Heartscale

by Lola Ford

  Of course, I will, she said in response to the unasked question. Though, isn’t it unusual for an adult male human to not be able to hunt for them self?

  Graith reddened and scrubbed at his scalp, I have a hard time bring myself to kill anything. Even if it is food.

  Looking back down at the pile of items he saw his fire-starter. It had fallen to the bottom of one of the bags after the first night - Zel had lit all the fires they’d built. It was tossed in the leave behind pile.

  Next was the quivers full of arrows. He’d not had time to practice during their steady pace to the mountains. That reminded him of the new weapons Zel had brought him. He didn’t know how to use them either but that would need to change. He was going to leave his farm behind - he knew he needed to know how to at least protect himself.

  Maybe your friend Ralph would be able to help you? Zel said.

  Perhaps, but I’m not sure he knows how to handle a sword either. Most of the village are just farmers like me.

  With a shake of his head he swiped what was left of the to be sorted pile into the leave behind pile before grabbing his cloak. It hadn’t seen any use during their first trek as it hadn’t rained - and Zel made quite the warm bed. It was set to the side, to go into the bags last. Winter would be coming soon and traveling without it would be a miserable task.

  Graith glanced at the window where Zel still waited and saw that she was looking at him too. He needed to get moving. She was waiting on him.

  Quickly washing and then hanging his clothing out to dry, he returned inside to pack up the household. He stored the quilts and linens, dusted the house, and looked through his remaining foodstuffs. He had several jars of preserved foods, mostly vegetables he’d stored for the coming winter. Graith put them with the items he would be taking. There was no use in letting the food go to waste.

  After several hours of cleaning and packing, Graith was done.

  He’d decided to take the chickens, the last of his animals, to Ralph when he took him the keys to the house. If he ever returned, he could reclaim the farm, but he doubted he ever would. He found an old tarp to cover the wagon - both to protect against the weather and because the essentials didn’t quite fit into the bags.

  As he shut the door for the last time, he looked back at the little house. He’d been born here. Lived his whole life here. Now he was leaving. Sometime between traveling with Zel and arriving back the day before things had changed.

  He had changed, and the farm would never be enough for him ever again.

  Graith picked up the three fussy hens, setting them in the back of the cart on top of the tarp. Looking around one last time, he gathered the few of the obvious eggs they had lain and then climbed onto the wagon bench.

  Zel, I’m done here. Let’s go.

  He felt her wordless assent and he picked up Mero’s reins. They set off towards the village. Zel was going to veer off to the north and meet him on the far side after he’d met with Ralph.

  The short trip seemed to take no time at all after the days of travel he’d recently done. The seat of the cart would soon be more familiar to him than even his leather chair he was leaving behind. Reaching Ralph’s barn Graith saw his friend leading a horse inside. He pulled Mero to a stop once Ralph saw and waved him over.

  “Graith! Where have you been? Sarah and I have been worried about you.”

  Ralph’s eyes searched Graith, and his brow wrinkled. He was stressed, and Graith was ashamed to have been the cause.

  “I went on a trip - out towards the mountains.” Graith waved a hand in the general direction of Zel’s cave. “Mero’s been a good horse so far. Made the trip smoothly.”

  Graith reached up and patted Mero on the snout. Mero gave a soft whicker and nuzzled his hand.

  “Named him did ya? What took you out that way? I thought you’d heard a dragon had been spotted out there.”

  Ralph was frowning slightly, and Graith shuffled his feet. He’d known his friend was worried about him, but he had forgotten the general unease - hate even - surrounding dragons. What was he going to say? He’d been prepared to tell Ralph everything. Zel had even thought it was a good idea.

  But now? He was having second thoughts.

  “I did hear. But it was important.” Graith looked around, seeing a few curious eyes from neighbors. “Ralph, can I talk to you? Privately?”

  He decided to tell Ralph. He deserved it, after giving him Mero and the saddle bag, and for coming to check on Graith. It was an hour of traveling out to the farm - and he’d made the trip at least three times. Ralph obviously cared about Graith. The least Graith could do was tell him the truth.

  Ralph nodded and motioned for Graith to follow him inside the barn. Similar to Graith’s, his barn was set up with several stalls for horses and a little office for business.

  “Go ahead and have a seat, I just need to get Betty here into a stall!”

  Graith went in and had a seat. Ralph came in moments later, and as he looked at Graith’s face and his turned from jovial to serious. He pulled his chair around to face Graith and sat down.

  “What’s going on Graith? Why the sudden trip out to the mountains?” he asked once again.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Graith

  Ralph seemed extremely worried and Graith felt uncomfortable for being the cause. He’d abandoned his farm and gone chasing through the mountains with a dragon. And here was Ralph waiting on an explanation. He shifted in his seat, unsure how to broach the topic he was about to share with his only friend.

  “Ralph, I’m leaving,” Graith said.

  It was a starting point, but the worst was yet to come. Graith folded and unfolded his hands nervously. The serious look on Ralph’s face however, changed to one of shock in an instant.

  “But - why?” Ralph was grasping for words. “You have the farm. You have Mero, and the cow and the chickens. I wouldn’t be surprised if you produce a third of the towns wheat Graith.”

  He talked rapidly, in denial that his friend was about to up and leave everything behind.

  “The cow’s gone. I brought the chickens with me. I was hoping you’d take care of them for me. Mero will be going with me. What else am I leaving behind? Hell, look at my life here. I don’t have family. You’re my only friend. Everyone else hates me.”

  Graith was growing frustrated at his quaint life he’d been leading. Before now he’d never even considered leaving. After even a small bit of excitement he was weary of farm life and he was getting away from it. He’d felt guilt over Ralph’s letter yes, but as shocked as his friend was, Graith thought that perhaps it was a bad idea to tell him about Zel.

  Thinking of her brought the gentle touch of her mind to his. It relaxed him slightly.

  “I met someone Ralph. Out in the mountains. She wants to travel. I’m going to go with her.”

  The worry and shock in Ralph’s eyes faded slightly as he took in that bit of information. In fact, a sly smile was spreading across his face.

  “Oh, found a lady friend did you Graith? About damn time.”

  “Well -” Graith started before Ralph cut in.

  “Of course, you would want to travel with her if that is what she wants.”

  Ralph laughed, and reaching over, grabbed Graith by the shoulder. The anxiety was gone from Ralph’s face, replaced by joy for his friend.

  “What’s her name? And, where is she? Sarah would love to meet the woman who captured your icy heart!”

  Graith shook his head, blushing red. That was not how Ralph was supposed to take that. What was he supposed to say? Oh well, you see, she’s not a human. She’s a dragon, so of course she can’t come into town…

  Laughter in the back of his mind made him blush more.

  Oh, hush it, you. You thought I should tell him in the first place, what if he wants to kill you?

  Maybe it’s for the best if you let him think I’m your lady love. At least then he won’t sic the town on me with pitchforks and torches!

  Z
el’s mental laughter rang loudly in his mind.

  Graith cleared his throat and tried to speak, but the lie he was about to tell stuck before he could say it. Instead he decided to go about it another way - tell a partial truth.

  “Her name is Azelia, Zel for short. She’s meeting me outside of town, so I won’t be able to bring her to meet Sarah.”

  Ralph nodded along, perfectly happy to accept this information.

  “Graith, I’m just glad you’ve found yourself a woman. Even if it’s taking you away from the village. What are you going to do with the farm?”

  Graith let out a sigh. The farm. His family’s home for the last four generations.

  “I’m just going to leave it. It’ll be there if I ever decide to come back. I’ve cleaned everything out except the barn. I wanted to leave you with the keys to the house. Just in case.”

  He dug the keys out from beneath his shirt and pulled the leather thong they were looped on above his head. Ralph took them carefully as he knew how much the farm meant to Graith. Or well, how much as it had. He didn’t know how removed Graith felt from it all now.

  “One more thing Ralph, I’ve harvested this year’s crop, but didn’t bundle it yet. It’s drying in the barn. It should be ready in another week or so. You can keep the profits from it. But don’t let ol’ Sal undersell you per pound.”

  Ralph nodded. Graith knew that it was a lot of work for the farrier, but also knew that that was a lot of extra money for the year.

  “Graith, that’s a lot of money. You’re sure you don’t want me to just set it aside for you if you come back? Say something goes wrong with you and Zel? I wouldn’t want you to be short.”

  “I’m serious. Keep it. Even if something were to happen between us, I don’t think I’ll be coming back any time soon.”

  With that, he stood. Ralph followed the motion, still unsure about the fact that his friend was leaving their little village forever. Graith reached out, and Ralph grasped his arm. It went from a friendly shake to a brotherly hug as they both realized they might never see one another again.

  “Take care, Graith. If you ever need anything just send word. Sarah and I care about you deeply.”

  “And you, Ralph. You take good care of Sarah.”

  The left the little office and turned toward where Mero had made himself comfortable chewing hay. He had pulled the little wagon with him to reach it.

  “Oh yes. About the chickens…”

  Graith was more than a little nervous about dumping them with Ralph who already had a menagerie of animals to take care of.

  “Yes, yes. They can stay. Are they good egg layers?”

  “They are. Well, except the damned rooster. He crows at the morning sun alright though. Some nights I’ve thought about eating him for dinner.”

  They both laughed and Ralph helped Graith unload them from the wagon.

  Then it was time.

  Graith was itching to get on the road, and he could feel Zel in the back of his mind, her feelings echoing his. He walked towards the cart, scratching Mero’s ear before getting on the driver’s bench.

  He carefully backed the horse and cart up until they were outside the barn near the house. Ralph was following, making teasing comments about how in love Graith must be. Instead of answering, Graith just shook his head.

  “You be safe now Graith, you and Zel. The world is a dangerous place. Keep your eyes out for that dragon!”

  Graith flushed red again and could only nod and wave as he reined the horse into motion.

  That was it - he was on the road.

  On the way to meet up with Zel, and to help her find her clutch. A sense of anxiety swept over him as he rode through the center of the village.

  Don’t worry. I can protect you Graith. The voice in his head was soothing.

  I’m not worried about my safety. It’s more a worry of - I’m not sure - never coming back. This is my home.

  It’s not. No one there cares for you with the exception of Ralph and Sarah. You don’t go to town events or even to the tavern for a drink except for rare occasions. Shall I go on?

  As she’d spoke Graith relaxed. Zel was right. It wasn’t his home, not really. Sure, it was where he had lived but he was apart from everything that went on. At this point he wasn’t even sure he needed a home. The road was going to be his home, and it was going to be exciting.

  Zel chuckled but said nothing else. She was still half an hour away. Graith settled in, prepared to ride all the way to Dunlaith./

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Graith

  Graith met up with Zel around noon and they were well on their way within minutes. Traveling on the road was Graith’s much preferred method to trailblazing he found, and the miles fell away beneath Mero’s hooves.

  For the most part the road was empty. The afternoon of the second day they passed a small family that Graith though he faintly recognized from his village. They did not acknowledge him, so he kept his head down and continued on.

  Zel chose to walk parallel to the road, just inside the forest of dense trees. Occasionally Graith could hear her crashing about, but for the most part she was silent. The birds and woodland creatures hid themselves from her, and thus from him. So their journey for the most part was quiet.

  By the end of the second day, the road which had been dirt paved before had become gravel. This signaled to Graith that they were approaching Dunlaith, home of Lord Arish. He had not been here since his father had brought him as a small boy, but he knew they were less than a day’s ride out.

  He reached out to the now familiar mind of his companion, Zel, we should stop for the night. The woods get thinner from here on out, and we don’t want some traveler to wander by.

  He felt her listen, but there was no verbal response. He could sense that she was about to argue and decided to continue speaking.

  We made good time getting here. I’ll go into town tomorrow and see if there is any news of the men who took your eggs.

  A brief flare of anger responded against his mind, but before he could soothe her it was gone. When she responded she sounded despondent.

  Of course. I’ll just wait outside - she paused, then before she pulled away added, like a dog.

  Graith wasn’t sure what to say. It wasn’t like a giant dragon could just walk into the town square. Frustrated, he turned Mero off the road and the forged a path straight to the dragon.

  After she wasn’t in the first two clearing that they reached, he was started to get annoyed. She had been right inside the woods all day, close enough that he’d been able to see her at points, her pale hide looking like a patch of sky inside the green foliage.

  Zel, where are you? It’s going to be dark soon.

  A harrumph from inside his mind was the only answer.

  If you don’t tell me, I’m just going to camp at the next clearing. With or without you.

  Again, there was no response.

  Annoyed Graith continued on. When he finally broke through to the following clearing, Zel was laying there curled up, tail twitching, and if she weren’t so much larger than the cart, she could have passed for Graith’s least favorite barn cat.

  She did not welcome him or acknowledge his presence in any way. He hadn’t left his seat since early that morning, and was quite tired, so he chose not to acknowledge her either.

  He untied Mero and dug through his packs for some bread. He’d told himself that he would learn how use the bow, maybe not to hunt, but protect himself, but after traveling all day he simply had no energy to spare. Instead he searched for his fire starter - he realized as he was unable to find it, that he’d left it behind, content to rely on Zel. Sighing, he shook his head and then went around collecting dry wood.

  The whole time he collected wood, Zel pointedly ignored him, even tucking her face under her left wing. After he had built up what would be a more than adequate fire, he turned to the dragoness.

  “Zel, would you please start the fire? It’s getting quite chilly
out.”

  She slowly pulled her head out from under her wing and turned towards the pile of wood.

  Then she huffed.

  A burst of fire springing forth, and what would have been a fire that should have lasted all night was incinerated instantly.

  “Are you kidding me, Azelia?” he asked, taking a deep breath in frustration.

  She eyed him, her eyes whirling an angry pale white.

  You think I’m a dog. Or some animal you can simply train obedience into.

  Graith stared at her dumbfounded.

  “When have I ever said that.”

  You didn’t correct me earlier. And you just use me for my fire.

  So angry he couldn’t speak aloud, he responded, You’re the one that lit the fires the whole way to your nesting cave and back! I couldn’t find my flint tonight. So, I asked. Nicely. I didn’t command you or order you. I asked.

  Zel had the wherewithal to look ashamed.

  My children are in danger and all I can do is sit in the woods and wait for you - a human - to try to help.

  Her eyes had swirled to an anxious yellow. Graith’s anger dissipated in a flash. She looked so very distraught.

  I know Zel. We’ll get them back. But to do so, we must find out where they were taken.

  He walked over to her and leaned against her snout, unconsciously rubbing the soot off a few scales. After a few minutes of comforting the dragoness, Graith went and collected more firewood. This time, Zel obliged to light a small fire. Within moments of settling down against her, both fell into a restless sleep.

  ***

  The next morning dawned cold and bright, and Graith was forced to pull his cloak out of his bag after crawling out from under Zel’s warm wing.

  We should make it to town by noon, he said, unwilling to spend the energy to speak aloud.

  About that, she said slowly, I think I should stay here.

  Why? Graith was startled after her annoyance the night before.

  The way I acted last night. Plus, I’m a dragon, in an emergency I can just fly there.

  There will not be an emergency, Graith said rolling his eyes.