Dragon Stones (Book One in the Dragon Stone Saga)

by Kristian Alva

  Chapter 16: The Orvasse River

  The sun was setting by the time Thorin and Elias arrived at Hwīt Rock. They had to stop frequently because Thorin kept falling off the saddle. Eventually, the necromancer’s spell began to wear off, and Thorin got back the use of his arms. It took them twice as long to reach the river than Thorin had originally predicted. That meant that it would be more difficult to find passage up the river.

  The outpost was a bustle of activity. Merchants, travelers, traders, and peasants filled the streets. It was a small trading post, but a very prosperous one. The streets were clean and well-maintained, and private guards patrolled the riverbanks on horseback.

  “Thorin, this is a nice place,” remarked Elias, watching the sailboats coming and going.

  “Yes, the magistrate that runs this outpost is an honest man. People know that when they come here for goods, they won’t get cheated.”

  “So…It’s basically the opposite of Faerroe.”

  Thorin laughed, “Yes, I suppose it is. I don’t see any empire soldiers. Let’s grab something to eat from one of the street vendors. I’m dyin’ for a hot meal.”

  Elias nodded in agreement. They hadn’t stopped to eat all day, so he was starving. “I’ll eat anything. I have a few coppers. Do you think that will be enough?”

  “Don’t you worry about that, lad. I’ve got problems just like everyone else, but money isn’t one of them.” Thorin pulled a little pouch from underneath his beard, and he shook out a silver coin. “This should be enough to get us a nice meal and some provisions for the trip.”

  He handed the coin to Elias. It had been years since he’d held so much money in his hands. “Thank you. I’m good at haggling at the market. My grandmother taught me how to do it without being embarrassed. She even let me sell herbs on my own. What should I buy?”

  “Buy us some hot sausages for dinner; they’re excellent here. And see if you can find some dried meat. They sell lamb jerky inside the fort. It’s available year-round. Go in and ask for quadid. That’s my favorite, and it’s the local specialty. Buy the sausage wrapped in black bread—it’s hot and delicious.” Thorin patted his stomach and licked his lips.

  “Okay. Where are you going?”

  “I’ll be on the docks, looking for Gremley and the Chipperwick. Hopefully he’s here. He’s trustworthy—I’ve used him before. Either way, though, we need to find passage up the river tonight. Go ahead and hand me Buttercup’s reins. You won’t be able to take your horse inside the outpost. Remember, if anyone asks, your name is ‘Barth,’ and you’re from Faerroe. I’ll meet you back here within the hour.” The dwarf trotted off, still riding Duster. Elias wondered if Thorin was able to use his legs yet. Thorin didn’t seem bothered by it, either way.

  Elias walked towards the outpost, which was built entirely from rough-hewn logs. Outside, green Ivy climbed the walls, and there were local militia patrolling the docks. It was so busy that merchants spilled out onto the dock. Inside the outpost, there were dozens of tiny shops, with hundreds of people selling and buying goods.

  On the right, one man sold furs. The next vendor sold hunting weapons. A third sold dried herbs and other medicines. It was an apothecary shop. Elias couldn’t hide his curiosity, and he walked up, touching the familiar medicines. The shopkeeper slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch, boy! These’re fer payin’ customers only!”

  “I have money,” said Elias, defiantly, pulling out his coin pouch. “I can pay—and if you want to sell to me, you’d better give me a good price.”

  “Let me see it, then,” said the man. Elias showed the merchant his silver coin, and the apothecary leered, rubbing his hands together. “Ah, many apologies, young master. What pleases you this fine day?”

  “I want two drams of dried gingerroot, a bottle of feverfew elixir, and a tincture of hyssop,” said Elias. These would come in handy while they were travelling.

  “Sure, boy, I’ll get those ready for you.”

  “I’ll be back, then. I need to buy some other supplies,” Elias replied. He found two vendors selling cooked sausage outside. One sold venison and the other sold lamb. He haggled with both men to see which one would give him the best price, and he was able to get a nice helping of each. Then he purchased some dried lamb.

  A few minutes later, he walked back to the herbalist’s booth and asked, “Is my order ready?”

  “Yes, I have it right here.” The herbalist lifted a parcel. “That will be seven coppers.”

  “Seven coppers! That’s robbery,” said Elias. “Those herbs would cost no more than three coppers in Persil!”

  “Persil?” The merchant’s eyes opened wide. “Is that where you’re from, boy?”

  Elias stepped back, stuttering. “No. I-I—I’m from Faerroe.” The man stepped closer to him, squinting his eyes. He had said too much.

  “What is your name, boy?” People were starting to stare.

  “B-Barth. My name’s Barth,” Elias lied, inching his way back towards the entrance.

  “Are you sure, boy? Are you sure your name isn’t… Elias?” screeched the man, pointing at the wall. Elias gasped. There was a reward poster with his likeness pinned above the entrance. The reward was 100 gold crowns! “I have to get out of here!” he thought to himself. He spun, tucking the sausages into his tunic, and ran.

  “Stop! Stop that boy! Stop him!” yelled the shopkeeper, while leaping forward to grab Elias’ tunic. The shopkeeper missed, landing face first into the dirt. Elias sprinted all the way to the dock and found Thorin waiting by a robust sailboat. The necromancer’s spell had worn off—Thorin was walking on his own. Their horses were being led on board by the ship’s captain. The captain was a bearded man, tall and muscular, with skin like a burnt chestnut.

  Elias ran towards Thorin on the docks. Thorin noticed him, and waved him on the boat. “Ah, there you are—welcome to the Chipperwick! The captain’s name is Gremley. I know him from way back. He’s agreed to transport us to Ironport. The horses are already on board, so we were just waiting for you.”

  Gremley nodded and said, “Aye. Get on board, son, and we’ll be off.” He wasn’t a man of many words.

  Elias leaned in and whispered frantically, “Thorin, we’ve got the get the heck out of here! One of the shopkeepers recognized me! There’s a reward poster on the wall inside the outpost, with a drawing of my face!”

  Thorin frowned, saying quietly, “That is bad news, indeed. It’s a shame, but we can’t do nothin’ for it. They’re lookin’ for you, and you’ll just have to be more careful.” Thorin cleared his throat, and said loudly, “Ah, Barth! It’s a shame ye don’t feel well, my boy! I think it’s best that you go down below and lay down.” Thorin patted Elias’ back and directed him into the hold below.

  Then Thorin turned to Gremley and said, “He’s got a bit o’ delicate stomach.”

  Gremley just snorted in response. He untied the ropes holding the boat to the dock, and moments later, they were off. Elias hurried down the steps and crouched down in the ship’s hold. He heard Gremley and Thorin stomping back and forth on deck, and soon after, the ship was moving.

  Elias peered out the filthy porthole and saw the herbalist running back and forth on the dock. He was gesturing frantically at the guards, and shaking his hands above his head. Elias was frightened.

  Thorin came down and whispered, “Don’t worry, my boy. We’ll be fine. There’s at least twenty boats comin’ and goin’ right now, and it’s already gettin’ dark.”

  “It was horrible, Thorin. Everyone was looking at me like I was a criminal. I’m not safe anywhere, am I?”

  “Maybe not right now, but you’ll be safe at Mount Velik. We just have to get you there in one piece, is all.”

  Elias smiled. Then he remembered the sausages. He pulled them out of his cloak, handing one to Thorin. “Here’s the lamb sausage. I got some venison, too.”

  “Ah, good job, boy—this will hit the spot! Eat fast, though—I don’t want Gremley
to see you swallowing a huge meal right after I told him that you were stomach-sick.”

  Elias chuckled, and ate quickly. Thorin always made him feel better. It was probably because he was so calm all the time. After they finished eating, Elias felt tired. He lay down on clean straw.

  “Get some rest, boy. I’m going back on deck to speak with Gremley. I’ll see if he has any news of the empire.”

  “How about you? Aren’t you going to sleep?”

  “Boy, I’ve just spent the entire day paralyzed and strapped to a saddle. I’ll enjoy walkin’ around for a while.”

  Elias smiled and drifted off to sleep. Thorin went back up to the deck and watched the water. The river was full of merchant ships, transporting goods up and down the countryside. It was an efficient system, and the Orvasse River was the busiest waterway on Durn. He breathed the fresh air, and then sat down to smoke his pipe quietly.

  “Is the boy asleep?” asked Gremley.

  “Aye. He was feelin’ a bit nauseated is all,” replied Thorin.

  “Let him sleep. The weather is calm, and I expect it to be quiet,” said Gremley. “Thorin, I saw the posters inside the fort. Is this the boy they’re lookin’ for?”

  “Honestly…yes. It is him. It’s my job to get him to safety. Any chance we’ll be able to get past Morholt without being noticed? The emperor wants this boy very badly.”

  Gremley shrugged. “It’s possible, if we’re careful. If you’re tryin’ to get past Morholt with smuggled goods, it’s near impossible. Empire soldiers search almost every ship. I could probably conceal the boy, but if the emperor has necromancers watching the shoreline, then you’ve got a serious problem.”

  “I know. Thank you for taking us, Gremley. I hoped that I would find you here, but I wasn’t sure until I saw you standing on the docks. We haven’t even stopped to rest. I don’t know if we would have escaped without your help.”

  “Happy to be of service. I’m no friend of the empire, but you’re takin’ a mighty big risk by harboring this boy. You’re lucky that you didn’t cross paths with any necromancers, or the boy would have been taken captive for sure.”

  “Actually—we did cross paths with a necromancer. In Jutland. It allowed us to leave the city, only to follow us all the way through Darkmouth Forest. It confronted us a day ago.”

  The captain was incredulous. “You were attacked by a necromancer—and you lived? He’s just a child, and you don’t have any powers. How did you both survive?”

  “Just lucky, I guess. Gremley… do you know anything about the old myths?”

  “Some. I heard stories during the dragon wars, when I was a soldier. That was many years ago.”

  “Well, the prophesy says that the emperor will be defeated by a new dragon rider. I believe this boy is the one. It’s my job to get him to Mount Velik alive.”

  “Thorin, you’re a crazy old dwarf, but your money is good. I can’t make any guarantees, but I’ll do my best to get you both to safety. I have no love for the emperor, so as long as I can help you, I will,” said Gremley.

  “I appreciate that, friend,” said Thorin.

  Thorin looked up at the night sky. This had been an interesting week, indeed. The dragon stone appeared, then the boy… and that necromancer! It was rare enough to see a female necromancer, but this one looked strikingly familiar. Thorin had a hunch in Jutland, but when the necromancer appeared again in the forest, his gut feeling was confirmed. The undead creature that attacked them in Darkmouth Forest was Ionela.

  He was sure of it—that necromancer was Elias’ mother.

  ***

  Continued in Book Two: The Return of the Dragon Riders

  About the Author

  Kristian Alva was born into a family of writers and teachers. She worked as a staff writer and a ghostwriter before publishing her own manuscripts. She currently lives in California with her husband and son. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading all genres, especially epic fantasy.