The Dragons of Keanna. 1 Book 1

High in the dark mountains of the Durmista range, three men wandered deep in the hot dark caverns in search of treasure. Gold was rumored to filled these caves. Gold and diamonds and other valuable items. The three men, Terek Orson and his brother Gird and Tomar Rudd had been sent here by Polan Dressak after something he called a dragon spirit. Polan didn't tell them what he wanted it for only that it was powerful and would help him. Terek didn't really care what he wanted it for, but he did care about the jewels and gold he said they would find there. They crept slowly through the caves with only torches to light there way. This was to be a long and dangerous mission, but Terek didn't care. Nothing mattered but the riches he and his brother would bring out with them. Together they moved along the maze of tunnels marking the walls as they went to keep from getting lost.
" What is that smell? Gird asked. "It's awful!"
"I don't care." Terek said. " Just keep your mind on what we're looking for. We can worry about smells later."
"I don't like this." Tomar said with fear creeping into his voice. " These mountains are suppose to be haunted. All kinds of ghoulies are suppose to be up here."
" Then turn around and take your scared ass home." Terek stopped. " But you get nothing we find then."
" I'm not scared." Tomar put a brave face on. " No ghoulies gonna scare me out of my share."
" Good." Terek said. " Then move your ass."
Tomar ran to catch up with them where the cave became more spacious. More light filtered down from the ceiling, and now it was much easier to see. Each man moved in a different direction to search with gold on his mind.
Off to the left Gird found a new cave and turned in with his torch to have a look. He moved around a huge boulder and held out his torch to get a better look. Gold!!! More gold then he or his companions could spend in a hundred lifetimes. He turned and ran back for his brother, eager to prove his worth. No more starving for him or his family. They were all rich as kings now.

Tomar moved down the corridor, his eyes wide open. Still scared of what he might find, he heard a deep rumbling noise. It was coming from some where ahead of him. He pulled his sword out with trembling hands and kept moving. Louder and louder the noise grew, his hands shook with fear. The smell became stronger with ever step he took, and sweat poured off his face. He stopped as he heard a sound off to his right. He cast his torch over to look and noticed the rock was a strange shade of green. Tomar moved over and look closer at the rock ledge. Then it moved. He jumped back and dropped his torch with a cry. It was a dragon!! It was so huge he couldn't even see it all. Tomar backed away from the monster as the giant leg moved and into a warm wall. He reached out and felt around and realized he was feeling scales. He look where his hand had landed and saw the crimson scales under his hand. Quickly he pulled back his hand and made to run when he saw a golden flash. Over the entrance to the next cavern hung a golden disc. Slowly Tomar backed out of the dragon cave and ran to find Terek and Gird. In the gold cave Tomar found Terek and Gird filling bags with gold and jewels. They were jumping up and down in joy, ecstatic over there find.
" We did it!! Terek shouted. "Look at it all!!!"
Tomar run to him and tried to cover his mouth. Terek pushed him away.
" Are you crazy? He said. "We're all rich!! "
" This cave is full of dragons!!" Tomar said. " There are hundreds of them. Come look.
" Dragons?" Terek said. " Where?"
" Out there." Tomar pointed. " And there's this gold thing on the wall."
" That must be the dragonspirit." Terek nodded. "Show me where."
" No, please let's get out of here." Tomar pleaded.
" We can't leave without it!"
Terek started toward the dragon cave. Tomar grabbed him again. His fear of the dragons made him bold. Terek grabbed the front of his coat.
" Do you want Polan to set his demons on us?" Terek pulled him to face him. " That's what he will do. They will eat your children and drag you and your wife away with them. Now come on both of you and help me get it."
Together the three men went back into the dragons cave. There it was on the wall, just like Polan had said it would be.
" Come on. Help me pry loose the gold disk off the wall. "
Terek made his brother kneel as he climbed on his back to get to the disk. It was hard work but they got it out. It was really heavy and took two of them to carry it out.
"Lets go " Terek said. "We're out of here."
" I'll meet you out front, I dropped my sword." Tomar told them as he walked back.
" Get it stupid." Terek said frowning. " We'll be loading the horses out front. Hurry."
Tomar walked back to the treasure chamber with his head down, so ashamed of today's deeds. He walked to the back and took off his mothers pendant and stared at it. She had given it to him on her death bed promising to always be with him to protect him as long as he wore it. Now he looked around at all the riches he knew he had no right to. Poverty had changed him. It had made him a thief something he knew his mother and father hated. He couldn't wear the pendant anymore.
"Forgive me Ma and Pop, I don't deserve your protection" He tossed the pendant into a pile of gold and ran out.