Dragons of Asgard

by Logan Jacobs

  have knowledge that was unavailable to the public, but why?

  They hadn’t asked me to hatch the egg, only to retrieve it, but I

  couldn’t help but wonder if their next step would be to use me to experiment

  with the eggs they had. Would they ask me, or worse yet, force me to hatch it

  for them?

  I had more questions than answers, but one thing I was sure of was I

  need to be wary moving forward.

  The council was up to something, I could feel it.

  Chapter 14

  Even though the meeting with the Elders had been strange, one good

  thing had come from it.

  I pulled out the coin purse they’d given me and peered inside it. There

  must have been fifty gold pieces inside, and my eyes grew wide at the sight

  of them. Even with the money I’d made in my warband, I’d never seen so

  many gold pieces all at once in my whole life. I had a small stash of ten of

  them buried on my property for emergency purposes, but this was more than

  I ever would have conceived I’d get for a mission.

  “Ladies,” I said with a smile as I looked at Kas and Asta.

  “Yeah?” the blonde asked with a curious look.

  “You ready to go shopping?” I asked with a suggestive wiggle of my

  eyebrows.

  “Really?” Kas chuckled.

  “Yeah,” I said. “They gave it to us to get new armor and weapons, so

  we might as well use it.”

  “I’ve actually seen some armor that belonged to my mother in the back

  of my father’s shop,” Kas said, and she bit her lip. “I was going to see if he’d

  let me have it.”

  “I think that’s a great idea,” I told her with a smile. “Let’s head over to your father’s shop, then.”

  “No, that’s okay,” Kas said, and she held her hands up. “You two go

  shopping. I’d rather talk to him alone and update him about… things.”

  “Alright,” I said, and I reached out to stroke her cheek. “You’ll meet us

  afterwards?”

  “Of course,” the blonde said, and she kissed my hand, flashed me a

  grin, and then headed off toward the eastern side of the village.

  “It looks like it’s just you and me,” I told Asta, but then Blar bumped

  his head into my calf. “My apologies, the three of us.”

  “He’s so cute,” Asta giggled, and she reached down to stroke under

  Blar’s chin.

  “He’s alright,” I said, but then I looked down and flashed him a smile.

  “You gonna be good?”

  The little dragon nodded his head curtly and tried to make his way

  down the road.

  “Ah, ah, ah,” I tsked. “You still have to wear your leash, we’re going

  to the market, it’s a big place.”

  Blar pouted and narrowed his little eyes, but he allowed me to attach

  the leash to him with only a few huffs.

  “Is the market far away?” Asta asked.

  “Not very,” I told her with a smile. “Here.”

  I offered my elbow to the elf girl, and she blushed slightly and looked

  away, but she took it nonetheless.

  I led her down the cobbled stone path and toward the market, and as

  we drew closer, I could already smell the delicious scents of food from the

  vendors. It was just about afternoon by now, and my stomach started to

  rumble, so I figured we would stop and get some food before we began

  shopping.

  “Are you hungry?” I asked Asta.

  “Me?” she questioned, and she looked at me with yellow eyes full of

  surprise.

  “Of course,” I chuckled. “It won’t be my cooking, but I do have one

  vendor in the market that I’ll usually go to. He makes the best smoked turkey

  legs around.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t have many coins,” the elf girl said with a frown.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I assured her as I shook the bag of coins. “It’s

  on the council.”

  “You are most kind to buy me lunch,” Asta murmured, and she flashed

  me a small smile.

  “I’ve been cooking for you,” I laughed. “I don’t think this is too much different.”

  “I appreciate your cooking as well,” the white-haired woman said, and

  her pale cheeks flushed pink. “It’s just… nobody has ever really bought me

  anything, besides my parents, of course. When they died, I was all on my

  own.”

  “I’m surprised to hear that,” I remarked. “You’re a beautiful woman,

  I’m sure any man in Asgard would try to buy you lunch if you gave them the

  opportunity.”

  “No,” she snickered. “Elves aren’t very welcome in Asgard, are they?”

  “Well,” I sighed, “I suppose that is true, but I’m happy to buy you

  lunch.”

  “I am glad for that,” Asta replied with a delightful smile, and then it

  was my turn to blush and look away.

  “And you don’t have to worry about my people,” I said. “No one will

  harm you as long as you are with me.”

  “That is true,” she chuckled. “You have protected me well so far. It

  makes me--”

  Asta’s words were cut off because we’d finally reached the market. On

  one side of the street were vendors selling wares like jewelry, blankets,

  clothes, and weapons, and on the other side were the food vendors. Some sold ready-to-eat food while others sold fruits, vegetables, flour, butter, and

  the like. The market was abuzz with Aesir as they shopped and ate and

  laughed with friends, and Asta seemed consumed by the bright colors of the

  wares and the amount of people crammed into the small parameters of the

  street.

  “It’s so beautiful,” Asta breathed as her wide yellow eyes tried to take

  in everything. “And there are so many people.”

  “It is nice,” I agreed, and I pulled her along. “Come on, the best place

  to eat is down here.”

  Blar looked up at me as I tried to pull him along before he glanced at

  the vendor with the fresh pumpkin pies, then back at me. The little dragon

  smacked his lips and made his eyes so large one would think he was starving.

  “We’ll get some pie later,” I promised him with a laugh. “But for now,

  let’s go get lunch.”

  Blar’s ears perked up at the word ‘lunch,’ and then he was right beside

  me, ready to follow me wherever I led, as long as there was food, of course.

  “We don’t have markets like this on Alfheim,” Asta mused as we

  walked and she continued to look around.

  “Really?” I asked, and I was surprised such an advanced civilization

  wouldn’t have a market.

  “We have markets,” she clarified, “but they’re smaller than this, and

  the wares are not so spectacular. Here, I see so many colors and new things,

  it’s fascinating.”

  “I’m sure your markets are great,” I chuckled. “You’re probably just

  used to them, and this one is new so it’s exciting.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” the elf girl agreed with a laugh. “You might

  like our markets.”

  “I’m sure I would,” I said, but we’d reached the turkey leg vendor, so I

  released Asta’s arm and handed her Blar’s leash before I walked up to the

  bench and greeted the guy. “Hey, Torni.”

  “Rath!” the large man boomed, and he flashed me a smile
that showed

  off his missing teeth. “Good to see you, it’s been a while since you’ve been

  by.”

  I’d come to Torni’s to get turkey legs so often over the past few years

  we’d grown to like each other somewhat. He was one of the only people in

  town who didn’t ostracize me because of my lineage. It didn’t matter to him,

  he was just happy to have someone to talk to about cooking. He was a big

  guy with long brown hair that was always pulled back into a low ponytail.

  His white tank top tunic was always smeared with blood and grease, and he

  always smelled like a mix of body odor and smoked meat, but I didn’t mind too much since the food was so good. I could make plenty of things at home,

  but I hadn’t mastered Torni’s turkey legs yet.

  “I’ve been a bit busy,” I told him with a smile.

  “I see that,” he said, and when he peered around me to get a view of

  Asta, he gasped. “A Ljoslfar?”

  “She’s with me,” I explained.

  “And for that she is fortunate,” he sighed as he glanced around the

  market.

  My eyes followed his, and sure enough, I saw many market goers cast

  the beautiful elf-woman a sideways glare. Asgard had never been at war with

  Alfheim, but they weren’t ever on the best of terms, either.

  “This won’t be a problem?” I asked Torni.

  “She looks nice.” He cleared his throat. “And it’s obvious you are a

  banner warrior. I, of course, have no problem with anyone you bring to my

  fine establishment, but others will stay away for fear of your axe and your

  malice.”

  “As they should,” I muttered.

  “So, she’s with you, or is she yours?” he asked as he scratched at his

  cheek. “It might be easier one way or the other… for her. If you understand.”

  “She is mine, then,” I said as I wrapped my arm around Asta.

  She tensed for a moment when I pulled her close, but then the slender

  elf relaxed against my chest and let out a long sigh of relief.

  “Yes,” he chuckled. “That will be easier.”

  “My woman is hungry,” I declared loud enough for anyone walking

  near to hear. “I’ll take three legs, please. And three corn on the cobs to go

  with.”

  “Sounds good,” Torni agreed with a wide grin. He wasn’t one to ask

  questions or pry, and I knew he had a wife and two kids at home. He was an

  honest man, so the most he’d do was comment about Asta. He wasn’t one of

  the drunks in town who would cause trouble like the men had in the

  countryside with Kas.

  Torni turned his back to me, and then a minute later he set three legs

  and three pieces of corn on the table between us.

  “Six copper,” he said.

  “Keep the change,” I told him, and I handed him ten copper pieces. I’d

  brought my cash with me today in case things had gone south with the

  council, but since they hadn’t, I figured this was a good use for them.

  “Thanks,” Torni said, and he flashed me a grin before he glanced at

  Asta. “Things must be lookin’ up for you, eh?”

  “Somewhat,” I laughed. I’d never tipped Torni before, always just paid for my food and spent some time chatting with him, but I felt generous, and

  the man had always been nice to me, so I wanted to return the favor now that

  I could.

  “See you soon, buddy,” the large man called out as we walked away.

  “That smells delicious,” Asta breathed, and her eyes went directly to

  the food in my arms.

  “Let’s take a seat,” I said with a gesture at a table at the end of the

  booths. There were a few other families over there eating, but there was an

  empty table away from their disproving glares. So, Asta walked over and sat

  down, and Blar crawled up to the top and panted as he waited for his food.

  “Thank you for buying me food,” Asta said as I unwrapped the turkey

  legs and corn.

  “Of course,” I told her with a smile, but then Blar let out a little whine,

  so I rolled my eyes and gave him the first of the unwrapped goods. “Here,

  now hush.”

  The little dragon tore off a chunk of the meat before he looked up at

  me with a wide smile on his small reptilian face.

  “I think he eats more than I do,” Asta laughed.

  “He would definitely try,” I joked and handed her food.

  I picked up my own leg and bit into it, and the juices ran down my chin as I sighed and chewed. Then I looked to Asta and saw her struggle to pick

  up the leg.

  “Just like this,” I instructed, and I held mine up to show her. “You just

  eat it with your hands.”

  “This seems quite messy,” she said with a frown.

  “We’re getting new clothes after this anyways.” I shrugged.

  The white-haired elf picked up the turkey leg and hesitantly took a

  bite, but the second the meat hit her tongue, her eyes lit up, and a smile

  spread across her face.

  “It’s so good,” she mumbled through a mouthful of meat.

  “Torni does a good job,” I laughed.

  “I see why this place is your favorite,” Asta said, and she took another

  bite.

  I laughed and continued to eat my turkey, and by the time I was

  finished with my leg and corn, Blar had eaten half of each of his and laid on

  his back on the table. Asta was almost done with her food, though, and I was

  surprised to see she was going to finish it all.

  “So,” Asta said a minute later when she’d finished her food.

  “Yes?” I asked. “Are you ready to go shopping?”

  “No, I have a question,” the white-haired elf replied, and she cocked her head to the side slightly.

  “What is it?” I wondered.

  “Kas bonded herself to you?”

  “Oh,” I muttered, and I thought for a moment about how to explain it.

  “She wanted to access my power. She said it was the best way to do it so she

  wouldn’t have to use spell components anymore.”

  “She did it willingly?” the elf asked, and her white eyebrows pulled

  together as she considered what I said.

  “Yeah.” I nodded. “It makes Kas more powerful since she gets her

  magic from dragons, and I can control them.”

  “And what do you get out of this bond?” Asta questioned.

  “I get to be bonded to a beautiful woman,” I chuckled. “She chose me

  to bond with, so it’s my job to provide for her and keep her safe from danger.

  But I also have some level of control over her.”

  “Control?” the elf girl echoed.

  “I can’t command her to do just anything,” I explained. “But I can

  force her to stay out of harm’s way or something like that. I promised her I’d

  never use my control over her to make her do anything she didn’t want to.”

  “You are honorable for that,” Asta commented, and her eyes

  scrutinized my face.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled, since I was slightly uncomfortable with the

  topic.

  “The other night… ” she started to say.

  “Yeah.” I cleared my throat. “I didn’t really want to wake you up, but-

  -”

  “Was it better because of the bond?” The snow-haired beauty raised an

  eyebrow. “She came undone and then fainted from the pleasure you gave

  her
.”

  “Uhhh, yeahhhh.” I coughed. “The bond allows her to feel what I feel.”

  “So, she felt your pleasure as you made love to her while she felt her

  own pleasure?” Asta breathed, and her pale skin seemed to flush just a touch.

  “Yeah,” I muttered and averted my eyes. “Sooo… uhhh… you ready to

  go?”

  “One more question,” the elf girl said, and she looked down slightly as

  her blush turned a deeper red. “Would you ever consider bonding with

  someone else?”

  “Oh.” I blinked in surprise. “I’m not sure. But I suppose if I found the

  right person and Kas was okay with it, then it could work.”

  “I see,” Asta murmured, and she looked up at me with bright yellow

  eyes.

  “Blar,” I called out to move on from the conversation, and I reached

  out to poke the sleeping dragon. “It’s time to go.”

  Blar yawned, stretched out, then slowly flipped over and licked his

  lips. I rolled my eyes and wrapped up the rest of his food, then I stood up and

  offered Asta my arm again. The elf girl took it, and we strolled through the

  market in silence as I led her to the clothing section.

  Tunics hung in the vendors’ shops, and I watched as her eyes raked

  over all the different colors and styles until they finally settled on a pale

  yellow one in the corner. It was knee length, with slits up the sides and long

  sleeves. There was white embroidery around the edges of it, and the color

  matched her eyes perfectly.

  “You like that one?” I pointed to the garment.

  “I do,” she said with a nod, then she turned to frown at me. “But I’m

  sure it’s much too expensive.”

  “We have plenty to spend,” I assured her with a smile. I’d already seen

  the price, it was twenty-five silver pieces, or one quarter of a gold piece.

  Clothing would be the least of our expenses, it would be the armor and

  weapons that would cost the most, so twenty-five silver pieces seemed

  reasonable for the tunic, but I also knew how to haggle some.

  “I may have it?” Asta asked, and she looked over at me with hopeful

  eyes.

  “Take Blar over there,” I instructed, and I sent her a few feet away

  before I called the woman behind the counter over to me. She had long black

  hair and a lazy eye that looked constantly to the right. “I’ll give you fifteen

  for the yellow tunic.”