The Dragon Guard: Moons and Sons by Sarah Hite

by Sarah Hite

  He looked at the floor between his feet as Ryell slowly and carefully continued his story, it was as if he were afraid to say something. “The King had five sons and three daughters, with a grandchild to be born within the week. The oldest of his sons was twenty-six years of age, and the only one with children of his own. The younger children were in between twenty-four and twelve. It was then that the Duke rose up against him and slaughtered the family. Though they fought mightily, it was a vain action. The King fell, and his children soon afterward. The youngest of his sons had gone for more arrows and had returned from the armory in time to see his family fall. He was forced to watch as the Duke took the Queen on the throne room’s cold floor. When he was finished he took her to her room and locked her there.”

  His voice echoed with anger and sorrow. “As he left the room, the young prince ran out to his father. He hugged him and was found there by a servant as he tried to lift his father’s broadsword to avenge his family’s suffering. The servant took his arm and said, ‘No, the time will come.’ He smuggled the boy out of the palace. After that he disappeared, but it was said that he took the sword and medallion with him.”

  The Letter

  Ania sat by the small fire she had started moments before and started cleaning the rabbits she had caught while hunting. She set the skins aside and started cutting the meat. She tossed the pieces to the dragon and he snapped them up. His bones were still visible, but his spirits were high. She had been able to remove most of the chains, but the shackles around his ankles remained, as well as the chains that dangled from his horns. He also still wore the harness and muzzle, but she had cut the straps that held his mouth shut. She looked at him and smiled, and tossed him another piece, remembering when she had first brought him food.

  She had filled the bucket with water and set it aside. Then she cut the rabbits she had killed into small pieces and dropped them into the bucket. She hung it over the fire and continued cutting the meat. She also put the organs she had removed from the rabbits into the bucket. When it was full and the water warmed, she removed the bucket and observed the bloody mess inside. She took the “stew” over to the dragon, who had been asleep at the time, and poured it into a shallow depression near his head. At the sound of the liquid he looked up and blinked. He sniffed the mess in front of him and looked at her curiously. “It’s okay,” she had said. “Eat.” She had designed the mess so that he could merely drink it, or most of it; she did not want him to have to waste energy trying to chew the meat.

  She watched as he sniffed at it again, then slowly lowered his head to drink the liquid. He snapped up a piece of meat and gulped it down. When she was satisfied he would finish it, she sat down to finish preparing her own dinner. After finishing his, he looked over at her, as if to ask for more. She laughed and promised him he could have more tomorrow. She had only caught three rabbits and had given him two. However, after eating half of hers she tossed him the remaining portion.

  Over the next several weeks she had gathered berries and roots. She hunted more and dried the hides for blankets and bags she could store supplies in. She knew winter was coming fast knew she had to prepare for the coming season.

  Now she observed the dragon as he finished the last piece of meat. She sighed and pulled a buckskin blanket around her shoulders. Winter was in full swing and the cave was cold. She put more wood on the fire and checked the amount of firewood. She would have to gather more soon and would do so the following day.

  She leaned against a boulder and pulled another hide over her legs. After making herself comfortable she dug through one of the supply bags. She took out a small cloth bag and emptied its contents. She counted the few coins that remained and looked at a piece of folded parchment. She picked up the letter she had found at the old complex, turned it over, and chided herself for forgetting about it. She studied the wax seal and noticed that it was a variation of the Guards’ sigil, but instead of just dragon’s scales in the shape of a shield, the shield bore a dragon’s eye on top of the underlying design. She had never seen this sigil before and was interested. The letter had not been covered in dust, so she knew it had not been there long, and she assumed it was put there with the bag of coins.

  She carefully broke the seal and was amazed to find the note was from her father.

  My Dear Ania,

  I know you must have questions, questions about us, what we did, and why we left and I know you must have questions about yourself. I can only assume that you have begun to notice things about yourself, things that aren’t normal for a human. I can’t tell you why you can do these things, for I’m not sure myself, but Elder seems to think you’ve been “touched.” I once asked him what he meant, but he did not answer. I can, however, tell you about your mother and myself. Your mother was a messenger for the Guard when I met her.

  She was assigned to Pycan at the time and I was visiting the Complex. Quintaren was ill and I was running errands for him. I married your mother two years later. Just after our wedding, Quintaren passed away and I was named his successor. I had moved to the guard complex after marrying your mother and led the Guard from there. My chief captain, whom I’m sure you have met, was injured by some men in town and was brought to us by the dragons. Silvrin recovered in time and one of the younger dragons stayed at the complex with us. It was here that Elder told us about you. You were regarded as special among the dragons and, by the time you were four, they all seemed to know your name. Even the Fire dragons regarded you with respect, which is rare, for they respect no one but themselves. As far as what Elder meant, unfortunately, you will have to ask him.

  The reason why we left is a simple one, although one that will haunt me for the rest of my life. When Tollak Vidar took the throne after his father’s death, he ordered the Guard to be discontinued, but we refused and helped the dragons in secret. Vidar found out and ordered Mobren to take your mother from us. In order to get her back, I was to surrender and step down. The dragons did not like the idea; they were sure it was a trap. That’s why I am writing you this letter, for I too, have come to that conclusion. I know that even if I turn myself in there is a good chance that he will not release your mother, if she’s still alive. You will receive this letter when you’re old enough to understand. I’m sorry for leaving, but Vidar has threatened you as well, which is the real reason for why I left. The dragons’ respect for you has caused him to fear you, or the person you might become. He believes you hold the key to the dragons’ loyalty and believes you will be able to rally them against him. He knows you exist, but he does not know who you are. If he finds out, you may suffer the same fate that we have, and I can’t allow you to be harmed; your mother would never forgive me.

  I know Nealson will have given you the horn by now, and I want you to know its history. That horn was a gift to the King by the dragon King, Konjon Mangjul, after the treaty had been formed. It was fashioned from the facial horn of a dragon. He gave it to the first Guard commander so that all dragons would know he was a friend. Carry it with you always, but keep it hidden. If the Duke or his men find it, they will arrest you. In the old complex, there is a safe; it contains the original treaty between the kings. The Guard took the treaty after King Evander’s death to keep it safe.

  I know you must have other questions, but I have no more answers for you. I can only ask your forgiveness for leaving and tell you that we loved you very much. You are, and always will be, our most prized possession.

  With love,

  Your Father, Thorin

  Commander of the Dragon Guard

  Ania set the letter down as tears came to her eyes. This had answered many of her questions, but also gave her more. She determined to ask Elder, if they ever met, what he meant by “touched.” She looked up and noticed the dragon studying her. “I’m okay,” she said. She could tell he was concerned, and she carefully folded the letter and put in back in the pouch.

  The Pact

  A week had passed since he had found out he was the ki
ng’s descendant. He was not sure what to think about his heritage, but now he understood the actions of his parents. They had had the wisdom to make sure he was well educated and would be a strong leader. His mother had even hired someone to teach him to fight. As he walked into the library, his friends greeted him. He acknowledged them and sat down.

  A few minutes later Lord Ryell entered and called them to attention; he had been teaching them some of the history of the Dragon Guard, and they were expecting him to continue his lesson. However, today he surprised them by sending them to the square, where a minstrels’ band had gathered. He was told they were telling stories of Pycan’s history.

  They were interested and went to the square as directed. They found the stones were clear of snow and fires had been lit for warmth. A tall man stood in front of a crowd of children. He began their tale by saying, “In the years after Quintaren’s death, the dragons had seemed to have vanished; however, they were always around, observing what was happening around them, but always out of sight.” The friends understood since Pai, Moon, and Shaelynn could disappear at will.

  He continued, a gleam of humor in his eye. “A scout, only a few decades old, had been observing the new commander of the Dragon Guard; this day was of no exception. The young dragon was said to have been only nine feet tall. He had green and blue patches of scales that were mixed with tan spots here and there, showing he was not yet grown and still quite young. He had been intrigued by the young commander and his views on dragonkind. This man-Thorin, they called him, respected dragons like no one else had, and had decided to continue the alliance between dragons and men after the Guard had been disbanded.

  “The scout had been thinking about peace between men and dragons while watching Thorin, his men, and his family. He thought about the battle at Mactell, and why that commander was willing to put his life on the line for a dragon. He thought about the way the rest of the human race treated these men and their families, and did not blame them for living away from the villages. He then decided to tell his teacher what he had observed and his thoughts on the matter. It was almost time for him to join his teacher for his next lesson; his allotted time of observation was over.

  “As the young scout turned to leave, he noticed the woman known as Tia walking down the path toward the buildings. She was carrying a sleeping infant. As Tyia passed Thorin the child, she woke and seemed to look directly at the young dragon. She smiled at him. This confused the dragon; she could not really have seen him, could she have?”

  The kids looked at each other and knew the child was Ania. They now understood what Pai had meant several months ago, and they realized he was the scout in the story. The storyteller continued recounting the events of that day.

  “After hearing the news the scout had sent, the dragon elders decided they should speak to this young commander themselves. They left Dragons’ Keep early the next morning and flew to Pycan Mountain, next to a small village. The village was still in the shadow of the mountain. They stopped to rest near the outskirts of Pycan village.

  “In the village, the dragons saw a young man loading a wagon near the edge of town. Another man walked toward him from the buildings but stopped about ten feet away. He wore dirty, worn-out clothes. His hair was matted and looked as if it had not been washed in a long time. He was several years older than the young man. He watched the younger man for a moment, and then a cruel smile split his lips as he called out.” As he spoke he motioned with his hands and touched his clothes and hair while describing the clothes and hair of the man in the story.

  Another storyteller joined him then, wearing filthy clothes, and said, “Hey, guardsman!” The word was used with disrespect. The first storyteller continued, as if he were the guardsman from the story. He acted the part while he spoke. Another stepped out to take over the narration, and together the three men told the story. “The guardsman paused in his work for a moment, as if he were assessing the situation, then continued working. The older man called again, tauntingly.”

  “Hey, Guardsman. Come here.”

  “But the Guardsman continued working. This clearly angered the other man.”

  “Guardsman! I’m talking to you!”

  “As he spoke several other men came from behind the buildings. They surrounded the Guardsman. They just stood watching, waiting. The Guardsman finished loading his wagon, and then tied everything down.”

  “Well, guardsman?”

  “The guardsman turned to face the men who had encircled him. He knew what was likely to happen; many men despised the Guard and their families for their trust in the dragons and were often unkind to them. They were of the opinion that dragons were mindless beasts that should be destroyed for the safety of humankind. The Guardsman knew that he could not fight back if this meeting continued; it was not that he was afraid, or incapable… more that it was against the Dragon Guard Code of Honor. The dragons noticed how the Guardsman took note of number of men surrounding him, and how he listened to the nature around him. He noted how jumpy his horse was, and the reactions of the other animals in the area. He turned his attention to the man who had called out to him at the beginning.”

  “What is it that you want with me, sir?”

  The actor scoffed. “What do I want with you? Ha! Nothing, I want nothing with you.” He motioned around him as he spoke. “We want nothing with you; it’s what we want from you.”

  “The Guardsman knew he was in trouble. He could not back down or run away; however, he also knew retaliation was not an option. So, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and prepared for their attack.

  “Only a blast of pain told him they had struck. Their next blow knocked him to the ground. He landed in a puddle of mud face first, causing pain to spread throughout his face and neck. He did not move. His eyes were swollen shut due to the first blow; it had broken his nose. He lay still, hoping they might think him dead.

  “The dragons watched in silence; they talked amongst themselves, within their minds, about what they were witnessing, and came to the same conclusion. They watched as the grimy man picked up a metal rod from outside the blacksmith’s shop. He drew back his arm in preparation to strike.

  “The fallen Guardsman heard the scrape of metal. His hopes fell. He thought of his wife and two young sons. What would they do without their father? How would she get along without him? He had promised to return; he could not, would not break that promise. His family needed him. Nonetheless, he prepared for the next blow, but the dragons had seen enough. They refused to let a Guardsman die for what they considered no reason. They understood why peace was so important between the three groups. They had not known of these violent attacks in the last year, but now they understood that these attacks must come to an end. The Dragon Guard had formed a long time ago as a source of protection for the dragons, and in the last year they had forgotten why, something for which the Guard was paying the consequence. Therefore, the dragons realized that the Guard was essential and neither of the other groups could survive without them.

  What the dragons did not understand, however, was why the rest of mankind did not see this. It was decided that in order for the Dragon Guard to protect dragonkind, dragons must protect the Guard in return, as they should have all along. So, the oldest of the dragons left his place in the woods and walked up to the group. The rest also left the trees, but stayed close to the tree line. With a low growl, the oldest allowed himself to be seem, followed by the rest.” Here, more actors leapt from hiding to act as the dragons, much to the delight of the children.

  “He stood behind the gang of men, casting his large shadow over them. They turned around and started as they saw the dragons. The eldest dragon spoke for all to hear.”

  “Enough! This has gone on long enough. If we had known of these attacks, we would have put an end to them long ago.”

  “He moved to stand protectively over the injured man, and growled at the gang. This unexpected arrival and announcement sent them running. They dropped their we
apons, yelling the whole way. The dragon spoke again, this time to the injured man.”

  “We will speak to your commander.”

  “Then with extreme care and caution he curled one large paw around the injured man. Then he projected his next words to the other four dragons. Bring his wagon and animal… and be careful with them. The only thing that told him his orders were carried out was the frightened screams of the horse.”

  Confused, a small boy raised his hand. The storyteller who was narrating paused and went to the boy. He said kindly, “Ask your question, son.”

  The little boy looked at the man and asked, “What do you mean by pro-ject-ed?” He stumbled over the word.

  The narrator smiled and answered him so that he and the other small children could understand. “He spoke to them with his mind. Dragons can do that; they don’t have to speak out loud to each other if they don’t want to.” The boy looked at him skeptically. He laughed and said, “If you don’t believe me, ask Chekal.” The boy turned to look at the building where the dragons slept and did not interrupt again. The narrator continued.

  “The dragons flew from Pycan village to Pycan Peak, the smallest peak on the mountain. This was the legendary home of Pycan himself; he was the dragon who had convinced their king to agree to the treaty, and it was here that the Dragon Guard of Pycan village lived. As the dragons flew over the tiny village-like settlement, they heard exclamations from below. A moment later they spotted a clearing just large enough for the five dragons, their loads, and several of the Guardsmen.