"My mother is old-fashioned in many ways. I find it relaxing to have someone to talk to when I'm flying."
"I thank you. What should I call you?"
She snorted. “You should know dragons don't willingly reveal their names."
"Sorry."
"Accepted. So, since we have a long trip ahead, tell me. Why are you so important to Pipo Fess. And how do you know my mother?"
What can I tell her? “I guess I helped Fess and Houff in the past. As for your mother, that you might want to discuss with her."
"Fair enough. Tell me how you helped the magician."
As we traveled, I described how I had initially met Fess and how she had saved my life. But that only whetted my mount's appetite for more, so I soon found myself describing everything involved with Kastikaan, the siege, even Madnizaroc's role in thwarting the Assassin's Guild.
When I finished, she appeared suitably impressed. “Now I know why."
"Know what?"
"Nothing. Hang on; I have to land and stretch my legs a bit."
Luckily she had warned me, otherwise I would have been unseated as we veered toward a clearing in the forest below. I alit and discovered I needed to walk a bit myself. She immediately reverted to human form and disappeared in the forest. When she returned, she was carrying a dead rabbit. “I suspect you're hungry by now."
"Yes."
I gathered wood while she expertly gutted the animal. Then she reverted to her true shape and lit the fire with one blast of her breath. “We'll leave once you're done. We should reach Houff by morning.” With that she curled up and went to sleep.
As I munched on the roasted rabbit, I tried to imagine why I was being taken to Houff. Surely the land couldn't be in danger again. And why would Fess summon me even if it were? I finally stopped wondering; my companion had no intention of telling me and the answers would come soon enough anyway.
I waited until early evening before rousing her. “I'm ready."
She yawned and stretched, then looked at the darkening sky. “We should have left earlier."
"You looked like you needed your rest."
"Unnecessary. Attach the bridle and get on."
So I did and once again we were airborne. Evening turned to night rapidly as we continued west and I began to shiver as the temperature dropped. The ground below disappeared into continuous shadow, broken infrequently by shards of light. Above, the stars sparkled fitfully behind the clouds. Only her flapping wings broke the silence.
Without light and shadows, there was no way I could judge the passing of time. I decided I dare not sleep as I might lose hold of the reins. We made several brief landings so I could relieve myself, but she was adamant we continue, so I forced myself to remain awake through the night and into the sunrise.
That made it all worthwhile. I've seen the dawn hundreds of times, even if most were reluctantly, but this was different. Aloft, the rising sun was stunning as its orange and yellow fingers streaked slowly across the horizon and chased away the darkness and the shrouded stars above. I felt as if we were flying directly into the glowing disc and I had to shield my eyes from the arriving light.
I must have gasped because she spoke. “What's wrong?"
"The sun. It's ... so beautiful."
"I suppose,” she said, the bored voice of experience. “We should be arriving soon."
I looked down. Now that I could once again see land, I thought I recognized a few landmarks. Of course it was probably just my imagination as it had been years since I had ridden with Madnizaroc. “Are we going to land somewhere before Houff?"
"No reason. Unless your puny bladder needs to be emptied again."
I sat back, properly chastised. “No, no."
"Good. I want to get this over with. Your bony knees are starting to dig into my back."
I had no response to that so I returned my attention to the ground and let her fly in peace. Now I was certain I recognized some features; a tall copse of trees in the center of a well-maintained field, a severe bend in the river, the ruins of an abandoned farm. Then, up in the distance, I saw the faint outlines of Houff itself.
I took a deep breath and my grip tightened around the reins. I had to fight the impulse to steer my mount in another direction ... not that she would have obeyed me. Once again I had to wonder why I was being brought back. So I was torn between dread and hope when we finally flew slowly over the city walls directly toward the town square.
We landed without incident. I didn't know what to expect, but surely not this. There was no one here to greet us, indeed, no one seemed to notice our arrival. Had dragon flights become commonplace? I had to wonder. I shook my head. I had lived—hid—in Oqin for many years, but surely not that much had changed. “Is there anyone here?” I asked the dragon once I was safely on the ground.
She was unconcerned. “Pipo Fess is expecting you. You remember the way?"
"Yes."
"Good.” Abruptly she turned into a human. “I'll accompany you anyway. I wouldn't want you to get lost now."
I shrugged and followed her down the street. The buildings seemed no different than when I had been here last. I saw an occasional face watching us pass by, but they showed simple curiosity, nothing more. I became lost in thought and didn't notice when we finally reached the manor.
"Just go in. Fess is waiting for you in the library,” she said.
"Like old times. You're not coming?"
"My obligations are at an end.” With that she turned and walked away.
I looked at the manor and took a deep breath. It couldn't be a trap, I tried to console myself. She's gone to too much trouble just for that. I opened the door and walked inside.
She was waiting for me as promised, but frowned when I entered. “Brendell?” she asked after studying me.
"The same."
She rose and approached, then put a finger to her lips while looking me over. “Callused hands, a working man's tan, hair gray and unkempt. Not like the man who arrived in Houff nearly ten years ago."
I shrugged. “We've both changed, your highness.” Although, I had to admit as I gazed at her, I had aged much more than she.
"We'll see.” She pointed to a jewelry box sitting on a nearby table. “Open that."
"I don't have my picks,” I said as I walked to it. I looked at it only a moment before turning and shaking my head. “A trick. If I pick it up, knives will spring from the side. Even if they're not poisoned, I will at the least be seriously maimed."
For the first time she smiled. “It is you!” Before I could react, she sprang forward and hugged me like a wayward son. “I apologize,” she said after finally releasing me. “Five times previous I've been visited by men who claimed to be you. You're the first to pass the test."
I shuddered when I glanced back at the box. “Wouldn't it have been simpler just to ask?"
"This is faster and more accurate.” She noticed my surprise and laughed. “Don't worry. It's designed so the top falls off is all. No one was hurt.” Then she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the couch. “Come. Sit. Tell me what you've been up to."
I blushed as I sat beside her. Fess had never been so informal. “I've been living in Oqin."
She handed me some wine before replying. “So we eventually learned. Why?"
I tried to quickly summarize my capture, release and eventual self-imposed exile in Oqin as rapidly as possible, but we still were on the third flask of wine before I finished.
Only then did she speak again. “I'm sorry so much has happened to you. Your plans and all. Not at all what you expected."
"Quite true.” I played with my glass before continuing. “So now you must tell me. How did you find me?"
She smiled. “It wasn't easy, believe me. You covered your tracks well. We've had a reward posted for you for, I don't know, five years now? It was Madnizaroc who finally tracked you down. Apparently dragons have a better sense of smell than even a bloodhound."
I shuddered. I had never see
n Madnizaroc. But if she had been high in the air, I would have never noticed. “What makes me so important?” Then I asked the question that I dreaded. “Why did you bring me here?"
She patted me on the cheek. “Because it's over, Brendell. You're finally safe. The Guilds will not pursue you and Houff can finally reward you for what you've given us."
"Really?” Safe from the Guilds? I found that impossible to believe. “Why?"
She frowned, then smiled. “You don't know, do you? I take it Oqin is quite rustic."
It was more than that. I had chosen it because it was isolated, poor, of no interest to anyone and I told her as much.
"So you don't know,” she said when I finished.
"Know what?"
She sat back and folded her arms. “The Guilds you remember are no more."
No more? “What do you mean? There is no Assassin's Guild? No Miner's or Captain's Guild?” No Thief's Guild?
"Well, no. They exist, but not as they used to. It would be better to say there is no longer cooperation among the Guilds. The Guild Council no longer exists. The Guilds are now totally separate and function independently."
No Guild Council. I sat in silence as I considered the ramifications. It was the Guild Council who had censured Ensten. The Guild Council which tried and eventually freed me. But if what Fess was telling me was true ... “And the Thief's Guild?"
"No more. Your former Guild was never a favorite, you know."
I knew that true enough, even if other Guilds, let alone other people, had eagerly sought our services. Only the standing the Thief's Guild enjoyed as an equal among the other Guilds had allowed it to survive and prosper. But with the Guild Council now in ashes, that stature would have vanished. “What about the Assassin's Guild?"
"Weakened. Scattered. Most of the members now are employed solely and independently by various realms."
I wiped my brow, trying to understand. “How did this happen?"
She smiled. “From what I've been told, you precipitated it, Brendell. The trial you told me about? The Guilds have always been in conflict; you drove the final wedge between the stronger and weaker Guilds and especially between the Assassin's and Thief's Guilds."
"Who told you that?"
"Two people actually. Our contact with the Captain's Guild for one. They've been very happy with the Long Eye, incidentally. And someone from the Miner's Guild.” She stopped and frowned. “He said something about the fire salt and thanked us for it. Do you know anything about that?"
"A bit,” I managed to say. Right now I was finding it hard to talk. I couldn't help myself; I shuddered as I was slowly realizing what I had actually accomplished, and I couldn't help but recall Professor Grimmire's admonitions. Once again your plans have gone awry, Brendell. “I never meant that."
She patted my hand. “It was for the best. Even most of the Guilds realize that now. It was inevitable, actually.” Then she grinned at me. “To some you are a hero, Brendell."
A hero? Then why don't I feel like one? “I don't know what to say.” Or what to do.
"Just say you'll stay here at Houff.” She cocked an eyebrow. “Unless you left someone at Oqin."
I laughed. “I left nothing at Oqin."
She patted my knee and rose. “It's settled then. You are now an honored citizen of Houff.” Then she grinned. “And as such you are my subject and bound to my commands."
I smiled shyly. “Of course, your highness. How may I do your bidding?"
"Go to the Dragon's Lair immediately. The mother of your child is awaiting you."
"Watch that one,” I told my serving wench and pointed to the man in the red jerkin seated alone. “He's been watching our customers closely for the last half hour. I suspect he'll try to lift a purse or two. Let me know when he's ready to leave."
She nodded and left to deliver more wine while I returned to my work behind the bar. As Fess had promised, Cordita and her family had returned to Houff, had even managed to repurchase their inn. Now she and I were the proprietors, her parents having died within six months of each other.
Our first meeting after so many years had been awkward at best. “So you've finally come back,” she said, not at all warmly, when I reintroduced myself.
"I never knew you were here,” I said truthfully.
She snapped her towel, which caught the attention of the few patrons in the inn. She didn't care. “You never even tried to find us!"
"Fess never told me where you were.” Again the truth, but I was quickly realizing the truth didn't matter. “I had some difficulties myself."
She glared at me. “I have work to do. You can tell me this evening if you care to come back."
I did, and after some more recriminations, she began to thaw. I spent that night in her bed and not long after moved permanently into the inn.
I cleaned a glass while I looked out at our customers. We were full this evening and my son was busy clearing tables. It had taken even longer for him to warm to me than for Cordita to welcome me home, but now he could at least tolerate me. The word “father” never left his lips, however.
My attention was diverted by my serving wench. “He's going,” she said, setting her tray on the bar. I turned and saw the man in red stand on unsteady feet and start to leave. He bumped into several patrons on the way but apologized vociferously and managed to avoid any further trouble with them.
But not with me. I was waiting for him at the door. “How are we this evening?” I asked pleasantly.
"Tired,” he slurred. “Have to get some rest."
I grabbed his arm and gently led him from the door. “I'm sure you do. But first, return the purses and jewels you lifted if you will."
He staggered, and it wasn't from any wine. “I don't have, I didn't steal anything."
"Really?” I abruptly reached inside his vest and found the secret pocket in seconds. I removed a purse and held it before his startled eyes. “This isn't yours. This is a woman's purse. As is the bracelet in your other pocket."
He stared at it, at me. Finally his shoulders sagged. “How did you know?"
"Brendell does not permit thievery in his establishment. Especially by a thief who could never ever qualify even as an apprentice."
I smiled as his face paled in recognition of my name. “You're, you're Brendell?"
With my free hand, I pulled my dagger from its sheath and showed him the sigil on the handle. “A sleeping dragon. That is my identity. That is me."
"I didn't know,” he said, now shaking.
"Now you do.” I quickly removed all the pelf he had gathered. “I'll return these. Now I suggest you leave Houff immediately. And for good."
He nodded and half staggered, half ran out the door. I chuckled as I set the items on the counter. My customers would come by and retrieve them soon enough.
But this was just one of the reasons why the Dragon's Lair was so popular. My customers never had to worry about their property when they were in an establishment run by a thief.
* * *
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Brendell: Rogue Thief Page 23
