Dragon In The Darklands

by Bruce Leslie

  The Templar said, “The Skythe have people they refer to as shaman.” He asked, “Would you prefer that term?”

  Meena shook her head again. “That word sounds to masculine. The crone assured me only women can bear this power.”

  The Templar looked at Meena and grinned with only one side of his mouth. “We have a word in Ylatong for a woman who is wise and strong, a woman who is a leader and protector.”

  “And what is that word?” asked Meena.

  The Templar added the other side of his mouth to the grin. “Sophia.”

  Meena frowned and shook her head. “I think not, witch will be fine.”

  The Templar nodded in agreement. “So, what makes these three kinds of witches distinct?”

  “They are distinguished by the animals with which they commune,” answered Meena. “Water witches commune with fish and other animals of the water, woods witches commune with beasts of fur and feather, and the dragon witches commune with scaled creatures, like snakes.”

  “And you are one of these witches?” asked the Templar.

  “Yes…” Meena hesitated. “At least, I think I am.”

  The Lump narrowed his eyes and leaned forward with one hand planted on his thick thigh. “Meena, come on girl, you know you are.”

  Meena nodded. “Yes, as I said before, I am a woods witch.”

  The Templar scribbled with his quill, then lifted his gaze back to Meena. “And back in your land, there are other witches?”

  “No,” answered Meena. She paused and shrugged. “Well, I don’t know of any others, but if the Molga had one of each they could survive in that terrible forest.”

  “Yes.” The Templar nodded his head slowly. “But, if the witches could not be found, the Molga would struggle.”

  Meena leaned forward. “That may be why they left.”

  “You speak of the ascension?” The Templar held the end of his quill to the corner of his mouth. “You think they ascended because they no longer had their priestesses?”

  “I’m not certain,” answered Meena. “I don’t think it was an ascension at all. I think they just left.”

  “Yes, I see,” said the Templar. “I hope we can discuss this further, you are both helping and challenging the Temple of the Sun and Moon with what you say.” He stood up straight and laid his quill on the altar. “At the moment, the Sutton is expecting us, we must go dine.”

  15: Feast

  The party followed the Templar into the xiphos, where he led them toward the feasting hall. Flynn opted to leave his bow in the temple, as Meena did with her staff, but the Lump kept his small sword on his hip, though he did remove his leather cap.

  The Templar came to an abrupt stop just before the feasting room’s entry, where two guards in elegant, red tunics stood. They arrived promptly at the requested time, but the feasting hall was already filled with revelers. It appeared that their arrival time had been planned in a fashion that allowed them to make an entrance.

  The Templar spoke a few words to the guards in their native language and one of them stepped inside the room.

  The Lump stole a glance at all the people waiting on the other side of the door and screwed his face up in discomfort. “I didn’t know he would make such a big deal out of a honey-loving supper.”

  The Templar said, “The Sutton is very honored to have you as guests, he wants to share you with the city’s fathers.”

  The Lump grimaced. “Well, it makes me feel like a two-headed goat at the market.”

  The Templar raised his snow-white eyebrows. “You have this thing in your lands?”

  The Lump shrugged. “I don’t know, I’ve never seen one, but if they did it’d draw a crowd.”

  “I see.” The Templar steepled his fingers and held his hands in front of his chest. “The guard will announce me, and I, in turn, will announce each of you in Molgatong.”

  Flynn furrowed his brow. “Will the people in there understand what you’re saying?”

  The Templar smiled and tilted his head. “I think, maybe not, but they will be too proud to confess it. It is our custom to introduce guests in their native words when possible.” He held his hands wide. “We have never before had the chance to introduce in Molgatong, so this thing is new for us all.” His hands dropped to his sides. “I need to verify your titles.”

  The Lump wrinkled his forehead. “I don’t have any titles.”

  Flynn held up a finger. “He calls himself the Dragonblinder on occasion.”

  The Lump squinted one eye. “We’re not starting this mud-kissing foolishness again, are we?”

  The Templar brought a finger to his chin. “So, I have the Lump, the Dragonblinder… and your given name was Olive?”

  The Lump flared his nostrils. “It’s Oliver, Olive is a lady’s name.”

  The Templar arched an eyebrow. “Yes, if you say.” A slight grin crept across his face. “But, I don’t think it is so different from Oliver.”

  Flynn put a hand to his chest. “I am Flynn Flint, formerly of Silverport.”

  Meena nodded toward Flynn. “And you’re the first archer.”

  The Templar’s eyes lit with interest. “Yes, that is a nice title.” He asked, “Of what are you the first archer?”

  Meena answered on Flynn’s behalf. “He is my first archer, first archer of the Common Lands.”

  The Lump held up a thick finger. “Most people call it the Needles, though.”

  Flynn said, “Meena is—”

  “I am just Meena,” Meena interrupted.

  The Templar smiled and nodded his head. “Yes, I have taken careful note of your title, Just Meena.” The Templar turned an ear toward the open doorway. “It is beginning.”

  Unrecognizable words came from the guard inside the chamber, ending with a long, mouthful of letters that were probably the Templar’s given name.

  The Templar stepped through the door and spoke a brief greeting in the local language. In a loud, clear voice, he said, “I give you the Dragonblinder, Oliver the Lump.”

  The Lump sauntered through the door and took in a good look at the people and the feast. The dozen or so attendees were clad in fine, silk robes of a variety of colors. Mostly plump, smiling faces stared at the big man as he stood next to the Templar. He couldn’t help but notice that there were more men than women in attendance. The Sutton sat alone at the head of the long table, and sported a proud grin. No one was eating yet, but an abundance of food sat on the table.

  The Templar held one hand out by his side. “the First Archer of the Common Lands called the Needles, Flynn Flint of Silverport.”

  Flynn stepped into the room, looked about with an expression of uncertainty, then bowed.

  The Templar cleared his throat before making his last introduction. “And finally, the champion of the Common Folk, the Dragon of the Needles, the Chief of the Dragonblinder Clan, and bearer of lost gifts, Meena the Just.”

  Meena wore a scowl as she stepped into the room, clearly perturbed by her lengthy introduction.

  A collective gasp rose from the people in the room as they laid eyes on the young woman.

  The reaction to her entrance only added to Meena’s agitation.

  The Sutton rose from his seat. “Come, come, my guests, sit.” He beckoned toward three empty seats near his own. “I saved you places of honor.”

  The overwhelmed trio made their way toward the Sutton’s position. The curious stares from the people seated around the table did nothing to make them feel more comfortable. The Lump and Flynn took seats beside one another at the end of the table and left the seat directly to the Sutton’s right unoccupied.

  Meena glanced at the empty seat, then looked at the Templar. “Please, take the seat, I’m sure I can find another.”

  The Templar smiled and shook his head. “Though the Sutton treats me with much favor, I am still but a servant. It would not be proper for me to sit, I will stand.”

  The Sutton tapped the empty chair with his hand. “Sit, Meena, I have this p
lace just for you.”

  Meena paused to draw in a deep breath, then sat. She made certain to deliver harsh glares to the Lump and Flynn for taking their seats first.

  The Lump smiled and shrugged. He looked over the table and took in the bounty of food laid out.

  Heaps of boiled crustaceans with deep, red shells were spread on platters that had bowls of yellow liquid placed around them. Large hunks of roasted, brown meat sat on trays of their own, it looked like ox or something similar. Pink slices of what might be pork lay in a massive pile, and large, whole roasted birds with their feathered heads still attached served as a center piece. Clay tureens filled with various dark colored liquids filled into the gaps between the piles of food, the Lump wasn’t sure if they contained broth, stew, or gravy.

  Meena surveyed the food and her mouth became a hard line. “Would you happen to have any fruit? Perhaps some potatoes or turnips, maybe grains or bread?”

  “Yes!” boomed the Sutton. “You shall feast on what you wish!” He clapped his fleshy hands and shouted out commands in his native language.

  Servants seemed to appear from nowhere bearing trays piled with a mixture of dried and fresh fruit, some sort of boiled roots, and a mound of baked bread.

  Meena’s face flushed with embarrassment as the absurd amount of food was piled before her. She frowned and said, “I don’t think I can eat even a quarter of this.”

  “Of course, of course.” The Sutton waved an open hand toward the food. “Take what you like, the Templar will see to the rest.”

  “You’ll make him eat my leftovers?” Meena asked.

  The Templar shook his head. “Not at all, at the temple we will make certain what is not eaten here gets to those who do not have enough food.”

  “Oh,” said Meena, a look of mild surprise on her face. “That is quite noble.”

  The Lump laughed. “That’s not something we’d expect to hear from the kings back home.”

  The Sutton leaned forward. “You have much food like this in your lands?”

  The Lump ran his eyes across the bounty on the table. “Probably, but I’ve never been invited to a feast like this.”

  The Sutton wrinkled his forehead. “Your land, is it…” He looked over his shoulder to the Templar. “Eforos?”

  “Fertile,” said the Templar.

  The Sutton looked back to the Lump. “Is the land fertile? More than here?”

  The Lump furrowed his brow. “I’d say so, I didn’t see much growing when we marched to the city.”

  Flynn nodded his agreement. “There is plenty of fruit that grows wild.”

  The Lump added, “And patches that grow potatoes and turnips, maybe some radishes.”

  Flynn put a hand on his chin. “There is also ample game, and fish in the streams.”

  The Sutton leaned back and held out his hands. “It sounds like Cielo itself!” He flashed a wry smirk. “But, you do not have bronze dragons like the ones I showed you.”

  “Those things that sound like thunder?” The Lump shook his head. “We don’t have anything like that.”

  “Yes,” said the Sutton. “They are a new creation, but they break apart when used.”

  “You need a more durable metal,” said Flynn, as if the answer was obvious.

  The Sutton opened his eyes wide. “You have metal like this?”

  Flynn shrugged. “We mine several metals in Silverport, but a sturdy iron, like they use in Gallis, would work best.”

  “They have this metal where you come from?” The Sutton crossed his arms. “You just have to dig it up?”

  Flynn shrugged. “Miners dig it, people like my father trade it, and smiths forge it into items to sell.”

  “I must go to this place and trade for strong metal,” said the Sutton.

  Meena frowned. “Unfortunately, you may find they are not kind to strangers.”

  “That is sad,” said the Sutton. “In Ylam, all we know is kindness.”

  “Is kindness why you forged your dragons?” asked Meena.

  The Sutton laughed. “I am but a curious man, I wanted to see if it could be done.” He took a long swig from his goblet. “But I do not want to talk of Ylam, I want to feast!”

  At the Sutton’s words, everyone began to partake of the impressive feast. Laughing and chatter filled the room as its inhabitants enjoyed the occasion. Diligent servants saw to it that cups were never empty and food remnants never piled too high.

  After everyone had their fill of the meat, fish, and fowl, trays of cakes, pies, and pastries came out. The Lump watched with amazement and wondered how people could possibly eat all this.

  The Sutton leaned forward, a broad smile on his face. “…And you came here by floating across the water, this can be done?”

  “Yes.” Flynn pushed away his plate, unable to eat any more. “It wasn’t pleasant, but we did it.”

  “So fantastic!” The Sutton tapped himself on the chest. “You must teach me how to build a boat like this.”

  The Lump chuckled and shook his head. “We didn’t build it, a smith in Gallis did that.”

  “I will tell my craftsman about this,” said the Sutton. “Perhaps, they can make such a thing.” He slid his chair back from the table. “But first, I must speak some words.”

  The crowd fell silent as the Sutton stood. Everyone stopped eating and all eyes were on the feast’s host.

  The Sutton spread his arms wide. “I bring you all to this feast to meet my new friends.”

  The Templar took a step forward and spoke in the local words. He appeared to be translating for those with poor grasp of Molgatong.

  The Sutton pointed a hand at Flynn. “This noble man is an archer of great acclaim, and has much knowledge of metals.”

  Flynn shifted in his seat and tried to avoid the onlooking eyes.

  The Sutton swung his hand to the Lump. “And this man is so big! I see him and I tell him he should command armies, but he tells me he is peaceful.”

  The Lump felt the burden of everyone’s attention. He nodded his head and gave an awkward wave.

  The Sutton turned to face Meena and clasped his hands. “And this woman’s beauty is unlike any other. I see her and think I am asleep, this one must be from a dream.” He lowered himself onto one knee. “Meena, I must have you for my bride.”

  16: Kozal

  Flynn’s face blanched to snow white with the unexpected declaration.

  Meena’s face turned red, though it was unclear whether it was a blush of embarrassment or a flush of anger.

  The Lump simply wrinkled his face in confusion.

  Meena narrowed her eyes. “I did not come here to discuss matters such as this.”

  The Sutton rose back to his feet. “You must hear me, Ylam is a grand city, but I want to build an empire.”

  Meena crossed her arms and sighed.

  The Sutton held his left hand out by his side. “There is much desert to the West, nothing is there to explore.” His left hand fell and his right one lifted. “To the East, there are the Skythe, and the monsters in the jungle.” He clasped his hands. “With my dragons, I can bring civilization to the Skythe, and tame the monsters. I will forge the Empire of the Sun and Moon.” He knelt again and looked at Meena. “I can have you by my side, as my Empress.”

  Flynn shoved his seat back and stood. “Meena, you’re too young to be married!”

  The Sutton turned his face toward Flynn. “I am only asking for a betrothal, we can marry when her age is proper.”

  Meena pressed her hands against the edge of the table. “Flynn, I appreciate your concern, but I speak for myself.”

  Flynn’s pale face grew long. “Meena, you can’t be considering this!”

  The Sutton held his hands wide. “Look at how grand all of this is, this would be yours, and more.”

  Meena said, “It is true that you have been a kind and gracious host, and your city is most impressive, but the issue at the heart of the matter is that I don’t know you.” She crossed her arms
. “What makes you think I would agree to marry a stranger?”

  The Lump laughed and slapped his knee. “I hate to tell you, Your Majesty, but there’s no making Meena do nothing she don’t want to do.”

  The Sutton brought his hands together. “Yes, I am strange to you now, but you can stay in my xiphos as an honored guest. You can learn the ways of my court and experience my kindness. In time, you will know me well, and then, perhaps, you will grow to love me.” He waved a hand toward the Lump. “Your big friend can stay as your protector.” He swung his hand in Flynn’s direction. “Your little friend can take word back to your lands.”

  Flynn pulled back his shoulders and stuck his chest out. “I’m not little!”

  The Lump shook his head and wagged a finger. “What makes you think we want to stick around here? I’ve got my own honey-loving business to attend!” He planted a big thumb in the center of his chest. “There’s a town back in Aardland that needs looking after.”

  Meena nodded. “I need to make certain King Ferte keeps his word and withdraws his footmen from the Common Lands.”

  “Yes, of course.” The Sutton displayed a wide smile, showing no signs of discouragement. “I have diplomats, I have spearmen, I have riches. We can do all these things together, with you as my Empress.”

  “My parents are refugees in a ruined city,” said Meena. “I need to return and see to them.”

  The Lump’s hair flopped as he nodded with enthusiasm. “And I need to make sure my dim-witted friend hasn’t been robbed blind by bandits.”

  “And I need to…” Flynn drew his brows together. “I need to go with them.”

  The Sutton held one hand up by his shoulder. “And your boat is waiting for you? It is ready to go across the water?”

  “It’s waiting for us, alright,” answered the Lump.

  Flynn shrugged. “It could stand a few repairs before we set out.”

  The Lump nodded. “And last time we saw it, there were two mud-kissing monsters around it.”