Dragon King Charlie

by Scott Baron

  “Wouldn’t her majesty rather visit a more, productive farm?”

  “Why would I do that? They’re not the ones who could use my help,” she said, nudging her horse onto the muddy path toward what appeared to be the main farmhouse.

  It was more of a hut, truth be told, but Leila found the small structure warmed her heart, reminding her of a simple, happy life with her father on the visla’s grounds not so long ago. Before she was forced to flee.

  The man of the house came rushing out, followed by his wife and daughter. A few others continued to work, glancing up with curiosity. Apparently, they were seasonal help exchanging their muscle for room and board.

  “My queen? To what do we owe the honor?” the farmer blurted, his face flush.

  “We were just riding by, surveying the lands, and I noticed your farm appears to be having something of a rough time at the moment. What happened?”

  “The pigs, they’ve been rooting the fields when they should be in the hills looking for mushrooms. With the extra effort required to repair the damage they’ve done, some of the crops didn’t come in on time, and the land is angry with us for it.”

  She scanned the fields. Indeed, the soil in several areas appeared unhealthy, their crops blighted and lacking nutrients.

  “Have you burned the crops and turned the soil?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry, did you say burn?”

  “Yes.”

  “I––no, we’ve never burned them. We use every bit we can, and––“

  “Burn the ones not faring well or past harvest,” she said. “Sometimes a touch of fire and death is all the soil needs to be renewed. I believe this will help alleviate some of your problems.”

  “But the lost crops––“

  “Don’t worry. I’ll request some neighboring farms send you a portion of theirs to tide you over. Enough to see you through the replenishing period.”

  “But, their crops? Won’t they be selling them at market?”

  “Yes, but helping their fellow farmers in a time of need is what good people do. And one day, they too may find themselves in need of assistance. At such a time, I’d expect you to return the favor.”

  “Of course. Gladly!”

  “Good. Then it is settled. I’ll make the arrangements, so do not fear going hungry. Now, how about your crop rotations? Have you replanted in opposite fields?”

  “Not for several seasons. It was extra work, and things seemed to be growing well enough.”

  “That’s also likely a part of your problem. Rotating crops is vital to ensure the soil is kept healthy and not overused. A little burn off, a little rotation, and I think in just a few months you should recover from this bump in the road.”

  The confidence their new queen spoke gave them hope where there had formerly been none. Most unusual, the newcomer. Unusual, and knowledgeable.

  “Majesty, if I may ask, how does my queen know so much about farming?”

  Leila climbed down from her horse and glanced at the pig sty, where a dozen large sows were making quite a racket. She then began removing her riding coat and finery.

  “My father worked the land,” she replied. “Much like you do, though he also used a konus often enough.”

  “A what?”

  She realized she had brought up magic, a no-no in their new home.

  “Uh, a farming tool where I come from,” she covered. “Anyway, I learned by watching him work the land when I was a girl.”

  “You were a commoner?”

  “Do not speak to the queen this way!” her guard barked.

  “No, it’s okay. There is no offense taken from a genuine question,” she said, stepping in. “Now, to answer your question, you could say I was a commoner. Not royalty, that’s for sure. My father worked the land, and I tended the animals. Speaking of which, let me have a look at your pigs. I may be able to help with their troublesome ways. I’ll be right back.”

  She placed her coat on her saddle and walked right for the pigs, ignoring the mud sucking at her boots, to everyone’s dismay. The sows were rowdy, all right, but her gift with animals seemed to carry over to those of this world.

  “You need to stay out of the fields and help find mushrooms,” she scolded them. The pigs squealed with discontent. “Hey, I’m just relaying what’s expected of you. You’re damaging the crops, which costs the farmer time, money, and food. But if you’d rather keep acting up than help out, I’m sure the farmer could fetch a good price for you lot at the butcher.”

  The pigs fell silent. They may not have understood what the strange greenish-toned lady was saying––not exactly, anyway––but the gist got through.

  “Good. I’ll let him know,” she said with a satisfied nod, then walked back to the waiting men.

  “I don’t think you’ll have any problems from the pigs anymore,” she said. “Now, let’s see about getting this replanting going.”

  She unbuttoned her regal dress, drawing gasps from the women as she did. Her guard were also in shock, but having never experienced such a situation, had no idea what to do with a defrocking royal.

  Leila whipped off her dress, revealing comfortable trousers and a simple tunic worn underneath. Her guards let out a sigh of relief.

  “Right. Let’s get cracking.”

  Her lead guard had dismounted when she had, and now quickly strode up to her. “A queen does not work! And in mud, no less!”

  “Well, this one does,” she replied, picking up a spade and walking into the fields.

  The farmer, his wife, and the rest of the residents of the small plot, all fell in and followed her, ready to break soil as well as a sweat alongside their strange new queen.

  The workers were shocked, but not nearly as much as the ladies of the farm, who were also in awe, but shared smiles among themselves as well. The queen was one of them, and had endeared herself to the family and earned their respect, but not through words or gifts, but with her actions.

  Hours later, muddy and glowing with the joy of a good day’s manual labor loosening her muscles, Leila cleaned up as best she could with the women of the house, then mounted her horse. Baloo was off in the woods again, but she knew he’d come along soon enough.

  “Okay, I tied ribbons to stakes in each of the fields you should burn. Once they’ve smoldered out, turn the soil and let the ash sink in. They should be ready for a new planting come spring.”

  “But the ground is damp, and the crops may not burn.”

  Their queen just smiled, knowingly. “Don’t worry. Just stay clear of those fields. I’ll have a friend take care of it.”

  With that, she and her guards rode off, leaving the farmers to chatter and replay the day’s events among themselves. Leila’s reputation would strengthen after today, and her standing in the land would grow. Villagers and farm folk talked, and she was sure to be a hot topic of discussion.

  Chapter Twelve

  The royal procession slowly made its way back toward the castle, the queen’s guards flanking Leila on the dirt road. She had managed to clean off nearly all of the mud and muck from herself before donning her dress and coat, though her trousers had acquired a decent layer of dirt. As a result, she had to shed them, stowing them in a saddle bag for proper cleaning back at the castle.

  A happy smile was plastered to her face. It had felt good working with her hands. This queen thing was getting old, and fast. How anyone could live such a passive life was beyond her.

  From the woods, a familiar, furry shape came trotting up to join them. His snout, she noted, was bloody yet again.

  “Baloo, what did you get up to? That’s not from a rabbit, is it? I know you’re a growing boy, but no more killing livestock, you hear me?”

  The enormous canine looked chided, understanding his mother’s tone, if not every word spoken. The men couldn’t help but grin. Their new queen certainly had a way with animals, and since they’d been on her protective detail, they’d been witness to a number of unusual situations. Least of which w
as her scolding her huge and deadly pet.

  “Oh, Charlie is going to be so upset. Another dead goat, I’d wager.” She turned to the youth assigned as her aide for the day’s ride. “Would you please make a quick ride around and see what he killed, and if possible, whose it was? I want to send them payment for their animal.”

  “Of course, Highness,” he replied before racing off into the woods.

  “Fearless lad, that one,” the head of the guard noted.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Well, he just saw a bloody beast strut out o’ those woods, yet in he plunges, carefree as can be.”

  “Well, it was only Baloo,” she countered.

  “Aye, but who knows what else might be lurking there.”

  He had a point there were plenty of dangerous creatures in these parts. Fortunately, her dangerous creatures put the others to shame.

  Almost as if on cue, an enormous shadow passed overhead, circling the party as they rode. All heads turned skyward, watching the mighty, red dragon as she soared above before coming in low, flapping her mighty wings and landing beside the road in a cloud of dust. The deep green Magus stone hanging around Leila’s neck beneath her clothes flashed a momentary warmth, the power-storing gem having become attuned to the Zomoki’s power and even absorbing a little trickle of it over the time they spent together.

  Ara had fared well since arriving on Earth. Better than well, actually, the solar system’s sun’s rays were doing her enormous good, and her scales were a resplendent, deep, shiny red. Ever since her rebirth after drinking the waters from the remains of Visla Balamar’s kingdom, she had been buzzing with power and health. Now, it seemed she was gradually adding to that.

  Much like Hunze, she was very positively affected by the yellow sun’s radiation. A constant slow feed of power, healing and nourishing her. Even when she settled into a cavern in the distant mountain range for a nap, the planet’s absorbed radiation still trickled into her, though at a minuscule rate.

  Her giant, golden eyes watched the procession approach. She was careful not to speak with others present, but made eye contact with Leila, giving her a slight nod. The guards were still reticent in her presence. She may have been their king and queen’s pet, but several had been present when she burned the prior king alive and swallowed him whole, horse, armor, and all. They were glad she was on their side, but she still terrified them.

  Another aspect of her relationship with the king was the bond they shared. None would dare raise a finger against him, lest they face the mighty dragon’s wrath, for she would always come when the king called for her. In fact, some said she knew when he wanted her, arriving even if he didn’t say a word. And when he spoke to her, it seemed she understood every word he said.

  She was his guardian, and all who encountered the dragon were awestruck.

  Except Baloo, it seemed.

  The giant canine bounded through the field, letting out a low, rumbling yowl, playfully nipping at her massive feet. Ara’s eyes held a look of love and amusement as she played back, gently knocking him over with her tail as he bounced and leapt through the air with his limitless energy.

  “Come on, Baloo. Leave Ara alone, we’re going home.”

  He was a little too worked up to notice Leila’s words, but Ara didn’t seem to mind. Baloo was part of their unlikely little family, and she adored him as much as the rest of her friends.

  Friends. Had anyone told the mighty Zomoki she would befriend a Wampeh assassin, a half-Alatsav girl, and a man from a galaxy far beyond her own, she would have laughed.

  Or eaten them.

  Or both.

  But life works in strange and unexpected ways, and the unlikely allies had become far more than just that. For the first time in hundreds of years, Ara felt like a part of something. A family.

  “Hey, Ara,” Leila called out. “I was wondering if you could do me a little favor. That farm just over the hill? They had a run of bad crops and have several fields that need a good burning before they till and replant. If you wouldn’t mind, I’m sure they’d appreciate you torching those for them. I marked them with ribbons on stakes. “

  The dragon rose to her feet, looked in the direction Leila had mentioned, and took to the air with a single flap of her wings, the wind nearly knocking several men from their horses.

  “Our king and queen are allied with fearsome beasts,” one of the younger guards said, awed by the sight.

  “Aye. But the big one there has much more self-control than the queen’s beast. None have seen it hunt in these parts. Wherever it feeds, our lands remain unscathed. And protected,” he added, watching her fly over the rise.

  “Lucky for us,” his friend said.

  “Aye. And heaven help any who would take up arms against us.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The farmer’s fields soon lay smoldering. The Zomoki’s flames had made quick work of the failed crops, despite any lingering dampness in the soil or plant matter. Dragon’s breath was not something to be trifled with, and Ara’s was strong even by those standards.

  Once she’d assisted Leila with her little project, she took to the skies, soaring high above the kingdom. Though they could not share her vision as she flew, Ara and Charlie’s bond nevertheless allowed them to communicate silently across increasingly larger distances.

  “Everything looks good from up here,” she told him. “I helped Leila out with a little side project, as well. It felt nice getting a good burn going.”

  Charlie tried to keep his attention on the men pleading their case before him despite the voice in his head. He was king, and he was expected to adjudicate over such matters. Ara had been listening in, as she could do when he opened his ears to her mind.

  “It seems like a simple solution. The stream moved due to heavy rain the other week, and when it did, their property lines changed. If they were foolish enough to use something as impermanent as that as a legal boundary, then it’s their own fault and they should have to live with their foolishness.”

  “Always the understanding one, aren’t you?” Charlie replied as the men pled their cases.

  “It’s simple logic. You needn’t waste so much of your time on trifles, Charlie. You’re the king. Act like it.”

  “I am acting like it. But I’m also new to these lands, and if I can foster a bit more goodwill from the locals, then all the better. Now leave me alone for a bit, I need to pay attention.”

  “Fine. I’m going to hunt. I’ve discovered a wonderful type of beast across the sea.”

  “Wait, where are you going, exactly?”

  “Don’t worry, Charlie. I’ll be back shortly. You forget, I can easily exit the atmosphere as I please, which means it takes little time and little energy to circumnavigate the globe, if I wish.”

  “Ah, yes. A dragon-shaped ICBM hurtling through the skies,” he replied with a silent chuckle. “All right, then. Go hunt, we’ll catch up later.”

  “Indeed, we will. Have fun listening to peasants.”

  “Have fun eating furry things.”

  Ara felt their connection sever as she pushed herself high through the atmosphere until she was comfortably in a low orbit above the Earth.

  It really is a rather lovely little planet, she mused, then began her descent to the far away land she had discovered in her explorations.

  She had stumbled upon the vast, golden plains of grain and unusual beasts while searching out new places to bask in the sun a few days prior. She had been laying in an enormous open expanse when a rumbling roused her from her slumber.

  What could that be? she wondered, lifting her head and craning her neck.

  What she saw was impressive, even for a space dragon from another galaxy.

  “There are millions of them,” she marveled as the ground shook and the skies filled with dust.

  The herd, if something so massive could be called that, consisted of beasts that were somewhat similar to cows, she supposed, but much darker, and furrier, with ti
ny, curved horns atop their thick skulls. The creatures were very stocky up front, possessing dense muscle that allowed them to charge up hills and over obstacles with ease.

  Ara swatted one with her tail, quickly roasting it and swallowing it with relish.

  “Oh, these are delicious!” she exclaimed. “And there are literally millions of them.”

  It was true. Centuries before European invaders had deposited the forebearers of the men who would nearly lead to their extinction, the great plains of the continent were teeming with what settlers would eventually call buffalo. Only a handful of indigenous people were on hand to hunt them, their kills not making so much as a dent in the population.

  Ara had watched the natives––primitives with what appeared to be some sort of nature religion shaping their beliefs. Whatever the case, she was not concerned with them as a possible threat. And now that she had this wonderful food source, she needn’t hunt anywhere near Charlie’s realm, sparing the locals any unfortunate frights.

  She filled her belly with several more of the beasts, then took to the skies, breathing deep, sniffing out the freshest, cool waters, bubbling up from below the surface. She found a large cavern in a desert patch of land further west. The tunnel went down and down, and as it did, she felt the crystalline properties of the cave’s walls soothing her body. It was in no way comparable to the waters of the Balamar wasteland, but it felt nice, just the same.

  So many things about Charlie’s homeworld had restorative properties to her kind, it seemed, and she was delighted for it. Crawling under a low overhang, she squeezed her way into the next chamber.

  “Ah, there you are,” she cooed, spotting the burbling source of the small flow.

  She bent and drank deeply, the waters cool and fresh, untainted by any pollutant and charged with minerals and the sun’s rays filtered through the planet’s crust. It was just the sort of place her kind sought out to lay their eggs, or in rarer cases, to lay their heads down for a nice hibernation for a few years. A long time for men, but a mere nap for creatures who lived as long as the Zomoki did.