“The problem with that is, where else would they go?” Anson pointed out, his eyes meeting the others. “We have had no visitors to our valley in generations. No one alive today can remember anyone coming to our valley from the outside. I’m afraid there are no other places for the dragons to go.”
Everyone was silent for a minute. Each thinking about the ramifications of what Anson had just said. They knew very little about the world outside of their valley. Travel outside the valley was discouraged and no one had done so in generations.
“Then what are we to do?” asked Shawn, looking over at Anson. “We have to do something or the dragons are going to destroy the valley!”
“For now I would suggest that we strengthen our root cellars and be prepared to take shelter in them if necessary. So far, the dragons are only hunting on every third morning; they haven’t been seen at any other time.”
“So you’re suggesting that we take shelter in our root cellars and stay there until the dragons are finished hunting?” said Shawn, wishing now that he had built a larger and deeper root cellar. “Will we be safe in the root cellars? What if the dragons try to dig us out?”
“I don’t know what else we can do,” replied Anson, taking a deep breath. “We have never faced a threat like this before. I’m afraid that very soon the dragons will be the hunters and we will be their prey.”
-
Jennifer and Collin went back into the blacksmith shop to watch over things. With the dragon threat hanging over the village, there was not a lot of blacksmith work to do. Everyone was staying inside and venturing out of doors only when necessary.
Jennifer looked toward the end of the street at the tavern where she knew her father and Collin’s father had gone. She wondered what they were talking about. After today’s horrible occurrence with Brendon, she knew that something would have to be done about the dragons. But she had no idea as to what.
“Collin, what are we going to do?” Jennifer asked, her clear blue eyes showing worry. “If the dragons have started killing people, we need to do something.”
Collin was quiet for a moment before he answered. He looked at Jennifer, noticing that her deep blue eyes held a frightened glint. “I’m afraid it’s going to get bad, Jennifer. I went back to the village library a few days ago and read everything I could find about dragons. There wasn’t much. One thing the books make perfectly clear is that the dragons can’t be killed. They are nearly immortal and heal very quickly.”
“Then we need to find a place to hide from the dragons,” spoke Jennifer, determinedly. “Somewhere they can’t get to us. If they can’t find anything to eat, surely they will leave.”
“They might,” said Collin, hoping what Jennifer had just said was true. “But how long would we have to wait before the dragons decide to leave? It could be a few days or even weeks.”
“I don’t think we’re going to have much choice,” replied Jennifer, worriedly. “If the dragons killed Brendon today, who will be next?”
“With the stock everyone is hiding in their barns there will be no food for the dragons shortly,” added Collin, uneasily. “The dragons will either break into the barns or start hunting more people.”
“We need to check out the northern mines, Collin, before we run out of time.”
Collin walked over to a long, comfortable bench on one side of the blacksmith shop, motioning for Jennifer to join him. Sitting down they held hands, both deep in thought. Each knew that if something wasn’t done shortly, there would be no future for them. There would be no future for anyone!
Collin squeezed Jennifer’s hand, bringing her out of her worrisome thoughts. “What are we gong to do?” she asked.
Leaning closer to Jennifer, Collin spoke. “I found an old map in the library that shows the location of some of the larger mines in the north. I copied part of it. I think you’re right about hiding from the dragons. Our homes, barns, and root cellars are not going to be strong enough.”
“Then we need to go search the mines,” said Jennifer, knowing that Collin was now in agreement with her.
“We will have to be very careful,” Collin cautioned in a low voice. “Some of those old mines won’t be safe to even enter. We will have to take some ropes and lanterns with us.”
“When do we leave?” She hoped that what they were planning was the right thing to do.
“The dragons should be hunting again in three more days. We will go the day after that. I need to spend some time getting the supplies together that we will need. We can ride two of our horses to the mines.”
It was at that moment that Clara walked into the blacksmith shop. “Jennifer, I need to go over to the general store. Would you like to come with me?”
“Sure,” replied Jennifer, letting go of Collin’s hand and standing up. “I need to shop for a few things myself, and mother gave me a list.”
Smiling, Clara looked at her son. “We won’t be long, Collin, or you can come with us.”
“No, thanks,” replied Collin, grimacing. Two women shopping was not his idea of how to spend an afternoon, even if one of them was Jennifer. Besides, his father had asked him to watch the blacksmith shop.
-
Far to the east, Gilmreth flew on spread wings, his powerful, sinewy muscles taking the dragon ever higher with each beat of his wings. Through the thin clouds Gilmreth ascended, until he broke through the scattered layer into brilliant sunlight. Peering down at the ground far below, Gilmreth searched for prey.
The ground was desolate and devoid of life. Ancient cities and villages lay in shattered ruins below. Gilmreth dimly remembered escaping from the great mountain far across the ocean to the west. Someday he would return to that mountain.
For years now more time had passed between feedings, and those feedings had been pitiful at best. Animals had steadily become harder to find as the years went by. It had become necessary for Gilmreth to spend all of his time just searching for food. Anything he found that lived fell victim to his ravenous appetite.
In desperation, to curb his voracious appetite, he had finally been forced to feed upon his fellow dragons. Only they furnished the life extending substance that Gilmreth so craved. Only his fellow dragons and, of course, humans could satisfy his growing hunger. It was a hunger, which burned deeply inside due to the lack of adequate food in the world. But there were no more humans, or so Gilmreth believed. It had been many long generations since he had fed on a human.
For hours, Gilmreth flew. It had been days since his last feeding, and that one had been very unsatisfying. A sickened deer had died beneath Gilmreth’s deadly talons. It had been the last deer in a small group of mountains. In the distance, the dragon could see a long, sheltered valley with hints of green and other life. Perhaps there he could feed and replenish his strength before flying back over the ocean and returning to the great mountain.
Chapter Four
Jennifer was waiting patiently out by the barn for Collin. The dragons had fed the day before and, from what her father had said, they fed very well. Clyde Mason had told her father that he had lost the last of his cattle that were still out in the nearby meadow where they fed. Clyde had watched in apprehension from the entrance of his root cellar as the dragons descended. They had stayed for a short length of time in his meadow and then left, flying off to the south.
After the dragons departed, Clyde had ventured out to check on his remaining cows, only to find all of them missing. All that remained were some dark, wet smears on the sparse grass where the dragons had fed. Clyde still had two cows and a bull hidden safely in his barn, but he didn’t know what would happen next. It would only be a matter of a few short weeks before the dragons wouldn’t be able to find any animals to feed upon in the meadows.
Jennifer knew that her father and mother had sat up late into the night, talking in quiet voices. She suspected that they were worried about the dragons and had been discussing what they were going to do. Jennifer could see the growing anxiety in her mother�
�s eyes whenever the dragons were mentioned.
In recent days, her father and Marten had been spending a lot of their time expanding the root cellar and strengthening it, particularly the doors. The dirt and rocks they were removing from the inside were being piled up on top. But Jennifer had a bad feeling that the dragons would have very little trouble digging them out of the root cellar if they wanted to. She had seen up close the powerful talons the dragons possessed.
No, their best hope were the old mines. She had mentioned it casually to her father, but he had dismissed it. He had warned her that the mines were more dangerous than the dragons. It was dangerous even to walk in the northern area of the valley; underground tunnels could collapse just from the weight of someone just walking on the surface. Everyone stayed away from that section of the valley because of that danger. In the past, several villagers had lost their lives falling into deep underground pits when the ground had suddenly given way.
Jennifer glanced into the barn where Marten was feeding the baby calf. It was old enough now to where it could be allowed out with the milk cow to eat in a small fenced off meadow next to the barn. Jennifer knew that as soon as the calf was finished with its milk, Marten would lead it outside. Marten was becoming very attached to the small calf.
Collin riding into the yard leading another saddled horse interrupted her thoughts. She smiled at seeing the horses. The ones that Collin had brought were both riding horses. It wouldn’t take them more then a couple of hours to reach the northern mines, and then a few hours to explore before it would be time to come back home. Collin’s father raised horses and had the best riding stock in the valley.
Jennifer had told her father and mother that she was going riding with Collin for the day. She had pointed out to both that since the dragons had fed the day before, they should be safe. Her father had finally agreed, but had told her that if they saw any signs of a dragon to take cover, then come back home immediately.
“Hi,” Collin said brightly as he reined in the two horses next to Jennifer. “Looks as if it’s going to be a great day for a ride.”
“Hope so,” answered Jennifer, taking the reins for the other horse from Collin’s outstretched hand.
Placing her foot in the stirrup, she easily swung herself up and settled down into the saddle. Collin and she had ridden together quite often, even though recently the threat of the dragons had cut their riding time down considerably.
Jennifer heard the door to the house bang and turned around in the saddle. She saw her father walking purposely toward them. Jennifer hoped he wasn’t about to cancel the riding trip.
“Hello, Collin,” spoke Anson, reaching up and shaking Collin’s hand. “Good day for a ride.”
“Yes it is, sir,” Collin replied respectfully. “We haven’t gotten to ride much recently, and I thought we might take advantage of today.”
Anson smiled, recalling what it had been like when Carolyn and he had been going out. He knew that sometimes young people needed their space. He just wished the dragons weren’t around.
“Be careful, Collin,” Anson warned, his eyes straying over to Jennifer. “I know the dragons just fed yesterday, and they shouldn’t be out today, but keep a careful eye out.”
“Don’t worry, sir; I will keep Jennifer safe.”
“Mind if I ask where you plan to ride?”
“Down to the stream and along it for a ways to the north. That’s away from the dragons. Dad thinks they are staying in the old mines in the southern hills.”
“He’s probably right,” replied Anson, nodding his head in agreement. “That’s the direction they always head when they finish feeding.”
“I wish I could go,” a young voice broke in.
Turning back around in her saddle, Jennifer saw Marten standing in the door of the barn. “Just take care of your calf. One of these days we will take you with us.”
“You will?” Marten said, his eyes lighting up.
“Yes,” Collin added with a grin. He knew that Marten liked horses and had even allowed Marten to ride his on a couple of occasions. “Just behave and we will set up a riding day.”
“I will,” Marten replied in a serious tone. “I won’t do anything to get grounded again.”
Looking over at Jennifer, Collin continued. “We’d better go. We don’t want to get back too late.”
“Have fun, kids,” Anson said as the two turned their horses and began to ride off.
He had a strange feeling the kids weren’t telling him everything. He suspected that something was going on, but he didn’t know what.
“What now?” asked Marten, looking up at his father. He had already taken his calf out to the meadow and released it to graze with the other animals.
“Get your shovel. We’re going back down in the root cellar. We need to get the new room finished.”
“More digging,” muttered Marten, feeling his back beginning to ache.
“Remember what you promised, Collin,” his father reminded him.
“Yeah, I remember,” grumbled Marten as he turned and went back into the barn to get his shovel.
-
Jenifer and Collin rode a ways in silence, the only noise being the horse’s hooves striking the ground and their steady breathing. It was a warm morning with a light southerly breeze.
“Did you bring everything we need?” Jennifer asked.
“Yes, I did. I also gave a note to Jason to give to my dad if we’re not back by dark. That way, if something happens, he’ll know where to look.”
“I just hope Jason doesn’t have to give that note to your father.”
“He won’t,” Collin replied. “I will make sure we stay safe.”
As the two rode, they talked about the dragons and the scarcity of food remaining for them in the valley. Both were afraid that when the dragons ran out of animals to eat they would turn on the valley’s human population.
“Once they start feeding on people there will be panic in the valley,” Collin said in a serious tone.
“That may not be too far off,” responded Jennifer, listening to the birds singing in some nearby trees. It seemed so peaceful here in the valley. Why did the dragons have to come and ruin everything? “One of the dragons already killed Brendon. I worry about who will be next.”
“Brendon must have been out in the open when the dragons were feeding,” Collin replied with a deep sigh. “He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Keep in mind we never found his body. We don’t know for sure it was the dragons.”
Jennifer was quiet for a moment. She tried not to think about Brendon. It was too upsetting. “Have you been working on your root cellar?”
“Dad is putting a lot of food in it. We just finished putting on a new door made of heavy wood.”
“My father and Marten have been doing the same thing,” replied Jennifer, settling back in her saddle. “I still think if the dragons want to get in, the root cellars won’t provide that much protection.”
“Perhaps not,” replied Collin, agreeing with Jennifer. “But at least the root cellars will provide a place to hide rather than being out in the open.”
-
Time passed quickly, and soon the northern hills began to grow larger. They rose several hundred feet up into the air, with two of the larger ones rising close to five hundred feet. The latter could even be seen from the village. The hills seemed to enclose this section of the valley like a horseshoe.
“Those two large ones are where we want to go,” indicated Collin, reining in his horse. He gazed at the hills for a moment then pulled out a piece of paper from his shirt pocket and carefully unfolded it.
Jennifer watched him, curious as to what was on the paper.
“According to what I managed to copy, there are five mine entrances in that big hill to the left, and four more in the one to the right.”
“What did they mine?” Jennifer asked curiously. It was hard to imagine the mining operation that must have existed here in years past.
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Looking around, she noticed that the ground was really rocky with very few growing plants. There were only a couple of trees in the area, but they looked stunted and unhealthy. She suspected there was something in the ground that crippled plant growth. Perhaps it was something from the mines that was contaminating the soil. The soil here was extremely poor. It was much worse than back in the main parts of the valley.
“Copper,” answered Collin carefully folding the paper back up and putting it in his pocket. “Most of the mines were copper mines. Make sure you follow me closely. There is a safe path to the big hills. If you stray too far off to the side, the ground could cave in.”
Jenifer looked at Collin in surprise. “How do you know about this safe path?”
“My dad comes up here on occasion to get metal for our blacksmith shop. He’s allowed me to come with him a couple of times.”
“Why haven’t I heard about this before?” asked Jennifer, her face taking on a curious look. Collin and she talked about everything. She was surprised he had never mentioned this before.
“People frown on anyone coming to the northern mines because it’s so dangerous,” Collin responded in a calm voice. “They’re supposed to be off limits. Dad only does it once or twice a year, and he doesn’t tell anyone but mom.”
Collin gave his horse a gentle kick, and they started going forward again. Jennifer was now riding closer to Collin since the path they were now on was barely visible.
“There’s a lot of old rusted out machinery around the mines,” continued Collin, peering up ahead making sure he was on the right path.
-
It took another twenty minutes, and then the two arrived at the first mine site. Jennifer looked around in amazement. The hill rose far above her, and numerous pieces of old equipment lay everywhere. Some of it had rusted down to the point that very little was left. Other pieces seemed almost intact.
“Hundreds of people used to work these mines,” explained Collin, seeing the amazed look on Jennifer’s face. “That’s where the ancestors of our village came from. They were workers in these mines when the ancient world was destroyed. Father says they took shelter in the deeper mines and waited until the war was over before they came back out. The mines protected them from what killed nearly everyone else up on the surface.”
Dragon Wars Page 4