As the old man cut off pieces of meat, he skewered them and as each skewer became full he placed it on the sticks over the fire. Once all of the skewers were full and there was enough meat cooking for the three people plus enough for a traveller who might happen along the man continued to cut off pieces of meat and started to toss them to the dogs. Every now and then the crow would swoop down and grab a piece of meat from the air as it was being tossed and the dogs would growl at it and the crow would retreat to the tree tops to eat. “An odd bird, I say. And ‘em dogs don’t much care fer it neither.” Slance noted out loud, then he continued. “The Furway’s not ‘at safe anymore, with all ‘ese for’n bandits. ‘At’s why I’m here ‘stead of at the fur trade camp at the bottom o’ the trail. I was almost there and some o’ these for’ners took all my furs and most o’ my s’plies. So I headed back up trail to find out what’s a doin with ‘em. I think they’s comin’ from across the dragon mount’ns. Never heard tell of it but they’s comin’ out of the mountains and they ain’t any kind o’ highland folk I know of. Gotta be flatlanders t’ be stupid ‘nough to pee where they drink. Thing is they got a big camp back in the mountains. They’s hunerd’s o’ ‘em in and outta that camp. They go all over the hills in groups o’ ‘bout a dozen ‘r so. They burn a few homes and villages here an’ there and steal whatnot, but they act like they’s searchin’ for somethin’. They’s some queer doin’s in ‘ese hills o’ late, mighty queer doin’s . Welp, looks like we’s outta meat for these dogs an’ they look full enough. Might as well eat our fill now. Better clean up.” The man stood and went to a water bag and tipped a bit of water out to wash his hands and knife. Veer and Shira waited their turn and did likewise.
As they sat to eat Slance nodded toward the horse that Veer had ridden in on and spoke. ”Know a man a couple weeks up trail what’s got a horse just like ‘at ‘n, got a sword just like your’n too.” Both young people stopped in mid bite and looked at one another. The older man started again. “Easiest way t’ get the truth told, s’prise questions. Folks gotta tell the truth or look silly tryin’ to make up lies. So then ye either know the truth or ye know who the liars are.”
“Was this man a ranger named Talenger?” Asked Shira.
“Was - hunh? So’s I reckon that he ain’t no more, blessin’s on the dead,” Slance responded.
“Blessings on the dead.” Both young people repeated in the ageless Hillfolk custom.
“No, he isn’t. Veer responded. Then Veer and Shira told the old trapper their respective stories and then the story they had in common.
Slance listened to both young people and then he nodded and the started to speak with the customary condolences. “Sorry for ye loss. Inter’sting tales, ‘ceptin’ the parts you left out. Both got snakebit and survived. Then you got the mountains own luck. ‘Less you had some snakebane root to make a tea outta, that could save ye, tales say that long ago it could even save you from a poisoned dragon bite, they’s som’s as even calls it dragonbane root.”
“No we didn’t have any snakebane. I was told that it is dangerous and can make you go insane,” responded Shira
“My gramp said to never use it that it would be better to die than be that crazy,” added Veer
“Yep, ‘at is what they say.” The older man said as he looked the two of them over. “I don’t think so, meself. I spent a couple a years flatlandin’ it and got t’ know some flatlanders. Lived in a flatland town a few weeks west of the Wall. Nice enough people, ain’t got the sense to not lay an apple on the ground, but I reckon they don’t need good sense anyway ‘cause an apple won’t roll on flatland. Anyways they have a kind o’ beer what they make that ain’t flavoured with hops like most beer. They use dragonbane flow’rs in it. They mostly have regular beer but they’ll make some of this dragon beer as they calls it. They charge a lot fer it at the inns. They do get a little crazy but I think it’s only the crazy they get from beer and none from the dragonbane. The way I see it is ‘at the ancient tales say that the mountains here got they name from dragons. I also hear rumours ‘at some as claim t’ see dragons from time t’ time. Tales also say ‘at dragons have a magic what usually makes us see ‘em as horses, or dogs an’ birds an’ such. Tales also say that if ye drink dragonbane ye can see through that magic fer a while and know dragons fer what they is. I figure iffin they ain’t no dragons in the flatlands then it won’t matter’ cause they ain’t none t’ see. But iffin ye drink some dragonbane in the hills and ye’re the only one what can see dragons then folk gonna think you’s crazy. I’d think I’s crazy iffin I could see dragons.
“Do you believe in dragons Slance?” Asked Veer.
“As much as ye do boy, as much as ye do. Tales gotta come from somewher’s though.” Answered the older man. “We got enough wood fer t’night so’s let’s all just set up our bedrolls and sit here and talk away the evening. We’re sure t’ talk through first watch you two split second watch ‘tween yaselves. Whoever has the end o’ second watch wake me up ‘bout twenty minutes ‘fore my watch starts. Don’t too much think that we really need lots o’ watchin’ as I doubt ‘em dogs ‘ll let anything sneak up on us and that noisy bird up there sure won’t.”
The three of them set about arranging their bedrolls and preparing for the night. As they settled in Shira asked. “So what else do you know about dragon lore Slance?” Veer cast a long scolding look at the girl who acted like she did not notice.
“Can’t say as anybody knows much.” Responded the older man. “But there’s a lot that I’ve heard tale of livin’ in these hills. I do know that over the years I’ve been told by a goodly number of trappers and mount’n men that they’s still dragons wild in the mount’ns and even down into the hills. Some of ‘em are folks what I’ve knowed for years and knowed to not be crazy. Some of ‘em tell me they’ve seed sign and some as tells it they’ve seed the dragons. The legends say ‘at a man can look right at a dragon and see somethin’ else there, but iffn the dragon does somethin’ that the thing what you think you see can’t do then ye’ll see it fer what it really is. I’ve seen some brave souls what can easy take on a winter in the mount’ns huntin’ bears and wolves and whatnot scared out o’ they wits behind thinking they have seed a dragon.”
“What about the dragons?” Asked Shira impatiently and drawing a look of surprise from the older man at the rudeness of the girl. Shira was nearly shaking with impatience as she looked at the man.
“D’yer da ever beat ye fer actin’ impatient?” Slance asked, while looking at the girl as her cheeks started to redden. “Guess ye just young, still yet. But seems to me that I recollect yer da got beat by his mam fer that same thing.” Slance added with a chuckle.
“Sorry.” Shira responded with a sigh.
“Yer families is gone so yer both gonna have to be growed up adults now.” Slance said as he crawled into his bedroll and pulled his wool blanket around him against the cool night air. Both young people looked at one another disappointed that he seemed to have stopped telling them about dragons.
As the two sat looking at one another in the light of the fire they heard Slance continue. “The old legends say that they was some folks as kept with dragons. They was some kind of bond and those people learned t’ do special things, they was warriors and wizards and healers and whatnot. They was differ’nt kinds of dragons and each one could make ye good at somthin’. They was the wild ones t’ be sure but the ones as kept with people looked all kinds of ways. Some was big enough t’ ride through the air they say while some was as small as a bird sittin’ on ye shoulder they say they was even some as ye couldn’t see at all even if ye was t’ look right at ‘em.”
“Do you think that the people who bonded dragons were all evil?” Veer asked quietly.
The older man continued. “They is some as say ‘at the folks what kept with dragons was evil and was the causen o’ the Great Upheave, but that’s the way tales is told ain’t it. Somthin’s gotta be evil and somethin’s gotta be good but if they�
�s truth in a tale it’s apt to sit somewhere’s between the good and evil o’ those tales. I imagine if they was once people who kept with dragons they must’a been some as was good and some as what didn’t care ‘bout good nor evil.”
“Do you think people can bond dragons today?” Asked Shira
There was a long pause before Slance spoke again. “I reckon that what once was, iffin it ever really was, could come ‘round agin. They’s rumours back in the mount’ns that they is some what have taken up with dragons again. A few trappers what live way back in the mount’ns near the secret valleys. But they’s always some kind of rumours, specially in the mount’ns. I’ma tell ya one thing though. Iffin some’n was ter take up with a dragon, that’n ortta hide some’ers they ain’t gonna see no folks.”
There was a long pause and both young people thought that Slance must have been asleep until his voice once again broke the night. “Was a time when I’d o’ said that’n ortta take back into the mount’ns. But not now, not anymore, they’s just too many queersome things doin’ these days. When ‘em for’ners rolled up my camp and goods from me, I follered ‘em fer a couple o’ weeks t’ see what they was about doin’. They was about a dozen of ‘em, just like all them other groups o’ for’ners. They just moved ‘round like they was lookin’ fer som’n. They was one of ‘em what was in charge, and he had a canteen skin what he was always sippin’ from. They bein’ flatlanders an’ all, they was pretty easy t’ sneak on. Every night that feller in charge would make a tea and then he’d refill that canteen o’ his’n. One night I’s so close I could smell the herbs he was boilin’ innat tea, and it were dragonbane. Dragonbane’s got a powerful smell so I knowed what it was. I think ‘em for’ners ain’t bandits at all I think they’s flatlanders from the other side o’ the Dragon Mount’ns and I think they must be lookin’ fer dragons or folks what know some’at about dragons. And if they’s on this side o’ the mount’ns then they must be lot’s o’ em in the mount’ns right straight across t’ the other side.”
“What happened to the ones that you were following?” Asked Shira.
“They all died one night. I would watch ‘em every evnin’ then I would go and make my own cold camp ter sleep out the night and get up early to keep follerin’ ‘em. One morning I got t’ they camp and they was all dead. Every one of ‘em. They sentry was killed for he could make a sound and the rest was killed in they sleep. Every one of ‘em was killed by arrows. I could see the arrow holes but none o’ the arrows was left. Somebody feathered them all in the night and then went in and took back the arrows. The holes what was left was made by thin arrows, not like the arrows we use with Hillfolk long bows. And whoever took back those arrows was real good ‘cause there weren’t a single track anywhere that didn’t belong to them for’ners.”
“Who do think that it was?” Veer asked.
“That I don’t know, “said the man. “Think that maybe they was searchin and stumbled into one of them secret valleys. Or maybe there’s somethin’ what don’t want them to be huntin’ fer dragons.”
“Elves?” Shira whispered.
“I ain’t sayin’ that. But I have spent nearly fifty winters in these mount’ns and I have seed some queersome things and heared tell of some even more queersome things. Iffin they is still dragons alive ‘em forn’ers ’r gonna find ‘em ‘ventually. And’ iffin they’s somebody what has taken up with dragons that’n better get outta these hills or at least down t’ the Wall and keep t’ the low hills o’ the Wall. Iffin the for’ners see ‘em with a dragon or two they’s gonna be a fight. And’ iffini enough flatlanders start seein’ dragons people gonna figure out that they ain’t just drunk, and then theys’ gonna be a fight. Iffin you run into any o’ them for’ners I hope ‘em puppies o your’n is big ‘nough ter fight.”
“You know don’t you?” Asked Veer quietly.
“Crows don’t got green eyes boy, an’ puppies don’t got eyes like a snake neither. An’ don’t none of ‘em eat cowra berries an’ live. I also seed that biggest dog got eyes like your’n and the next biggest ‘un got eyes like the girl.”
“Aren’t you afraid of them?” Asked Shira.
“O’course I’m scared of ‘em. But I knowed yer parents and so I know you’s both good highland blooded Hillfolk. You swore by blades agin’ the night, so you ain’t gonna let yer dragons kill me, ‘leastways not while we camped fer the night. Now, I don’t know nothin’ else s’ let me sleep.”
The rest of the night passed quietly with just the sounds of the forest. Veer slept for a time and then took a watch while Shira slept. About twenty minutes before his watch was to end Veer woke Slance who got up and quickly slipped off down trail and returned just as his watch was to start. The trapper had brought back the remainder of the deer which had been left hanging the day before.
The morning songs of the birds woke Veer and Shira who quickly rolled up their bedrolls for travelling. Slance had prepared enough meat for a small breakfast for the three of them and had obviously cut up the rest of the meat and left it out for the young dragons. As they started to eat and watched the dragonets attack the meat, Slance said. “I thought that we’s all got a long day of trav’lin so we should finish up this meat and all get a good start.”
“Slance, do you see dragons when you look at them?” Asked Shira.
“Nope, all I see is puppies and a crow but they eyes ain’t right,” the older man responded. The three of them went about packing camp and saddling horses and got cleaned up at the stream. By the time the sun was actually breaking into the sky they were ready to go.
“Where are you going from here Slance?” Asked Veer
“I’m bound to relieve some o’ them for’ners of horses and ‘quipment like they rolled up from me. Then I’ma head way uptrail to the north where it gets too cold fer ‘em. Then I’ll sit high in the mount’ns and wait fer ‘em to find they dragons or move on. I know you said what you’s bound downtrail but ‘tain’t safe on the furway no more. If yous t’ stay in the hills on the furway you’s bound to run ‘cross some o’ ‘em for’ners who’ll know what kind o puppies you got there. Iffin ye flatland it they’s gonna be some as have been drinkin’ dragon brew and they’s gonna see yous puppies fer what they are. They’s two choices fer ye to head south. Ye can cross that trail and take to the forest and go west till you hit the low hills what we call the Wall and keep t’ them moving south right ‘long the edge o’ the hills and the flatlands. Or ye can risk the trail and go downtrail fer two hour then ya’ll find an branch goin’ off west that’ll take ye to the Wall and then follow the Wall down however far south ye want t’ go. If ye go down the Wall fer enough it runs out where the Dragon Mount’ns run out, then you’ll have to flatland it t’ keep goin’ south. Or ye could do the smart thing and go over to the Wall and head north. Get as far upcountry as ye can and then ye can stay otta the way of ‘em for’ners and flatlanders.”
“Veer has to head south Slance and I’m going to have to stay with him,” said Shira.
“Welp, ‘tain’t the smartest thing t’ do but iffn ye feel like ye has t’ do it then I guess ye’s bound fer it. Iffin ye take through the trees and hills you’s gonna make the Wall by half o’ tomorrow. Iffin ye risk that trail ye’ll sleep in the Wall tonight. Better pay attention though and iffin ye sees anyone, take t’ the brush. May the Old Ones bless your days.” Slance gave the Hill-folk formal parting as he turned and quickly headed uptrail.
“Old Ones bless your days.” Both teenagers responded formally as they watched the older man go for a moment before turning to one another.
“He isn’t much for good byes, I guess,” said Shira
“Guess not,” responded Veer. “Trail or cross country?”
“The forest is safer but the trail is faster. We have horses so I think that we can outrun anything if we have to.” Shira said.
“Trail,” Veer stated as he turned and mounted his horse.
Seven
The early morning passed quick
ly and uneventfully as the two companions rode south along the trail. The horses were able to move quickly since both young people were light and an easy burden. They pushed the horses at a ground eating pace and soon reached the branch of the trail heading east toward the low hills known as the Wall. They quietly took the eastward trail and continued to move quickly and said very little to one another during their ride. Both Shira and Veer knew that the trail was not safe and stayed focused on watching as far ahead as they could while listening intently to the forests and brush around them.
*****
Lieutenant Ganspar of the Imperial Army rode northward along the trail which the locals called the Furway. He had seen some of the trappers and hunters who use this trail to move their furs south. He and his contingent of eight men robbed a few of the trappers here and there in order to keep up the ruse of banditry in the area. Just like every other search party sent to this barbaric mountain wild land his troop wandered about searching. So here was another day of searching after another night and a day spent just like this in what seemed to have been an unending stream of days with boredom and no civilization. And that was after spending the last months of winter crossing these horrible mountains. Now he had to stick to schedule and report to the encampment back in the mountains to let his captain know that he had found nothing so far. Then the captain would tell him to draw supplies and return to the search.
Dragons of Summer Tide (The Dragons of Hwandor) Page 8