(Dragonkin) Dragon Rider (48 page)

   Rushing the boy, the man swung his sword in an attempt cut, and frighten him, but Chanry was too quick, and avoided the sword easily. Pulling his belt knife again, as the man passed him, Chanry cut deep into the man's side, and the man screamed in pain. Whirling around, the man attacked Chanry as he would a grown man, but the boy pulled Da'Thintahar from the scabbard on his back, and blocked the man's attacks. The sword glowed with a white light, as it flashed around the boy's head, and inflicted several shallow wounds on his attacker. With a speed talked about for many years to come, Chanry disarmed the man, and placed the glowing sword to the man's throat.

   "Will you allow me to pass now?" Chanry asked. "Or will I have to kill you to be left alone?"

   Without waiting for an answer, Chanry placed Da'Thintahar back in its scabbard, and turned to walk to the table where his master sat smiling.

   "Who are you?" One of the man's friends asked. "You are not like any boy that I have ever seen."

   Chanry stopped and looked at the men who were helping their wounded friend, before speaking.

   "I am Chanry, warrior of the four realms, and heir to the throne of the Great Dragon Empire." He said at last. "You should see to your foolish friends wounds. I am sorry, but he left me no choice."

   Chanry turned and walked to his master's table, while the patrons of the tavern watched in silence. The wounded man's friends helped him from the tavern, but the patrons paid them very little attention as they did. It was not a tavern where conflicts often took place, but in the lands of men, conflicts happened. By the time the wounded man was taken from the tavern, the patrons who had watched the confrontation in silence had returned to their drinking.

   The next day, the ceremony was held for those killed in the battle, and the fallen warriors were placed inside the tomb. Their names were placed on the wall of heroes, and their deeds were written in the book of the realm. Thadric conducted the ceremony, with a way of speaking that produced, tears, in the eyes of even the dwarf. When the ceremony was complete, and the people began the short walk back to Magdrin, it was Chanry they talked about. The man he had disarmed in the tavern was not badly wounded, and received only a few stitches in his side. The men who had witnessed the boy in action, had spread the tale throughout the city, and it seemed that everyone knew the story.

   Later that day, Menimeth and the remaining warriors of the realms departed Magdrin, and began the journey to Grimmen. The realms were very different here than they had been in the west. Mostly gone were the vast forests, which had taken over the land in the west over the last five hundred years, and the large herds of antelope and deer that roamed the empty lands, there. Here, the farms and ranches that supplied the empire with most of their food seemed never ending, stretching on for mile after mile as the men rode northeast. Though people were everywhere in this part of the empire, they did not line the roads, but did stop what they were doing to watch the warriors as they passed.

   When Menimeth reached the old east road, and turned north in the direction of the castle at Grimmen, they had been traveling for more than two months. Even though they moved twice as fast as the regents when they traveled, they still only traveled half as fast as they would have, without the wagons. Once they reached Venteno though, the journey would be all but over.

   The road grew busier as they traveled north, and once they reached the crossroads of the east, they were only days from the castle of the eastern regent. The realm had changed greatly since Valiny had become the regent of the east, and the fear that once gripped the land here, was gone. The land itself seemed greener, and the people were no longer afraid to go about their business.

   Valiny met them as they reached the gates of the city, and escorted them to the castle in the center, talking to the dragon rider as they made their way along the streets. It was then that Menimeth told him about Captain Sangrivol, and of the dark magic used against him, but it was not until later that they talked about the banquet.

   That evening, Menimeth talked to the regent in the castle, while his friends waited in the nearest tavern for him to return, and this time, Chanry was with them. Even though he did not like being away from the dragon rider, he did not want a repeat of the tavern at Magdrin. He did not believe that fighting in a tavern was something that the heir to the throne should do, but he had been given no other recourse, other than to leave the tavern as the man had demanded. He could have used magic to end the confrontation, but it would not have solved his problem, and in the end, he would have had to face the man again. Because he was just a boy, it was his skills as a warrior that the men would respect, not his skill as a mage.

   The next day, Menimeth and the last of the warriors to fight in the battle, rode north to the tomb of the realm's fallen men. It was several miles from the city, and north of the road to Venteno, so Menimeth decided not to return to Grimmen when the ceremony was completed. He would see all of the regents soon after he returned to the Dragon Tower, so he could speak with Valiny then. It was the east that would be in the most danger when the mage king turned his fill attention to the empire, but all of the realms would be called on to help drive the enemy from their lands.

   The fallen heroes of the east were placed in the tomb, with all of the ceremony due to heroes of the empire. It was the second time in the last year that the tomb had been opened to place warriors of the realm that had fallen in battle, inside. In the short time that Valiny had been the regent of the east, more men had died than in all of the years that his father had ruled before him. Even with the loss of so many of its men, the people of the eastern realm, praised their new regent. The east had become richer, and far more prosperous since he became the regent, and the people loved him more than all of the regents who came before him.

   It was just passed midday when Menimeth and the last of the warriors turned west, and parted company with Valiny and those returning to Grimmen. Very few of the warriors remained with the dragon rider now, because the north had the fewest men to send to the army of the realms. They had suffered the fewest losses in the battle, but they had suffered the hardest loss of all the realms combined. Losing Hobie when the battle was nearing its end, and to treachery, made the loss even that much harder for the men to accept.

   As the regent of the east faded into the distance, Menimeth was already looking to the city of Venteno, and Borlund, the man who had been a regent longer than all of the others. He was the one regent who thought out all of his options before he acted, and for that reason, the other regents believed him to be slow witted. He was not of course, but he cared very little about what the other regents thought of him.

   The days went by quickly as they made their way through the farmlands of the north, and it was not long before the walled city of Venteno came into view. Four months had passed since the battle had taken place, and the men were ready to return to their homes. News of Hobie's death had reached the regent long before they arrived, and the loss of his son, was hard for the regent to accept. Borlund rode from the castle the day they arrived, and escorted the wagon with his son, back to his home. It was a somber ride through the city, as people lined the streets and watched in silence while they passed.

   Menimeth talked to the regent for a short time when they arrived at the castle, but he decided to wait until after, the ceremony, to talk to Borlund about the banquet. The changes that were coming to the empire, did not affect him as much as it did the other regents, but he would still be required to attend.

   "Find us some rooms at the nearest inn." Menimeth said to his friends as they reached the garrison.

   "The best inn in the city of Venteno is the Wayward Traveler, lad." Donderan said. "We will wait for you in the tavern, I know the proprietor from years past, and he will treat us well."

   "Then I will see you there as soon as I am finished talking to Borlund." Menimeth replied, before joining the regent.

   The friends followed Donderan and Brylen to the inn, and after paying for several rooms for the night, found themselves beside the fireplace drinking a mug of ale.

   "Well master dwarf, it seems you cannot get enough of my hospitality." The proprietor said, as he approached the table the men were seated at. "And you brought friends with you I see."

   "That I did, lad. That I did." Donderan replied, as he greeted the tavern owner. "But we are just humble patrons, enjoying a mug or two."

   "Then welcome to The Wayward Traveler." The proprietor said. "My name is Traver, and any friend of Donderan's, is a friend of mine."

   "Thank you for your kindness, Sir." Litlorn said, in the flowing speech of the elves. "You are an honorable man, and an excellent host."

   "Thank you for the kind words." The innkeeper replied with a smile. "But you know that fancy Elvin tongue of yours does not affect me master Litlorn. Though you get better at it each time I see you."

   "You can't blame an elf for trying." Litlorn said, and the two began to laugh.

   The men talked of the past, and of the adventures they had shared in the innkeeper's youth, and did not notice Menimeth, as he joined them at the table. It was Traver that noticed the dragon rider, sitting in the once empty chair against the wall, and he looked at the dwarf, and elf, with a questioning look.

   "Are there any more warriors in your group, that have not arrived?" Traver asked the dwarf. "Protectors of the king are always welcome here."

   "And what of the king?" Menimeth asked. "Is he also welcome here?"

   "I doubt if the king will be coming into my establishment." Traver replied. "But yes, we would be honored to serve the king."

   "And what would you serve him?" Menimeth asked with a smile.

   "Anything he desires." Traver replied. "As long as we have it in stock, of course."

   "He would settle for a mug of ale, if you don't mind." Menimeth said. "Or two."

   "And he sent you here to retrieve it?" Traver asked, confused by the warriors remark.

   "No, lad." Donderan said. "He is the king."

   "Of the empire?" The innkeeper asked, with a look of shock on his face.

   "Yes, of the empire." Litlorn replied. "But we will not tell, if you don't."

   "Oh, my. The king here, what am I to do." Traver exclaimed. "Oh, my."

   "A mug of ale will do." Menimeth said. "And more of your tales to pass the time."

   "You are bound to find out sooner or later, but the king does not act like a king." Litlorn said. "And he most definitely does not like to be treated like one."

   "But he does like his ale, Lad." Donderan said. "And I could use one as well."

   "Then we shall have to supply you with one." Traver replied, and disappeared in the direction of the bar.

   It was not until the next day that the ceremony was held for Hobie, and he was placed in the tomb of his ancestors. He was dressed in the colors of the northern realm, but he also wore the cloak of the empire, and the purple sash as well. The ceremony for Hobie was the grandest of all of the ceremonies held for the fallen warriors of the realms, and Danorathin bellowed loudly when the tomb was resealed, to mark the passing of a hero of the empire. It was an honor that Borlund would remember for the rest of his life, and brought a smile to his face whenever Hobie's name was mentioned.

   Later that day, Menimeth talked to the regent of the northern realm, far longer than his friends expected, and it was late before he returned to the tavern. Most of his friends had gone to their rooms for the night, and only Litlorn and Donderan remained in the tavern. The men talked for a while longer, before retiring to their rooms for the night.

   The next day, they began the journey back to the Dragon Tower, and the city they had been gone from for so long. It was the banquet to come, which held the attention of the travelers, and the topic of most of the conversation along the way. All of the men knew the war had just begun, and that the empire was still in danger, but for now they would celebrate the victory at Argnon.

Chapter Forty

   Menimeth sat in the Sword and Dragon with a steaming mug of Blackbeer, and thought about the events of the last two years. The day he had discovered the old road far to the west, he did not even know if people still lived in the lands he was entering. Within a few months, he had found his dragon, and become the king of the empire. He did not want to be the king, but as Danorathin had told him, the choice was not his to make.

   He had friends that he could trust here, which he had not really had in the White Kingdoms, and a boy of remarkable talents, which he thought of as a son. Captain Brandt had been his only real friend for as long as he could remember, and a few of the people he had saved from outlaws, but he had spent most of his time since the death of his family, alone. It was not until he had given in to the feeling that he had felt for so long, and had begun his journey east, that he was finally able to bring his murdered family peace. By leaving the hunt for Chidren behind, he was set on a path that would bring him new friends, and which would eventually bring his enemy to him.

   Litlorn entered the tavern soon after the gray of the early morning began to show in the east, drawn to the tavern by the aroma of the freshly brewed Blackbeer. And as he entered, he greeted his friend.

   "I hope the morning finds you well, Dragon Lord." He said with a smile.

   "Do not let the others hear you talk like that." Menimeth said, as he looked around the room. "They will all start calling my sire, and your majesty, and who knows what else. They may even start bowing."

   "And we would not want that to happen, would we?" Litlorn said smiling.

   "No we would not." Menimeth replied with a grin. "It is just annoying."

   "Have you seen your commanders lately?" Litlorn asked. "They have not been in the Sword and Dragon in several days."

   "I had Falendor bring the families of all three of our commanders with him when he came to Glansford." Menimeth told his friend. "Feran is with his wife, and I believe Javen is with Chrisanna, but Kyler and Dralessa have been together since she arrived with her brother."

   "It appears that we will have an event or two, after the banquet." Litlorn said with a smile. "For I do not believe Chrisanna will be returning to Argnon with her father."

   "I suspect that Dralessa will not be returning to Grimmen with her brother, as well." Menimeth replied. "She will stay with Kyler I think."

   "I have noticed that Valiny and Dranella have been inseparable since he arrived." Litlorn said. "But from what I have been hearing, they have been seeing each other often these last few months."

   "Yes, I expected it after the council of regents." Menimeth said. "When they could not take their eyes off of each other."

   "That will unite the eastern and southern realms, and make it easier for the two realms to work together." Litlorn said. "That will help when the war is at our door."

   "I agree." Menimeth said. "I just hope we have the time we need to prepare for it."

   "But there is another threat that will come from the far south, if what I have heard is true." Litlorn said. "And a dark elf was slain in the empire."

   "It is true." Menimeth replied. "But what threat do we face from the far south?"

   "If a dark elf was here, it can only be to fulfill a contract." Litlorn said. "And if the dark elf failed to complete his task before he died, the Temple of Darkness will not stop until the contract is completed."

   "Then we will have to keep an eye on the south." Menimeth said. "And you will have to tell me more about this Temple of Darkness, but not today. Today is for celebrating the victory in the west, and for rewarding the men who fought in the battle."

   "And what of the changes to the empire?" Litlorn asked. "When will you announce them?"

   "Tomorrow I will call a council of regents." Menimeth informed the elf. "But I will talk with some of the people that will be affected the most at the banquet, later today."

   "Like Falendor, and the three commanders." Litlorn said.

   "As well as Semeon." Menimeth replied. "But it is Brylen who will end up with the hardest job."

   "That is because he does all of your work for you." Litlorn said with his usual smile. "But you have come up with a good plan to avoid most of it anyway."

   "I thought it was very clever." Menimeth replied. "And it allows the people to decide their own fate."

   "And you, the time you need to prepare for Arnoran." Litlorn said.

   "That is my plan." Menimeth said. "But you know as well as I, that plans do not always work out the way you want them to."

   "True, but sometimes they do." Litlorn replied. "And at least it will allow you to keep an eye on the south."

   The sun had risen above the trees while the men talked, and the morning light streamed in through the open windows at the end of the tavern, crawling slowly across the floor as the sun rose higher in the sky. The sounds of the morning grew louder as the day grew older, and men began to find their way into the tavern for their morning Blackbeer. People arrived from everywhere in anticipation of the banquet, and it did not take long for the inns to become filled in both Glansford and Corlindum.

   Menimeth and Litlorn were about to leave, when a man entered the tavern in a dark and travel-stained cloak, with the hood pulled down where his face could not be seen. He looked around the room slowly, and when he saw the dragon rider, turned and walked up to the table.

   "You said you would find me here, but I did not expect to see you so soon." The man said, as he removed the hood, and sat in the chair across from Menimeth.

   "I see you made it to Glansford." Menimeth said to the man. "Have you been here long?"

   "No." The man said. "I have just arrived, and came to the tavern as you said."

   "You will be staying in the Dragon Tower for now, and we will talk after the banquet." Menimeth said, "Just tell them your name when you reach the castle, and they will show you to your rooms."

   "They know my name?" The man asked, surprised. "What kind of a spy can I be, if everyone knows who I am?"

   "As far as they know, you are just a friend who stays in the castle when you are here." Menimeth replied. "Expect to attend the banquet, and expect to sit at to main table. I will have cloths sent to you for the occasion."

   "Me, at the main table, with all of the prince's?" The man asked, shocked at the thought of being seen by everyone at the banquet.

   "Yes, if you are seen as someone of importance to the empire, you will be able to move freely throughout the realms." Menimeth said. "And talk with people that you would not have had any access to, otherwise."

   "What do I tell them when they ask me why I am there?" The man asked. "If I cannot reveal my real reason to them."

   "Tell them you are looking for the best horses for your breeding farm." Menimeth replied. "Or for the best land in which to build it on."

   "Is there anything else?" The man asked.

   "Yes, this is Litlorn, and if I am not here, he is the one you will report to." Menimeth said. "He is the heir to the throne of the largest of the Elvin kingdoms, and he is trusted above all others."

   "Who was he?" Litlorn asked, when the man had gone.

   "That is Fagerin, and he will be gathering information for me," Menimeth replied. "But only for a short time. He will be breeding horses for the empire when his job is done, and I intend to allow him to use Donner."

   "You have been making plans." Litlorn said. "I did not see that one coming."

   "Chance encounters have produced more results for the empire than you know." Menimeth said. "Though not all of the encounters that have helped the empire were as unexpected as they appeared."

   "That is a very cryptic statement." Litlorn said "But I understand more than you know."

   "Yes, you are the son of Loren." Menimeth said. "He knows things, long before they happen, and I suspect he has played a large part in the encounters that I have had, along the way."

   "You are most likely right." Litlorn said. "But even my father can do only so much."

   "And we must do the rest." Menimeth said.

   The cities of Glansford and Corlindum were bustling with activity, as the preparations for the banquet began that morning. Wagons came and went from the Dragon Tower as the day progressed, and the smell from the kitchens filled the air, adding to the growing excitement of the people who would attend the banquet.

   Menimeth had many tables set up outside the banquet hall, to allow all of the people to share in the feast when the banquet began. Even though the hall that they used for the banquet was larger than any in the empire, it would not hold all of the people that had flooded to Glansford to attend. Plans had been made to entertain them, and to make them feel that they were part of the celebration, along with small gifts for each one. They would not be totally separated from the banquet hall however, since the many doors that led to the large courtyard just outside the hall, would be opened throughout the night. The closest tables to the open doors of the hall, had all of their seats reserved for those of standing that did not have a personal invitation from the Dragon Tower, and anyone who was not on the list used at the gate was allowed to sit at any of the tables farther back.

   The courtyard was a place where the dragon riders of old could land their dragons when the hall was used, and it was large enough to hold many dragons. Now, however, it was covered with tables and chairs, along with the many casks of different wines, ales, and meads, that the guests would consume, set to one side. The doors to the kitchens were at the end of the courtyard where the interior of the castle began, while the entrance to the courtyard was through the western gate. Even those that would be allowed into the banquet hall had to enter through the western gate, and all of the people in the courtyard would be able to watch them as they entered.

   Only the people who had a personal invitation from the Dragon Tower were allowed inside the hall for the banquet, because of the limited space available for people other than those that would be rewarded by the king. The regents and their families and all of Menimeth's closest friends, as well as those that were special guests of the king, were to be seated at the main table, which was placed higher than all of the others so they could be seen by all of the people at the banquet. All of the seats at the tables set up in the banquet hall, had the names of the people who would sit in them, placed on the table in front of the chair. The people of higher standing in the empire, were placed closest to the king's table, and those of the lowest standing were placed in the back.

   Feran, Kyler, and Javen, had given Menimeth the lists of the men, who they believed, should be rewarded for their bravery and prowess in the battle. After reading the lists several times the night before, Menimeth decided who would be advanced in rank, and who would receive land and riches.

   When all of the preparations for the banquet were complete, and everything was in place, it was well passed midday. Many of the workers who helped in the preparations for the banquet, departed the castle when their tasks were complete, and there were fewer and fewer people as the day progressed. As the last of the workers departed the Dragon Tower and the banquet hall, Menimeth opened the west gate, and allowed the people to begin entering.

   By the time the first of the people to be allowed into the hall had begun to arrive, almost all of the tables in the courtyard were full. People were talking to one another and watching the gate, as the men and women with invitations were escorted into the banquet hall, and to their tables. Slowly the hall began to fill as well, and it was not long before the regents and their families began to arrive. The people began to talk a little louder when Chrisanna arrived with Javen instead of her father, and even more when Dralessa arrived escorted by Kyler, but when Valiny arrived with Dranella, the excitement in the courtyard was electric.

   As the last of the regents and their families were escorted to their seats, and all of the special guests of the king had arrived, Menimeth and Danorathin landed at the back of the courtyard. Once he had dropped from his friends back, the great bronze dragon vaulted into the air, and landed above the gate looking down on the courtyard. The people of the banquet watched in silence as he walked across the courtyard, and stopped at the doors of the banquet hall.

   At the same instant that Menimeth walked through the doors and into the banquet hall, platters of food began to stream from the kitchens in both the courtyard, and the great hall. Large trays of roasted meats of all kinds, as well as every verity of cheese found in the empire, found their way to the guests of the banquet. Large platters of freshly baked Breads, and various types of honey from the forests of the west, as well as fruits and nuts from all over the empire, also delighted the guests as the night progressed.

   The men, who were to be rewarded for their part in the battle, received their gifts one at a time from Menimeth himself, and in the full view of everyone in attendance. All of the men were surprised at what they had received, and those that had been promoted in rank, were given their new insignia at that moment, making it official. When all of the rewards had been given out, and the last of the promotions had been announced, Menimeth returned to his seat in the center of the main table. The rest of the evening was spent with his friends, along with the regents and their families, and the other special guests who sat at his table.

   Fagerin sat talking with the regents he was surrounded by, and began to learn things about their realms without even asking them for the information. The prospect of a large horse-breeding farm in their realm that was backed by the empire, and the people of the realm that would benefit from it, loosened their tongues, and produced more information than he could have gotten in weeks of eavesdropping in the taverns. He would still be visiting the taverns throughout the empire of course, to gather the information he had not yet received about the placement of garrisons and outposts, but now he believed that his job would be a lot easier than he had originally expected. All of the regents had given Fagerin an open invitation to visit their realms, and offered to show him around the countryside, and he planned to visit each one in the future.