About this ebook
Introduction
Behind the eastern mountains, in the middle of a wide, copper-colored sky, was Red Marsh, a strange wilderness. The roots of old mangrove trees gave the water a red glow, and silver bugs floated above the reeds like tiny stars. On platforms over the water, wooden homes were built. Narrow bridges connected the homes, and they creaked every time the wind blew through the wetlands.
The people who lived there were known as the Red Marsh tribe. They knew how to hunt, fish, heal, fight, and build boats very well. They were very careful with the marsh's rivers, plants, animals, and secret paths because their lives depended on it. They thought that each body of water held a memory and each cloud of mist held the breath of something that couldn't be seen.
The Dragon Beneath was the most important thing to them.
The tribe's oldest songs say that a powerful dragon named Varakor slept in huge caves in the middle of the marsh. People said that his eyes were golden and his scales were as red as the setting sun. His wings were so big that they cast a shadow over the whole marsh.
A long time ago, enemies came into Red Marsh to steal its land and treasures. The group wasn't strong enough to beat them. Then Varakor came up from the ground and let out a roar so loud that the attackers ran away in fear. The dragon went back to the underground caves after saving the group. They said that Varakor had promised to always watch over Red Marsh as long as everyone did what he said.
The leaders of the group went into the forbidden caves under Dragon Hill once a season. They came back with orders and threats that they said came straight from Varakor. People from the town weren't allowed to go into the caves, and anyone who did was accused of disrespecting the dragon.
People have always done what they were told.
After that, the hunters stopped coming.
Tovan was the first. He was a nice and skilled young hunter who knew all the safe ways to get through the western reeds. Next, two brothers went missing while they were checking fishing traps. A week later, the whole group still hadn't come back.
The elders said the hunters who went missing had gone to places they weren't supposed to have and made Varakor angry. They told the group not to look for them.
Morga, who was one of the youngest Red Marsh Warriors, wouldn't believe that explanation.
She had known Tovan since they were kids. He knew all the rules of the swamp and would never have gone into water that wasn't allowed without a reason. Morga thought that the elders were either hiding something or didn't fully understand how dangerous things were.
When strange voices calling from the fog used the sounds of friends and family who had gone missing, fear spread through the floating town. Some people thought the dragon was mad. Some people locked their doors and wouldn't talk about what they had heard.
The Morga picked a different way to go.
She went into the mist with her father's old spear and a strong desire to find the truth. She would find Varakor not sleeping below Dragon Hill during her search.
The dragon had been dead for a very long time.
Through his bones, he could hear something else.
Morga would have to go against old traditions, guard the last dragon egg, and face monsters that could take voices, memories, and bodies in order to save her family, her tribe, and the lands beyond Red Marsh.
Her journey would show that being brave doesn't mean not being afraid.
That you will look for the truth, even if it is scarier than the story you were told.
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About the author
Little Author Biography:
Aqeel Ahmed is a writer from Canada. He has written many books on different topics, such as religious holidays, money, business, health, mental health, relationships, dating, AI, and children’s stories. Readers like his writing because it is clear, interesting, and full of useful ideas. His books can be enjoyed by people of many ages and backgrounds.
Aqeel has lived in Canada for about 37 years. He became interested in writing when he was young. He spent a lot of time reading books and imagining his own stories. As he grew older, he started writing and sharing his work with friends and family. Even though he had talent, he did not think writing would become his main career at first.
Everything changed when he found a chance to write a book about religious holidays. His first book was about Eid al-Fitr. It became phenomenally successful because he explained the holiday’s history and meaning in a straightforward way that people of all faiths could understand. This success motivated him to keep writing and explore more topics and genres.
One of Aqeel’s biggest achievements is his ability to write about many subjects. He has written more than 650 books and hopes to write about two thousand more in the future. His books on Kids & teens Stories and business, Mental Health and some other topics have helped people improve their finances. His health and mental health books have supported readers who want better well-being. His books about relationships have offered comfort and guidance. His children’s and teen stories have inspired young readers to imagine new worlds and dream big.
Even with his success, Aqeel stays humble. He believes his results come from hard work, love of writing, and dedication. Today, he is a respected author and speaker, and his books are found in many libraries and bookstores around the world.
Thank you!
