by Nathan Roden
“That might explain the changes in Simon. It makes sense that his temperament could change as well. That’s not a problem, as long as he remains…predictable.”
“Simon is changing—without a doubt,” Boone said. “He’s no longer the sad, frightened little boy. And I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“What makes for a better king—a sad little boy? Or an angry dragon?” Helena said.
“Right now? We can use all the ‘angry’ we can get.”
Helena wrapped her arms around herself and sighed.
“He knows what this news means as well as we do. There is only one punishment for treason. They won’t do anything drastic until after the baby is born. But there is precious little time left.”
“I know—”
Boone, Helena, and the rest of the camp fell silent.
The crashing of timber sounded amid the passionate roars of the dragon. The skies filled with his fire until he could make no more.
Sixteen
When the others heard Simon returning from the woods, they scattered throughout the camp.
Everyone except for Caleb. He stood in Simon’s path and waited.
“What is it, Caleb?” Simon asked.
“I don’t know what this is, My Lord. But I am led to give it to you.”
Caleb held up the piece of parchment—the note that Simon had left for Jaclyn. It had been torn in two. Caleb had used magic to put it back together.
Simon recognized the note at once.
“Where did you get this?”
“From the giant’s cloak,” Caleb said.
Simon sighed.
“That explains a lot.”
“Do you want to keep it?”
“Yes, I would. Please put it in my pocket.”
Caleb smiled.
“You are the funniest dragon I have spoken to today.”
“Would you keep it for me, Caleb?”
“Of course.”
“Lord Lamont!” Simon called.
“Yes, Simon.”
“I promised to take Caleb to his brother and sister. I see no reason to change those plans.”
Lamont pressed his hands to his head. He nodded.
“It is so difficult to think clearly at this moment. Let’s think on these things for today. You can leave first thing in the morning.”
“Very well.”
Magdalena joined them. She looked around before speaking softly.
“The Border Guard we fought was only part of their number.”
“Of course,” Lamont said. “They would not dare leave their camp defenseless.”
“The camp is destroyed,” Magdalena said. “Burned to the ground.”
“But how—?”
Magdalena held up the tooth. It took both of her hands.
“I think we know the answer to that.”
“Papa is missing teeth,” Simon said.
“We must realize that if the dragons fight with us, they have their own rules of engagement. They do not pause to determine guilt or innocence. They do not understand surrender. They determine their enemies, and they destroy them. Are you prepared to live with the outcome?”
“There was a time when this situation would give me pause,” Simon said. “But everything I have learned of war from Lord Lamont tells me that this is no time to rethink our objectives. Indecision is death.”
“That is true, Simon,” Lamont said. “But I have only known war among men. We are talking about beasts able to destroy whole villages in a matter of minutes. Men, women, and children. And we cannot count on the dragons to understand discretion.”
“You’ve said it yourself, My Lord,” Simon said. “War is ugly. If we stop now to discuss acceptable losses—”
Lamont sighed and nodded.
Magdalena and Belinda walked through the camp. They passed by Captain Finn, who sat alone, attempting to brace his sword against his feet. He was still struggling with his missing hand. Positioning his sword for sharpening was proving to be a challenge. Magdalena resisted offering her help until they were well past him. She whispered to Belinda, who smiled and nodded vigorously. They hurried off together to the blacksmith’s shed.
Two hours later, they returned to where Captain Finn sat, still working on his sword.
“Captain,” Magdalena said. “We’ve made something for you.”
Finn looked up. Magdalena held a prosthetic forearm and hand attached to a leather sling. The hand was the color of bronze.
“You…you made this?”
Magdalena and Belinda smiled and nodded. Finn stood. Belinda and Magdalena fastened the apparatus to Finn’s shoulder.
Finn blushed with embarrassment.
“It’s wonderful. Thank you. Thank you both.”
The women bowed and blushed. They walked away.
Several soldiers came and admired the Captain’s new hand.
Finn sat down and smiled.
“May I see it?”
Finn turned to see Tanner Raven smiling down at him.
Finn held up his arm.
“I think my sister likes you,” Tanner said.
“Well, I’m a likable sort.” Finn studied his new hand. “This is nice. A very, very kind gesture.”
“May I see it?” Tanner repeated.
“You want me to take it off?”
“Please.”
Tanner helped Finn remove the prosthetic. Tanner held it in front of him. His eyes narrowed. His lips moved. Unintelligible sounds wafted through the air.
“Hey,” Finn said. “What are you doing, friend?”
Tanner’s eyes cleared.
“There. Let’s put this back on.”
Tanner helped Finn reattach the arm. Finn reached for the strap that wrapped around his shoulder. His mouth fell open when he saw Tanner cut the strap with his knife.
“You won’t be needing this.” Tanner folded the strap and put it in his pocket.
Tanner picked up Finn’s sword with both hands, by the blade. He held it toward Finn. Finn reached for it with his right hand.
“No,” Tanner said. “The other hand.”
Finn stared at Tanner with narrowed eyes.
He reached out carefully with his left arm.
“Tell your left hand what to do,” Tanner said.
Finn looked around them.
“Do you mean, out loud?”
“No. Inside your head. Just like you would tell your other hand what to do.”
Finn’s prosthetic left hand closed around the hilt of the sword. He let out a labored breath.
“Good,” Tanner said. “Now, tell your hand to let go.”
Finn’s hand opened.
Tanner spotted an unused shield. He offered it to Finn.
Finn’s hand gripped the shield. He moved it, up and down, side to side.
“This is incredible. Thank you.”
Tanner walked to the edge of the forest. He picked up a felled sapling. The trunk was the size of a man’s arm. He pulled it across the clearing.
“You can drop the shield,” he said. Finn did. Tanner held up the sapling.
“What do you want me to do with this?”
“Crush it.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
Finn reached for the tree branch. His fingers closed around it.
The bronze hand crushed the tree like it was made of straw.
Finn stared at his hand. He looked at Tanner.
“How can I ever repay you?”
Tanner’s eyes met Finn’s.
“Our family has known more than its share of misery. Children were never meant to be bought and sold like animals. My sister has experienced enough pain for a thousand lifetimes. As long as I draw breath, she will have no more pain.”
Finn raised his new hand.
“That is a noble vow, my friend. As long as I draw breath, the Lady will have no more pain.”
Finn went back to sharpening his sword with renewed vigor, and a smile on his fac
e. He tried to hide the fact that he was watching Magdalena. It was not long before she caught him looking. She finished her current conversation and then nonchalantly walked back to where Finn sat.
“What did my brother do to your arm?”
Finn put down his sword and stood.
“Watch this.”
Finn curled his new hand into a fist and then relaxed his fingers.
Magdalena put a hand to her mouth. She giggled.
“That…that is wonderful!”
Finn was suddenly uncomfortable.
“Yes. Yes it is. I was worried that I would be…less than a soldier.”
Magdalena smiled.
“I don’t think that’s true at all. I am curious, Captain. Is ‘Finn’ your surname or your given name?”
Finn looked right and left.
“My given name is Thaddeus.” Finn shrugged. “I’ve never been fond of the name. It doesn’t sound like the name of a soldier.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Magdalena said. “I like it very much.”
Magdalena took both of the Captain’s hands in hers. Finn’s face flushed red. He was caught totally off guard and terrified.
“Does it have feeling?” Magdalena asked.
“What?”
Magdalena turned Finn’s hands over. She rubbed her thumbs against his palms.
“The hand. Does it feel?”
“Y-yes. It does.”
“Close your eyes.”
“I…I beg your pardon?”
“Close your eyes, silly man.”
Finn closed his eyes. Magdalena let go of Finn’s real hand. She took his new one in both of hers. She pressed the tips of Finn’s fingers to her lips and felt the Captain tremble.
“Can you feel that?”
Finn opened his eyes. Wide.
“Yes.”
Magdalena patted Finn’s hand.
“I’m so happy for you.”
“Thank you.”
Magdalena walked away.
Tanner stepped between Nicholas Lamont and Belinda Jacobs. The pair had been watching the whole exchange from a distance.
“Well, what do you think about that?” Tanner asked.
Belinda patted Tanner’s hand.
“I think you’re a saint.”
Lamont smiled.
“I think there will be much to celebrate when we take back this kingdom.”
Seventeen
Simon hunted before sunrise. He separated an elk from its herd and cut its throat with a swipe of his talon. Simon ignored the lifeless eyes as he filled his belly in preparation for the mission ahead.
The return to Islemar.
Simon emerged from the woods. He met Boone, who was on his way into the woods for a morning hunt of his own.
“Good hunting?” Boone asked.
“Good enough,” Simon answered.
Boone winced. He moved his hand around in front of his chin and cheeks.
“Uh…you have blood…and hair, on your face.”
Simon sighed and looked disgusted. He buried his head in a pile of wet leaves and thrashed his head about.
“How’s that?”
“Here,” Boone said. “Bring that big old head down here where I can reach it.”
Simon lowered his head. Boone used his game pouch to clear away the remnants of Simon’s breakfast.
“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” Boone said.
“You must really love me,” Simon replied.
“Ha! I really don’t want people to scream when they see you.”
Boone stepped away. He eyed Simon warily.
“I’ve watched you cringe at the idea of hunting for the last ten years, Simon.”
Boone looked down and shuffled his feet.
“What’s happened to you?”
“My timid behavior changed nothing,” Simon said. He looked away.
“All it ever did was inconvenience you. I could not allow that to continue.”
“So, you just made a decision—and that was it?” Boone asked.
“It wasn’t that easy.”
“Then what brought about the change?”
Simon exhaled, dark smoke roiling.
“When I’m hunting, I no longer see the animals.”
He closed his eyes. When he opened them, it was as if he was in another place. Another world.
“I see Sterling.”
Boone did not know what to say. The changes in his friend made him uncomfortable—and a little sad. But perhaps the changes were necessary if the rebellion was to succeed.
“You’re presentable, for now,” Boone said, without looking Simon in the eye. “Good luck today. Please, be careful. Lord Roball is a smart man. He’ll get Caleb into the castle. And it sounds like all of us will be on our way to Islemar soon.”
“What do you mean?” Simon asked.
“The others discussed the matter last night—not that they asked my opinion,” Boone said. “Lord Lamont, Captain Finn, Sir Edmund, and Lord Roball agree—there is only one logical place for us to make our stand. Islemar. If we remain in the south, the canyon provides a natural defense, but we will never get enough citizens of the kingdom to join us if we stay here.”
“But the dragons are here,” Simon said.
“The dragons care nothing about boundaries, Simon. They’ve already proven that.”
“That was only Papa,” Simon said.
“Exactly,” Boone said. “How much faith do we want to put in the alliance of the other dragons?”
“It’s a clan, Boone. A family. They follow their leader. And their leader is loyal to Sir Edmund.”
“And what if Sir Edmund should fall? He is a great warrior, but he’s an old man. And he’s not invincible.”
“What do you want me to say, Boone? That our mission is infallible? That we cannot fail? I cannot say that.”
“No,” Boone said. “I don’t expect a guarantee of success. I’m sure every war ever fought was fought between armies who were certain of victory.”
“The kingdom seeks to hunt them until no more remain,” Simon said. “The dragons do not speak—but their choice is simple; fight with us, or face annihilation.”
“Unless they choose to stand aside while we kill each other,” Boone said. “And then take the land for themselves.”
Simon’s face relaxed. His eyes softened.
“That leaves it to us, then—to prove that we are better off together. As partners. Partners who help each other and share the good of this land.”
Boone sighed. He lowered his bow and sat down on a tree stump.
“That sounds good, Simon. But is it the truth? Look at us. You suffer from the curse that came from your own mother. Your brother wants you dead. Your uncle wants you dead.”
Boone’s head sank down.
“My father hated me.”
“He didn’t hate you, Boone. There was something very wrong—”
“No. He hated me. He hated Ben. He hated our mother. You can’t do those horrible things to people unless you hate them. And it didn’t take a sorcerer’s curse to bring it about.”
Boone spat on the ground.
“And we believe ourselves superior to the beasts! Do they behave this way? Do they turn on their own? Do their families live in fear and in pain?”
Tears ran down Boone’s cheeks.
“I love a girl who has no one left. Her family died because they dared to believe they deserved more. You know what, Simon? If I have to believe in something—I choose to believe in the loyalty of the beasts. If I die, I die at the side of Papa. And Mother. And the babies.”
“And I will stand and fight at the side of Simon the Dragon—whether he becomes king, or not. I have no desire to live in a world where the just serve the wicked.”
“It’s time for me to go,” Simon said.
Some of the others packed supplies onto the backs of horses.
“What is happening?” Simon asked Lord Lamont.
“Captain Finn and Lieut
enant Winston will ride to Marcelo. They are taking the former members of the Border Guard, along with the boys from Marcelo who know that village and the area nearby.”
“Is it wise to spread our numbers so thin?”
“Our time in secret is coming to an end. We need to move troops north of the border before Sterling discovers the destruction of the border camp. Lady Jacobs and Adam are returning home as well. Finn and the others will assemble as many as they can and then travel to Evenshire. There, they will join with as many as Sheriff Jacobs can enlist, and march to Islemar.”
“And where will you be, My Lord?” Simon asked.
“On the cliffs above the canyon, keeping Sterling and Raynard’s armies at bay.”
“By yourself?”
“Hey, what are we—roasted rabbits?”
Simon turned to see Ben, Boone, and Helena standing with their arms crossed, their bows across their backs.
Lamont laughed.
“I’m sorry,” Simon said. “I…I wasn’t thinking.”
“I’ll say, you weren’t,” Helena said. “I guess you forgot who took out more than their share of soldiers a few days ago.”
“I didn’t forget.”
“Well, see that you don’t,” Helena said. “Because if I hear any minstrel songs going on about ‘the men did this’ and ‘the men did that’, I’ll be breakin’ a flute over their heads.”
“It’s good to see you, Ben,” Simon said. “Your daughter is well?”
“Yes, she’s well. And so are her grandparents. I found them a cottage, and we packed some supplies in a nearby cave in case they are forced to hide. That’s the best I can do. It’s time for war.”
Ben shook Boone’s hand. He hugged Helena. No one else had anything to say to Ben’s words.
“We will find Sara and Zeke,” Simon said. “We will make certain they are safe and then return here. Caleb will voice our appeal to the dragons before we cross the border to the north.”
No one had noticed that Caleb now stood among them.
“That is a good plan,” Caleb said.
Boone whispered to Helena.
“How does he bloody do that?” Boone said.