After a bit of pondering and pacing, I couldn’t resist any longer and took a bath. I had to use a hand pump to get the water going, but I think that strange container above the tub actually heated the water. The red stones started to glow as warm water came flowing into the tub. It felt so good to be in clean warm water. I began to feel a bit guilty since my friends might still be locked away, but those metal golems didn’t seem like they wanted me to leave, so I figured I might as well wash up. I heard the door open from the guest room and then quickly close.
I grabbed a towel, dried off and peeked out the bathroom door, “Hello?” There was no answer. By the door laid a neat stack of clothing. Okay, now this was weird. I wrapped the towel around myself and inspected the clothes. I saw thick cloth shoes, a red bath robe that was a bit too fancy for my taste, and simple cloth shorts. I scratched my head and put on the clean set of clothes.
An hour had passed and I just paced back and forth. I opened the door but saw one of the armored golems standing there. Yeah, I was not going to mess with that guy. I stood in the doorway and tried to stare down the hallway. I saw Teltar at the far end being led toward me. I waved, but he just looked at me with a bit of confusion and sleepiness in his expression. The golem led him into the first room on the other side of the hallway.
Bolam was next after a few more minutes and just looked at me with shock in his eyes as he saw me. He appeared too dumbfounded to speak. The golem moved him into the room next to Teltar’s. This was getting really weird. I then saw Talestria at the far end by the entry way to the dungeon. She pointed at her golem and then back down toward the dungeon. She looked at me and appeared surprised and quickly ran down into the dungeon. Things just kept getting stranger and stranger.
A few more minutes passed and Jerak was dragged down the hallway. “Hey! Blake!” he shouted. At least he was speaking.
I waved at him, “Jerak! What is going on?”
Jerak looked at me, “What is with the robe?” I looked down and shrugged. Jerak shrugged back and was moved into the room next to Bolam’s. I could hear Jerak saying something out loud but it was too muffled behind the door to be understood. I saw Talestria once more. She just glanced my way and quickly moved up the main stairs.
I laid in my bed, too confused by the current situation to even think of sleeping. There was a window in the room, but it was much too dark to even see what was out there. The window itself had a sturdy iron frame and looked too hard to break out of. Even if I broke out, I might have been hunted down. I still wondered why I was kept in such a fancy room and why she seemed so afraid of me? My thoughts were interrupted a knock at my door.
I opened the door and saw a different kind of Golem. This one looked more like hardened clay and had no defining facial features other than two glowing eyes. It was much smaller than the armored ones and held a note in its hand. I reached for the note and it readily let go and took a step back. The note was written by someone with far better penmanship than I could ever achieve.
It took me a few minutes to decipher it all. I was quite proud that I had become somewhat literate in this language, but it still took me some time to read through it. It said, “I am sorry for my rudeness earlier. I welcome you to have dinner with me upstairs. My golem will show you the way. Your friends are safe, and I hope you are not upset with me.” It was signed, “Talestria.” She invited me to dinner? The clay golem turned its back to me and waited for me to follow. I took a deep breath and followed.
I followed the golem upstairs and to the right. The upper floor was bordered by hallways at each end. I was lead down the right wing and through a double door. The golem opened the door for me and stood there politely as I passed through. Inside was a large dining hall with a huge wooden table and two chairs on each side. The table was set with silver eating utensils and fancy candles. At the far side sat Talestria, who was trying not to look at me.
The clay golem even pulled out the chair for me and pushed me closer to the table as I sat down. Yet another golem entered from another room with a large silver kettle and poured me some sweet smelling tea. I felt obligated to thank the golems but I was sure they didn’t care nor even understand. “It is good tea…” Talestria spoke quietly from the other end of the table. I looked at her and smiled, “Thank you.” Her eyes went wide and she looked away and sipped her tea.
There was a moment of awkward silence until our meals were served by two clay golems. The food smelled delicious and I could see the steam rising fromit. The golem served me a generous helping of fried fish with fried potatoes and a few other vegetables that I had never seen and part of a loaf of fresh baked bread. After eating dried food for several days, this looked wonderful! I smiled, “Wow this looks great!”
Talestria quietly answered, “Thank you…” in a meek tone.
I looked back at her; there was something odd about her. I felt intimidated because of all the stories I had heard about her and because she was quite attractive. She was well dressed including fancy jewelry, from two sets of earrings at each of her long and pointed ears, down to a few expensive-looking rings on her fingers. It looked like something was bothering her, and she had trouble keeping eye contact with me. I was feeling very nervous and had trouble looking her in the eye as well and then a thought hit me… did she like me?!
Her grey skin and copper-colored eyes didn’t detract from her attractiveness. I almost felt stupid for not noticing until now! Goosebumps covered my body as I took several deep breaths. There was no way she would like me! I was not a bad looking guy, but I was by no means any kind of male model! She finally spoke, “So how is the food?”
I swallowed hard and felt even more nervous now that I knew, “Oh it is very good!”
She smiled shyly, “That is good…”
I took a deep breath and spoke, “Thank you for the hospitality.” She smiled, and I could see she was blushing. Holy crap! She did like me!
My thoughts scattered all over the place. I began to wonder why she liked me. I thought she might be more into her own kind and not some weird human like me… if I even counted as a human anymore. She finally spoke again after an awkward silence, “Are you really from another world?”
I nodded, “Yes…”
She smiled back, “Your friend told me you have the ability to heal and resist magic.”
I looked away, “Yeah… apparently, I don’t age and I am also immune to curses, which is why I am able to wear the Dragon Armor.” She started to grin and appeared to be really happy to hear that. I looked back at her and she just bit her lower lip and sighed.
I finally finished my meal and sat there, trying to think of something to ask her, ““So… How are things here?” I sort of cringed at asking something so lame.
“It is fine I guess… it is just me living here…” She sounded a little sad. I looked at her, “Why do you live alone?” She looked at me with a little surprise, “You really don’t know, do you?”
She took a deep breath, “The dark elves… well most of them have tan skin while only a few bear the grey skin.” I raised one of my eyebrows and waited for her to continue. Talestria stared down at her empty plate, “The grey-skinned dark elves were of royal blood but my blood line is cursed.” She bit her lower lip, “Long ago near the end of the war between my people and the elves… my family was cursed for slaying one of the Silthrym… I am the only one left.”
I stared at her and couldn’t help but feel sorry for her, “What do you mean by cursed?”
Talestria held her breath and suppressed her sadness, “The curse… well… anyone I have fallen… for… dies.” She shed a single tear which kind of made me shed one too, “Even the other dark elves feared me cause of my curse. I have lived here for a long time alone with my studies only making trips to the city when I need supplies. It is lonely to be the object of fear.” Wow, I hadn’t heard any of that. Her problems made mine seem almost insignificant by comparison. I felt really bad for her. She wiped a tear from her eye and smiled
, “You are immune to curses, right?” I swallowed hard and nodded.
She stood up from her seat and smiled. I took a few deep breaths and stood up from mine. Talestria then spoke in an excited tone as if she were a child with a new friend, “Want me to show you around?”
I smiled back, “Sure.”
She grinned and walked toward me, “Come!” I stared at her as she walked through the double doors. This was really crazy…
I followed Talestria toward the other hall. She occasionally turned her head to see that I was still behind her. She blushed each time she saw me which was really cute. Once we passed the first series of doors she explained, “Down to the right is the library. I have a vast collection of magical tomes and historic documents that been treasured among the dark elves and elves alike!” I peeked in and saw countless books on shelves that covered every wall and stacked neatly on tables, “Wow!” She looked back and smiled.
“This room on the left is a bit of a mess…” she pointed out. Inside that room was a clutter of old objects including paintings, small statues and bits of random relics that any antique buff would go crazy for. We walked through another pair of doors, “The door on the right is still part of the library and that on the left is my room, which has a balcony that overlooks the courtyard.” I peeked in. The room was much larger than my guest room and quite filled with furniture and personal items that showed it was well lived in. She stopped at the last door at the end of the hallway, “This is the studio where I sometimes write and relax.” That room held a few potted plants and fancy scenic paintings with a large fancy wooden desk. There was also a large window that might display a great view if it wasn’t so dark outside.
She stopped and turned around right in front of me, “That is the upstairs…” Her face turned red as she stood only a few inches from mine. My heart just seemed to stopped as we stood there for a long time without saying anything. Finally, she exhaled and turned her head, “I guess we should go downstairs…” I looked away and nodded. My heart started to beat once again.
We walked down the stairs and she pointed toward the hallway where my friends were, “Those are the extra bed rooms.” She looked at a golem whom was standing down the hall and tilted her head toward the doors. The golem instantly understood and opened all the doors where my friends were held. Only Jerak and Bolam came walking out. “Hey! There you are!” Jerak spoke. Bolam and Jerak saw who was with me and stood still.
Talestria smiled at them, “Sorry for the trouble guys… um, feel free to go upstairs to the dining room and have dinner.”
Jerak smiled and jogged down the hall to the stairs. Bolam took a few steps, “Thank you…” He looked into the room that Teltar was in, “Hey get up Teltar!” I laughed, which caused Talestria to giggle.
“Oh, let me show you my lab!” Talestria said cheerfully as she led me to the door that went down to the dungeon. I followed her down since I felt comfortable that she wouldn’t do anything bad to me. We walked past the shackles and small cell. She lowered her head, “I am sorry about that… I thought you guys were thieves.”
I smiled, “Don’t worry; I understand.” She smiled at me and just stared into my eyes. I felt a bit nervous and bit my lower lip. Now I was the shy one.
We walked past the stone hall and into a large room with large tables and shelves. It almost looked like some kind of lab that a mad scientist would keep. There was even a table full of flasks and other glass tubes containing different colored liquids. There was a table with iron restraints that had a burned mark in the middle of it. “I am trying to learn alchemy… I am not very good,” she commented sounding a little embarrassed. I just stared at the burn mark on that table. She looked over then and smiled, “Oh don’t worry… I only test my stuff on choguls or those that try to break in.” I just scratched my head, not sure whether to feel reassured or worried.
She walked me over to another table with a large leather bound book opened to a diagram that looked like one of the armored golems, “This is where I make my golems. The clay and iron ones I made long ago. The stone one you saw earlier was made by my father long ago.”
I stared at the drawing which detailed a ton of information on dimensions and other notes, “You are really talented!”
She blushed, “Naw… I just have a lot of free time.” She looked around and shrugged, “Well, that is it for the tour. It is too dark outside to show you the courtyard.” Once again there was the awkward silence.
Talestria glanced at me, “Do you… um. know many girls?” I could tell she regretted saying that about halfway through.
I took a deep breath, “Uh… no I’ve never really had a girlfriend before.”
She looked at me with a mixture of surprise and happiness on her face, “Really? I thought someone like yourself…” she stopped herself and began to blush-a lot. Goosebumps covered my body once more.
She spoke again, “I guess you guys came this way to get the cuirass, since it is part of the Dragon Armor.”
I shrugged, “I didn’t even know you had it.”
She looked down at the ground, “Yeah, I have it…”
I smiled at her, “Well… that is great, but…”
She sighed, “You can have it…” Talestria sounded almost hurt. Did she think I was using her? I walked to face her, “You don’t have to…”
She looked away, “That is why you came this way, right? You said you are collecting the full se,t right?”
I stared at her, “Yeah, but… are you okay?” Her eyes welled up with tears, “That is why you came this way, right?”
I shook my head, “Do you think we… no! I wouldn’t…”
She sighed, “I am sorry. I don’t know if you like me or just want my armor…” She quickly covered her mouth and looked stunned that she had been so direct.
Talestria held her breath and turned, “I am sorry! I didn’t mean to say that! It is just stupid…”
I could feel my heart stopping as I spoke, “I do like you…” I took a deep breath and stared into her eyes. She stared back. I was not sure if it was a burst of courage or just instinct, but I leaned in and closed my eyes. I could feel her lips pressed against mine.
There was an overwhelming feeling flowing through me as I wrapped my arms around her. Our lips pressed against each other as I felt nothing but total bliss. This was my first kiss and I can hardly describe how great it felt! Her arms wrapped around me and we shared an incredible embrace. This feeling was truly wonderful!
Eventually we both leaned our heads back and opened our eyes. Talestria stared at me with her mouth opened slightly. We just stared into each other’s eyes and could truly sense the mutual attraction. She had beautiful eyes, and I felt like I could just gaze into them forever. I felt lightheaded and couldn’t think of anything else. She moved her hands to the sides of my face and spoke quietly, “You have pretty eyes…” Then we kissed again.
After our kiss we slowly walked back out of the dungeon. We held hands and even a dark and dreary dungeon felt like a wonderful place to be. Talestria and I walked into the main room and felt no need to say anything. I just felt blissful as we still held hands and we walked up stairs and towards the dining hall.
The guys all sat at the table and ate happily. They appeared pleased to have a well-cooked mea. Bolam turned his head and looked at us, “Oh, thank you so much for the fo…” he stopped talking as he noticed that Talestria and I held hands.
Jerak swallowed his food but even he was too surprised to say something. Teltar glanced over and then went back to his meal without a care. Talestria smiled, “I hope you are enjoying yourselves.”
Jerak nodded, “Yes, miss!”
Talestria looked over and then turned to me, “Let’s go outside.”
I didn’t care about the stares we got as we walked out of the dining hall hand in hand. She and I walked down the stairs and through the large double doors that led outside. The air was damp and cloudy, but we didn’t care. A tall lamp lit up as we walked i
nto the courthouse. There was a small stable that could hold a wagon and a horse. The whole courtyard was protected by a tall stone wall. The front held a small gate house with two large doors that would fit a large wagon. Guarding it stood two iron golems that would be intimidating enough to keep intruders out. Inside the courtyard was a fancy cobble-stone road and to the left was a large tree and a small garden with a stone bench.
Talestria and I sat on the bench, just cuddling for who knows how long. For the first time I met a girl that had strong feelings for me, while I felt the same way about her. We had just met and I still had to get to know her much more before I could even think that L word, but just then I knew I really liked her. She rested her head on my shoulder, “You are going to collect all the Dragon Armor, right?”
I put my arm around her, “Yeah… but let’s not worry about that now.”
The two of us sat there until I could hear Talestria snoring softly on my lap. I sat admiring her and gently moved her hair away from her long ears. I quietly enjoyed the blissful feeling, at least until she started to drool. I just laughed and she finally awoke with a half-dazed look on her face, “Huh? Oh, hey…”
I smiled back, “Tired?”
She wiped the drool from her face, “Oh, I am sorry… maybe I should get to bed.” She stood up and stretched a bit and started to walk toward the front door. I got up and quickly jogged over to open the door for her. I still remembered some chivalry. She smiled, gave me a peck on the cheek and walked inside.
The guys sat by the stairs, quietly chatting but stopped when we came back inside. Jerak waved, “Hey, thought you two would fall asleep outside or something.”
Dragon Hero Page 20