by Nathan Roden
The men seemed temporarily confused about where to aim their cannon next.
Three archers lined up their arrows to track Simon. The others moved the cannon toward the dragon on the ground.
Move, Simon willed the dragon. Take to the sky!
The dragon stood its ground. It thrashed its head left and then right in a constant barrage of angry fire. The dragon seemed willing to do anything to protect its home.
It is little wonder that they die. Is it stubbornness? Are they so occupied by fury that they do not recognize danger?
This dragon was going to die. And soon.
Simon circled again. His eyes focused on the cannon.
Dragon. Or men. I have never been forced to choose between them. What I am I doing?
Simon did not have the time to contemplate his actions. Or their consequences.
He lowered his head and beat his wings three times. And then he tucked them into his sides.
He struck the side of the cannon with his head and shoulder as men scattered and cursed. Some reloaded their bows quickly as Simon flew away. Arrows bounced off his back but three of them pierced his wings. Another hit near his chest, sending a sharp blast of pain through his body that temporarily blinded him.
Simon winced. He made another turn and looked down. The other dragon had not moved away from the door of the cave.
“What is wrong with you?”
The night sky swallowed Simon’s bewildered scream.
The men had already righted the cannon. One of the wheels was broken.
“Ha!” Simon screamed down at them. “You are not so fearsome without your toys, are you?”
But the men had not given up on their weapon.
Simon watched the barrel of the cannon rise. It was pointed right at him. He raised his wing to turn
Thooom!!!
Another cannonball flew past Simon. He was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he discovered that the ball was not his only problem.
The cannonball had heavy chains and heavy ropes attached to it. The ends were heavily weighted, forming a powerful snare that spun so fast it was almost impossible to see.
The snare hit Simon’s right wing and pinned it against his body. It also bound both of his rear legs.
He was in the sky and completely helpless.
Simon looked below him. He was over the edge of the forest.
Maybe the fall won’t kill me.
But the men will.
Forty-One
Simon quit struggling. There was nothing he could do now. In the last seconds he thought of the friends he would leave behind.
Boone. Helena. Lord and Lady Lamont.
And Queen Jaclyn Lamont Morgenwraithe; the girl he loved. The girl who had never seen his real face.
And never would.
Simon closed his eyes. He hit the tops of the trees. He bounced from side to side, from small branch to larger branch. He felt only the first few before the pains converged and he had no idea where they came from.
And then he stopped.
But he was still breathing. The snare caught on some of the lower limbs. This left him hanging upside down. He could hear the men yelling at each other as they drew closer.
With some of the last of his strength Simon used his foreleg to free himself from the tree. He toppled to the ground and rolled out into the clearing. He lay on his side and watched the torches bounce along the horizon toward him.
The night exploded in bright light. The light of fire.
The men did not see the assault coming from the sky. They did not have time to cover themselves with their shields. And though their helmets and armor afforded them a great deal of protection it was no match for a direct assault from a full-grown and angry dragon.
Five of the men screamed. They fell to their knees and pulled at their helmets but it was too late for them.
The other men swore and scattered.
“Who was supposed to stay with her?”
Simon heard one of the men say.
“We had the bitch pinned down!”
Her? Simon thought.
The dragon made another pass. The men tucked behind their shields. One of them was not quick enough, and he exited the earth. His screams became a memory that would haunt his friends forever.
“Fall back!” one of the men shouted.
“We’re leaving the one in the snare?” one man replied.
“He’s as good as dead!”
The men ducked behind their shields again as the dragon passed.
“Dead men cannot spend gold. Get to the woods. Now!”
Seconds later, the night was silent. The only sound came from the swaying branches, some wood crickets, and the crackling of a dying fire.
Simon pushed against the snares with his remaining strength. The snares did not budge.
I am alive. But, for how long? Until I starve? Or until…
There was still a threat out there. And she was coming.
The ground rumbled when the dragon landed. It loosed a low growl. Black smoke poured from its nostrils. It stepped toward the helplessly bound dragon on the forest floor.
Simon didn’t dare speak. How would the dragon react to hearing one of its kind speaking the language of a man?
Not well, would be my guess.
The dragon stepped cautiously toward him. It paused with every step, turning its head to look and listen.
Is it going to kill me? Simon thought. That would be a fitting end.
The dragon lowered its head. It sniffed him.
Simon closed his eyes.
This could be horrible. Please make it quick.
Nothing happened for one second. Two seconds.
Simon opened one eye.
The dragon opened its jaws
And snapped at the ropes and chains of the snare.
Simon pushed himself up. He sat on his haunches and breathed a sigh. He opened his mouth and quickly snapped it shut.
He had almost said “Thank you”.
The other dragon turned its head and screeched. It turned its head the other direction and screeched again. Simon had no idea what that meant if anything at all.
The dragon turned around and walked several paces. It turned its head to face him and screeched again.
Follow you? Simon thought.
Simon walked behind the dragon. It stopped one more time to see if he was following. It screeched again.
The dragon stepped into the mouth of the cave. Simon stopped. He had no idea what to do next. The dragon turned and screeched before disappearing inside the cave.
Simon sighed.
“This could be a mistake,” he whispered to himself. “But this creature saved my life.”
Simon ducked his head and stepped into the cave.
The dragon nuzzled her nose against two baby dragons. They were only about four feet tall.
Now, it makes sense, Simon thought. A mother, protecting her—
Simon looked into the corner of the cave and saw the pieces of broken eggshells.
One. Two.
Three.
Simon closed his eyes. He saw a vision of the bound and crying baby dragon—and the ax swinging down to its neck. He would never forget that vision.
Simon watched the mother with her children. His heart was tortured.
How is this any different from a woman with her children? Why do we have to kill each other? Is it impossible—that we could exist together—in peace?
Yes. It is impossible, he thought, sadly.
He turned and walked out of the cave.
The dragon screeched behind him. Simon stopped and turned around.
The mother dragon walked up to Simon and laid her head against his chest. They stayed that way for several seconds.
She stood back and looked into the sky. She screeched loudly.
Simon looked up and saw the reason.
There was another dragon coming.
A very, very, big dragon.
Simon was
sore and hurting, but he knew that it was time to go.
Forty-Two
Simon saw the lone campfire that belonged to Lord Lamont and his group. He circled overhead once and landed in the nearest clearing.
He walked up on the two sentries.
“Hello!” he called out. “I come in peace!”
“We saw you.”
“Come forward, dragon-friend.”
Simon walked between the sentries.
One sentry looked at the other.
“Your Grace—you were attacked?”
“Yes,” Simon said. “Nothing serious.”
“But, you…you took arrows.”
“Yes,” Simon said.
“I will see to him, guardians of Islemar,” Lady Magdalena said. “Return to your watch, please.”
“Yes, My Lady,” the sentries bowed their heads and backed away.
Simon started to walk past Magdalena, but she put up her hands and stopped him.
“You have an arrow protruding from beneath your…leg. Do you think it best that the others see that?”
Simon lowered his head and tried to see.
“I thought there were three of them. Two must have fallen out. I can’t even feel it.”
“Good for you,” Magdalena said. “After last night, do you think these men need any more reason to believe that our quest is doomed?”
Simon snorted.
“I needed to burn off some frustration. As luck would have it, I found myself involved with a party of hunters. That is not unusual in the Southlands.”
“Dragon hunters?” Magdalena asked.
“Yes.”
“How could they have learned of your presence this quickly?”
“They were not hunting for me.”
“There are…there are others?” Magdalena asked.
“Keep your voice down,” Simon said.
“But why…”
Magdalena stepped toward Simon.
“Have me made a horrible mistake—coming here? Is our quest to make allies only a hopeless dream?”
“I cannot believe that,” Simon said.
“We only have Helena’s word—” Magdalena said.
“No,” Simon said. “We are small in number. But we are very large of heart. What men would not draw inspiration from the Blankenship brothers? Or Lord Lamont and his men? Or even the mysterious magic man who gave us the chance to escape.”
Simon lowered his head and stared into Magdalena’s eyes.
“Was he a man, or was he an angel? He sent fire into the sky and brought judgment down upon that village. Do you know who he is?”
“How can you ask me such a thing?” Magdalena asked.
“For some reason, I have always found it difficult to trust magic,” Simon said. “For now, I must speak to Lord Lamont.”
“Not with an arrow under your arm,” Magdalena said.
“It is a leg.”
“Wiggle your toes, then. Move it.”
Simon raised his head into the air and coughed a blast of fire. He raised his leg.
Magdalena grabbed the shaft of the arrow.
“Be quick about it,” Simon said.
“Turn your head,” she said.
Simon did.
Magdalena uttered some words and pulled on the arrow. It came out easily.
Simon was silent for as long as he could bear.
He lit up the night sky with a blast of fire and a roar. He sat down hard, breathing heavily.
Magdalena stepped beside him. She patted his side.
“That wasn’t so bad.”
Simon said nothing.
“You big baby,” Magdalena said.
Simon pushed himself to his feet.
“Thank you,” he said.
“These other dragons—did you see them?” Magdalena asked.
Simon shook his head.
“Only a glimpse. They were quick.”
His feelings about the mother dragon and her babies confused him. He did not expect anyone else to understand.
“I need to speak to Lord Lamont,” Simon said. “Are you coming?”
Magdalena sighed and followed.
Simon met Boone, Helena and Ben at the edge of the camp. Lamont joined them.
“Did you see anything that will be of use to us?” Lamont asked.
“I am not sure of their weaponry,” Simon said. “But I saw one cannon.”
“A cannon?” Lamont said. “Was in near Drakal?”
“No,” Simon said. “It was well outside of any village—a rogue group of hunters, perhaps.”
“Hunting with a cannon?” Lamont said. “What might they be—oh…”
There was an uncomfortable silence.
“I will send a team of scouts into Drakal,” Lamont said.
“No,” Simon said. “There is no time.”
“No time for scouts?” Lamont asked. “It would not be wise to enter the village without—”
Simon stared at Magdalena.
“We have a much more efficient means of surveying the village.”
“What are you talking about?” Lamont asked.
Magdalena swore under her breath.
“I have a limited amount of trust among this group—and you wish for me to destroy that?”
“What is she talking about?” Lamont asked.
“We are running out of time and options,” Simon said, “We must use what talents we have. Lord Lamont, the lady has a little secret to share.”
Forty-Three
Magdalena sighed.
“Very well. Turn around.”
“Why must I…if there are more parlor tricks to see, I am quite capable of—”
Nicolas Lamont did not finish his statement.
Magdalena lowered her hands to the ground and became the wolf.
“Great Vehallion’s ghost,” Lamont could only manage a whisper.
“A much faster and efficient scout, Lord Lamont,” Simon said.
Lamont continued to stare at the wolf. He nodded his head slowly.
“Boone and Benjamin will leave soon,” Lamont said. “To search for Ben’s child.”
“I’m going with them,” Simon said.
Lamont blinked rapidly.
“What? Drakal may be our only hope to form a base of allies—!”
“The people of Drakal were already friends of Helena’s people. She should prove to be a valuable asset. We will not be more than two days. If you find friendly ears then you will have time to prepare them for my arrival. We’ll wait on the north side of the village to hear from you. You can send—”
“The wolf,” Lamont said.
Lamont took a step toward the wolf. She took a step backward.
“Please, My Lady,” Lamont said. “I certainly do not think less of you. If fact, it is if I have learned that one of my officers has an ability I did not know of.”
Lamont took another step. He patted the wolf on the head and scratched behind her ears.
Lamont snatched his hand away.
“I’m sorry. That seems…inappropriate, somehow.”
Simon struggled to keep from laughing.
“Two days, then,” he said.
The wolf turned and ran away from the camp, and toward Drakal.
“Amazing,” Lamont said.
“She is amazing,” Simon said. “But please do not refer to her as ‘magnificent’.”
“Aye,” Lamont growled. “I never want to hear that word again.”
Ben and Boone approached.
“You seem… different, somehow,” Ben said to Simon. “Have you cut your hair?”
“Ben,” Boone said. “I have known Simon for years. I have made the same joke more than once.”
“More than once?” Simon said. “If I had a gold piece for every time you’ve said that to me, I could—”
“You could what?” Boone asked. “Become the king? Fat chance of that happening.”
“I’m coming with you,” Simon said. “Actually, to be more exact,
you are coming with me.”
“But…what about Drakal?” Boone asked.
“My presence did not endear us to the people of Vallen. We can reach the southern border within two hours and make our way north from there. How many villages are there between the border and Drakal, Ben?”
“Two.”
“What are they called?”
“It depends on who is currently in power. The last I heard, a man named Black controlled the border village.”
Simon exhaled, billowing black smoke. He stretched out his wings.
Boone stared at the fresh wound on Simon’s chest. He looked over the rest of him. He made note of two holes in his wings.
“We should go before Helena finds out that you are coming with us,” Boone said. “I don’t want to have to go through that argument again.”
“I will tell her that you have gone with them,” Lamont said. “After a little time has passed, of course. I believe she will be glad to know you are with them.”
“Yes,” Boone said. “To protect me.”
“Or the other way around,” Simon said.
Simon, Boone, and Ben walked toward a nearby clearing.
“You’re injured,” Boone said. “Where did this happen? And why didn’t you mention it to Lamont?”
“It was…it was no one who might be a threat to anyone other than me.”
“Then why the need for secrecy?” Ben asked. “Our group is small. If we cannot trust each other, then we are doomed.”
Simon looked away.
“It was hunters.”
“Why would you engage hunters?” Ben asked.
“I could have killed something for you, Simon,” Boone said. “This is not the time to risk—”
“What are you talking about?” Ben asked. “You have to do the hunting—for a dragon?”
Boone shifted on his feet and looked at the ground.
“It is not really that simple—”
Simon raised his head and blew fire high into the air.