(Dragonkin) Dragon Rider (26 page)

   After several more days, the trees and the land became easier to travel through, and the brothers made better time. Caladon and Banadar camped beside a stream, and looked at the distant mountains as the sun disappeared beside them. They were just over three weeks from the camp of their people, and wondered if the land was empty. They had seen no one since they departed, and the cart path was the only sign of people they had found along the way. They agreed to travel west for one more week, and then turn north if they had still not found any signs of civilization.

   It was late the next morning when the brothers once again rode west. The day was warm, and the sky was clear, as they made their way through the countryside. They talked and laughed as they rode, and really paid little attention to their surroundings. Several times they thought they heard something, but it never turned out to be the people they sought.

   It was passed midday, and the brothers were once again paying little attention to their surroundings as they rode, when the man stepped from the trees close by. He startled them when he spoke, but what he said to them, made them curious as well.

   "It is a fine day, is it not?" The man said. "I hope it has found you well."

   Caladon looked at the man who wore the dragon armor, and remembered the things the old tinker had said about the dragon here. He decided that he was a solder of the empire, because of the symbol he wore, and would be able to find out where the king's castle was located.

   "It is a fine day, sir." He replied to the warrior. "And we are both well, thank you for inquiring."

   "I did not expect to find men this far south." The man said. "Are you lost, or do you seek something in the empire?"

   "I am Caladon, and this is my brother Banadar." He replied. "We represent a group of refugees who are from the kingdoms to the south of the great lake. We seek the king of this land to ask for a place to camp until we can figure out what to do."

"My name is Menimeth." He said. "And I can help you with that."

   "We represent some refugees." Banadar said. "And at least onethird are women and children."

   "Do you seek to pass through the empire, or do you look for a place to live?" Menimeth asked them.

   'Many of the people that are with us, are the last solders from kingdoms that were lost to the mage king, but we would live in peace if we could." Caladon said. "We will fight as well, because the loss of our lands makes many of us want to return to the southeast, to avenge the dead."

   "There is a better way." Menimeth said. "Join the armies of the empire."

   "There are many men that may do that." Banadar said. "The army is all they have ever known, and are lost without it."

   "How many solders do you command?" Menimeth asked, curious as to how many would be with them, to protect the women and children.

   "Four hundred solders were still wounded when we left the camp close to three weeks ago." Banadar replied. "But at last count, there were two thousand. Three hundred men with horses make up the cavalry, and the rest are on foot."

   "Two thousand!" Menimeth exclaimed. "And how many women and children?"

   "There are one thousand of them." Caladon said. " But there are some old men among them as well."

   "Three thousand solders and refugees are waiting on your return?" Menimeth asked.

   "Yes." Banadar replied. "And they are in need of a safe place to stay for a while."

   "There is more than enough room in the empire for all of them." Menimeth said. "And we will welcome you here."

   "We thank you for your kindness." Banadar replied.

   "There is a force of his solders in the northwest, who wish to take half our empire from us." Menimeth said. "We will drive them from our lands, and you could help defeat them."

   "We should speak to your king about it, but I think the men would like to help in killing servants of Arnoran." Caladon said, and Banadar agreed with his brother.

   "There is a city to the north and west of here called Glansford." Menimeth told them. "That is where the king lives, and there is more than enough room for all of you there for now. Those of your men who wish to, can join the army at the garrison across the road from the city."

   "We will need to return to our camp in the east, and start the people moving this way." Banadar said. "But we will start as soon as your king agrees to allow our arraignment."

   "You two need not return to the camp." Menimeth told them. "I can get there much faster than you, and have them started sooner."

   "How can you get there faster than we can?" Caladon asked. "Do you have some super horse that we cannot see?"

   "I do not ride my horse much anymore." Menimeth said. "But I have a friend who can carry me there quickly."

   "And how do you know your king will honor your word?"

   "Because I speak for the empire." Menimeth said. "And agree to all we have discussed."

   "They do not believe you." Danorathin told his master.

   "They will as soon as you get here." Menimeth assured his dragon.

   "You speak for the empire." Banadar said, but his voice was filled with disbelief.

   "Yes, and your horses may become hard to contain, so be prepared. My friend arrives." Menimeth said.

   Danorathin landed beside his master seconds later, and Menimeth looked at the two brothers and smiled. They stood with their mouths open and could not believe what they saw, but no longer doubted him.

   "Do you have something that will identify you to your men at the camp?" Menimeth asked. "It will help to convince them that the empire welcomes them."

   "Take this." Caladon said, and handed Menimeth the pendant from around his neck. "It belonged to my father, and Gareon will recognize it."

   "I will send them up the old east road, which is about one week east from here by horse." Menimeth said, as he climbed onto his dragon and secured the battle straps. "If they travel north west to the road, they should arrive in Glansford no later than two weeks after you."

   The two brothers watched as the dragon spread his wings and leapt into the air, flying east, and out of sight. They were still stunned from the appearance of the great dragon, and sat looking into the distance, silently. Banadar looked at his brother, and shook his head.

   "I thought there were no more dragons." Banadar said, and urged his horse forward.

   "I might have been mistaken." Caladon replied, and followed his brother as they headed northwest. "But at least he did not eat us."

   "Great." Banadar said. "I hope he will eat you first, and be too sick to eat me."

   "He would not want to eat you anyway." Caladon said. "You are too skinny, and you smell."

   "How could you smell me past your own stench?" Banadar asked. "I am surprised your horse can still walk."

   "At least I ride a horse, and not a mule, like you do."

   "That is because you are the mule."

   "Ok, there are still dragons in this empire." Caladon said.

   "Now was that so hard to do?" Banadar asked his brother.

   "Yes. He replied.

   Menimeth flew east, and in the direction of the camp the brothers had set up. Two thousand battle-hardened warriors was something the empire needed, and Menimeth would try to get as many to fight for him as he could. They would be well compensated for their service to the empire, and he hoped most of them would stay in the realms after the war was over.

   The refugees were also something the empire needed, to grow and prosper when the west was cleared of its enemies. Until then he would find a place for them in the cities, and some of them may even wish to remain. The population of the empire had declined over the many centuries without dragons, and the land was now overgrown where the people once lived. No sign of them remained in the wilds of the empire, and even the roads that were once used by so many, were no longer there.

   Danorathin spotted the camp long before they reached it, and landed far enough away, to allow Menimeth to approach the camp without panic spreading among its occupants. He was no more than fifty feet from his dragon when a patrol spotted him, and rode in his direction. Seconds later, Menimeth was surrounded by the solders, who cut of his access to the camp.

   "Who are you, and what do you want?" The patrol leader demanded.

   "My name is Menimeth, and I am here to speak with Gareon." Menimeth said to the solder.

   "And what is your business with Gareon?" The leader demanded, walking his horse forward a few paces, and closing the space between them.

   "Our own." Menimeth stated flatly.

   "You have a smart mouth on you." The leader said. "I think I should teach you some manners."

   "You can try." Menimeth said. "But you will not be successful in your attempt. I am not here to challenge you, but will not be disrespected in my own land."

   "We will see." The leader said, and started his horse forward again.

   "What is going on here?" The voice from behind the solders asked.

   "This man was sneaking up on the camp, so I stopped him." The patrol leader said.

   "Did you ask him his name, and his business?" The man asked, as he walked up to the solders that surrounded Menimeth.

   "He said his name was Menimeth, and that he was here to speak with you, sir." The leader replied.

   "Did he now?" Gareon asked. "And why was he not brought to me?"

   "He was about to attempt to teach me some manners." Menimeth said, and looked at the patrol leader. "I am ready when you are."

   "And what of the other men in the patrol? Will you fight all twenty men by yourself?" Gareon asked.

   "I was to be taught by the leader." Menimeth replied. "I am not alone as you would think, and my friend would not allow the others to interfere."

   "Two of you, to defeat twenty men." Gareon said. "I would like to see that."

   "My friend will not show himself unless the other solders interfere, or I ask him to." Menimeth informed them. "This is only a friendly lesson that I will teach your man."

   "You, teach me?" The Patrol leader roared. "We will see about that."

   "Please have your man show himself." Gareon said, as he stopped the leader from advancing. "We will not harm you, or him."

   "I did not say my friend was a man." Menimeth said. "And we will not be harmed, regardless of how many solders you have."

   "Have him or her reveal themselves, and we will go into the camp and listen to what you have to say." Gareon said. "There is no need for lessons to be taught or learned today."

   "I am to give you this." Menimeth said, as he handed the pendant to Gareon. "Caladon and Banadar sent me to speak with you."

   "And why are they not with you?" Gareon asked, concerned.

   "They are far from here to the west, and it would have taken too long for them to return." Menimeth replied.

   "When did you talk to them last?" Gareon asked, puzzled by the cryptic response.

   "Just passed midday today." Menimeth answered.

   "But they have been gone for almost three weeks. How could you have spoken with them today, if they are far to the west?

   "I can travel much faster than they can." Menimeth replied.

   "Three weeks ride in just a couple of hours. I find that hard to believe."

   "It will not be so hard to believe when I depart." Menimeth told the man. "My friend and I will reach our home by night fall, and that is more than two month's ride by horse.

   Gareon looked at the warrior with suspicion and disbelief. He wondered if the man was delirious, or just trying to make them look like

fools. The time had come to end this game, he thought.

   "Why not bring your friend into the camp, and we can discuss it." Gareon repeated his earlier request. There is no need for him to hide any longer, we will not attempt to harm you or him."

   "They will not listen to me until you show yourself." Menimeth told his dragon.

   "They will see me eventually, anyway." Danorathin informed his master. "But I did want to see the lesson that was to be taught."

   "My friend will show himself, but will not come into the camp." Menimeth said. "We did not want to scare the children."

   "You do not look that threatening to me." The patrol leader said.

   "My friend had hoped to see the lesson you would teach me." Menimeth said to the leader. "He thought it would be amusing."

   "How do you know?" Gareon asked. "We have heard nothing, and see no one."

   "We will bring him out." The patrol leader said, and began to advance on Menimeth, along with the other solders of the patrol

   Danorathin came from the trees with a roar, and looked at the solders that threatened his master. He would not allow them to reach him, but he did not wish to harm them either. The solders halted their advance when the dragon appeared, and began backing up, and away from the beast. Those solders, which were behind Menimeth, moved around him to where their leader sat, frozen. Gareon stood stunned at the sight, and looked from dragon to rider.

   "Do not fear, he will not harm you." Menimeth told the men. "But he will not allow you to attack me either."

   "That is a dragon?" Gareon said, when he regained his wits.

   "At least the man is not stupid." The dragon said to his master.

   "Yes, he is a dragon." Menimeth said, smiling at Danorathin's remark. "This is called the Great Dragon Empire for a very good reason."

   "You ride him?" Gareon asked.

   "I may have spoken too soon." Danorathin said to Menimeth.

   "Well, yes. It is better than walking." Menimeth replied. "And I can reach my destination much faster."

   "What is it you wanted from us?" Gareon asked. "Why did my prince's send you?"

   "I am here to invite you all to the city of Glansford." Menimeth replied. "There is a road northwest of here. Follow it to the crossroads, and travel east on the Great East Road until you reach the city. We will be waiting for you, and will have accommodations ready when you arrive."