Ice Dragon: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Dragon Misfits Book 1)

by D. K. Holmberg

  In fact, it seemed to Jason that Therin had helped rescue him from the Dragon Souls.

  All of that couldn’t have been an act, could it? What if he couldn’t trust Henry? What if this man was with the Dragon Souls?

  Then again, that didn’t seem to fit, either. If he was with them, why would he have been working to help them hide? Why would he have revealed the dragon shard hidden within what Jason had believed was a dragon pearl?

  There had to be another explanation, though he had no idea what that would be.

  The door opened with a creak and he cocked an eye as Henry crept inside.

  “As far as I can tell, they’re gone. More likely than not, they will be active again. If they think you’re here, and if they think you have something of value to them, they will continue to pursue.” Henry took a seat, kicking his legs out in front of him, crossing his arms over his chest, and studied Jason. “There has to be some reason Therin kept you alive. What else can you tell me?”

  He shivered at the bluntness of the comment. “I don’t know anything. I first encountered him in the village. We had a festival.”

  “Your Freedom Festival.”

  Jason nodded quickly. “That’s right. You know about it?”

  Henry grunted. “Stupid mountain tradition. They think dragons want to be in the cold. They can’t tolerate it for long. Why else do you think you haven’t seen dragons?”

  Jason ignored the comment, and chose not to mention what had happened to his father. “That’s where I first met him. We get strangers in the village fairly often during the festival.”

  Henry leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “How often do you get strangers for your festival?”

  Jason shrugged. “There are plenty of small villages that dot the mountaintop, especially along the back slope. Even all the way to Varmin. They come together for the festival.”

  “How many of those villages have people you don’t know?”

  “Most have a hundred or more people. There are quite a few of the residents within those villages I don’t know. Most of the time they are people I’ve seen before, but—”

  “And you’d never seen Therin before.”

  “Never.”

  Henry clenched his jaw, leaning back. He looked up toward the ceiling, scratching at his chin. “Why there?” he whispered.

  “What is it?” Jason asked.

  “Therin has a particular interest.”

  “Free dragons,” Jason said.

  Henry shot him a look, nodding. “Yes. How was it that you know that?”

  “He told me.”

  “He told you?”

  Jason nodded. “He said that was why he was out. It’s why he left the Dragon Souls. He said he was pursuing free dragons.”

  The other man laughed, almost a bitter sound. “Oh, he’s pursuing free dragons all right, but he has not departed the Dragon Souls. Why would he when he can hunt them so much more effectively from within the Dragon Souls?”

  “Why would he have told me that?”

  “Therin will tell you anything in order to convince you of his purity.” The other man took a deep breath. “I know him far better than I would like. And last time I encountered Therin, he was chasing another dragon.”

  William sat up and leaned forward. “You’ve seen a dragon?”

  “You can’t really think they are nothing more than myth,” Henry snorted.

  “They’re stories,” William said.

  Henry grunted. “You’d be surprised.”

  “There aren’t any free dragons in my village.”

  “No. It’s too cold for them there.”

  “Besides, if he’s after dragons, and if he kept me alive as you say, how are they related?”

  Henry watched him a moment before shaking his head. “Maybe you will be useful.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Henry reached into his pocket and pulled out something that he rested on his lap. As he did, he looked up at Jason, watching him. “All it means is that you might be useful. I wasn’t sure if you were lucky or smart. Maybe you’re smarter than I’m giving you credit for.”

  “What does he mean?” William asked.

  Jason sat stiffly in the wooden chair, trying to think through what Henry might be implying. Not only was Therin after dragons—and free dragons at that—but there was something else he was seeking. There had to be something more.

  Why would Therin have been in the village?

  The festival.

  What had Therin said?

  The cannon would attract dragons.

  That couldn’t be coincidental, could it?

  And if the other man was after free dragons, and he believed the festival would somehow draw them, that would explain why he had come.

  But Jason didn’t think the other man had seen a dragon.

  “Why did he want to keep me alive?”

  “I suspect he kept you alive because he believed you had access to something he wanted,” Henry said.

  “The only thing he wanted was dragons,” Jason said.

  “Exactly.”

  “But I didn’t see a dragon.”

  “Didn’t you?”

  He shook his head. He didn’t think that he had, and yet, there had been the strangeness he’d experienced on the mountaintop. Not only was there the entire herd of deer—something that shouldn’t have existed that high up on the mountaintop—but there were the strange movements he’d seen.

  “Dragon Souls can hunt dragons quite effectively, but some locations would be harder for them.”

  “You’re saying he couldn’t hunt them in the mountains?”

  “I suspect they thought they could, but there’s a reason dragons have retreated beyond where the Dragon Souls can reach. I wouldn’t have expected they’d flee to the mountains like that, but it’s possible they did.”

  “What do you mean that they retreated?” William asked.

  “You really are a fool,” Henry said.

  “Maybe, but this fool lives in this town, and this fool is curious. Why don’t you tell me?”

  Henry sighed and grabbed the items on his lap, setting them back in his pocket. “Dragons have been controlled by Dragon Souls for quite a long time.”

  “Therin made it sound like they were trained.”

  “It’s more than just training, though that’s what the Dragon Souls would have others believe. It’s a matter of control. Coercion. The dragons are aware of what’s been done to them and want nothing to do with it.”

  “Why would the dragons care?” William asked.

  “Would you care if you were forced to do something you didn’t want?” Henry asked.

  “Yes, but I’m not an animal.”

  “That’s debatable. Regardless, dragons are incredibly intelligent. They understand what’s being done to them. They do everything in their power to avoid it.”

  “Therin told me some of that, but why would he?”

  “It’s easier to believe a lie if you sprinkle it with some truth.”

  “Is that what you’re doing?” William asked.

  Henry shot him a hard look.

  William grinned. “Well, is it? Look, I’ve seen you around town, and I know you’re known to trade here, but I don’t know anything about you. I don’t think Jason knows anything about you either. What are you doing here? Why do you even care?”

  “I care about freeing the dragons,” Henry said.

  “That’s what Therin said,” Jason said.

  “I’m sure he did. Have you wondered why he’s dressed similar to me?”

  Jason shared a look with William before nodding. “I did.”

  “He thinks it makes him more believable. Underneath his furs, you’ll find his dragonskin clothing, the same as the Dragon Souls.”

  “What’s dragonskin clothing?”

  “It absorbs heat. It allows the wearer to stay incredibly warm even in the coldest of temperatures,” Henry said.

 
William looked over at Jason. “Why don’t you wear that?”

  “It’s also incredibly expensive,” Jason said. “My family… well, we don’t have much.”

  “There are other ways of staying warm that don’t involve skinning a dragon,” Henry said.

  “Like my furs?” Jason pointed to his jacket. “Or yours? I’ve worn a dragonskin jacket before,” Jason said. He spoke softly, thinking back to his father and everything that had happened to him. “It wasn’t mine or my family’s, and it was because of my father’s role in the village. But there really is nothing like it.”

  “No,” Henry said. “There really is nothing like it. Not only is it warmer, but it’s armored as well.”

  “Armored?” William asked.

  “Don’t be so dense,” Henry said. He slapped his arm. “It can take a blow. It’s why the Dragon Souls are effective as fighters. All of them are equipped with dragonskin clothing.”

  “How do you peel it off a dragon in the first place, then?”

  “It’s a difficult process,” Henry said, his voice going softer.

  He was silent for a moment. “Why are you here?” Jason asked.

  “Do I need to have a reason?”

  “You need to have more reason than what you’ve said.”

  “I’m here to prevent the Dragon Souls from finding dragons in this part of the world. To protect the dragons. To prevent the kingdom from gaining additional strength. And to serve my vows.”

  “What vows are those?”

  Henry shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “It does.”

  “No. It doesn’t matter.”

  “Are there others like you?” William asked.

  Henry glanced toward the door. Heat began to build from him again, and he jumped to his feet.

  “It’s time to go. The Dragon Souls started moving again.”

  “You can tell just like that?” William asked.

  “I can tell,” Henry said.

  Jason shared a look with William, and they crowded behind Henry at the door. He wasn’t sure whether he even wanted to go with the other man, but what choice did he have at this point? He no longer knew who to trust, and if Therin was part of these Dragon Souls, it made sense why the other man would have abandoned him on the mountainside, and he might even have been involved in the chase down the mountain.

  “Where are they?” he whispered.

  “Outside. Be ready,” he said.

  Henry pulled open the door and reached into his pocket, holding on to something. Probably a dragon pearl.

  “How do you know he’s not one of them?” William asked.

  “I don’t,” Jason said.

  “If he has their magic, and if he has the same knowledge, what’s to say that he’s not the same?”

  Use your instinct when you hunt. Learn to trust it and it will never lead you astray.

  He hadn’t done that with Therin, though he should. He’d been intrigued by the fire. The dragon pearl. Everything about the man.

  What about with Henry?

  His instinct told him to trust him, but what if William were right?

  That was the same troubling thought Jason had. If it was all tied together, and if he couldn’t rely upon Henry, then they might have to split off. He didn’t like the idea, but he also didn’t like growing reliant upon Henry keeping them safe.

  “Is there any place we could go?” he whispered to William.

  “I might have a place,” he said.

  Henry stepped out into the street and heat built, radiating away from him.

  Jason stayed where he was, waiting for a moment.

  Henry motioned for them to follow, and he hesitated. If he went with Henry now, he might be able to find out more about what was taking place, but if he stayed with him, then he was depending upon Henry being trustworthy.

  Jason simply wasn’t sure whether he could.

  He glanced over at William, who nodded.

  As soon as they were out in the street, William took off running in the opposite direction as Henry.

  Jason followed, trailing after the other man as quickly as he could. He glanced over his shoulder, looking back to see whether Henry was watching, and didn’t see anything.

  Heat built and flames raced along the street.

  To his dragon sight, he noticed the flames as streaks of orange and red, far more powerful than anything he’d encountered. They were bright against the night, glowing wildly. He hurried after William, turning away and racing through the streets.

  A shout echoed from somewhere behind him and his heart hammered, forcing him to move faster and faster.

  They weaved back and forth, heading to the streets, once again running. This time, Jason couldn’t help but feel as if his escape was far more dangerous than it had been before. This time, they didn’t have anyone with them who had any power over the dragon pearl.

  That made Jason more nervous than he’d been.

  William guided them to a stop near the center of town. It looked to be another rundown tavern and Jason shook his head, amused at the fact that William had so many options for this type of place. It was quieter than the last; no sounds of music or shouting or singing were coming from inside. He couldn’t help but worry that going into an establishment like this would end with them trapped, and he worried about getting stuck in a situation where they wouldn’t have any way of escaping. Especially as it involved those who had power over dragon pearls and control over fire, the kind of thing Jason didn’t fully understand.

  “Are you sure this is safe?”

  “It’s safe enough,” William said.

  “Henry thought the last place was safe.”

  “I don’t know that we can trust Old Henry. Besides, he brought us to some little shack on the edge of town. This spot is filled with people that I know.”

  “People like Gary?”

  “Come on,” William said.

  “I’m just saying…”

  “I know what you’re saying, and I’m sorry about Gary. I thought you might be able to help me while I was going to be able to help you. Anyway, I made a mistake. It’s not going to happen again.”

  “If you say so. What is this place?”

  “It’s another tavern. This one is little different, and it’s one I haven’t been kicked out of before.” He grinned at Jason. “Yet.”

  “You have a strange way of being proud of getting kicked out of places.”

  “It’s not so strange. I’m lucky.”

  “You’re lucky so you get kicked out of places?”

  “I’m lucky, so people get tired of losing.”

  “I see.”

  “I’m not a cheat. Not like Gary would have you believe.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I’m not,” William said. He licked his lips and his eyes flickered toward the door. “I’ve always been lucky. Not with my family, but otherwise,” he added quickly. “I don’t know what else to say about it, but in a town like this, luck isn’t always lucky, if you know what I mean.”

  “I guess so, if that means you have to deal with people like Gary.”

  “Exactly. It’s lucky when you win, and lucky when you have more coin to gamble with, but not so lucky when you have to deal with people like Gary chasing after you, thinking you somehow scammed them.”

  “And you haven’t?”

  William let out a loud groan. “Like I said, no. Would you just trust me? This place is better than most of them.”

  “You said that about the last one.”

  A soft, dreamy expression crossed his face. “That one is better than most of them too.”

  “How am I to know that Rochelle isn’t working here, too?”

  “She isn’t. Unfortunately.”

  William cracked open the door, watching Jason, and nodded.

  It was brightly lit. Tables scattered throughout had a strange sort of organization. Most had people sitting at them, and food resting on the tables caught Jason�
�s attention. His mouth began to water and his stomach rumbled. Even though he’d been in a place like this where food was plentiful just a few hours earlier, he still hadn’t eaten. He needed to change that before he ended up sicker than he already was.

  William guided him toward the back, through one door, down a short, dimly lit hall, and then another door.

  Jason stood at the doorway, frozen.

  Three tables rested inside this room. Men sat around each of the tables, coins piled up in front of them. Different games seemed to be taking place at each of the tables, one of them dice, one with strangely carved figures, and another with wooden cards.

  None of that held his attention for long.

  Rather, it was Gary who caught his eye, sitting at the table with dice. As soon as they entered the room, he leapt to his feet.

  16

  “I thought you said this was safe,” Jason whispered.

  “It should be safe,” William said. He turned his attention to the others, raising his hands, flashing a wide smile. “Gentlemen. Are you going to disrupt the game?”

  “You stole from me,” Gary snapped.

  Jason scanned the inside of the room. There were the three tables, probably nearly twenty men crammed into the small space. Most of the tables were filled with food and ale, and stacks of coins rested on their surface. The walls were bare, made of paneled wood, so different from what he had in his village. It was dimly lit, only a few lanterns giving enough light to see by. With his dragon sight, everything seemed to flash with a little bit of brightness, and yet, one of the men didn’t fully reflect his dragon sight.

  He stared at that man, looking to see if there was anything he could uncover about him, but there was nothing about him that made much sense. It was almost as if he were invisible.

  Was he wearing some sort of heat mask and clothing?

  Jason nudged William, trying to get his attention, but the other man was focused on Gary.

  “He stole from me,” Gary said.

  “Ah, you know that’s not true,” William said. “You made a deal.”

  “I made a deal, but then he had someone steal from me.”

  “Who stole from you?” William asked, sweeping his gaze around the inside of the room. He kept a wide smile on his face, and Jason found it almost disarming. William was skilled, but he didn’t think the other man’s luck would extend to a situation like this. If nothing else, it was bound to get both of them hurt.