Dragon Lord

by Tyler Wild

  "No. Nothing makes me uncomfortable." It was a lie.

  Of course there were things that made me uncomfortable. The unknown more than anything else. The unknown was always fertile ground for the imagination.

  "Have no fear,” she said with a wry smile. “I will keep us safe."

  I chuckled again.

  "What? You think me incapable?"

  "Not at all. On the contrary. I think you are quite capable. But you have no idea what you are up against.”

  18

  Kron

  “We have a treaty. Unlike our treaty with man, this one has been honored,” Cassandra said.

  I sneered at her.

  “Treaty with whom?”

  “The wolves.”

  A quizzical look twisted on my face.

  “They are shifters that have inhabited the Lorewood long before Elves. Though I hear they have a taste for man-flesh.” She had a diabolical glint in her eyes, and I wasn’t sure if she was just teasing me for the hell of it.

  It was two days' journey through the Lorewood. We continued marching throughout the night and the following day. I didn’t see a trace of the wolves, and that was fine by me.

  By nightfall, we were ready to take a break. I gathered wood for the fire, and Cassandra’s skill with a bow provided dinner. We roasted rabbit over the flame, and the Elven spice added a delectable flavor to the meat.

  The meat was tender and juicy. The fire popped and crackled as we devoured our meal. The amber glow illuminated our faces and sparkled Cassandra’s blue eyes.

  I couldn't help but take in her beauty in this moment of silence.

  She attacked the rabbit with ravenous desire, ripping flesh from the bone with her teeth. It was refreshing to see a princess that was equally comfortable in the wilderness as she was in the Great Hall. There wasn't anything dainty or prissy about her.

  "You are unlike any princess I've ever met," I said.

  She flashed me a curious look. "How so?"

  "You seem comfortable in any situation."

  "This is not a situation. This is life. Elves are taught to live in harmony with nature. The forest provides everything we need. The forest is life." She took another bite. “I did not grow up sheltered away from the elements in some opulent palace. My father wanted me to be capable and independent."

  “You are certainly that.” I hesitated bringing up the subject, but I was curious. “What does your boyfriend think about you embarking on this quest with a strange man?"

  She eyed me curiously. "Why do you ask?"

  "Just making conversation. It would seem we are going to spend a considerable amount of time together. Perhaps we should get to know one another?”

  Her suspicious eyes gazed at me for a moment. “I’m only escorting you to Locsava. That's it. The details of my life are none of your concern."

  I raised my hands, innocently. "It was a harmless question."

  "Nothing about you is harmless."

  A sly grin tugged at my lips.

  She rolled her eyes.

  Finished with her meal, she stood up and dug into her bottomless pouch. Her delicate hands pulled out a large cloth.

  It was an Elven hammock.

  Each corner had a rope attached, and she tied the cloth between four trees, suspending it above the ground. The Elven rope tightened by itself and drew the cloth taught. It created a comfortable bed above the ground.

  Cassandra pulled a blanket from her bag and climbed onto the hammock and relaxed.

  "That looks comfortable," I said, my voice thick with envy.

  "It is."

  “Do you have another one?"

  "I'm sorry, I didn't think to pack another one."

  I frowned. "So, I guess I'm just supposed to sleep on the ground?"

  "You're not sleeping with me," she said, pointedly.

  "Trust me, I don't want to sleep with you."

  She huffed and her face crinkled up. "Right,” she muttered, incredulous.

  "Please. Don't flatter yourself. You are totally not my type."

  "Well, that's a relief," she said, not believing a word of it.

  She snuggled up in the hammock and tried to make herself look particularly cozy, just to rub it in. A warm smile pulled at her lips. She looked like a little kitten curled up on someone's lap.

  I cleared an area by the fire, removing all the pebbles and twigs. Sleeping on the bare ground in the forest wasn't anything new to me. I could sleep anywhere. But a pebble in the wrong place could make things uncomfortable. Rolling over in the middle of the night on a sharp rock wasn't my idea of a good night’s sleep.

  I settled in, making the most out of my bed of dirt and grass. I tossed and turned for a few moments, trying to get comfortable. My grunts and groans were obnoxious, and I guess she finally took pity on me. "You can sleep on the opposite side. But keep your distance.”

  She tapped the dagger affixed to her belt, letting me know what my fate would be if I decided to get too frisky.

  I peeled myself off the ground and brushed the dirt away. As I climbed into the hammock I asked, “What would your boyfriend think about this?"

  Her eyes narrowed. "I don't have a boyfriend."

  I arched a curious eyebrow. "Really? Why not?"

  "That's none of your business."

  "I mean, you are not totally unattractive. And you are a princess. I would think you would have suitors lining up?"

  Her jaw dropped, insulted. "I have plenty of options, I'll have you know. But none of them are appealing to me. I'm not going to give myself to just anyone."

  "Nor should you."

  “A worthy man will present himself when the time is right.”

  She kept her back to me, and I kept my back to her. After an awkward moment of silence, I said “Well, good night."

  "Good night," she replied in a guarded tone.

  Her fresh scent filled my nostrils, and my thoughts drifted to being the right man. Or, at least, Mr. Right Now. I managed to behave myself and finally drifted toward sleep amid the chirping crickets. Just as I was about to fade away, a twig snapped in the darkness. It was a weighty crunch under a heavy foot.

  Something was out there.

  19

  Kron

  I grabbed the hilt of my sword, ready to defend from an attack. But Cassandra's hand gripped my forearm, begging me not to unsheathe the demon blade.

  It was probably a good idea.

  We were surrounded by eight wolf-shifters that had fully transformed.

  They stood 7 feet tall and walked on two legs. Their pearly teeth glistened with saliva as they snarled and growled—a low rumble booming from their chests.

  Covered in fur with razor-sharp claws, their fine pelts revealed their muscular form. Their red eyes glimmered with the remnants of the firelight.

  "Friends of yours?" I asked with a healthy dose of sarcasm.

  "Something like that," Cassandra said, her eyes wide with concern.

  The wolves closed in. They looked ready to pounce.

  "We are just passing through,” Cassandra assured.

  The pack leader pointed a sharp claw toward me, clearly unhappy about my presence.

  “He’s with me,” Cassandra said.

  "Man is not allowed in the forest," the wolf growled.

  Cassandra fumbled for words. "These are special circumstances." She continued to explain the situation to them.

  “All the troubles this forest has seen has been brought by man.” The wolf's hot breath fogged the air.

  "There will be no forest if he does not succeed in his quest,” Cassandra protested.

  The pack leader contemplated the situation for a moment, then reluctantly said, ”Stay on the path. Leave the forest how you found it."

  I nodded in agreement.

  The wolves slowly backed away and disappeared into the inky blackness.

  My heart had been pounding in my chest and finally began to settle. With the amount of adrenaline that had shot through my vein
s, there was no way I was getting back to sleep anytime soon. "Maybe we should keep moving?"

  "The wolves will no longer be a problem as long as we don't create one. They keep to their word." A smirk curled on her luscious lips. “You’re not afraid, are you?"

  I scowled at her playfully.

  She turned away and curled up with the covers again. I lay on my back, staring up at the canopy of leaves, catching glimpses of flickering stars in the heavens. Eventually, I settled my mind again and dozed off. When I awoke at the first rays of morning, I found myself inadvertently spooning Cassandra.

  My arm was wrapped around her, and my morning hardness pressed firmly against her sublime ass. She woke up as I stirred.

  Anger twisted on her face.

  She spun around and pushed me away. Her blade was at my throat in an instant.

  I backed off, raising my hands innocently. "It was an accident."

  Her eyes narrowed at me. "Yeah, well, have another accident and you're not going to like what I cut off."

  I swallowed hard. “Ease up. No harm, no foul.”

  She shot me a look and climbed out of the hammock.

  We packed our gear, snuffed out the fire, and continued heading through the forest. By the afternoon, we had reached the north edge. The day was uneventful, and I had neither seen, nor heard, any trace of the dragon.

  We left the Lorewood behind. From here to Locsava was filled with rolling hills, verdant grass, and a sparse scattering of trees. The open landscape provided little cover, and the journey made me uncomfortable. A slight unease twisted in my stomach as we crossed the open fields. We would be an easy target to spot from above if the dragon soared in our direction.

  The breeze rippled the tall grass like ocean waves. The landscape was calm and serene. We encountered the occasional farmer tending to his field. Small communities of thatched huts congregated close to rivers and small ponds. This was a side of the world that I rarely saw. I couldn’t remember the last time I was north of the Lorewood.

  Without trespassing across Elven lands, one had to travel around the woods which spanned hundreds of miles. It was an arduous journey and not without peril.

  As the day wore on, the sun dropped in the sky—its orange glow casting long shadows. I squinted as its magnificent rays filled my vision.

  When it vanished over the horizon, we made camp in a small cluster of trees near a stream. This time I made sure to stay on my side of the hammock, though I'll admit I was entertaining ideas of what it might be like to sample the princess’s delights.

  Having spent two days with Cassandra, she was starting to grow on me. She was strong, confident, capable, and damn good looking. I slept a little better, knowing we weren’t likely to be surrounded by wolf-shifters in the middle of the night, but who knew what else lurked in these open fields?

  My hand was never far from my sword, and my mind never fully settled. I stayed in that semiconscious sleep state, listening for the slightest sound.

  At daybreak, we began our journey again. It was almost a full day's trek to Locsava from here. By the time we arrived on the outskirts of the city, the sun was hanging low. With my feet sore, and my legs feeling like rubber, I wanted to sit down, have a nice meal, drink some ale, and sleep in a real bed. I was certain we could find a nice inn.

  The princess had plenty enough cash to cover the accommodations. I didn't know how much she had in that bottomless bag of hers, but I suspected it was more than enough.

  The sight of the city was a welcome relief after several days exposed to the elements. Though, I knew frontier towns could be fraught with perils of their own.

  Locsava was typical of many border towns. People came from all over the region to trade goods and services. An outer wall protected the city. Guards stood at the main gate, and two towers bookmarked either end.

  The commotion of the city spilled over the wall. It was alive and brimming with activity.

  The guards stopped us at the gate. "What is your business in Locsava?”

  It was a pointless question. Anything I said could have been a lie. And someone intending to start trouble certainly wasn't going to announce it upon an entrance exam. But I played along and answered it. "We seek food and shelter and need supplies for our journey."

  "Where are you from?" the guard asked.

  "We are traveling from the Lorewood."

  “If you pay the tribute, you may enter.”

  "Tribute?"

  "An entrance tax. The roads aren't free."

  "Certainly," I said.

  Cassandra dug into her pouch and handed the man a small gold coin.

  His eyes widened, surprised by the amount.

  “We’ll be expecting change," I said as he slipped it into his pocket.

  He stammered for a moment, then dug into his pouch. "Of course."

  He handed back a few silver pieces. He signaled to the tower guard, and the gates opened.

  We strolled inside amid the chaotic hustle and bustle of the streets. People trotted about in all directions. Street vendors sold goods on the sidewalks. The buildings housed clothiers, restaurants, pubs, inns, and various merchants. As we strolled down the street, I saw a blacksmith, an armory, a dressmaker, an artist, and a glass blower.

  I couldn’t help but notice a brutish man harassing a store owner. It didn’t take long for me to figure out what was going on. I’d seen plenty of thugs like this, and they were prevalent in frontier towns.

  “But our sales have slumped,” the shopkeeper said. She was a simple woman in her late 30s. Brown hair and dark eyes.

  “Look around,” the brute said. “The city is booming. There’s more traffic in this town than ever. Yet you claim your sales are down?”

  “It’s the truth.”

  “This is unacceptable. I expect at least as much as you paid last month.”

  “I don’t have it.”

  “I provide a remarkable environment for you to thrive. I keep the streets clean. I provide protection. You can’t expect a free ride.”

  “Our deal was 25%. I gave you 25%.”

  The brute glanced around the store looking for something to satisfy him. His eyes landed on the shopkeeper’s daughter. She was pretty, but not nearly old enough for the look in his eye. “Have you given anymore consideration to my offer?”

  His eyes stayed on the young girl.

  A scowl twisted on the shopkeeper’s face. “Absolutely not!”

  “She would command a nice price on the market. More than enough to cover the cost of your tribute for a few years.”

  The veins bulged in the shopkeeper’s neck. Her cheeks flushed red. I’m sure she would have killed the man if she thought she could get away with it.

  I couldn’t sit back and watch any longer. The douche-canoe made my skin crawl. I hated this type of abuse of power.

  “Give me a gold piece,” I muttered to Cassandra.

  She dug into her pouch and handed a sparkling coin to me. I marched into the store and confronted the creep. “Is there a problem here?”

  The brute flashed me a sideways glance. He looked me up and down with disgust. I got the impression that no one ever stood up to this man. I didn’t know who he was, or what kind of muscle he had behind him, but he was obviously powerful. People feared him. “It’s none of your business. I suggest you turn around and leave if you know what’s best for you.”

  My eyes blazed into him. “How much does she owe you?”

  “More than you can afford,” he said in a dismissive tone.

  “How much?”

  “50 silver pieces.”

  I handed him the gold coin. “This should be enough.”

  He regarded the coin with surprise. The greed in him wasn’t about to turn it down. He slipped it into his pocket. A sleazy smile curled on his lips. “Until next month.”

  He strolled toward the exit and called back over his shoulder from the doorway. “You’d be wise to consider my offer.”

  He spilled onto the sidewal
k and vanished in the sea of people.

  The shopkeeper’s appreciative eyes gazed at me with a mix of gratitude and astonishment. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Who was that guy?”

  “Mr. Fozka. He pretty much runs Locsava.”

  “Does he extort money from everyone?”

  She nodded. “It wasn’t always that way. Locsava was a free town when we first arrived. Since Fozka has taken over, he has demanded more and more tribute, while providing less and less. He owns just about everything.”

  “How did he come into power?”

  “He had wealth and plenty of loyal mercenaries at his service. He slowly bought up property. Those who didn’t want to sell were strong-armed.”

  My face tightened at the injustice.

  “I don’t have any money to repay you, but you can take whatever you like from the store.”

  “It won’t be necessary,” I said.

  “You must let me repay you,” the shopkeeper pleaded.

  “Save it for a time when I am in need.” I smiled, and she smiled back.

  “I don’t think a man like you would ever be in need.”

  I chuckled. “You might be surprised.

  As I turned for the door, the shopkeeper said, “Be careful. Fozka is a dangerous man. And I suspect you’ve gotten on his bad side.”

  I returned to Cassandra who seemed both pleased and disturbed by my intervention. “You like to bite off more than you can chew, don’t you?”

  “What makes you say that?” I asked, my voice thick with sarcasm.

  She rolled her eyes.

  "I don't know about you, but I could use some ale.”

  Cassandra agreed.

  We stepped into a pub and weaved through the sea of patrons to the bar. I leaned against the solid oak counter and commanded the bartender’s attention. He had curly gray hair, and a scruffy gray beard. His hairy forearms cleaned the bar with a rag, then he waddled in my direction. “What’ll it be?”

  I held up two fingers, ordering two pints of ale. A moment later, he slid two full mugs across the counter. Cassandra paid the man with silver pieces.

  “Do you serve food?” I asked.

  "Find a seat, and I’ll send a waitress over.”