If It Were Only A Dragon [Chapter 16]
Although the men had some apprehension about Prince the Gnoll, they didn’t make a complaint. He didn’t have a complaint about his new given name either, nor did he make much of a fuss when I told him we were after a dragon.
The bestial yet civilized and well-spoken creature agreed not to be a burden on our journey. He decided himself to watch over our camps at night and seek out his own food. In exchange, I agreed to let him sleep in the cart during the day as we traveled- not atop my fine borrowed bedding, of course.
We departed early the next day in the case that the traitors from the manor would be running around again.
“How much further, do you imagine?” I asked Farvin as we set off on our horses.
“Not too long compared to how long it took me. If I remember right… the forest is thick and dark past here. But then we get to the highlands. Not as many trees, and much more rocks.”
Have you ever heard the phrase that it’s not about the journey, but rather the destination? I have to believe that anyone having uttered that did not experience their journey atop a horse. The sword sheath bouncing at my side began to form a bruise on my thigh. I began to feel the saddle rash as well. On top of that, the water in my canteen was warmer than I liked, not to mention its vague flavor of tanned hide.
To say I lost track of time over those next two days going forward would be no lie. The movement of the sun above seemed to mean nothing. As leader of the party, I dared not be the first to call for us to stop for meals and rest and evacuation. Luckily, there was always someone who needed something. On our third day there in the thickest, darkest reaches of the forest, I saw it, a trace of civilization— an old man hefting dry wood in a pack hanging from his shoulders.
I slowed my horse and allowed the others to gather up. To think that people lived way out here away from the capital, it was a strange thought. I wondered for a moment if we had already arrived at the east. No, there was not a mountain in sight, let alone a dragon. Further up the road were the signs of a small town, though. I wondered if the people out this far even knew of the capital. Was it more King-hating traitors? Did they even speak the same language as us? No, if Farvin came from further and knew everything he did, then even these forest dwellers would be at least somewhat civilized.
I turned to address the party, all showing vague signs of exhaustion and wear. “Though it be early, we shall stop here for the night. We can see to topping up on water and supplies if needed. Let us seek out a camping spot on the… eastern side of this village to rest. I ask that nobody but I speak with these people about our errand.”
“What sort of errand?” I heard a voice.
My horse nearly bucked me as I jerked the reigns back. The wood-laden old man had come our way, obviously curious of the convoy.
I cleared my throat in a very official manner. “An errand for the King. You must recognize his majesty, King Lourd?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard the name,” said the old man, spitting on the dry ground. “We pay taxes every now and again, you know.”
“Well, congratulations on doing the bare minimum for your kingdom,” I said, bowing my head. “We’ve seen worse.”
“And ain’t none of us seen anything in return for those taxes,” the old man stamped. “So if you lot think you’re just gonna camp out in town or take our goods for nothin’, ain’t no way.”
I sighed and looked down into the old man’s eyes. “Ah, but we would not simply come here to take and offer nothing in return.” Turning back, I ordered the others. “Do not worry, we shall take our deserved rest here. To prove our goodwill, I will pledge us to any task they might need us to take on.”
My squire took my horse while I dealt with the old man. I felt my hips stuck in their bowed-out stance as if my body still felt I was upon the horse. The saddle rash didn’t help either, but I wasn’t in the position to run and get one of the alchemist’s potions.
I followed after the local and his pile of firewood. “As I decreed, we will take on anything in exchange for shelter and a few meager supplies. There must be something ailing this little village, something that can be taken care of by big strong knights and their swords.”
Townsfolk had gathered out at the edges of their homes along the road to watch my convoy of men pass through. They eyed me. The old man huffed and puffed, probably more in response to me than the weight he was carrying. He settled his worn body near one of the wooden homes and let the bundle of wood fall into a meager pile.
“And what makes you think we need the protection you speak of? Because we have no walls? Because we are posed along the road? Because we don’t speak fancy and drink tea and wear coats of metal?”
“Do not put such words in my mouth,” I rebutted. “Is there really no threat to you, then?”
“Threats that swordsmen are used to taking care of? None of those,” the old man said, jutting a finger across the street. “My neighbor has a hound that can latch his mouth around the necks of wolves.”
“Yeah, we have something like that,” I said, glancing back in the direction where the gnoll was probably sleeping.
“We have enough pitchforks for any of the smaller wild animals, too. And to speak of thieves, well, the only ones that come ‘n face us are the tax collectors from the capital.”
“I can agree that the Ministry of Taxes is quite unpleasant,” I nodded. “If there are no dangers to strike down with our might and swords, then I’m kind of lost in this deal-making process.”
“Ah, but a danger there is…” The old man’s eyes narrowed. “There is something evil in the woods.”
“Evil? My men would undoubtedly take on any beast, but evil is too vague a concept for us to kill. Are you sure a sword wouldn’t do the job?”
He traced the road with a weathered finger. “If you, then no one else. Just a day ago, there came a woman of the elven sort, heading the same way as you lot.”
“One with big glasses and dark hair?”
“The very one,” he nodded. “She said you would be coming. That you could handle the deed.”
“Damn Nemona,” I said under my breath. “Stalling us so that she may attempt to engage with the dragon first. I shall tell you what, old man. We need our strength for future encounters. But on our return journey, we shall come once again this way.”
“And you expect me to trust you to do just that?”
“Yes.”
“Then you shall not sleep on our land,” he grumbled, preparing to go elsewhere.
I sighed and felt up my groin. The saddle rash wasn’t terrible, but my undercarriage was going to need a proper break from the hard leather. I glanced about, looking at the other villagers looking at me from doorways and porches and windows. “You’ll have to properly describe this… evil, so that we may assess how to destroy it.”
The old man turned back and leaned in, hand to his face. “It involves our animals. We believe there is some sort of creature… taking to them out in the depths of the forest.”
“Taking them?” I asked more loudly, looking about for any signs of these animals.
“Do not speak so loudly, city boy,” he cursed me. “Our cows, pigs, our oxen… even the chickens. I believe there is a practicer of… bestiality… out there.”
I pulled myself back from the man, unable to process the foul description. “You don’t say. So it is a human, then?”
He gritted his teeth and stared off blankly toward the far end of the village. “Human, perverse beast, perhaps some foul magic user. Who could say? It simply needs to be dealt with.”
“Well, you said… that b-word… and well, I’ve only heard that in reference to a human doing that sort of deed. Anything else and… well… that’s just nature, isn’t it?”
The old man growled and shook his head, planting his scrawny fists on my riding gear. “Do I look as if I care!? Rid us of it, by any means. Our flocks can suffer this no longer.”
“And to be sure, this isn’t simply your animals running off? Or getting eaten by regular old beasts?”
The old man began shaking his fist at me with renewed vigor. “Oi, you don’t stop asking questions, huh? You’re worse than the tax collectors with all this nonsense. Well, I’ll tell ya’. They come back, all messed up. After the disgusting deed has been done!”
I flinched at the idea. “That is something,” I nodded, thinking of my next steps. I glanced down the road to where the men were taking a rest. With fingers in my mouth, I whistled out for my Squire.
“We’ll see about this, old man,” I said, watching Eriques run our way. “Just have to make sure we know what we’re up against. Squire.”
“Yes sir?”
“Bring your weapon. And Farvin.”
The old man brought the three of us to the opposite side of the village where a farmer had a pen of chickens. Most scratched at the ground, finding their way through the pebbles and bits of straw littering the ground. There were but a few who barely moved about, continuously looking up at the sky like a famished farmer waiting for rain.
“They don’t lay eggs, they don’t peck for food,” the old man described. “Don’t squawk around with the other hens. Just pass back n’ forth between the shelter an’ the daylight when the time calls.”
I waved my hand at the creature, letting the easterner take note. “Seem strange to you, Farvin? You’re the closest thing to a farmer among us. It looks just like a dumb bird to me. Dumber than usual, of course.”
Farvin looked between me and the old man before tugging on the edge of the fence. “May I?”
“Do what you want, can’t traumatize it more,” the old man sighed.
Farvin jumped the fence into the pen. Many of the hens scrambled like they were going to be made into omelets. The peculiar one just stood there unflinching, even when Farvin wrapped his arms around it to pull it off the ground.
“Feels just like one.” He said with a shrug. “I guess.”
“Give its backside a peek,” I directed. “To see if… I don’t know… there are any signs of… insertion.”
“Yeah, and check every last hole!” Eriques insisted, slapping his hands on the edge of the fence.
“Well, they’ve only got one,” Farvin corrected. “Called a—“
“Yes, it’s called a cloaca,” I blurted out, the word still fresh in my mind. “I’m aware. We just need to see if it’s… irregular. Or something. You know what, I don’t care. It’s a weird, dumb bird. We need not molest it more. Old man, we’ll head out into the woods and see if there are any signs of something living out there. You will at least leave the rest of my men alone while we do that, right?”
The local looked up to the sky. “I shall allow it. I’ll prepare you some torches as it will soon be dark.”
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