The Farthest Step from Home

If It Were Only A Dragon [Chapter 13]

The lands outside of the capital city were home to endless fields, the sight of which I knew very well. Those privy to the castle, especially its higher reaches, could see out across these fields. From these lands came the inexhaustible supplies of food that fed our people.

Surprising? Some people might be confused about such a fact, so let me explain. Food does not simply appear in stores or pantries, as I believed as a young boy. No, there is no magic involved, simply hard-working people who dirty themselves in fields where the plants grow. Yes, it was a surprise to find that certain foods also grow in filth. I considered sharing these facts aloud with the men of our company, but I feared that it would distract from our task ahead.

Of course, as my leadership role demanded, I took up the front of the formation. There I was, beautifully perched on horseback. Now here’s the thing about horses. Yes, they are smelly, dirty creatures who crap anywhere without warning. But above the filth and the stench, the stature they provide offers a sense of security and dominion. Each and every fieldworker we passed outside of the capital was no doubt looking upon our formation.

I first learned to ride at the age of six atop a pony. It only took four short years for me to not cry out for my servants every time I was hefted upon a mount. The rest is history. By history, I mean all the learning to control said mount, swing a sword while upon its back, and finally to be able to step down without landing on my face. I mean, what sort of Knight would I be if I could not do all those things?

The road upon which we treaded was made of dirt, very well compacted. It led east in its straightforwardness and gave no deviations. And I knew very well it was east because of the forest in the distance. I’ll have you know, the forest was the farthest from home I had ever been. And of course, it was on my mind that there might be other roads within the forest, leading to places other than the east. The trunks of the trees began to line our path. It was at that very moment I knew we could go no further, at least with me at the lead.

But there was absolutely no telling the others that.

Under the shade there of the forest, I made an official call. “Stop where you are,” I said, hand raised to my party. “We may pause here for lunch.”

Those who had a clear view of the sky looked up for signs of the sun’s path. “It has only been an hour, Sir. Midday is still far off.”

“Thank the gods, I had to take a dump.”

“Are we really going to make progress like this?”

I turned the horse back to find my squire and the easterner in on the mule-drawn supply cart. They pushed up through the formation to join me.

“How could the lot of you be questioning Sir Gladius already, with hardly a drop of sweat on your brows?” Eriques verbally lashed them on his way between their horses. He pulled the mules up beside me there on the side of the road.

“Anything the matter, Glad? Is it saddle rash, perhaps? Oh, we have the fire resistance potions from the alchemist. They may contain the fires in your undercarriage.”

I clicked my tongue at the young man. “Pay my undercarriage no mind. I need a word with the easterner,” I demanded, climbing down off the horse.

I stood there with him at the front of the formation, looking off into the depths of the shaded forest. Instead of the gnawing calls of gulls, there was a sweet call of delicate songbirds. The smell of the sea was replaced by fragrant grasses and sweetly odoriferous flowers.

“I may need your guidance on this journey, I must admit,” I said to Farvin lowly.

“You’re aiding my people n’ my home. And I was told by your squire that I may partake in the other’s scraps to fill my stomach. That bein’ so, I will do anything for you, Sir Gladius.”

“Perfect,” I said, touching his shoulder but hanging on it no longer than needed. “Then tell me, are we headed in the right direction so far? And how many days must we travel?”

Farvin looked down the road and nodded. “This is the way east, no doubt, to the mountains. Close enough to my home. As for the journey, I can’t say as I am not familiar with the roads.”

“You did not travel by road to the capital?” I mulled.

“I went as the crow flies,” he admitted, looking off into the thicket.

I grabbed at his nearest arm, awestruck. “You are able to fly? What sorcery is that? Or perhaps you are hiding wings somewhere? And if you regularly take to the air, there is no wonder that a flying dragon beast would take notice of you.”

“What now?” Farvin puzzled, pulling his arm away from my grasp. “Nah, that ain’t it. It means to just go it in a straight line. Learned that from my grandpa. Like, a crow wouldn’t follow a road or anything, would it?”

I huffed and put my hands at my sides. “I do suppose that makes sense. But now you tell me you made it through the woods and across rivers and whatnot traveling in a perfectly straight line west to the capital?”

Farvin shrugged. “Folks always said I was full’a stamina or whatnot. And I’ve never gotten lost in my life, either.”

“No wonder it was you they sent,” I nodded, looking back at the Knights lazing about the sides of the path. “Alas, I will still need guidance east. But you riding along with me on my horse may be inappropriate.”

“I can just shout at ya’?”

“No, no, no, there is no reason to… alert outsiders about our choice of path. We must speak in code.”

“I already have enough trouble speakin’ our language, but I can give it a try.”

I wagged my finger at the traveler. “I’ve got it. If we’re at a fork in the road, you must yell… ‘I’m tired’… for right, and… ‘I’m thirsty’ for left.”

“Tired… right… thirsty… left.” Farvin said, nodding slowly, holding his hands out in front of him. “I’m sure I can remember that. Yes, I’ve got it. Not a problem.”

I patted him heavily on the back. “Very good. We shall free your home at this rate yet.”

It was not long before we set off again. My command was reinforced by the knowledge that I could lead my men to the location we desired. The woods seemed endless, bordering either side of the road. I couldn’t help but imagine what lived out beneath the brush and dense tree cover.

If there were some dangerous wild creature that sensed our passing and desired to attack our party, be it for food or simply to display its dominance, certainly we could defeat it. If our end goal was to take on a dragon, then anything else would pale in comparison. It would also reveal to us if any cowards were in our midst, those who would dare to run from a fight. I dare say, if a coward were among us, it would be better to know sooner than later.

The coded complaints of the easterner kept us going forward along the correct path without a hitch. Of course, the words reached more than my ears alone. One of my men urged his horse forward to catch up with my lead.

“Are you not going to reprimand him? His chatter will lower morale if it continues. And who is he anyway?”

I nodded, knowing that morale, not to mention my authority, would disintegrate if we were to get lost in the woods. The demanding knight had finely combed and oiled hair, with a pudgy face that looked like he had swallowed the contents of every silver spoon put in his mouth.

I shook my head, hoping to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible. “He’s come to us from the east, where the dragon was first spotted. He’s had it hard enough. At the very least, I shall speak to him when we settle down for the night.”

“My thanks, Sir Gladius.”

I nodded courteously at him. “Of course. What is your name? And while I have your ear, tell me about your post. So that I may know your strengths and how to utilize them.” I asked, hoping to determine if he had a good side.

He held the reigns of the horse proudly and puffed out his chest. “Estradus Corialis III. I am called Strad by my friends if you should desire. I come to you from the office of the Ministry of Arms itself. I’ve worked with your father, in fact. But mostly under the steward to ensure that visitors and guests follow decorum. I keep the office as a whole under a heavy hand.”

I snapped my fingers as if something had clicked in my brain. “Ah, so that’s why I know your face,” I lied. “Someone who could lead in my stead, possibly if we need to divide this company of ours into squads.”

It was surprising enough to see someone of his nature on a horse. If he knew how to swing a sword, it wouldn’t be for many strikes. At the very least, he could wrangle others through force of will alone.

“I would be happy to take on that responsibility, Sir,” Strad nodded.

“But to think that the steward would allow you to be sent off, on such an important and dangerous task.”

Strad shook his head. “No, sir. I volunteered to come along. Despite the steward’s wishes otherwise.”

I smiled and nodded at the knightly desire. “You were seeking… a new adventure beyond the walls of the city?”

The pudgy knight stared off down the road, eyes closing gently, face shining in the sun’s rays as if he had never felt it before. “This adventure called out to me specifically,” he said with a serene breath on his lips. “The dragon.”

“Is that so?”

He jerked back to face me suddenly. “There was a book I had as a child. One with descriptions of beasts such as them. And the pages popped open and revealed these magical creatures, their forms constructed of intricately folded paper. Truly something to behold.”

“How scary,” I said lowly, nodding. “Especially for a child.”

“Scary? Not at all. Even back then I could tell it was just paper.”

“Oh, is that so? I suppose I would have to see one for myself,” I said with a shrug. “Of course you’re aware that our goal is to slay this creature?”

Strad patted at his chest. “Again, I will happily lend my sword to the task. I have but one sole request.”

“I’ll see if I can accommodate it.”

“It’s head.”

“The head of… the dragon?” I asked to make sure.

Strad wagged a finger at me. “Yes. My family’s manor has many trophies of such creatures. Nearly all of the creatures in my childhood pop-up book I have seen to collecting. I even have an actual stuffed dryad to sleep beside. It has quite a beautiful form, resembling a human female.”

I almost asked if this stuffed dryad had a name, but I didn’t want to delve deeper into its details. “Wow. So, it… must be hard to find all these creatures. I would fathom that many are quite rare or simply hard to find. And most are quite intelligent and aware.”

Strad sighed and nodded emphatically. “That is the bane of collections such as I. In past hunts, my family has hired magi from the Ministry to seek certain creatures out. It can take weeks, even a month or two. Then the magi cast an incantation to trap the creature in a confined area. It is then when we get the summons. Before we engage it, the magi then use further magics and alchemy to weaken or slow it. Then, at long last, we deliver the final blow and take the trophy.”

The man looked so proud that I didn’t dare challenge anything he said. I simply hoped silently that he would never encounter Nemona one-on-one and attempt to tell her the same story.

“So, uh… I guess a dragon is one of the few things that hasn’t made its way to your walls.”

Strad looked up the sky above and wiped his brow. “That is correct. I thought that I would go all my life with one never once being spotted… As soon as I caught wind, there was nothing to stop me from joining you.”

I licked my lips and nodded. “Well, no promises, but… I’ll try to make sure we keep its pretty, toothy, scaly, fire-spouting face in mind while bringing it down from the sky.”

“My thanks once more,” Strad said with a bow of his head before jerking back up. “Oh, gods! Speaking of faces… I’ve been blabbering on for too long. The man among us with the large scar!”

I glanced back with him to our party, dutifully guiding their horses after us on the road. There was one man with such a feature, a none-too-old fellow sporting a haircut close to his scalp. I wondered how he had gotten the wound, traveling down across his nose and a bit down his cheek. He noticed my regard and sent back a smile that revealed a few missing teeth.

“I see him,” I said, engaging with the pudgy man once more. “What about him?”

“I don’t recognize him. Says his name is Shanks too, and I know I’ve never heard that.”

I shrugged. “Even in my position, I do not know every face and name.”

“Something about him is off,” Strad said lowly, glancing back every now and then.

“Well, unlike you, the rest of this lot isn’t here by choice. So being the leadership type, we should all give them the benefit of the doubt. I mean, he could have just moved to the capital recently.”

Strad sat himself up stiffly at the mention of leadership. “How noble of you, Sir Gladius. I shall not judge his book by his cover.”

“Perfect. Keep up the good work.”

<– Previous Chapter | Next Chapter –>