by Eden Redd
Next to the orc were two more figures. One was a large, nearly seven-foot-tall troll. He had dark blue skin and short black hair. His meaty arms were crossed as he looked down on Kavan with suspicious eyes. He wore a brown leather apron and what appeared to be a normal shirt and leggings.
Beside the troll, a woman stood with long, white hair tied back. Kavan’s eyes focused, seeing her kind, purple-colored eyes and smooth pale skin. Purple scales ran down the sides of her head and neck and disappeared into her robe top. As Kavan’s gaze descended, he noticed the strange white robe covering the upper portion of her body. When he looked at her legs, he didn’t see legs. Her lower half was that of a snake with purple and white scales. The lower section of her was coiled around and keeping her upright. In one hand she held a small leather bag.
“How are you feeling, young dragon?” the regal orc asked with a gentle tone.
Kavan’s head swam a little, but he remained upright. He lifted his hand and rubbed the side of his head. The throbbing ebbed and he started to feel more like himself.
“Okay, I think,” Kavan answered.
The snake woman nodded. “The vitality potion I gave you should restore some of your energy. Your natural regeneration should do the rest. I’ve never had the pleasure to see a dragonkin before, so I’m not sure there was much else I could do to help you.”
The orc looked over at the snake woman and smiled. “Healer Whitescale, you do amazing work. We would be lost without your healing prowess.”
The snake woman smiled and shook her head. “Mayor, you don’t have to keep complimenting me. I said I was here to stay and I meant it. No feral kobolds will drive me from Moonvale. And please, call me Soki.”
Kavan glanced to the window, seeing the sky getting a little darker. “How long was I out?”
The orc turned back to Kavan and nodded. “A few hours. Healer Soki administered a potion to aid your healing.”
Kavan turned to the healer. “Thank you,” he said before glancing down to her lower half again.
The healer smiled. “You’re welcome. I’m not sure if dragonkin from the spire cities see many of my people these days. In case you're wondering, I’m a naga and the town healer. When you're up and about, stop by my office in a day or two so I can check on you and make sure you’re all healed up.”
Kavan nodded.
The naga turned to the mayor, “I’ll take my leave. I’m sure there is much to discuss, but don’t push my patient. He still needs his rest.”
“Agreed,” the mayor bowed his head.
Soki glanced back to Kavan with a smile before turning and slithering out of the room.
The troll stood with a hard gaze on Kavan.
The mayor turned to Kavan and gave him a disarming smile. “I am Kogan Sunaxe, the mayor of Moonvale.”
The orc lifted his meaty hand and held it out. Kavan looked at it for a second before reaching out and shaking his hand. The older orc looked down with a peculiar gaze.
The troll behind the mayor lifted a thin eyebrow. “Is that a new form of greeting?”
“Take hold of his forearm,” Viz informed.
Kavan didn’t miss a beat, letting go and reaching forward to clasp the orc’s forearm. The oddness of the moment drifted away as the troll behind the orc relaxed.
“Kavan Cynder,” the dragonkin said simply.
The dragonkin and orc let go and looked at each other.
“Pleased to meet you, Kavan Cynder. Please pardon our curiosity, we have never seen a dragonkin this far south. Your people tend to stay to the spire cities. Not that you’re not welcomed here, especially after your grand deed.”
Kavan blinked. “Grand deed?”
The mayor nodded. “You brought back what was stolen from us during the night. The feral kobolds came in the middle of the night. They hacked through the gates and before anyone noticed, they were already breaking into our bank. Before we could muster the townspeople, they were already charging back to the western entrance.”
“We were chasing and fighting them through the town,” the troll added.
Mayor Sunaxe nodded. “It was a difficult time. We would have chased them further, but we had wounded and some of the kobolds used fire arrows on the western gate to cover their escape. Our town doesn’t have much and the feral kobolds took what little we had.”
“Why did it take so long to ready your defenses? From what little I’ve seen, it seems the town is big enough to fight off bandit kobolds.”
The troll looked to the side. Mayor Sunaxe kept a calm expression.
“The town is big, but our population is small. Many of us are not warriors. It took time to rally our defense.”
The orc’s smile brightened. “But that is now in the past. You entered our town, injured and holding what was taken from us. We are immensely grateful for your heroic actions.”
“I wouldn’t say I was heroic. I was simply travelling along the road when I was attacked by the kobolds. If you saw my wounds, they put up a fight, but I was able to slay them. I don’t believe they will give you any more trouble. I checked their camp and found the chest. I didn’t know it belonged to you, but I’m glad it could be returned.”
Mayor Sunaxe nodded. “We are grateful. Tell us, Kavan, where do you hail from specifically? If you don’t mind me asking, are you an envoy from the spire cities? Are the dragonkin finally beginning unification of the many kingdoms under the same banner?”
Kavan watched the thin sliver of hope in the orc’s eyes. Confusion filled his thoughts, unsure what to say. Little kobolds managed to rob the town and hurt the people here. Kavan remembered kobolds from many virtual games he played over the years and they were never truly a threat to any place with a few warriors around. For such a small band of kobolds to hurt this town spoke volumes to their lack of adequate defenses.
I have to be as truthful as possible so I don’t arouse too much suspicion. I can’t tell them everything, but I should tell them enough to satisfy their curiosity.
Kavan turned and pressed his boots to the floor. He looked at the mayor with kind eyes and a small smile.
“I must be honest, I don’t know anything about any unification. I can only speak for myself. I wanted to journey and explore more of Voldor.”
The troll’s eyes narrowed. “Which path did your journey take? You came from the west, so you must have passed through the border towns to the Shadowsand Desert. Which towns did you see?”
Kavan blinked, unsure what to say.
The mayor turned his head slightly, “Rujin, please be kind. Our friend here has been through an ordeal. I’m sure he doesn’t wish to be interrogated.”
The troll kept his hard gaze on Kavan.
If I don’t tell them something, they will only see me as untrustworthy.
Kavan thought back to the accident years ago and his heart filled with drops of pain.
“There was an accident on my journey. I can’t remember much before that. I had slipped off the road-edge by a cliff. I fell. I remember hitting my head a few times and breaking many bones. When I reached the bottom, I was broken and bloody.
“I remember lying there for days and nights, thinking this was the end of my life. I was lucky, my regeneration healing my body slowly. When I was well enough, I climbed back up the cliff, and onto the road. It’s difficult to remember before that. Since I didn’t know exactly where I came from, I continued my journey and arrived here.”
The troll’s eyes stared for a long moment. Then they softened and the large troll gave Kavan a slight nod.
Mayor Sunaxe nodded and smiled. “You see, Rujin. Our friend here had an unfortunate accident. By the will of luck, he arrived in our town. It is our duty to help him any way we can. He performed a good deed for the town and should be welcomed.”
Rujin nodded. “Forgive me, Kavan. We don’t get many visitors here, other than feral monsters. It’s difficult to trust anyone this far south.”
Kavan smiled at the troll, “It’s understandable
. If I were you, I would be suspicious too, especially after the kobold attack.”
Rujin let a small smile slip.
Mayor Sunaxe spoke up with regal flair, “Lord Cynder, are you well enough to sit down and have some tea? We should talk a little further before I introduce you to the townspeople of Moonvale.”
“Introduce?”
Mayor Sunaxe nodded. “Indeed. I’m sure most of the town is gathered outside the inn, ready to get a better glimpse of you. I would rather we speak first before introductions are made.”
Kavan found himself nodding as his head swam.
“Excellent. Rujin, please prepare some of your famous green berry tea while Lord Cynder and I speak.”
The troll nodded, turned and stepped out of the room. Mayor Sunaxe stood up with a warm smile. Kavan also stood up. The orc and dragonkin exited the room and walked along a corridor.
It didn’t take long before they reached a large dining room. A cold, stone hearth was to one wall. A wooden staircase led to a second floor. Simple tables and chairs filled the center of the room. A bar was to the side with strange vials and bottles on the shelves behind it.
Rujin disappeared through a door by the bar. Mayor Sunaxe pointed an open green hand to a small table and two chairs. Kavan took a seat in one and the mayor took a seat in the other, across from Kavan.
“I don’t wish to mince words since you are still recovering, but I do want to get to the heart of the matter. There hasn’t been a dragonkin this far south in hundreds of years. Your visit might be just what our town needs to survive.”
Kavan was silent as he saw the bright excitement in the old orc’s eyes.
“I noticed when we took you in, aside from the chest of the town’s gold, you don’t have any coin for yourself. Is it safe to assume you are in need of coin and work?”
Kavan nodded, not sure how he could spin it otherwise. The old orc was observant and intelligent. Kavan could see the political gears working and he found himself unable to say anything otherwise.
“It’s okay. Most who end up here had little to nothing. We don’t hold it against anyone. In our town, we are a family and help each other. If someone doesn’t have any coin, we barter. If any of the townsfolk are having difficulty with crops or their shops, we band together to help. It has kept us going, no matter how bad things have gotten.”
Mayor Sunaxe leaned forward a little. He glanced to the sides before centering his gaze on Kavan’s slitted eyes.
“There is no rush for you to leave our little town. The feral kobold attack has shaken the town to its bones. It’s enough for many of those living here to want to flee north to the larger kingdoms. We have lost so much over the last few years; it feels like everyone here has lost hope.”
Kavan leaned forward, elbows on the table. “Mayor Sunaxe, what are you asking of me?”
The orc smirked and nodded. “Your people are revered across Voldor. To have a dragonkin, one who saved our meager gold coins and returned them to us, would bring back a spark of hope to the town and kingdom. As I said, many of us here are not warriors. Every night brings a sense of fear of a feral monster attack. If you stay with us, it will bring a sense of calm and security to the town we hadn’t had in a long time.”
Kavan looked down to the table. “Mayor, I slew the kobolds, but they nearly killed me. I’m not sure I can do too much to protect a whole town, much less a kingdom.”
The mayor let out a gruff chuckle. “Details. Details. The rest of the town doesn’t need to know that right this instant. They just need to have that spark of hope. Despite the kobolds, we don’t get many attacks. The dread of a new attack keeps the people of Moonvale up at night. Your presence will be enough to soothe those fears.
“I would take the time to ease you into such a role, but time is something we don’t have much to spare. Many families have already left and I fear the remaining will follow unless I change things as mayor.
“Since you brought back our gold, you will be rewarded. There is an abandoned farm to the south of town. It’s outside of the town walls, but you would be in good company with our other two farmers. I can give you a small reward of coins and you can purchase the deed for a single coin. The land will be there for you to live and do as you wish. There is plenty of work around the town and surrounding lands, enough to keep you busy and earn more coin in the process.”
“If I stay,” Kavan said simply.
Mayor Sunaxe nodded. “That is my only stipulation. We can discuss a specific role or duty you could fill for the town after you settle in. For now, you would be a welcomed new member to our community and family.”
The side door opened and Rujin came out with a tray. Two cups and a teakettle were on the tray, a wisp of steam rising up from the kettle. He crossed the room and set it down on the table. Kavan watched as the large troll moved with grace and dexterity, setting the cups down before the dragonkin and orc. He lifted the teakettle and began to pour the steaming water into the cups with waiting teabags. When the cups were filled, Rujin placed the kettle on the tray, bowed to the orc and dragonkin, turned and walked back to the bar.
Mayor Sunaxe took hold of his cup and lifted it up to his dark green lips. He closed his eyes and took a sniff before sipping on it.
“Rujin, delightful as always,” the mayor complimented.
Kavan lifted up his cup and brought it close to his small snout. He took a sip, the heat not burning him at all. If he was human, it would have scalded him. Instead, it was warm and when it touched his tongue, berry sensations filled his taste buds.
The tea is incredible.
Kavan turned his head to Rujin and bowed. The troll smiled and bowed his head back.
“Lord Cynder, Voldor can be a dangerous place, but here in Moonvale, we can be a shining example of safety and hope. What do you say?”
Kavan put the teacup down and looked at the older orc.
I don’t really have any other place to go. I still have to find out why I’m here. If Voldor is as dangerous as the mayor says, I would be taking my own life in my hands if I just keep travelling. Maybe I’m supposed to be here? Maybe this place will have some answers? The worst that could happen is I earn enough gold and supplies to move on to find my answers.
Memories of Kavan’s former life slipped across his thoughts. Pain, anguish, and a dash of darkness coiled along his mind.
There is no rush to get back to a broken body and virtual friends. This body feels incredible and I think I can do more here than I ever could in my old life. Maybe I need to be here, to help these people? Maybe the system failure was a blessing.
Kavan smiled. “Mayor Sunaxe, I accept your offer to stay, under the condition that if it doesn’t work out, I can leave without any kind of retaliation or punishment.”
The old orc gave Kavan a strong nod. “Lord Cynder, you are not, nor ever will be a prisoner. We are a family and if a family member wanted to leave, we would feel sorrow, but never stop them from following their destiny.
“Rujin will put you up for the night here at the Blue Lantern Inn. In the morning, we can meet and settle upon the details. For now, let’s speak with the townsfolk and begin introductions.”
Mayor Sunaxe stood up and slid his green hands down his regal robe. Kavan was next to stand. The pair walked, the mayor leading the way. They reached the front door and the mayor opened it with one hand. He bowed as Kavan stepped through the entrance and into the evening air.
The sun was low to the western horizon, yellow light painting the tops of the towers and homes of the town of Moonvale. The air was cool and crisp, soothing Kavan’s lungs with each breath. He looked down from the small set of stairs to the gathered crowd. Humanoid creatures of many different races stood. They were talking among themselves before turning their attention to the dragonkin as he stood at the top of the stairs.
Kavan looked at the crowd, noticing several different races. He spotted a small female kobold in a simple dress. Two spider folk, each one standing on either
side of the crowd. One was male and the other was female. A short, blue skinned woman with dark blue hair stood, raising a webbed hand to her cheek. A female goblin stood before the crowd, her oval eyes drinking him in. Her purple pink hair was flopped to one side of her head and long, pointed green ears framed her face. The healer was among the crowd, the naga whispering to a female dryad. The dryad giggled and covered her mouth. Two other orcs stood within the crowd, side by side. They had a similar look to each other, except one was male and the other female. Another pair of trolls stood among the crowd. A man and woman who looked like elves stood in dark, priest-like robes. Beside them stood a single horned ogre. The large ogre seemed more interested in the dying light of sunset than Kavan on the stairs.
Kavan could see a deep curiosity in the crowd’s eyes.
Mayor Sunaxe swept to Kavan’s side, one arm on the dragonkin’s shoulder and the other in the air with political flair.
“Townspeople of Moonvale, I would like to introduce Kavan Cynder. He is the hero of our little town, dispatching the feral kobolds and returning what was taken from us. He has healed from his wounds and we have spoken at length.
“It pleases me to announce, Lord Cynder has agreed to stay in our town a while longer. He has also agreed to help defend our town from any threats we may encounter. He is a warrior in need of a home and we do not turn away those in need.
“I’m sure many of you have questions, but we do not want to overwhelm our newest resident to Moonvale. For now, let’s give him a welcoming applause. Over the coming days, please help Lord Cynder with anything he needs to know about our little community.”
Some hands rose up and clapped. Others gathered simply stared. Kavan noticed one or two scowls as he stood awkwardly. The lackluster response was off-putting, but Kavan ignored it. His gaze fell to the goblin in the front of the crowd. She eyed him like a piece of meat and licked her lips, making sure he noticed.
