by Julie Wetzel
Kathryn stared at him silently, unable to answer his question.
“You are not the only one that’s lost family to this dragon,” Eustace pointed out. “I’ve lost two sons already. I don’t want to lose my granddaughter as well.”
Kathryn let out a deep sigh. “But, we can’t let him rile up this dragon more,” she pleaded. “It might destroy the whole town.” This was a touchy subject for them all. So many of the girls were left without a protector. They didn’t need someone else coming in to ruffle the dragon’s scales again. It might not stop at taking just one girl at a time.
“And which maiden do you suggest we send next?” Eustace asked, his temper starting to rise. “Mary? She’s only twelve. Constance? Her mother is old and weak. How about you?”
Kathryn clenched her jaw, holding back her anger. The old man had a point.
“No.” Eustace slashed his hand through the air, killing her refusal of Patrick’s offer. “I will bring this up with the other elders.” He turned to go.
“But, he’s a fool,” Kathryn exclaimed as she followed him. “No man could stand against such a creature.”
“Enough, Kathryn,” Eustace chided her. “I will speak with the others on this.”
Dropping back, Kathryn let the old man go. There was no reason to argue with him once he got an idea in his head. She looked up at the castle to where Patrick had ridden. “You will be the death of us all.”
Who knew death could come in such a handsome package?
***
Patrick pushed his way into the great hall. The place looked a hell of a lot better now. A fire crackled warmly in the hearth, and debris had been cleared from the floor. Several of the men had sat down to plates of dried meat and cheese—part of the rations they had brought with them.
“So how did it go?” Daniel asked.
“They think I’m a fool.” Patrick dropped himself onto a bench near the fire.
Daniel raised an eyebrow and pushed a trencher of food towards his friend.
Patrick leaned on the table and picked out a piece of cheese. “Of course, they would think any man that would take on a dragon a fool.” Popping the cheese in his mouth, he laid his head and shoulder on the table.
“Did they agree to the tithing?” Daniel asked.
Laughing, Patrick shook his head. “No.” He picked up a chunk of dried meat and looked at it. “But, I also told them we would be down to watch the dragon eat the next maiden should they not change their minds.” Sticking the end of the meat in his mouth, he gnawed on it.
“Patrick!” Daniel scolded. “The prince will be furious if we let this dragon eat any more maidens.”
“I know that.” Patrick chomped away on his tidbit as he talked. “I will do everything in my power to see this dragon is stopped before he can take another life, but they don’t know that.”
Daniel cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at him.
“I didn’t go down to the village expecting them to agree to the tithing. No man would willingly give up a tenth of his goods. I went down to threaten them with the dragon.” Patrick tapped his finger on the table, emphasizing his words. “Either pay the tithing, or we let the dragon eat you. When you put it that way, the village will be happy to support us once we’ve stopped the dragon.”
The man’s audacity left Daniel staring at him speechlessly. After a moment, he regained his wit and laughed. “You, my friend, are a crafty man.”
Patrick just shrugged.
“So in two days’ time, we go to kill a dragon.”
“No.” Patrick shook his head and poked at the food, looking for another enticing morsel. “In two days, we go in human form to turn the dragon from the village.”
“In human form?” Daniel asked, shocked. “Now you are being a fool. The task you suggest is impossible, even with two squads of men.”
“Two score plus you and I—all Elites in Eternity. We’ve trained for this. If we can’t turn one dragon back in human form, then we don’t deserve the name of Elite,” Patrick pointed out. “Anyway, I don’t intend for us to kill the beast initially.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “What are you playing at?”
“I intend a show.” Patrick pushed the trencher away. He was hungry, but the food was too dry for his taste. A glass of something was needed to help get it down. “Something to prove to the village that we can protect them.”
A slow nod moved Daniel. Finally, the man was starting to see Patrick’s point.
“Have Douglas and Mathew returned yet?”
“Not yet.”
“I need a full report when they do.” Patrick pushed himself into a more respectable position. “I want to know where his lair is. Once we’ve played for the public, we’ll go deal with this dragon properly.”
This brought a smile to Daniel’s face. “I knew there was a reason Kyle sent you,” he laughed. “I would have just killed it outright and been done.”
Patrick stood up from the table. “And you would have spent the next year subduing the village to get what you needed.”
Daniel laughed again. “Better a hero than a tyrant.”
“Exactly. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see if I can find something to help with this.” Patrick waved at the dry food before leaving for the kitchen. This place had to have a wine cellar somewhere.
3
Two long lines marched from Dunham Castle to the village. Patrick looked over the men, approving of their preparations. Each wore a suit of light, leather armor and carried a huge metal shield. Half carried long swords, and the rest had spears. With a light mist falling from the sky, it was a perfect day to tangle with a dragon.
Daniel hefted up his shield and followed his men. “Let’s hope your ploy works.” There were only fifteen fighters ready to do battle. The rest were already spread throughout the countryside, waiting.
“I hope so, too,” Patrick admitted. This plan would have been better if Douglas and Mathew had been able to locate the dragon’s lair, but now they had to track it back to its home before they could deal with it.
“If we get the opportunity to kill him, I think we should take it,” Daniel pointed out.
“Most definitely,” Patrick agreed, “but I don’t think he’ll give us one.”
“You never know.” Daniel shrugged. “If he’s gone in his head, he might leave himself open.”
“Point, but I don’t want anyone getting hurt during this.” Patrick looked at the men. “I don’t want heroes taking stupid risks.”
“As if this whole thing isn’t a stupid risk,” Daniel scoffed, earning a glare from Patrick. “I understand why it’s needed, but it’s still dangerous.”
“And we’ve talked about this,” Patrick agreed. “If he turns on us, we’ll shift and take him on, but I’d rather not have that in front of the villagers. You know how the king feels about exposing ourselves to humans.”
Daniel nodded.
“Let’s just stick to the plan, and we’ll be okay.”
The hike from the castle to the town was relatively short. The men stopped just outside of the village and let Patrick and Daniel lead the way in.
“Good morrow, Eustace,” Patrick greeted the familiar face in the crowd. He nodded to the woman he had swapped wits with on his previous visit. “Fair maiden.”
She stood proudly next to the village elder, shooting a look of pure hatred at Patrick.
Patrick gave his attention back to Eustace. “Have you considered my offer,” his eyes shifted to the woman in white next to him, “or have you chosen your maiden?”
Rage colored her face.
Eustace gripped her forearm to silence her before she spewed the venomous words Patrick could see flash in her lovely, blue eyes. “We are considering your offer,” the town elder answered, “but we have chosen a maiden.”
The color washed out of the girl’s face as she clenched her jaw.
“If you can protect her and the village, then we will agree to your terms.”
“As you wish.” Patrick bowed, earning him an eye roll from the girl. “Please tell me everything you can about the dragon and how he’s been collecting these maidens.”
***
Kathryn stood back as she listened to Eustace talk with the new lord. She glared at him, hoping the dragon would eat him when it showed up.
“Good morrow, fair maiden.”
A dark-haired man approached her. He wasn’t quite as tall as Patrick, but he was ruggedly handsome. His dark eyes shimmered as she greeted him. “Good morrow, My Lord.”
Laughter bubbled out of him. “He,” the man nodded to Patrick, “will be your new lord. I am but his humble servant.” Picking up her hand, the man bent over and kissed its back. “I am Daniel.”
A blush rose in Kathryn’s cheeks. She was not used to such treatment from men. “Kathryn,” she said as she dropped him a curtsey.
“So, are you the maiden we are here to protect?” Daniel asked. His eyes dropped, taking in the flowing white gown she wore.
Unused to the attentions of such a handsome man, she nodded shyly.
He gave her a reassuring smile. “Would you like to meet your defenders?”
Kathryn nodded, still at a loss for words. This man was nothing like the arrogant ass who had come down demanding a tithing.
Daniel tucked her hand around his arm to escort her down the lines of men.
Her eyes wandered them curiously. These men looked ill prepared for the battle to come. Although they did have weapons and large shields, they lacked the plate armor knights wore. Their light leathers dripped with water from the drizzle that had just stopped. Patrick must have had them standing out in the rain for hours before marching them down here. Was he abusing these men before sending them to their deaths? What a tyrant! Kathryn wrinkled her nose in disgust as they came back around to stand next to the man in question.
“The dragon will come from the south.” Patrick pointed to the open field just past the edge of the village. “We’ll line up one hundred paces from the village. That should be far enough away to keep the flames from the thatch roofs.”
“Better make it a hundred and fifty; we don’t know how hot he is,” Daniel suggested.
Nodding his agreement, Patrick finally turned his attention to the young woman holding Daniel’s arm.
“May I introduce you to the fair maiden you’re here to protect?” Daniel released Kathryn’s hand and pushed her forward a step. “This is Kathryn.”
A smile slipped into Patrick’s eyes, and he took up her hand and kissed it.
She shivered with the urge to snatch her hand away and wipe it on her gown.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, fair maiden.” Patrick turned her and wrapped her hand around his arm.
Kathryn’s eyes widened in shock; he was as wet as his men.
He stepped onto the curved edge of an oversize shield, popping it up so he could grab the handle without bending over. It was an action she could tell he had done before. Maybe he practiced it to look suave.
“Fear not,” he said, maneuvering the shield into place as he talked, “we will turn your dragon this day.” Pulling her along, he led the way to the edge of the field, leaving Daniel to bark orders at the assembled men.
He wasn’t even going to order his own men around! Kathryn glared at him. There was no way this man would make a decent lord, even if he survived the dragon.
***
The dragon was huge! It stood ten feet tall at the shoulder, and its mouth was large enough to fit a full-sized man. His scales were black as obsidian, and a boned frill protected the back of his head. A beautiful specimen. It was such a shame that they were going to have to kill him.
“You’re going to take on that with a few swords and shields?” Kathryn sassed.
Patrick had to hand it to her. Even knowing she was going to die if he failed, she still had spunk. “Of course not, my fair maiden.” He smiled at her. “I’m going to use words.”
The look she shot him clearly said he was insane.
He patted her hand reassuringly as they waited for the dragon to approach. They stood at the center of a wall of men ready to defend the town.
The dragon stopped and considered them for a moment. His eyes fell on Kathryn before looking at the rest of the men.
Giving her one more reassuring pat, Patrick released her. Turning to where he had dropped his shield while the men formed ranks, he stomped on the edge of the disk again. The hard metal popped up, and he caught it with the same flare as before. “Wait here while I reason with him.” He turned his attention to Daniel. “Keep her safe.”
Daniel took up a protective position next to her.
“Good morrow!” Patrick called out as he walked into the field with the dragon.
The dragon cocked his head curiously.
“I am Patrick Mylan of Eternity. By order of the king, I demand that you end your harassment of this village. If you surrender now and come along peacefully, your trial will be just and your sentence lenient. If you refuse, you will force us to take swift action to defend these people.”
The dragon blinked a few times as he drew in a deep breath.
Seeing the attack coming, Patrick dropped down and raised his shield. A great blast of fire washed over the hardened steel, heating the metal. Grabbing the pouch at his side, he tucked it up so the flames licking around the edges of his shield wouldn't set it alight. As soon as the onslaught stopped, Patrick rose to face his attacker.
The dragon looked at him. The cock of its great head showed its confusion.
Steam rose from the man’s soaked leathers, but Patrick was mostly unharmed. “It would do you good to use your nose before you attacked,” he taunted. “I know a thing or two about dragons.”
The dragon twisted his head the other way before opening his mouth to try to roast the lord again.
Taking aim, Patrick threw the pouch from his side into the dragon’s open mouth before dropping back down behind his shield again. A second blast of fire hit him just before the pouch exploded in the dragon’s mouth. The shock knocked Patrick back to the ground, and the creature’s flames were cut off as it coughed. Black smoke boiled out of its mouth. It shook its head violently before staggering off-balance. A shudder ran down the creature’s body before it took wing and retreated.
Dropping the red-hot shield, Patrick tried to stagger up and away from the charred grass. He stumbled and fell backwards onto his butt as Daniel and Kathryn ran to check on him.
The men held their line in case the dragon changed its mind.
“What the hell did you put in that?” Daniel asked as he bent to his friend.
Patrick looked at him, dazed. “What?” he yelled, putting his finger into his ear and rubbing it furiously. His entire head rang from the explosion.
“What did you put in that?” Daniel yelled, articulating his words more carefully.
Leaning back onto the heels of his hands, Patrick looked up at his friend. “Just the normal stuff.” He wasn’t quite yelling now, but his voice was a lot louder than it normally was. “Pine pitch, wood dust, saltpeter, sage, clove, sulfur… oh, and I added some charcoal.” The questioning look Daniel gave him made Patrick shrug. “I thought it would make it smoke more. I wasn’t expecting it to pop like that.”
Daniel reached his hand down to help Patrick up. “Where did you get that idea?”
The downed man looked at it for a moment before grasping it. “The king’s last birthday,” he explained as Daniel raised him to his feet. His friend took most of his weight as Patrick tried to find his balance. “I stole one of the sky fires.”
Daniel just chuckled.
Kathryn gasped. “Your arm.”
The note of dismay in her voice drew Patrick’s attention before he dropped his gaze to the hand he’d been holding the shield with. The skin on his wrist and forearm was blistered from the heat. “That’s nothing.” Patrick held on to Daniel as he kicked at his shield and flipped the thing over with the
toe of his boot. The center of the large disk was blackened and warped.
Kathryn bent over it, shocked.
Daniel raised an appreciative eyebrow. “His fire was nearly as hot as yours.”
Patrick nodded. “I will endeavor to get it hotter next time.” That second blast of flame had almost been too much for the metal. As it was, the leather padding on the back was going to need to be replaced. Even after being soaked in water, the dragon had cooked that protection clean off.
“What kind of metal stands up to dragon fire?” Kathryn asked, holding her hand out towards the hot surface.
Patrick looked down at the ruined shield. The telltale marks of its forging ran across the surface like water, making it easy to recognize, but this type of metal wasn’t seen very often in this area.
“Damascus steel, forged in dragon’s fire,” Patrick answered. Feeling a little more stable on his feet, he released Daniel to stand on his own.
Kathryn glared up at him. “You use dragons to forge your shields?” The accusation was heavy in her voice.
Patrick shrugged. “Not all dragons are bad.” He had been forging his own shields for a while now. When he’d first entered training, he had relied on others to craft his weapons, and one had failed during a particularly nasty session. Those burns made the one on his arm look like a scratch. Thankfully, he had healed well.
“What would have happened if he had tried to eat you instead?” Kathryn asked, standing away from the cooling metal.
A smile curled the edge of Patrick’s lips. He flipped the shield back over with his foot. “He would have had a really bad day. The edge is sharp as a sword.” Stepping on the edge of the bowl, he tried gathering it up again, but the metal had warped so it didn’t come up as far as it had before. Patrick lunged for it, trying to catch it, but he hadn’t fully recovered from the explosion. The quick motion made him stumble.
Kathryn grabbed him before he could fall onto the hot shield.
“Sorry.” Leaning into her shoulder, he swallowed hard. His head had started spinning, and it wasn’t doing his stomach any good.
