maybe it’s the courageous actions no one sees that are the most valiant of all.”

To be continued…

Did you enjoy this story? Show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Hello friends!

This week I received a very exciting email. It came as a bit of a surprise since I had sort of forgotten that I had entered Eagle’s War into the Realm Awards earlier this year. However, this is the sort of surprise every author dreams of: Eagle’s War has been selected as a semi-finalist in the Realm Awards for the Fantasy category!!

For those unfamiliar with the Realm Awards, they are awarded by Realm Makers, an organisation/community that champions Christian authors writing in science-fiction, fantasy and other speculative genres. Books that are submitted to the Awards go through a rigorous judging process where they are read and scored by multiple judges, including industry professionals. For Eagle’s War to make it onto the long list of only nine novels in its category is incredibly exciting and hugely encouraging!

I will find out in May if Eagle’s War makes it through to the final short list. Thank you to everyone who has read Eagle’s War so far and especially to those of you who have left reviews (if you haven’t left a rating or review, please do so if you can, as this is really helpful). If you haven’t read the book yet, I still have first edition copies for sale on my online shop (link below).

All the best!

Lindsey

Lindsey's Book Shop

Wild Word

It’s been a while since I last wrote to you! I hope you are all doing well. I’ve been enjoying a few months’ break from writing, though I’ve been keeping myself busy. In January, we had the 4th SU Creative Writing weekend, which was a wonderful time of creativity and community. This month, I also managed a wee holiday to Paris to see the sights, climb the Eiffel Tower and make a visit to Disneyland.

I am now starting to look ahead to new writing projects, including the conclusion of Dragons by Firelight and the final book of the Eagle Rider Saga. While I have not been writing much recently, I did write one ‘just-for-fun’ short story, which I thought I would share with you. It’s based on one of my favourite board games, called Azul. This is the first draft of the story and I hope to revise it at some point so it would be lovely to hear what you think. If you have played Azul, does this story capture your experience of the game? And if you haven’t played the game, does the story actually make any sense?

If you enjoy this story please like, comment, and share!

Until next time, all the best,

Lindsey

P.S.

If you haven’t got your copy of Eagle’s War (or in fact any of the Eagle Rider Saga), there are still a limited number of first and special edition paperbacks available to buy through my bookshop.

Lindsey's Bookshop

Tile Trouble

I straightened my jacket and entered the marketplace. Mosaic City was renowned for its colour and splendour, but the Artists’ Quarter was something else entirely. A brilliant array of reds, blues and yellows assaulted me as I walked forward, their swirling geometric designs creating a riot of patterns that drew the eye in a hundred directions. Stalls ringed the wide cobbled arena, loaded with square ceramic tiles, while their artists perched behind, painting under the shade of their awnings.

I made my circuit of the arena, taking my time to peruse the tiles on sale. If my apprentice had been here, she would have said I was taking too much time, but I was looking for a very particular combination of tiles. My grand mosaic demanded nothing less than a trio of matching jet black tiles with silver decoration. While this colour combination in itself was not unusual, finding an artist selling three at once would be a challenge. Of course, I could buy from separate artists, but there were unwritten rules to the marketplace. Since the Artists’ Revolt of 1724, no artist would sell less than a set of four. The weight of gold in my pocket, or rather the lack of it, served as a stark reminder that I could not afford to be wasteful with my purchases.

As I stood in hesitation, a young boy ran up to my side and held up a stack of five sky blue tiles painted with a fractal pattern reminiscent of a snowflake. “All five for fivepence,” he said.

I shook my head.

The boy frowned at me, then turned on his heel.

After a second, I called after him. “Wait! If any of your lot have three black tiles, then I might be willing to pay.”

The boy’s frown turned to a grin.

“Only three mind.”

The boy ignored my comment and dashed away, joining the crowd of other young hawkers who made their living by collecting all those extra tiles the artists forced us to buy with their petty rules.

I sighed and made a second circuit of the marketplace. By the time I completed my round, I had still not found the tiles I sought nor had the boy returned. I was about to finally give up, when a flurry of movement caught my eye from across the arena: an artist placing a new set of freshly painted tiles on the fore of their stall. Their jet surface gleamed in the sunlight. I counted, one, two, three. My heart leapt. My feet moved of their own accord. At least two people had to jump out of the way of my rapid march.

Ten yards from the stall, I skidded to a halt. In the seconds it had taken me to cross the marketplace, another customer had emerged from the crowd and now stood admiring my black tiles. I narrowed my eyes. They must have felt my glare, for they turned with a slow-motion swish of their cloak and dropped their hood. A familiar face grinned back at me.

Rival. Nemesis. Enemy.

I smoothed my face into the most placid expression I could muster. “Good day, Azul.”

“And to you, Ravenna.”

“What brings you to market today? I thought Tuesday was your normal day.”

Azul gave me his most charming smile. “And I thought Thursday was yours, but here we both are on Saturday.”

I gave an unamused laugh. Three years ago, after our rivalry brought about the great shattering incident, we had both agreed to take turns visiting the marketplace, but with the Mosaic Awards only a fortnight away, the race was on to complete our masterpieces. Azul was breaking the pact by coming here today, clearly looking to snaffle the best tiles before me. I would have called him out as a cheat, if only I too hadn’t been doing the exact same thing.

“There was a boy here earlier with five snowflakes,” I said, shifting the conversation. “You were looking for something similar, if I remember.”

“That’s kind of you, but I’m just after a single yellow today.”

My eyes flicked towards the stall where my three black tiles lay alongside a single yellow. The adjacent stall also displayed a yellow beside two blues and a red. I bit my tongue before I could say anything rash. If Azul thought I wanted those tiles… well, let’s just say no one wanted a repeat of the great shattering incident.

“I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding that today,” I said. “Have you made a round of the market yet?”

“Oh, no need. I seem to have a choice here already.” He waved vaguely towards the two stalls. “What are you after today?”

I shrugged. “Oh, you know. This and that.”

Azul smiled knowingly. He reached out a hand and ran one finger over the surface of one of the black tiles. “Excellent! You won’t mind me taking these then.” He signalled to the artist behind the stall.

I willed the expression on my face to neutrality even as my heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. Azul paid the artist and collected up the yellow and the three black tiles.

“All the best with your mosaic,” he said, overly cheerful.

“Likewise,” I replied, hoping my own cheer didn’t sound too strained.

Azul turned and walked towards the exit. As he crossed the arena, I saw the boy from earlier returning, pushing his way through the crowds directly towards me. He no longer held the five snowflake tiles. Instead, he clutched a smaller stack in his hands. As the boy twisted to squeeze between two people, sunlight reflected darkly on black paint. Could it be luck was on my side after all?

I immediately caught my breath, time slowing to match the beat of my heart. Azul halted in his stride towards the exit, calling to the boy. The boy deviated from his path, drawn inevitably towards Azul. I watched, helpless, as Azul handed the three black tiles to the boy, doubling the height (and cost) of the stack in his hands. The boy’s eyes brightened.

Time suddenly caught up with itself. The boy ran the rest of the distance to my side before I had even finished processing the disaster I had just witnessed.

“Six blacks for you,” said the boy gleefully. “That’ll be sixpence.”

I turned my attention to him. “I said I only wanted three.”

The boy narrowed his eyes. “You know the rules. It’s all or nothing. You want them or not?”

I sighed. I needed these tiles more than the money. “I’ll take them,” I said, reaching into my rather lightweight purse for six small coins.

I dropped the coins into the boy’s outstretched hand, then took my stack of tiles. When I looked up, I found Azul staring at me across the arena. Until that moment, I could have believed the whole incident to have been a series of unfortunate coincidences. Then Azul waved, and it might as well have been a gauntlet thrown at my feet. I could have cried. I could have shouted my rage at him. Instead, I waved back.

Challenge accepted, Azul. Two can play at this game.

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I hope you have all had a joyful and peaceful Christmas and New Year! I have had a restful couple of weeks, spending time with friends and family, playing board games, watching movies, and taking the dog for walks. It’s been a great way recharge after the busyness of releasing Eagle’s War just over a month ago.

At this time of year, I like to recap the books I’ve read in the previous year. Below you can find my top 10 reads of 2025. As a bonus this year, I also thought I’d share my top 5 board games played and top 5 films (newly) watched. I’d love to hear what some of your top reads, games and movies have been - let me know by replying to this email or leaving a comment.

All the best!

Lindsey

Top 10 Books of 2025

Of Dawn and Embers by Gillian Bronte Adams

The incredible conclusion of the Fireborn Epic, which technically isn’t published until the end of this month, but I was lucky enough to get an advance reader copy. This epic fantasy series features magical horses, an outcast Queen, a rebel Prince and a former slave returning home to save his people. This has been one of my favourite series over the last few years.

The Poet of the Leawold by HR Hess

This was another book I got to read before it was officially published and you can see a snippet of my review on the back cover! It’s the fourth book in the Callenlas Chronicles, though it doesn’t have to be read in order. This story has the feel of a myth of old, part love story, part adventure, with a setting reminiscent of ancient Britain or Scandinavia (with dragons and stars walking the earth).

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

This third book in the series follows scholar Emily and banished fairy prince Wendell as they return to the Irish fairy kingdom where Wendell reclaims his throne. But of course there’s a magical curse left behind by the old queen and only Emily’s knowledge of the old fairy tales can save them.

Monstrous Nights by Genoveva Dimova

This one is the second/concluding part of a Slavic folklore-inspired series written by an archaeological colleague of mine. It’s an urban fantasy, set mostly in a walled city where monsters regularly roam the streets. The witch Kosara and her policeman friend Asen must work together to save the city from a mega-monster. Think gritty crime drama mixed with folklore monster-hunters.

Tree of Leaf and Flame by Daniel Morden

I had the pleasure of meeting Daniel Morden at a writing course this summer - he is an incredible storyteller, so if you ever have a chance to see him perform live, take it! This book is his retelling of the Mabinogion, a medieval Welsh manuscript. This is a simple and beautiful retelling and a great entry point to all of the weird and wonderful tales of the Mabinogion.

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini

A great return to the world of Eragon following the Rider Murtagh and his Dragon Thorn as they navigate the world after the events of the other Inheritance books. The story goes on a grand adventure across the land, with plenty of intrigue and monsters and all the things you’d expect from the Eragon series.

The Invisible Man by HG Wells

A classic from one of the fathers of science fiction. This was an enjoyable and easy read (could Wells also be one of the fathers of the page turner?) about a man who has turned himself invisible and all the chaos that follows. It starts off with many comedic scenes around the local village but slowly gets darker and darker as the Invisible Man descends into madness.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

This Welsh-inspired tale follows young Taran, an assistant pig keeper, who sets out on a quest to rescue Hen Wen (a prophetic pig) and ends up getting caught up in a bigger quest. Along the way he faces many challenges and makes many friends, including a princess, a bard, and a strange but lovable dog-man. This book also features lots of references to places and characters from the Mabinogion.

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

The fourth instalment of the Stormlight Archive and another hefty tome of a book. The amount of detail of that goes into the worldbuilding and characters of this series is incredible. If you haven’t read any of the Stormlight Archive before, don’t start with this one - go back to book 1, The Way of Kings. But be prepared for a large investment of time (the audiobooks average around 50-60 hours!).

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

My final book in the top 10 for this year is actually a series of 5 books plus a standalone sequel, all of which I re-read this year because I love them so much. The Natural History of Dragons series is set in a Victorian-esque fantasy world and follows the adventures and expeditions of a scholar Isabella as she studies dragons.

Bonus Entry: Eagle’s War

Yep, I wrote this book, but it’s also the book I read the most over the year (and probably accounts for the fact I have read less books than usual in 2025)! I still have first edition copies for sale on my website: Eagle’s War.

Top 5 Board Games

7 Wonders

Build your civilisation in one of the 7 ancient wonders of the world!

Wingspan

Collect food and eggs to gather your own flock of birds in different habitats!

Azul

Create a beautiful tiled mosaic!

Parks

Visit the National Parks of America while hiking through the seasons!

Here to Slay

Recruit a party of cute but deadly heroes and slay monsters!

Top 5 Films (released in 2025)

Wake Up Dead Man

A plot-twisting whodunnit with the perfect blend of mystery and humour.

How to Train Your Dragon

This is how live-action remakes should be done.

Thunderbolts

An anti-hero movie with a big heart.

F1

A classic underdog story with edge of your seat racing.

Avatar: Fire and Ash

High stakes family life on the moon of Pandora.

Lindsey's Book Shop

Wild Word

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3v20

Eagle’s War launched into the world just over a week ago and I have much to be thankful for. Despite being my third novel, I think it was the hardest to write, but I also think it’s my best yet. And I know I wouldn’t have got to the end of it without God’s help. (Advice to writers - never put the word ‘War’ in your book title unless you are prepared for battle!)

It was a pleasure to celebrate with some of you both in-person and online. If you missed the launch event, you can now catch up on Youtube (though I warn you, the recording is a bit rough and ready). See some photos and the video below.

There’s also still time to get copies of Eagle’s War (and Eagle’s Guard and Eagle’s Path) before Christmas. If you are able, please buy direct from me - it’s both the best way to support me, plus you’ll get a free bookmark and your copy will be signed! You can also get all sorts of merch from Wild Word or use the custom studio to design your own personalised Christmas presents.

All the best!

Lindsey

Lindsey's Book Shop

Wild Word

Hello friends!

Broc and I have an announcement to make: Eagle’s War, book 3 of the Eagle Rider Saga, is officially published! I had an anxious wait this week constantly refreshing the postal tracking link, but a shipment of 12 boxes arrived on Wednesday. It was with much excitement that I held Eagle’s War in my hands for the very first time. I am very pleased with how the books have printed and am excited for you all to get your copies.

For those who have preordered a copy, I will be fulfilling orders in the coming days after the book launch event. For those who haven’t yet purchased a copy, it is now in stock on my website (Eagle’s War). The best way to support me is to buy direct, but it is also available as an ebook and paperback on Amazon (if you live internationally, this might be the best option for you).

I am having a book launch celebration this Saturday at 7:30pm. You are welcome to join me in person at King’s Inverness or online via the zoom live stream (link will be sent out separately soon). For in-person, booking is not essential but it is helpful so I know numbers! Event details can be found here: https://eagleswar.eventbrite.co.uk

And finally, as an extra treat, you can use the code TAKE10 for 10% off clothing and merch at Wild Word until 2nd December.

I look forward to seeing you on the 29th!

Lindsey

Preorder Now

Hello friends!

You are cordially invited to the book launch of Eagle’s War, book 3 of the Eagle Rider Saga!

I’ll be hosting a book launch celebration on Saturday 29th November, 7:30pm at King’s Inverness. I’ll be doing a live reading from the book, answering some questions and signing all your books. You can buy your book on the night or in advance from my website: Eagle’s War Paperback. If you can’t make it in person you can register for an online ticket and watch live!

Book launch info and free tickets here: https://eagleswar.eventbrite.co.uk

I look forward to seeing you on the 29th!

Lindsey

Preorder Now

It’s that time of year when we all start thinking about Christmas. Like me, I’m sure many of you will be heading to the bookshop to pick presents for friends and family (or maybe you plan to visit the website of an indie author and buy her new release, Eagle’s War, wink wink). But once the books are bought, what else do you get? I’m glad you asked. Might I suggest some eco-friendly book and adventure themed merch? Or make use of the custom studio to design or upload personalised designs.

This weekend, Wild Word is having a UK freepost weekend, which means all UK orders between 9am on Friday 31st October to midnight on Sunday 2nd November will get free postage! Keep an eye out for other offers in the next few months.

Check out some of the latest designs and collections, ranging from Inklings word art to book dragons to ancient Pictish rock art.

Inklings

View the Collection

Dragons

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Pictish Standing Stones

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Wild Places

View the Collection

Exclusive Merch from the Callenlas Chronicles

View the Collection

Use the Custom Studio to Design Your Own

Let your creativity run wild in the custom studio where you can upload your own designs and photos onto the full range of products, including clothing, kitchenware, notebooks, jigsaws, water bottles, phone cases, art prints, bags, hats and more!

Custom Studio

Go Sustainable / Support Indie

All the products from Wild Word are made with sustainable and organic materials that are designed to be recycled. They are created on a print-on-demand basis, which reduces waste. Buying from Wild Word also supports me as an independent author and creative. Please share with your friends and family!

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I have some very exciting news for you. Eagle’s War, Book 3 of the Eagle Rider Saga, is finished! As I write this, the final proofread is taking place and I’m typesetting the book for printing. By the end of November (if all goes to plan), I could be holding a physical book in my hand and so could you. It has been a long journey to get here but I’m so excited for you all to read it, especially those of you who have been waiting for many years.

Not only is the book finished, it is also available for you to preorder over on my website (Eagle’s War Paperback). There will only be a limited number of copies printed so to guarantee your copy, please do preorder in the next week or two. This will help me get the right number printed and ensure I can get them all delivered to you in good time.

Keep reading for the official cover and blurb reveal. And why not head over to Goodreads and add Eagle’s War to your list?

Until next time, all the best!

Lindsey

Cover Reveal

It is my pleasure to share with you the cover art for the new book, designed by my talented brother Iain.

“There is much that has been forgotten. Only in remembering can we have hope of victory.”

The land is at war. Aiden and Iolair are called by the Silver Eagle to learn the ancient ways of the Eagle Riders. They seek the strength to defeat Sorcier, but the old powers are not easily mastered. Elsewhere, Erin must unite the people as Queen before the next battle comes, though not all are eager to join her cause. Tristan and Branwyn journey into enemy territory, where the cunning schemes of the wizard Dageny await them. Meanwhile, Andor searches for his own adventure amongst wizards and Sidhe.

Scattered, the friends battle twisted magic and their own fears, hoping for victory before Sorcier corrupts every forest, mountain and river.

Preorder Your Paperback Now

Preorder Now

It’s time for the next part of Dragons by Firelight, a new short story from the world of the Eagle Rider Saga. This story has been coming to you as I write it and has been waiting in the wings over the last few months as I’ve been focused on completing Eagle’s War. But with Eagle’s War almost ready for publication, I’ve had some time to return to this story.

So, here is Part 6 of Dragons by Firelight. And keep an eye on your inboxes for some VERY exciting news about Eagle’s War coming soon.

Did you miss any of the previous parts? You can read them here before continuing:

Now, the stars are out, the campfire’s burning. Come gather round for Part 6 of Dragons by Firelight.

All the best

Lindsey

P.S. If you are enjoying this story you can show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Dragons by Firelight - Part 6

Deryn allowed herself only a few hours to sleep before setting to work. She began with the defences. Though these would not form their main deterrent against the dragon, she would feel much better about her true strategy knowing the village would have at least some protection if all went wrong. Because there was every chance it would go wrong. The more she thought about it, the more foolish the idea sounded. What made her so sure she and Vaika could lure the dragon away? And even if they succeeded, how could they stop it from coming back?

Yet what choice did they have except to try?

So Deryn made a circuit of the village, casting the runes of Fearn, the shield, and Luis, the protector, into every building and gatepost she could find. Next, she took a bundle of wooden poles and headed further out from the houses. There she made a second circuit, this time setting her runes to the poles and digging them into the ground. It would have been better with stones set upright in a circle, like she had seen around the Fae villages, but Deryn didn’t have the time or the strength for such a feat.

As she worked, the villagers of Baren hurried around her, bringing livestock in from the fields or running back and forth with buckets to the river. Deryn even saw a few leaving the village, their cart loaded up with possessions. She tried not to be offended.

Vaika found her in the late afternoon, landing by her side with a sharp kii. “You were supposed to wake me before starting this job.”

Deryn wiped her forehead with a muddy and splintered hand. “You needed the rest. Especially if we have to out-fly a dragon tonight.”

Vaika clacked her beak. “Well, it’s time you prepared yourself. It won’t be long until dark. Unless, you plan to face the dragon without armour or weapons again.”

Deryn sighed and surveyed the rough upright posts now ringing the village. A few swayed in the wind. They seemed a feeble attempt to stop something as fearsome as the beast they had faced the night before. Yet they would have to do.

Deryn allowed Vaika to carry her back to her quarters in the village. There, she washed the mud from her face and hands, then dressed in her battle gear—a tough tunic and leggings, topped by hardened leather-plate armour with bracers and greaves for her arms and legs. She collected her weapons from the armoury, this time taking not just a quarter spear but a sword and bow as well. Finally, she sent a quick note to the Eagle Rider Captain in Teraan City requesting aid for the village in case she and Vaika did not return from the evening’s venture.

Then, all that remained was to wait for the dragon. Deryn and Vaika flew out from the village, beyond the magical defences, and stationed themselves on the craggy top of a nearby hill. The mountains spread out ahead of them, a formidable horizon soon shrouded in shadow. It wasn’t long before the sky faded to black, snuffing out the last lights of Baren behind. Deryn paced the hilltop, staring into the darkness for any hint of dragonfire.

Maybe the dragon wouldn’t come tonight. Maybe it would be content to roam the distant mountains. Maybe—

Deryn’s wishful thoughts died at the sight of an orange glow on the horizon. Dragonfire.

Vaika landed next to her with a soft rush of wings. “Quick, it’s coming.”

Deryn froze, memories of their last encounter with the dragon flaring through her mind. She could almost feel the heat of the fire, even though it was still miles away. Who was she to think she could face that again and survive?

Vaika brushed her feathers against Deryn’s cheek. “I know you’re afraid, but you’re an Eagle Rider. This is what we trained for.”

Deryn took a deep breath. Vaika was right. This was about more than her own survival. She climbed up to her seat on Vaika’s back and buried her fingers in her feathers. The Eagle took off, ascending rapidly and angling towards the distant fire.

They flew along the valley from Baren, Deryn taking the bow from her back and nocking an arrow to the string. The arrow would likely shatter against the beast’s leathery hide, but hopefully it would be enough to catch its attention. She fixed her eyes on the still distant glow of the fire, scanning for the dragon. A flicker of movement caught the corner of her eye, far closer than she had been expecting. Deryn shouted, loosing her arrow in surprise. It hit something large and black, sparking flame into the night. The updraft of a giant wing tossed them through the air.

Vaika quickly righted herself, and Deryn grabbed her quarter-spear, preparing for the dragon’s next attack. But the beast had already flown past them, continuing its flight along the valley. Deryn switched back to her bow and loosed another arrow. They saw the flash of fire where it hit, but the beast didn’t turn back.

“No, no, no,” Deryn muttered. It was heading straight towards the village.

Vaika put on a burst of speed, chasing after the dragon. Ahead, the houses of Baren stood dark and silent. With all the windows shuttered and the animals hidden inside, Deryn could barely see the village, yet the dragon seemed unerringly drawn towards it.

Suddenly, a burst of runelight lit the sky. The dragon shrieked as it rebounded off Deryn’s shield, the spines along its back silhouetted sharply against the shimmering dome that had appeared around the village. The dragon twisted and scraped its claws over the shield, sending red sparks cascading down to the ground. It flinched back and opened its jaws to let loose a jet of flame. Fire churned against the runic shield, but it didn’t break through.

“Ready your arrows,” said Vaika. “I’ll make a pass at it and hopefully we can draw it away.”

“Wait.” Deryn stilled her with a hand to the back of her neck. “The defences are holding. Maybe we don’t need to lure it away after all.”

Vaika paused, and they watched as the dragon attempted to break through the shield again. This time it tore at the runelight with its teeth, swallowing a whole mouthful of sparks. Fire dripped from its jaws, running down the side of the shield and onto the grass below. Instantly, it caught alight, racing along the dry ground. Deryn gasped as it licked up one of the wooden poles she had set up earlier. A crack fissured through the shield.

“Deryn,” Vaika screeched.

“I know!” Deryn shouted, already scrabbling to nock an arrow to her bowstring. After a second, she stopped and slung the bow back over her shoulder. She had just seen the fire eat up a magically enhanced stake. An arrow was going to do nothing.

As Vaika swooped towards the dragon, Deryn drew the rune of Eadha, the river, instead. She crafted it into a huge ball of water that hovered in the air beside them almost double Vaika’s wingspan. Vaika soared above the dragon, close enough that Deryn felt the sting of heat from the dragon’s fire on her cheeks. She released Eadha. The water crashed down over the dragon’s back, splashing into steam. Vaika dodged upwards before they were caught in the scalding spray.

The dragon’s wolf-like head snapped towards them, the spines along its neck bristling. At last, they had caught its attention.

Deryn tugged on Vaika’s feathers. “Go, Vaika. Fly now!”

To be continued…

Did you enjoy this story? Show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

I hope all is well with you. What have you been up to this summer? Reply to this email and let me know - I’d love to hear from you! You can also leave a comment on this post in the Substack app or online.

My summer began with two wonderful writing events: the SU Creative Writing Weekend and a mythical tutored retreat at the Moniack Mhor creative writing centre. These events have made me really appreciate the importance of having a writing community. While it can be scary to share your work with other people, it’s also hugely encouraging and inspiring. I’m certain that when you put two writers together the creativity you get is more than double (imagine the overflow of creativity when you put a whole room of writers together)!

That being said, writing community is not always easy to find. For me, it feels like it has taken years of searching before reaching a place where I have something that is recognisable as ‘writing community’ (though in reality, that’s just a fancy way of saying I have found friends who like reading and writing stories as much as I do). I’ve had a few people asking me about the topic of community recently, so these thoughts have been on my mind:

1. Community Takes Time: Most of my closest 'writing’ friends (the ones I share stories with) are people I have known for years before we started sharing stories or meeting regularly with the express purpose of talking about writing. It helps to remember that community doesn’t happen overnight. Give it time and invest in your friendships, especially those that started over the shared love of a book (or movie).

2. Community Takes Commitment: When you do find friends who are on the same page as you, it then takes commitment to turn those friendships into a community. For me, it has been intentionally choosing to meet regularly that has made all the difference.

3. Try Stuff: Don’t be afraid to try out different writers’ groups, go to conferences and festivals or attend workshops. Go with no expectations. You probably won’t make instant friends but you never know what connections you might make that turn into something years later.

4. If it doesn’t exist, create it: I have spent many hours scouring the internet for my perfect writers’ group or conference to attend. I still haven’t found it—it’s always ‘not my genre’, ‘too far away’, ‘only meets when I’m at work’, etc. My answer has been to create something myself, whether that’s setting up the SU Creative Writing weekend or simply asking some friends if they want to meet regularly to talk about stories.

5. Finally, the best community comes when you’re not doing it for yourself: I have been most encouraged as a writer when I’ve been working to create community for others, rather than myself.

So if you’re a writer out there looking for community, don’t feel you have to go it alone. If you want to chat more about any of these things, feel free to get in touch or pop your thoughts in the comments.

Until next time, all the best!

Lindsey

SU Creative Writing

For the 3rd year running, SU Creative Writing took place at Alltnacriche outdoor centre near Aviemore. This year, the event took place in May rather than our usual January slot, having been ironically postponed by Storm Eowyn1 earlier in the year. It was another brilliant weekend, full of creativity and immensely talented young writers.

Moniack Mhor Myth Course

In June, I treated myself to a writing retreat at Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s Creative Writing Centre, conveniently located a short distance from Inverness. It was great to make lots of new writer friends, share stories with them, and enjoy time to work on new writing projects. The theme of the retreat was Myth and our two tutors ran some excellent workshops on various myths, legends and folklore. Plus we had a visit from a leading Tolkien scholar. It was a fantastic week of good food, good friends and stories by the fireside.

New/Ancient Pictish Designs

In my spare time, I’ve been working on a few new designs for the Wild Word store. These are archaeologically-inspired, ancient Pictish designs based on art from Early Medieval carved standing stones: spirals from the Hilton of Cadboll stone, a Pictish Beast from Rodney’s Stone and Kelpies from one of the Aberlemno stones. I’ve only set them up on a few products so far, but if there’s design/product combination you’d like, just let me know and I’ll create it specially for you!

Plus, there’s free UK delivery on all Wild Word orders this weekend (from 9am on Friday 1st August to midnight on Sunday 3rd August).

Visit the Wild Word Store

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Hello Friends!

It’s been a bit quiet at Quest in Progress recently, but I promise it’s been for a VERY good reason. Last weekend I finished a draft of Eagle Rider Saga Book 3, the penultimate book in the series. With the completion of this draft, the book is now moving onto its final edits before becoming a physical book available for you all to read1! This book has been a massive undertaking and has taken me far longer to write than I had expected or hoped2, but I’m incredibly grateful to all of you for your patience and your continued support as I have been writing it.

So, with all that in mind, I figured it’s about time I officially announced the title of Book 3.

I give you …

There will be plenty more updates in the coming months. In the meantime, I’m having a short break from editing, catching up on Dragons by Firelight (the next part will be coming soon) and enjoying the summer!

I hope all is well with you!

Until next time, all the best,

Lindsey

It’s time for the next part of Dragons by Firelight, a new short story from the world of the Eagle Rider Saga. If you’ve read parts 1-4, then you’ll know that this story is coming to you month by month as I write it, which is an exciting new challenge for me. And maybe a little daunting too, as I’m sharing a story that isn’t finished yet!

Did you miss any of the previous parts? You can read them here before continuing:

Now, the stars are out, the campfire’s burning. Come gather round for Part 4 of Dragons by Firelight.

All the best

Lindsey

P.S. If you are enjoying this story you can show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Dragons by Firelight - Part 5

It took Deryn and Vaika the last hours of the night to fly back to Baren. The dragon pursued them for a while, but either their sudden retreat surprised the beast or Vaika’s speed outmatched it, and eventually they left it behind, though not without several other fires catching across the mountainsides. They arrived at the village with the rising sun to find what appeared to be the whole population gathered in the square.

At the sight of the villagers, Deryn’s heart sank. She doubted they were out waiting for her, but the presence of so many people so early in the morning meant only one thing. The villagers had seen the dragon, or least the fires. The shepherd Adrik’s stories would have done nothing to ease their worries. Deryn, exhausted from her sleepless night and aching all over from the hundred tiny burns across her skin, was in no mood to answer the inevitable questions. She considered urging Vaika to continue flying past the village, but at that moment, someone saw them from the ground and pointed up.

Deryn sighed and patted Vaika’s shoulder. “Prepare yourself.”

Vaika gave a small kii. “I’m afraid this particular challenge will fall more on your shoulders than mine.”

Deryn smiled ruefully. “I suppose that’s fair. You flew us out of danger back there. I’ll talk us out of this danger.”

Vaika descended to the village square. As soon as she had landed, the people swarmed around them, giving Deryn no room to dismount. They called up at her, all shouting variations of the same question.

“What’s happening?

“What were those fires?”

“Are the rumours true?”

Deryn held up her hand and waited for the clamour to subside. She looked around at the anxious faces staring up at her and felt a moment of guilt for having considered running from them. Much as she had longed for adventure to prove herself as an Eagle Rider, she realised that this moment was just as important as any battle. Did she have the courage to put aside her own fear and discomfort for the sake of theirs?

“Peace,” she called. “Peace, everyone. Listen.”

Slowly, the noise of the crowd died down. It wasn’t quite silence, but it was as close as she would get.

“I know you have all seen the fires. But fear not, you are not in immediate danger—”

“So there is something dangerous out there,” someone called out, sending a new wave of murmurs through the gathered villagers.

“Yes, but—” Deryn didn’t get more than two words out before being interrupted again.

“What’s out there?”

“What’s making those fires?”

The village erupted into questions, leaving Deryn no space to answer. After a minute, she silently drew the rune of Peith, the thunderbolt, between her fingers and clapped her hands together. The boom it created cracked against the sky, bringing dead silence in its wake.

Deryn fixed the people of Baren with a firm stare. “There is a dragon in the hills,” she said. “It is still many miles away, but it is coming closer to Baren every night.”

She paused, expecting another bombardment of questions, but this time, her words were met only with fearful and expectant gazes. They thought she had an answer to this, she realised, dread growing in the pit of her stomach. They thought she was strong enough to save them.

“What do we do, Rider?” someone said eventually.

Deryn swallowed and tried not to let her own fear show. “Vaika and I will do what we can to set magical defences around the village. I hope that will be enough to keep the dragon away but you should prepare yourselves nevertheless. Fill every bucket and trough with water in case it is needed through the night. Stay in your homes during the hours of darkness and bring your animals inside if you can.”

“Will that be enough?” said a voice Deryn recognised. She saw the shepherd, Adrik, staring up at her from the crowd. “Shouldn’t you go out and fight this beast?”

“What do you think we’ve been doing all night?” Deryn snapped, annoyed that he would question her after everything she had been through.

Adrik’s eyes widened. “So you’ve already tried to fight the beast…”

Deryn’s heart sank, instantly seeing her mistake. The crowd saw it too, their hopeful expressions shifting to fear and worry once more.

“Couldn’t you kill the beast?” someone shouted.

“If you couldn’t fight the dragon, how do you know your defences will hold?”

“I thought you were supposed to protect us from things like this.”

Deryn couldn’t see who had shouted those last words, but they hit her like an arrow in the chest. She was supposed to be here to protect the village of Baren. Unfortunately for these people, they had been sent an Eagle Rider who couldn’t even keep hold of her weapon during a fight.

“Vaika and I will do what we can,” Deryn shouted back defiantly. “If you are unhappy with that, feel free to build your own defences. Or call for the aid of a Rider who had faced such monsters before.”

Deryn tapped Vaika’s neck, signalling to her that it was time to leave. Vaika spread her wings, making the villagers jump back lest they get knocked down as she propelled them into the air. They flew only as far as the outskirts before Vaika landed once more. This time, Deryn slid to the ground and crouched, dropping her head into her hands.

“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered to Vaika.

Vaika stretched a wing over her. “We build defences. Just like you told them.”

“What defences?” Deryn threw up her hands. “I don’t even know what to build to keep the dragon out.”

“Start with a shield,” said Vaika, her voice soft.

Deryn thought back to the beast of fire and embers they had faced in the mountains and couldn’t imagine a shield that would be strong enough to keep it at bay.

“Maybe we should fly out to get aid from another Rider,” said Deryn. “We could get to Esund and back in just a few days. Or Colle.”

Vaika shook her head. “We both know there’s no time for that. The dragon has our scent now. It could come to Baren tonight.”

Deryn sighed. “Then there’s only one thing we can do.” She looked up into Vaika’s golden gaze and saw the same thought mirrored there.

“We wait for the dragon to come and lead it away from the village,” said Vaika.

Deryn gave a wry smile. “To death or glory.”

To be continued…

Did you enjoy this story? Show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Consider becoming a paid subscriber or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

It’s time for the next part of Dragons by Firelight, a new short story from the world of the Eagle Rider Saga. If you’ve read parts 1-3, then you’ll know that this story is coming to you month by month as I write it, which is an exciting new challenge for me. And maybe a little daunting too, as I’m sharing a story that isn’t finished yet!

Did you miss Parts 1, 2 or 3? You can read them here before continuing:

Now, the stars are out, the campfire’s burning. Come gather round for Part 3 of Dragons by Firelight.

All the best

Lindsey

P.S. If you are enjoying this story you can show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Dragons by Firelight - Part 4

Night fell quickly as the sun set behind the high northern peaks, leaving behind an orange glow. Eventually that too faded to a deep inky blue, speckled with bright stars. A gibbous moon hung high overhead, illuminating the ground with a silver light. With the help of Ailm, the seer, Deryn had a clear view across the mountains. She kept her eyes alert for any flicker of a fire.

For several hours, they soared through the silver darkness, keeping watch over the mountains and moors, their breath forming frosty crystals in the air as they flew. All was still. Deryn didn’t even see the bobbing blue light of a Moorling out with its pet Wysp. Maybe they were all asleep. Or maybe they were hiding from something. The thought made her shiver. It was far more likely that they were hiding than sleeping.

It was some time past midnight, in the darkest part of the night, when Vaika gave a low kii of warning and banked into the wind. “Light in the hills.”

As Vaika turned, Deryn saw the spark of a blazing orange light billow from behind a peak. For a second, the light was as brilliant as the rising sun, but it quickly sank to a low orange glow.

“The shepherds!” said Deryn, clutching at Vaika’s harness.

Calm as ever, Vaika shook her head. “No, it’s beyond where we left the shepherds. But it is much closer to Baren than any of the other scorch marks we found.”

“How close is close?” Deryn asked, striving to hold onto Vaika’s calm.

“Some distance yet,” said Vaika. “But if anyone’s awake this night, they can probably see it.”

Deryn gripped the shaft of her quarter spear. “We’d best get a closer look too.”

Vaika angled into the wind and beat her wings, accelerating them into the night. The orange glow of the fire made for a clear landmark on the horizon, drawing them ever closer. Only once they could smell the smoke in the air did Vaika slow, bringing them down to glide along the mountain ridge.

Deryn drew the rune of Fearn, the shield, the curving lines glowing golden for a second before flowing out to encase them within an invisible sphere. Next, she tucked the flapping ends of her cloak into her belt, wishing once more for some proper armour. Finally, she drew her quarter spear from its holster, hefting the weapon in her hand.

Vaika soared along the craggy line of the ridge until the fire itself came into sight, a wide circle of flames at least double Vaika’s wingspan. The flames burned a little way downhill on the shadowy side of the slope, red sparks popping and crackling into the air. Deryn couldn’t tell what fuelled the fire, but from the nasty smell, it had to be more than just heather. Another deer perhaps? She hoped whatever creature it was had died quickly.

The light from the fire was stark against the night, making it difficult to see any movement beyond the flames. Vaika approached cautiously, circling from a safe distance. For a moment, Deryn thought, hoped, they were too late, that the creature they sought was already gone and all they would have to do was douse the blaze. Then something moved amidst the embers, rising from a crouch, fire rolling off its back like water over a rock. The creature unfurled two massive leathery wings, sending cinders cascading down the rocky mountainside. It twisted a long sinuous neck to fix Deryn and Vaika in its gaze. Its head was lean and wolf-like, surrounded by a ruff of sharp spines. Smoke puffed from its nostrils.

“Is that…” Deryn whispered.

Vaika spoke the word Deryn could not bring herself to say. “A dragon.”

“The City Riders will never believe us.”

“I don’t think that’s our main concern right now,” said Vaika.

“What do you think we should do?”

Vaika continued her slow circling around the fire, the dragon’s long neck and burning eyes swivelling to watch them.

“It hasn’t attacked yet,” said Vaika. “Why don’t you try talking to it?”

Deryn swallowed. “Alright. Fly closer.”

Vaika gently descended, bringing them almost to eye-level with the beast. Still it watched them warily, not moving from its nest of fire. Deryn straightened her knees, pushing herself to a standing position in Vaika’s harness. She kept her quarter spear gripped tightly in one hand, though she kept the point low, not wanting to appear threatening.

“Do you speak?” she called towards the dragon. “Do you understand me?”

The dragon cocked its head.

“I am Deryn of the Eagle Riders. I mean you no harm. I only wish to talk.”

Again the creature cocked its head, this time turning its whole body to face them. Its two clawed feet crunched in the embers, sending sparks flying. Deryn watched warily, unable to dislodge the image of the gouged bones from her mind.

“Do you understand?” Deryn asked again, hearing her voice waver.

This time, the creature stilled and seemed to sink slightly into the flames. Deryn frowned and leaned forward, trying to work out what it was doing. Vaika screeched and beat her wings a second before the dragon launched itself into the air, straight at them. The sudden movement knocked Deryn back and she scrabbled to keep her seat in the harness as Vaika swerved to the side. A dull clank came from the ground and Deryn groaned as she realised she had dropped her quarter spear.

The dragon, enraged at having missed them, turned sharply in the air. Now out of the fire, the creature was black as ash, barely visible against the night sky. Only the two burning embers of its eyes were clear to see. Then it opened its jaws, releasing a stream of blazing fire. The flames hit the magic of Deryn’s runic shield, setting the sphere alight with a bright golden glow. Deryn flinched in on herself, feeling the heat scorch her cheeks as the fire cascaded around them.

Once the stream of fire was spent, Vaika spun away, trying to get behind the dragon. “Water,” she cried.

With the buzz of adrenaline coursing through her veins, Deryn drew the runes of Eadha, the river, and Suil, water. She forged the two runes together with practised ease, crafting them into the long pointed shape of a spear, not unlike those she had seen used by the River Folk. Vaika circled the dragon and when she darted under its wing, Deryn threw her spear with all her might towards the beast’s underside.

The spear collided with its target but fizzled instantly to steam upon impact. The dragon roared in anger and retaliated with another blast of searing fire. Deryn braced herself under her shield once more, but even that couldn’t keep the sting of heat from her skin.

Again, Vaika and the dragon fell into a spiralling flight, each trying to outmanoeuvre the other. Deryn drew Eadha and Suil, this time shooting them as a wave towards the dragon. It only blasted through, shaking off the water droplets in a shower of steam and spray.

“Vaika,” Deryn shouted as the Eagle dived to avoid a torrent of flame. “This isn’t working.”

“I can see that,” Vaika replied, her voice clipped. “Do you have any better suggestions?”

Deryn’s mind whirled. Her water runes weren’t strong enough, but she couldn’t think what else to try, not when the creature was determined to blast them with flame at every opportunity. It was hard enough keeping her shield alight. Maybe if she had a physical weapon she could injure the beast. But her quarter spear was lost somewhere in the scree below. Useless Eagle Rider, she thought. No wonder they never summoned her back to the City.

Vaika swerved as the dragon lunged at them, this time raking its claws towards them. Deryn ducked as its jaws snapped above her head. On instinct, she drew Eadha again, this time drawing on both its powers of water and wind. The resulting gust blew the dragon away from them in a sharp shower of rain. The dragon wavered for a second before turning back to them.

“Try that again,” said Vaika.

As the dragon approached, fury burning in its eyes, Deryn drew Eadha and pushed all of her resolve into the rune. She cast it ahead of them just as the dragon opened its jaws to blast them with fire. But instead of dousing the flames, the gust of wind fanned them into a fireball. Vaika was already flying too fast to avoid it. The heat enveloped them, searing through the golden sphere that protected them. Deryn screamed as fire licked along her arms, blistering her skin.

“Are you okay?” Vaika cried, beating her own wings furiously to snuff the flames singeing her feathers.

Deryn patted her arms and shoulders, extinguishing the tiny fires trying to take hold. “I’m okay,” she replied. “But we can’t take another hit like that.”

Vaika turned so they could see the dragon, the beast already flapping its great wings in their direction.

Deryn swallowed and felt shame tighten her throat as she spoke. “I wonder if it’s time for a tactical retreat.”

Vaika hovered for a moment, staring down the fiery beast. It opened its jaws, the glow of flames already building behind its sharp teeth. Vaika’s defiance wavered. “Let’s hope it doesn’t try to follow us,” she cried.

Then she turned on her wing and sent them soaring away into the night.

To be continued…

Did you enjoy this story? Show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

I hope all is well with you. Hasn’t it been good to see the first signs of Spring recently? I made it out to Gruinard Bay last week and it was so warm and sunny, I managed to wear shorts all day! The sea was still a bit cold, mind you, so I only dipped a toe in. Hats off to my friend for swimming!

Since a quarter of the year is already behind us (seriously, when did that happen?), I thought it was about time I sent you all a general update. So in this letter, you’ll find news about a new collaboration I have with author HR Hess, an update on Book 3, and some stories I’ve been reading in the last few months.

What have you been up to recently? What are your favourite things about Spring? Let me know by hitting reply or leaving a comment.

Until next time, all the best!

Lindsey

Callenlas Chronicles Collaboration

It has been great fun over the last few months to work with my friend, author HR Hess on a new collaboration between her book series and Wild Word Clothing. Hannah has some great designs on her book covers for the Callenlas Chronicles and we have worked to create a collection of t-shirts, hoodies and notebooks featuring the star, the dragon, the ship, and the sword!

This weekend, from Friday 9am until Sunday midnight, there is free delivery on all UK orders. View the collection here.

For those not familiar with the Callenlas Chronicles, they are a series of young adult fantasy stories featuring dragon riders, stars who walk the earth, princesses and farm boys, and plenty of adventure. Find out more at Hannah’s website: https://hrhess.wordpress.com

Eagle Rider Saga - Book 3 Update

After finishing a draft at the end of December, I took a bit of time away from Book 3 to work on … the outline for Book 4! That’s right, there is definitely going to be a Book 4 as well as a Book 3. For now, the outline is fairly general but it is enough to make sure I set up everything as best as I can in Book 3.

I have now had feedback from my editor and a few writing buddies and have started the process of making edits to Book 3. Hopefully, these will be completed in a few months, but as usual, I’m setting myself an ambitious goal. Feel free to cheer me on from the sidelines as I have a lot of words to get through in the next few months.

Books I’ve Been Reading

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini

A great return to the world of Eragon following the Rider Murtagh and his Dragon Thorn as they navigate the world after the events of the other Inheritance books. The story goes on a grand adventure across the land, with plenty of intrigue and monsters and all the things you’d expect from the Eragon series.

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett

This third book in the series follows scholar Emily and banished fairy prince Wendell as they return to the Irish fairy kingdom where Wendell reclaims his throne. But of course there’s a magical curse left behind by the old queen and only Emily’s knowledge of the old fairy tales can save them.

The Dream Gatherer by Kristen Britain

This is a book of short stories set in the world of Green Rider, a fun fantasy adventure series following a group of magical messengers known as the Green Riders.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander

This Welsh-inspired tale follows young Taran, an assistant pig keeper, who sets out on a quest to rescue Hen Wen (a prophetic pig) and ends up getting caught up in a bigger quest. Along the way he faces many challenges and makes many friends, including a princess, a bard, and a strange but lovable dog-man.

Tales From the Perilous Realm by JRR Tolkien

A fun collection of short stories from the master! While on the surface they may seem childish, there’s a huge depth to these stories and will definitely be worth another read!

Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch

An origin story for the character of Morgana from Arthurian legends, it follows her life from a young girl whose father is murdered by Uther Pendragon, through her teenage years at an nunnery where she learns the art of healing, and into her adult life, forced into marriage to a northern king. A slower-paced, character driven tale, that feels like it’s setting up for more.

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It’s time for the next part of Dragons by Firelight, a new short story from the world of the Eagle Rider Saga. If you’ve read parts 1 and 2, then you’ll know that this story is coming to you month by month as I write it, which is an exciting new challenge for me. And maybe a little daunting too, as I’m sharing a story that isn’t finished yet!

Did you miss Parts 1 or 2? You can read them here before continuing:

Now, the stars are out, the campfire’s burning. Come gather round for Part 3 of Dragons by Firelight.

All the best

Lindsey

P.S. If you are enjoying this story you can show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Dragons by Firelight - Part 3

As promised, Deryn and Vaika flew out from Baren within the hour. It was a fine day, the sun breaking out between the rolling clouds, the brisk wind carrying the scent of pine trees and mountain stone. The expanse of sky was vast enough to get lost in, but the magnitude comforted Deryn. Out here, on the winds, she could hide from her fears and imagine instead that she soared towards some great adventure with courage in her heart.

By midday they reached the high slopes Adrik had described for them. A cluster of turf huts stood by the river at the base of the valley. The ground rose sharply behind them, verdant with grass and heather and dotted with roving sheep. A couple of shepherds and their dogs lounged outside but they rose quickly and waved at the sight of Vaika above.

Vaika glided down to land in their midst, her arrival setting the dogs barking excitedly until the shepherds silenced them with a sharp word. Deryn dismounted and spoke with them, quickly confirming that they were indeed Adrik's companions. The men were relieved to hear of Adrik's safe arrival at Baren, less for the man's own sake and more for their own.

"Have you lost more sheep?" Deryn asked.

The shepherds all shook their heads. "No, we've kept them close…”

"But?"

"We've heard strange things in the night.”

"Seamus saw another fire last night too."

Deryn's brow creased. "Can you show us?"

An awkward silence fell over the talkative group and they exchanged a series of glances. Deryn didn't need to know these men well to read the fear in their expressions.

She smiled. "Just point us in the direction. I know you have your sheep to keep."

The shepherds visibly relaxed, their voices returning. Seamus, one of the older men, pointed them further up the hill. Deryn thanked him and kept her own expression light until Vaika was back in the air. Once out of sight, she let the frown blossom across her face. The chill wind brought a sudden wave of goosebumps along her arms.

"Something has them spooked," said Deryn.

"It's got you spooked too," said Vaika. "You're as taut as a bowstring.”

Deryn didn’t answer, afraid that her Eagle was right.

Vaika soared further up the mountainside in the direction the shepherds had indicated. Within a few minutes, they found the place, unmistakable by the large circle of charred ground. Even from high above, Deryn could smell the ash, a faint bitterness in the back of her throat. As Vaika descended, she saw the scorched remains of the heather, stripped to bare twigs, and … were those bones?

The second Vaika’s talons touched the ground, Deryn jumped down and ran over to the pile of bones. She nudged them with her toe, counting several ribs, long bones and a skull. Not human, she realised, sighing her relief.

“Looks like a deer,” said Vaika over her shoulder.

Deryn crouched beside the bones, staring at their charred remains, reluctant to touch them. “Do you think it was killed by the fire or already dead?”

Vaika walked around the bones and picked up one in her beak, tossing it at Deryn’s feet. The long bone was scarred by a huge gash along one side that looked to have almost broken it in two.

“I think the deer was killed by whatever made that claw mark.”

Deryn gulped. She had seen carcasses left by Cu-Sidhe before. This gouge was far too large. She glanced around at the scorched ground. Cu-Sidhe couldn’t light fires either.

“What sort of beast could do that?”

“None that I know of outside of stories,” said Vaika.

The thought made Deryn’s back prickle. “Do you think the fire and the beast are connected?”

“Hard to say without more evidence. We’d have to find another scorch.”

Deryn took a scrap of cloth from her bag and began wrapping the bone. “We’ll take this back to the village, then write to the Captain in the City. Maybe someone there has encountered something similar before.”

Vaika clacked her beak.

“What?” said Deryn.

“We don’t need to write to the City. The shepherds have seen more than one fire. All we need to do is fly around until we find another.”

Deryn’s chest tightened. This place with its blackened ground and scarred bones was bad enough. She didn’t want to go looking for another. “We don’t know what we’re facing. We should get advice—”

“Nonsense,” said Vaika. “We can’t sit around in the village waiting for answers while there’s something out here burning holes on the hillside.”

Deryn bit her lip and frowned at the Eagle. Vaika was right. It made no sense to return to Baren without at least finding out what they were facing. But the thought of pursuing whatever creature had burned a hole in the hillside felt foolhardy at best, if not outright dangerous. No matter how much Deryn longed for adventure, now that she was faced with one, she wasn’t sure if she was ready.

“You’re afraid, aren’t you?” said Vaika softly.

Deryn sighed. “What if the creature’s there? I haven’t got armour with me, only my quarter spear. I just don’t want to be unprepared.”

“We’re not unprepared,” said Vaika. “I have my talons. You have your magic. We’ve fought many a Cu-Sidhe unexpectedly with nothing more.”

Deryn ran a hand through her hair and looked over to the horizon. The bright blue of the sky seemed to mock her with a promise of false safety. She gave a shake of her head and tucked the wrapped bone into her bag before climbing up onto her place on Vaika’s back.

“You know, I bet the City Eagle Riders would never dream of setting out like this, with little more than a quarter spear and some magic.”

Vaika spread her wings, lifting them into the air. “That’s why we’re better than the City Riders.”

Deryn pursed her lips, not sure she agreed. If they were better, why had they been abandoned on the edge of the world?

Deryn and Vaika flew for some time, following the trail of scorch marks through the mountains. A worrying pattern began to emerge as the charred ground became more and more frequent, growing in size from the patch they had seen near the shepherd’s camp to whole swathes of hillside. In each location they found ever-increasing piles of bones, all cracked and scarred by claw marks and bleached white by the fire. Even the ground was broken in places, scoured by giant clawed footprints that dwarfed Vaika’s talons and made Deryn’s foot look smaller than a child’s.

Despite the spring warmth of the day, Deryn pulled her scarf up around her nose and mouth, the bitter taste of smoke and ash catching in her throat. Her footsteps crunched over charcoal and cinders.

“This isn’t good,” said Vaika.

“I know,” Deryn agreed. “The creature has clearly been out here for a long time. I think this place has been burned multiple times.”

“That’s not what worries me,” said Vaika, moving her head side to side, her sharp yellow eyes carefully appraising the scene.

“What then?”

“This place may have been set afire many times but not recently. The recent fires have all been moving closer and closer to Baren.”

Deryn pressed her hands into fists. “You think we’re following it in the wrong direction?”

Vaika tilted her head to the sky. It was growing rapidly dusky. “I think we’re following it at the wrong time of day.”

Deryn sighed. “And I had been so hoping to make it back to the shepherds’ campfire for the night.”

“Come now, Rider. Don’t tell me you’re going soft.”

Deryn laughed. “Ha! We might not have experienced much adventure out here on the edge of the world, but it’s certainly not made me soft. I can endure a little cold and an empty stomach.”

“Very well. Let’s see what secrets the sky holds for us tonight.”

Deryn swung up onto Vaika’s back, and the Eagle took to the sky, slowing circling high above the burnt ground. Deryn tucked her cloak tightly around her neck, preparing for a long night of patrolling.

To be continued…

Did you enjoy this story? Show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Last month, I introduced you to Dragons by Firelight, a new short story from the world of the Eagle Rider Saga. I’m still in the process of writing this story so I’m releasing it part by part over several months. Which means you are getting to read the very first version of this story. As it’s a Quest in Progress, even I don’t know exactly how the story will evolve as I write (though you’ll be glad to know I do have a rough idea of the ending!)

Did you miss Part 1? You can read it here before continuing:

Now, the stars are out, the campfire’s burning. Come gather round for Part 2 of Dragons by Firelight.

All the best

Lindsey

Dragons by Firelight - Part 2

…Deryn stood on the open top of the watchtower, shading her eyes against the sun. It was almost new moon, which meant the message hawk was due any day now. The thought of it made her stomach clench. Would this be the month? Would the hawk bring her summons back to Teraan City? Surely, it was time.

The village of Baren spread out below her, the houses tucked into the sheltered southern slopes of the mountains. People went about their business, trading, weaving, cooking, playing. The shepherds and goatherds whiled away idle hours on the surrounding slopes. Farmers drove herds of cattle from one pasture to the next. Hunters stalked wild deer and boar. Everything was happening and also nothing. Nothing that needed the help of an Eagle Rider anyway.

Deryn sighed and slumped onto the parapet. Was this all she had trained for?

A rush of wings sounded behind her. Deryn turned to see Vaika land gracefully on the parapet, tucking her wings quickly to her sides. Deryn smiled. Vaika’s presence always soothed her glum moods. Vaika was what she had trained for. But was it too much to ask for a little adventure also?

“I saw the hawk,” said Vaika. “It will be here in a few minutes.”

Deryn’s stomach clenched again. “Do you think…?” She turned to the horizon once more, but the hawk was still too far for her to see.

“Maybe we will be called back, but maybe we won’t,” said Vaika. “There’s always hope. We won’t be stationed here forever.”

Deryn leaned her chin on her hand. Vaika hid her longing better than Deryn, but she knew her well enough to hear the wistful note to her voice. Were they fooling themselves to think there was still hope? It had been too many years now. If the Captain was ever going to send them on a real mission, then surely it would have happened by now.

The hawk appeared, a swift speck in the sky that grew rapidly larger and more bird-like. Deryn straightened and nodded towards the aviary below where the hawk would arrive. Vaika spread her wings and turned, giving Deryn space to swing up onto her back. She wore no harness, but Deryn gently buried her fingers into Vaika’s feathers for the short trip to the ground.

They reached the aviary a moment before the hawk. It flew straight to its perch, and Deryn tossed it a bit of meat from the pouch she had prepared earlier. She fed it a few more pieces, then extracted the tiny leather pocket with the messages. She gave the bird the last, larger, piece of meat and released it into the aviary to finish eating in peace. She wiped her hands, then unfolded the message pocket.

There was precisely one tiny piece of paper, folded several times. She quickly cast Ur, the renewer, restoring the page to its proper size, which to her dismay, still seemed very small. A quick glance was enough to see there was no summons to the City. There was barely even a mention of their names. Had the Eagle Riders forgotten they existed?

“What news?” said Vaika.

Deryn crumpled the paper in her hand. “What does it matter? It will just be telling us about some other Rider and Eagle who’ve gone on an important quest and saved the day. I don’t understand. Why do we never get picked? Are we not good enough?”

Vaika reached out with her wing and brushed Deryn’s cheek. “I don’t know the reason, but it’s not because we are not good enough.”

Deryn’s clenched fist crumpled the paper further. “Well, that’s what it feels like.”

“I know,” said Vaika sadly.

Deryn walked away, returning to her quarters to compose herself. To her dismay, a man was standing there, waiting at her door. She almost did an about turn, but he saw her and waved. It was Adrik, one of the shepherds who roamed the far hills. She did not see him often, and the bushiness of his beard suggested he had not been to the village in some time.

“I’ve been waiting for you, Rider,” said Adrik as she approached.

“Oh?” Deryn decided to keep her words to a minimum and hope he went away quickly.

“You’re gonna want to hear this, Rider,” said Adrik. His voice was gruff but earnest. “There’s been funny goings on in the hills these last weeks. Think you’re gonna want to make a trip out there.”

“Oh?” said Deryn again.

“There’s been fires on the crags,” Adrik continued. “And I’ve seen odd burned patches. Like wildfires. But it ain’t the season for it.”

Deryn frowned. It wasn’t the season for wildfires, but the shepherds were well known for getting a bit too carefree with their ale during long stints in the hills. It would not be the first time a campfire had got out of hand.

“How big were the fires?” Deryn asked.

“Well, not so big as the usual wildfires. But bigger than a campfire.” Adrik’s tone sounded a little defensive. “But that’s not all. I’ve been losing sheep too.”

Now that made Deryn pause. Random fires were one thing, but the shepherds only came to complain to her about losing sheep when it was something they could not handle on their own. Like a pack of Cu-Sidhe or a Beinn-Sidhe.

Deryn drew in a long breath and looked to the mountains. “Where have you been grazing the sheep? Vaika and I will head out and take a look.”

Adrik described the place with a series of points and gestures. Deryn nodded. She knew the slopes. They were several peaks over from the village, but the higher ground gave good grazing for the animals and allowed space for more crops to be grown nearer the village. It had probably taken him a day or two to walk back to town from there, but it would take her and Vaika only a few hours flight to reach the place.

“I realise you’re an important lady with important things to do,” said Adrik, “but I think it’d be wise to be hasty.”

His words stirred a sliver of guilt in Deryn’s mind. She was the one complaining that she never had important things to do and here was Adrik bringing her an actual problem that needed her help and she had been going to avoid him. Maybe that was why the Captain never summoned her back to the City. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for real adventures like she thought she was.

“We’ll head out straight away,” said Deryn, giving Adrik a firm nod.

The shepherd responded with a toothy grin before wandering away down the street. Probably to the ale house, but if his tale was true, he likely deserved a drink.

Deryn went immediately to find Vaika on the roof and relayed Adrik’s story to her.

Vaika stretched her wings. “And you think we need to fly out right now?”

“Adrik advised haste,” said Deryn, holding out her hands with a shrug of her shoulders.

Vaika narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure this isn’t to do with this morning’s letter?”

Deryn folded her ams. “No. This is completely unrelated. And regardless, it’s our job to assist and protect the people of Baren.”

Vaika’s gaze softened. “Alright.”

The Eagle said no more, but as Deryn moved about the open-sided shed that held their gear, she sensed Vaika’s eyes upon her. No doubt her Eagle was worried she was going to do something rash to garner the attention of the other Riders. If only Vaika knew the truth. Deryn didn’t think she was capable of doing anything rash. If she was, she’d have done it years ago.

To be continued…

Did you enjoy this story? Show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

A4 prints of the Dragons by Firelight artwork are available to buy at lindseystirling.uk. These were a limited edition print run and only a few remaining (now on sale), so get yours while stocks last!

Welcome to the new year! For the first few months of 2025, I’m going to be trying something a little different on Quest in Progress. I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of writing some shorter stories over the last year, but there is one particular story I’ve been meaning to write for a long time now and it’s a bit too long for one email. So I’m going to release the story in several parts over the next few months.

The story is Dragons by Firelight and it’s one of my Tales of Teraan short stories set in the world of the Eagle Rider Saga. While I have started writing this story, it’s not yet complete, which means you will be getting instalments fresh from the typewriter so to speak. For those of you who have been around the Eagle Post/Quest in Progress for a while, you may remember this opening instalment from an excerpt I shared a few years ago. As of next month, it will be all new story!

If you haven’t read the other Tales of Teraan short stories (Eagle’s Heart, Swords and Protector), they are available free to all subscribers when you sign up. If you are having trouble accessing them, get in touch and I can sort something out for you.

All the best

Lindsey

Dragons by Firelight - Part 1

The fire crackled, sending orange sparks dancing into the night. Jayne pulled her cloak tighter against the clear, cold air, watching the floating embers as they rose to fade amongst the stars. She had never seen a sky so deep and black nor so brilliant with light. The city seemed like a distant memory.

Suddenly, the cloak was whipped from her shoulders. She whirled, but the thief darted away too quickly.

“Malcolm!” she yelled. “Give it back!”

Jayne’s mother raised her head and gave a reproachful look across the flames. “Malcolm. Give back your sister’s cloak.”

“Better do as Mum says,” said Jayne’s father. Though his face was hidden in the shadows where he tended the horses, his voice was light with a smile.

Malcolm grinned mischievously. “Catch!” He threw the cloak over her head, tousling her hair from its neat plait.

Jayne extracted herself from her cloak, reaching out to grab her brother. As Malcolm darted away again, he was snatched up by a tall bearded man, who promptly spun him upside down.

“Uncle, you’re here!” Jayne smiled at him shyly. It had been several years since they had last made the journey to visit their uncle and grandfather. She had not been expecting to see them until the morning.

“I thought I’d come ahead,” said Uncle, stepping into the firelight. “Granda’s just behind. He’s not as quick as he used to be.” He deposited Malcolm on the ground by the fire and hugged Mother, Father, then Jayne herself. A moment later, Granda arrived too and another round of hugs ensued.

“Sit, eat,” said Mother. “There’s still some soup in the pot.” She took a cloth and extracted the cook pot from the flames.

They all settled around the fire. Granda and Uncle sipped at their soup from wooden cups, while Mother and Father questioned them about the journey and the farm. Malcolm poked sticks into the fire, waiting until they caught alight. He waved one in Jayne’s face, but she batted him away. She just wanted to watch the stars. When he tried again, she blew out the tiny flame. He scowled, but a minute later, another burning branch threatened her peace.

This time, Jayne stood and walked to the wagon. She sat down by its frame and leaned against the wheel. It was colder, but here, out of the ring of firelight, the sky seemed to shine ever more brightly. It was the thing she remembered most from their last journey to Granda’s farm three years ago. The farm itself seemed a distant memory, and the nearby village of Baren even more hazy, but the night sky had stayed with her, fuelling her youthful imagination.

A wisp of colour flickered above the mountains. Jayne leaned forward. Had she imagined it? Another flicker of green flame danced over the horizon. Then suddenly, the whole sky was alight.

Jayne’s mouth dropped open. She jumped to her feet. “Look! Look!”

The others stopped their quiet conversation. Jayne heard the crunch of their feet as they joined her by the wagon, but she could not take her eyes from the sight. Flowing sheets of light, ten, no a hundred, times brighter than the stars danced over the horizon. The snowy peaks, which had moments before been shrouded in shadow, now glowed in glory. The light shifted from green to yellow to pinkish-purple and back again.

“What is it?” said Malcolm, his voice hushed in reverence.

Mother placed an arm around both of her children’s shoulders. “It’s the Firchlis. Your Uncle and I used to see it from the farm back when I was your age.”

“But what is it?”

“It’s just a special sort of starlight,” said Father. “But you can only see it this far north, where the air is thinner.”

“No, no, no,” said Uncle. “You’ve got that all wrong! It’s wild magic. The magic of dragons.”

Malcolm’s eyes widened. “Dragons!”

Jayne shook her head. “Dragons don’t exist.”

“You’ve got no proof of that,” said Uncle.

Jayne folded her arms. “Well, you got no proof that they do.”

Uncle gave a wide smile and pointed at the sky. “Dragon magic.”

And as Jayne looked at the ever-shifting lights, she was filled with an even greater sense of awe. The sheer glory of the sight seemed to make anything possible.

“What are dragons like?” Malcolm asked.

“Come,” said Uncle. “I’ll tell you a story.”

The others returned to the warmth of the fire, but Jayne sat herself down with her back to the flames, keeping her eyes fixed on the Firchlis, while Uncle began the story.

“Once upon a time, there was a young Eagle Rider who longed for an adventure. But she was stationed out here, in the wilds beyond Baren, where nothing of consequence ever happens…”

Did you enjoy this story? Show your support by liking, sharing or commenting. Or buy me a hot chocolate at: buymeacoffee.com/lindseystirling

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! What have you been up to? Do you have any fun Christmas traditions? I’ve been enjoying some well needed rest along with lots of dog walks, board games, and movies with my family.

This time of year is often a time for looking backwards and looking forwards, so keep reading for a round up of the top books I read in 2024 (looking backwards) and an exciting update on the Eagle Rider Saga (looking forwards). What are you looking forwards or backwards to?

Until next time, all the best!

Lindsey

Top Books of 2024

Join me in my library to find out my top 10 (ish) books of the last year!

Eagle Rider Saga - Book 3 Update

I am pleased to announce that in the last few days of December, I completed my next draft of the Eagle Rider Saga Book 3 (it’s technically the 5th draft though not all of those have been full length drafts). This year has been full of challenges and completing this draft has felt like an uphill battle. So it was with much relief and celebration when I typed the 139,852th word a few days ago.

With this draft now completed, it means it’s time to move onto the next phase with the Eagle Rider Saga Book 3. I have sent the book to my editor/publisher and will eagerly (and nervously!) await his feedback. In the meantime, I will take a break from the Eagle Rider Saga (hopefully to write some new short stories for Quest in Progress). This draft will also go to my illustrator (and brother) who will start to think about what artwork to create for the new book. So lots of exciting progress on the Eagle Rider Saga to look forward to in the new year!

Have You Enjoyed Quest in Progress?

Quest in Progress has now been going for over a year! When I started out, it was with the dream of being able to write stories for you all on a more regular basis than my novels. I have now released 12 new short stories in the last 14 months and I hope you have enjoyed them all. I have certainly enjoyed writing new things for fun and revisiting some old stories from years gone by.

I really appreciate the support and encouragement of Quest in Progress and Eagle Rider Saga readers. Thank you to everyone who has supported me financially and to everyone who has shown their appreciation by liking or commenting on my stories, or simply replying to one of my emails.

If you have enjoyed reading my stories over the last year, you can support me in one of the following ways:

• Leave a rating and/or review for the Eagle Rider Saga books on Goodreads or Amazon

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