Dragon Talker (7 page)

Agardia patted him on the head and mouthed one word to Tadeus,
she
, before returning to the table.

Tadeus raised his shoulders in an I-don’t-know gesture in answer and joined them at the table.

Chapter 11

As Yuri headed east, pulled by something he couldn’t name, he thought of Hental.
I should really go home and see how he is, but Dad will take care of him, and if Samora is eating people, I better find out what the tail I can do to make sure she doesn’t start eating anyone from the village.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, Yuri appreciated the weight of the pack, holding him low to the ground.

As the miles stretched behind him, Yuri began to relax.
At least
, he thought,
I’m moving. Standing around waiting was driving me crazy
. Mandan was surrounded by mountains, and he was heading in the one direction that lead to the only open plain out of the valley. Other directions had small mountain passes, five trails requiring different levels of physical ability and knowledge. Yuri wasn’t afraid of them, but he didn’t complain that he was being pulled east.

That night, Yuri set up a fire and a small lean-to. He had spent time alone in the woods before, but never with his return in question. It would take another two days walking to get to the plain and another day to get to the first major village, Vrotsim. What he would find there, he didn’t know. Yuri took stock of his equipment by the light of the fire. In addition to some locally made items he kept to trade, he had his bow with 20 arrows, some still needing feathers for accuracy, the knife his father gave him, a spoon carved out of the hoof of a deer, a section of hollowed-out branch he used to heat water over a fire, a second set of clothes, the talisman from his dragon rite, and, of course, his dragon necklace. Yuri smiled, thinking of how his father would always put out all of the equipment and supplies before a hunting trip, just like Yuri was doing now.

He thought of what his father said to him before he left. “Yuri, I am proud of you. You are a good young man. I can only imagine what you are going to find out there, but do not forget who you are or where you are from. If you do that, you will always know what to do…When I went out to find your mother, this is what my father said to me, ‘stand tall, talk straight, and don’t be afraid to knock someone down or help someone up if that’s what is called for.’ “

“Now,” Tadeus smiled ruefully, “that advice got me into some trouble, just ask your mom someday, so I will add to it, based on my experience. “Stand tall when you need to see. Talk straight when you trust the listener; otherwise, keep your mouth shut. And if the odds aren’t in your favor in a fight, keep the fight for another day. You can help people, but you can’t change them.”

“I know father,” Yuri had replied. I’ve been listening all these years at the table and on those hunting trips.”

“Humor me, son. And be back for Hental’s dragon rite. He will be insufferable if you aren’t here.” Tadeus had hugged his son, secretly placing his own good luck charm in his pack.

Yuri remembered his own dragon rite. It was a four day ordeal in the woods when all the boys around the age of 13 were initiated into the village, into the world of men and dragons. He wanted to be there for Hental. Suddenly, Yuri realized he had to be there for all the boys of the village. He was the dragon talker. He would be the one to give the boys their talisman and share the basic rules the men of the village followed in relation to Samora.
There is so much I have to learn,
he thought, and
why didn’t I pay more attention when Sandeen was talking?
Yuri committed himself,
between now and his rite, I’m going to find every dragon talker I can.

***

Two days later, Yuri entered Vrotsim. Being the closest village to Mandan, there were a lot of similarities, and each village was used to seeing young men from the other village show up. Yuri’s blue coat, the color favored by men in his village, easily marked him as a Mandanite. Yuri’s first stop was to go to the market. He didn’t want to arouse anyone’s suspicion. He had no idea why he was being cautious, but it felt right, so he did it. He remembered his father’s advice, “Keep your mouth shut.”

I have to say something, though
, he thought
. I guess I am looking for a wife! I hope she is a great cook and knows everything about dragons. A young man can dream, can’t he?
He entered the market and began checking out the food and wares being sold.

A merchant selling cooking utensils waved him over. “Young man, you look like a hearty traveler. I have just what you need.” With nothing else to do and no real idea what to do, Yuri walked over. The man smiled, “Let me guess, you are a man on a quest?”

“As a matter of fact,“ Yuri replied, “I am. I’m looking for a wife.”

“Yes! Only the best women live in Vrotsim.” The man came from behind his stand and put his arm around Yuri, whispering, “To tell the truth, young man, the woman here are not good for marriage, not this time. They are a mean and ugly lot, but I hear, and this from good authority, that the fairest women of them all are in Aruna, but a four week walk from here.” Louder, for all to hear, he said, “Ah, but you are just traveling through. You are missing out on true beauties, my friend.” Back to a whisper for Yuri alone, “Aruna, young man, that is where I would go if I were your age.”

Before Yuri could say anything, the man continued, “Now, what you need, on a trip like this, is just what I have here. Notice the craftsmanship.”

“A three-legged pot, that I’m to carry cross country?” Yuri eyed the merchant quizzically.

“Of course not, my boy, that’s for a settled family, not a young man on an adventure. Next to it, my friend, the light weight kettle, or possibly a new skillet to replace the worn-out one hanging from your pack?”

“It serves me fine, Sir.” In reality, it didn’t, but Yuri thought,
it’s too soon to spending my arrows or bartering away my goods and I’m not sticking around long enough to work for it
. “And a kettle is one more thing I don’t want to carry. Fine equipment, though, that is for sure. Maybe on my return?”

“I can’t guarantee they will still be here, but a young man must be a young man…Now, there is one last thing that every man in this village has that you might be interested…no…I’ve taken to much of your time.” He waved Yuri away. “And yet, all the men I know have this…”

Yuri couldn’t resist, “What is it?”

“Ah, I suppose it would not be right to deny a man such a basic necessity. I keep it behind my table - so popular there are attempts to steal them.” The merchant shook his head at the thought of someone trying to steal his goods.

Yuri moved closer as the man went behind his table.

“This, young sir, separates the men from the boys and the lonely men from the men with beautiful wives.” He pulled out a wooden flute from a wicker basket that held a dozen similar flutes hidden under the table.

“A flute?”

“Not just any flute, my boy, but one made from a master craftsman. One of a kind. There is not another like it in the village, nor nearby plains and valleys.” The man laid the flute out, resting it on his palm. “Look at that craftsmanship.”

“A flute?”

“Son, are you telling me the men in your village refrain from music?” The man frowned, looking at Yuri skeptically.

“Of course not, we have excellent musicians and singers.” It would not do to stand by while his village was insulted. “We have more than one strings expert in Mandan.” There were two, but Yuri didn’t feel like it was time to get too specific. He eyed the flute like it might suddenly turn into a rat. “A flute.”

“I am never one to advise my customers, son, they, and you, obviously know more than me about the world, out traveling in it while I stay in this simple village, but this one time, I feel I must. This flute, this finely crafted, one-of-a-kind flute could be your best companion. Not only will it keep you company, but it will bring you company, believe me.”

Yuri did not.

“I will let the flute rest my case.” The merchant pressed his lips together than ran his tongue over his teeth in what Yuri assumed was some sort of warm up gesture. Then, he brought the flute to his lips and started playing. A slow, haunting tune began to fill the air. Those nearest the vendor stopped what they were doing to listen. As Yuri listened, the feelings of loneliness he had been trying to ignore since leaving the village seemed to rear up and grab his heart. As the merchant continued, Yuri felt a tear roll down his cheek. Even as the weight pressed on his chest, he also felt better, as if the pressure was also holding him together. Looking around to see if anyone had noticed his reaction, he saw that everyone had stopped what they were doing to listen, too.

The merchant continued, taking the simple melody and filling it with passion and longing. Eyes closed, he played on, not knowing if Yuri was even there. At that moment, Yuri realized how much he had misjudged this man, taking him for a simple hawker of wares.
How many people back in Mandan were like this man
, he thought,
carrying such skills without fanfare? How many of the people have I met that I misjudged? How many people am I going meet will I misjudge?
Yuri promised himself that he would not take his first impressions as the final verdict on the people he would meet.

The merchant ended his song, and opened his eyes. He saw the path of the tear on Yuri’s cheek and the look in Yuri’s eyes. “My young man,” this time his tone was different, less friendly but more real, “I have not played like that in a long time. Something in you brought that out of me, and I see by your reaction that you are a man of depth, or at least you will become one someday.” Yuri stood taller at the compliment. The merchant took a deep breath, exhaling long and slow, and then continued. “Take this with you on your journey.”

“I can give you twenty arrows,” Yuri offered.

“I will not accept.” The man sat down on a bench behind his table. “Go on your travel, gather up some tales, and tell them to me on your return trip and it will be I who got more than the most out of this deal.”

Yuri accepted the flute.

Chapter 12

Lanner and Lamot entered Perante’s fortress with another load of timber. Their mood was black and their heads were downcast. They didn’t talk. Instead, they unloaded the wood, quickly, quietly, and efficiently. The usual joking with the laborers on the third floor was absent. They both knew that the sooner they finished, the sooner they could leave. Their conversation with Perante took place two days ago. Melanie was last seen yesterday being escorted by two of Perante’s guards.

It was hard work, using a treadmill to move the ropes that were wrapped around barrels as pulleys to get the logs up to the second floor. The brothers worked the ropes from ground level while two of Perante’s men handled collecting them on the second floor. Between the creaking of the windlass, the shouts to keep the timber lined up, and the muffled conversation of the second floor workers, Lamot could hear Lanner talking to himself, but he could not make out what he was saying.

Lamot didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing other than what was required to do their work. Finally, Lanner stopped in the middle of hauling a log up and looked straight at Lamot, “I can’t do it. I can’t do nothing, brother. I have to look for her.”

Lamot held his brother’s gaze. “It’s too late, and what do you think you could possibly accomplish? You don’t know where she is, or even what she’s thinking. She probably already loves it here. You know he…”

“It doesn’t matter, it was my damn mouth that..”

“If it isn’t my favorite woodsman!” Perante’s voice boomed across the courtyard. Both men looked down, not wanting to see Perante’s face.

“Now, now, men, no need to look downcast. You may have lost a potential wife, but think of the life she can have here, not stuck in some hovel, living as a peasant.”

Lanner’s hands tightened on the rope, his knuckles turning white.

“I am a gracious man, here to express my thanks. Because she is so charming, I am going to double my usual finder’s fee.” Neither men looked up. Perante smiled, pulling two small gold coins out of his shirt pocket. He threw both of them at the feet of Lanner, who was closer. “I know that is easily two months wages. Enjoy with my compliments.”

Lamot mumbled, “Thank you.”

Lanner said nothing. Perante noticed, thinking,
he will be one of my servants by nightfall.
“Continue working. I have company that must be attended to.” With that, Perante left.

“Lamot,” Lanner was the first to speak. “Leave, right now. Go home, get Lanore and our parents, and leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Lanner walked to Lamot. “Big brother, I can’t live with myself if I don’t at least try to find Melanie. And whether I find her or not, we know it isn’t safe for us or our family to stay.”

Lanner could see the pulsing in a vein in Lamot’s forehead as Lamot grabbed him by the jacket, lifting him off the ground and said, “You have no right to do this to our family. You screwed up and Melanie is paying for it. That’s what it’s like living under these bastards. Deal with it. Don’t take it out on the rest of us.”

“What…” Lanner was temporarily speechles as Lamot held him up off the ground. He looked at his brother and sighed, relaxing his body even as Lamot kept him above the ground. Finally, he asked Lamot, “And what, brother, do you think he will do to Lenore when he is done playing with us?”

Lamot slowly let Lanner down. Both men stared at each other in silence. Lamot was the first to speak. “Then we do this smart.”

“But fast,” interjected Lanner.

“Yes, smart and fast. We get these last two logs out and upstairs. You hide while I leave. Stay out of sight for at least an hour, that way if you get caught I might have enough time to round up Lenore and our folks.” Lamot smoothed his brother’s jacket. “Can you do that?”