(Dragonkin) Dragon Rider (47 page)

   "What did you have in mind?" Fagerin asked, but believed he already knew the answer.

   "I am in need of someone with your talents." Menimeth replied. "But not for the same reasons."

   "I have one hundred gold pieces." Fagerin said. "And a few hundred silver, but that is enough to start the ranch, as long as I start small and add to it as time passes."

   "Come and work for me, and I will pay you five hundred gold pieces, and will give you one hundred horses to add to the ones you purchase." Menimeth said. "One year of service is all I ask in return."

   "And what information will you require me to collect?" Fagerin asked.

   "I need to know which towns around the empire will need a garrison built to protect them." Menimeth replied. "And where any garrisons that were built by the regents, are now located."

   "And you will pay me five hundred gold pieces, and one hundred horses, for that?" Fagerin asked. "When you could acquire that information for free."

   "If you accept my offer." Menimeth said. "You cannot allow anyone to know what you are doing, or what information you seek."

   "But the people of the towns would gladly give you that information for the chance of a garrison nearby." Fagerin said. "Why pay for it?"

   "Because there are still men in the empire that spy for the mage king, and I do not wish them to know the information you seek." Menimeth said. "It would tell the enemy where we are weakest, and give him an advantage against us, when he turns his attention to the empire."

   "You are smarter that I expected." Fagerin replied. "And not like any king I have ever heard of before, so I will accept you offer, and do as you ask."

   "Come to the Sword and Dragon in Glansford, and I will give you all you need to accomplish you task." Menimeth said. "I will pay for all of your expenses while you are away, and you will have a room made available to you while you are there."

   "I will begin the journey to Glansford this morning." Fagerin replied. "And I will see you when I arrive."

   "Just tell the innkeeper your name, he will be expecting you." Menimeth said, as he climbed back onto his dragon. "And I will see you there."

   Danorathin leapt into the air, and within seconds, had left the garden behind. He traveled back to the castle but did not stay long after talking with Falendor, but flew south in search of Saesic instead. It was not hard to find Saesic as he rode south, for he was not used to traveling through the brush, and left a trail behind him that even a child could follow. Menimeth had Danorathin land a few miles away from the regent's son, but in the path the man was using. He did not want to chase Saesic before he could speak to him, for fear that his horse would suffer if the man tried to escape.

   "We must be careful with this one." Menimeth told his dragon. "He will not want to talk to me I think."

   "Then we will have to see that he does." Danorathin replied. "But it is the horse you worry about, not the rider. I will take great care not to frighten the animal, but will not allow the regents son to escape."

   "That is all I can ask." Menimeth said, as he patted the dragon on his neck.

   Dragon and rider, waited for the regent's son to reach their location, and watched as he quickly approached. He was looking behind him for any sigh of pursuit, but he paid very little attention to what lay before him, when the dragon rider stepped from behind the tree, and grabbed the horse's rains. Saesic was shocked by the appearance of the dragon rider, and tried to flee, but the sight of the dragon so close made him freeze with fear.

   "Do not fear, for I will not harm you." Menimeth said. "I am only here to deliver a message to you from your father."

   "What does he want?" Saesic asked rudely.

   "He offers you a choice." Menimeth replied. "He will not imprison you if you come back to Argnon, but you will have to face some kind of punishment if you do. If you chose to continue south, and do not return within three days, you are not welcome in the empire any longer, and if you do return, you will face charges of treason from me."

   "Fine, you have delivered your message errand boy." Saesic said. "Now let go of my horse."

   Danorathin spread his wings, and bellowed into the air at the disrespect Saesic showed to his master, and looked at the man with cold black eyes.

   "Let me kill this one." The dragon said to his master. "We will all be better off if I do. He will cause the deaths of many more men, if he is allowed to leave the empire."

   "I cannot allow it my friend." Menimeth replied. "But I believe you are right, and he has some part yet to play in the war."

   "If you chose to leave the empire, do not return." Menimeth said to Saesic. "You will not be treated so kindly as your are now."

   Menimeth released the rains to Saesic's horse, and the traitor fled as fast as the animal could run. He did not turn back to see if the dragon rider was following, but rode straight south until his horse gave out, and he was forced to stop and let the animal rest.

   "I hope the fool has the sense to return to his father, and take his punishment." Menimeth said. "But I am afraid he will not."

   "No, he will not return to Argnon, but we will see him again." Danorathin replied. "And it will not be a good reunion."

   It was nearing midday when Menimeth and his dragon returned to the castle, and relayed the results of the encounter with Saesic, to Falendor.

   "I should have had you drag him back here," Falendor said. "To face his punishment."

   "Do you think it would do any good?" Menimeth asked.

   "No, It would do no good." Falendor replied. "I had hoped he would grow out of his greed and anger, but I can see now that he did not."

   "Does he not know what he has done?" Menimeth asked. "And that he would be getting off with very little punishment for the crime he

committed."

   "He is old enough to know the difference between right and wrong, but he does not care about anyone but himself." Falendor said. "He may not know that what he has done is considered treason, but I believe he does."

   "That is too bad." Menimeth said. "Because he would have solved my problem, at least for a few years."

   "My son could have helped you?" Falendor asked, puzzled by the remark.

   "Yes, but that is for another time." Menimeth replied. "For now I have men to escort back to their realms, and fallen heroes to lay to rest, so we will talk again when you arrive at the Dragon Tower for the banquet."

   "As you wish." Falendor said. "We will leave for Glansford on the morning of the first day of the forth week."

   "Then I will see you there." Menimeth said, and turned to leave the room before stopping, and turning back to the regent. "There is one more thing you could do for me." He said. "Have Feran, Javen, and Kiler's families with you when you come to Glansford for the banquet."

   "I will send Captain Brannor right away." Falendor replied. "They should be here before we are ready to depart, but if not, we will wait for them."

   "Thank you." Menimeth said smiling. "And there is the matter of Chrisanna."

   "Chrisanna, what has the girl gotten herself into now?" Falendor asked, as he shook his head at what he believed to be another one of his daughter's antics.

   "You do know that there is a very good chance that she will not return to Argnon, but will live in the Dragon Tower with Javen instead." Menimeth said. "You may want to consider an extra wagon just for her."

   "Yes, I suspect that she has Javen in her sights, and that he has fallen under her spell." Falendor replied, smiling back at the dragon rider. "But then, she will not be giving me as much trouble as she does now. Sometimes I think she believes that she runs the realm, and not me."

   "Yes, women can do that." Menimeth said. "But the right man can set them straight, until they have daughters, of course."

   "Yes, and then you are just a foolish old man, that cannot survive without them." Falendor replied. "And you could not possibly know anything, about anything, unless they tell you."

   Menimeth walked from the room laughing loudly at the regent's remark, and made his way to the Red Falcon. He relayed the order that they were not leaving until the following morning to the men of the third army as he passed them, and they began to remove the saddles from their horses. That night, the men talked about the journey they were about to take, and what would happen when they returned to Glansford. Menimeth listened to them as they talked, but offered very little information about his plans for the banquet. Changes were coming to the empire soon, and he wanted it to be a surprise to all it would affect, but first he had men to return to their realms.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

   The morning dawned bright and warm, as the men began to prepare for the journey home. The wagons were placed in a line along the great road, and the warriors of the third army formed their ranks behind the wagons of their realm. The riders that were to carry the banners of the empire, waited in front of the wagons, for the king to ride from the inn, before unfurling the banners for the journey home.

   Menimeth waited while his friends saddled their horses, and led them from the stables in back of the inn. Donner waited at the front of the inn, with what almost appeared to be pride, for his master to walk from the tavern. Already saddled and waiting, the war-horse stood with his head held high, and watched as the other horses were led from the back. Several minutes later, Menimeth walked from the main door of the Red Falcon, and mounted his warhorse.

   "We will ride to the crossroads and turn south." Menimeth said, as he turned Donner north, and started down the street of the town. "Magdrin will be our first stop, and Venteno will be our last."

   "That was the route I expected you to take," Kyler replied. "So that is the order in which I placed the wagons. The men are also riding in groups, according to their realms, with the south first."

   "Then we should be on our way." Menimeth replied, and urged Donner forward, riding onto the great road and turning east.

   "As they fell in behind the now unfurled banners, the last of the empire's warriors to fight in the battle, rode from Argnon. Falendor watched them go from his seat in the tower, and when the regent could no longer see the precession, he walked back down to his private office, to begin the day's duties.

   Menimeth rode at a pace that the wagons could sustain, while still putting the miles behind them. With the fear of an attack no longer a threat to the men, they traveled with a feeling of security, which they had not felt in a very long time. For the next several days the men rode along the road in relative silence, as they made their way east to the crossroads. They had been traveling for less than a week, when people began to appear on the road, returning to their homes in the west. They cheered the warriors as they passed, having heard of the overwhelming victory at Argnon, and waved to them before continuing on their way. More and more people began to appear on the road as they drew closer to the more occupied, lands, and the cheers grew louder the farther east that they went.

   It was well before midday, when Menimeth and the last of the warriors from Argnon reached the great crossroads of the empire. From here they would turn south, but not without an addition to the party it seemed. Chanry and Brylen sat in the middle of the crossroads, and waited for Menimeth to reach them. Brylen was not wearing any armor, but he did carry a sword strapped to his side. He escorted Chanry, though he did not look like the protector, but rather the protected. Chanry was dressed in his armor, with his Elvin knife and short sword strapped to his side, and Da'Thintahar slung across his back. He carried his Elvin bow, with a quiver of arrows with red feathers that were tied to Striders saddle, and he had a golden shield shaped like a dragon that chased its tail. His purple and gold cloak, which was held down by the very large sword he carried across his back, was almost identical to the one that the dragon rider wore.

   The boy looked like a smaller version of Menimeth, and the warriors of the realms, took notice. Unlike the men who trained at the garrison at Corlindum, the warriors of the realms had not seen the boys skills grow in the use of all of the weapons of war. Chanry smiled at Menimeth as he approached, and could barely control his excitement.

   "We have been here all morning, Meni." Chanry said with a serious look, as the dragon rider reached them. "I didn't think you would ever get here."

   "Well, I am here now." The dragon rider said, as he looked at the boy with affection.

   "I am sorry sir, but he insisted on being here when you arrived, and since he is the heir to the throne, I could not allow him to wander off on his own." Brylen said. "But he is a hard one to keep up with, the two guards that were with us are still looking for him, and I am lucky to have found him before you arrived."

   "Do not worry about it." Menimeth said. "At least he did not follow me to Argnon."

   That is because I would not let him." Brylen said. "Though it was not for lack of trying."

   "He wont let me do anything." Chanry protested. "Without guards following me everywhere I go."

   "You are important to the empire." Menimeth said to the boy. "And therefore, you must be protected."

   All of the men turned their heads, as the noise grew louder from the trees in the south. Seconds later, the two guards burst from the trees, and stood in shock at the many warriors on the road in front of them. The two guards looked at Chanry sitting on his horse beside Brylen, and then they looked at Menimeth, who sat looking back at them. They looked at each other, and then back at Menimeth, and started to walk in his direction with their heads down.

   "We are very sorry sir." One of the guards said. "The boy is like an elf, and he can disappear within seconds if you do not keep your eyes on him at all times."

   "It is true." Brylen said. "He can cast a spell faster than I can talk, and he is a very good mage for his age, or anyone else's."

   "How long have you been guarding him?" Menimeth asked the two guards.

   "Since before you left for Argnon." Brylen said. "I assigned them the task as soon as you made him the heir to the throne."

   "It does not appear that either of you are very good at your job." Menimeth said, as he looked at the two men. "You will have to be punished for your failure to guard the heir to the throne properly."

   "It is not their fault, Meni." Chanry said. "I fooled them on purpose, to see if they would keep looking for me, or if they would just come and wait for me here."

   "But they allowed you to fool them, and that cannot be tolerated." Menimeth said to the boy. "We will have to see that it does not happen again."

   "What did you wish to do as punishment?" Brylen asked, wishing he had assigned more men to the boy so this would not have happened.

   "First, they will be assigned as the boys guards, from now, until he has reached his twentieth year." Menimeth said. "They are to be given no other duties by anyone, except me, and when we return to the dragon tower, they will be sent to study under Darik."

   "Study, Magic?" The first guard asked. "Us?"

   "Yes, I can see that both of you have the ability to learn magic." Menimeth said. "And with a few counter spells at your disposal, the boy may have to improve his abilities, if he wishes to escape you in the future."

   "Ah, that's not fair." Chanry said. "I'm just a little kid, if you teach them magic, I will never get to go exploring."

   "Take them with you." Menimeth said to the boy. "It has to be better than being in the castle all day."

   "You heard them when they came from the trees." Chanry said. "They are too noisy."

   "Then teach them how to be quieter." Menimeth said, as he looked at Chanry with a smile. "Then you can do as you wish."

   "It would be easier to teach strider to fly." Chanry replied, with a sigh. "But I will try."

   "How long has it been since you left Glansford?" Menimeth asked Brylen, still smiling at Chanry's remark.

   "I do not remember." Brylen said. "However, I have been kept busy these last few weeks."

   "Then the time has come that you did." Menimeth said, and turned to the two guards. "Chanry and Brylen will be riding with us, return to Glansford and wait for us there."

   "What do we do while we wait?" The guard asked.

   "What ever you wish." Menimeth replied. "You will not be needed until we return, so use the time as you wish."

   "Yes Sir." The men said at almost the same time, and went to retrieve their horses.

   "We had better get going if we wish to reach Magdrin anytime soon." Litlorn said, as he rode up to the dragon rider.

   "I agree." Menimeth replied. "We can talk later, when we are closer to the southern regent's castle."

   Riding south once again, they began to see fewer and fewer people who cheered them as they passed, and by the time they reached the smaller road to Magdrin three days later, the people only watched them pass in silence.

   "News of the victory has not reached this far south." Danorathin said to his master. "But it will be known across the empire by the time you reach Grimmen."

   "Yes, but we will only have one realm yet to reach, when we leave Valiny and Grimmen behind." Menimeth replied.

   The next few days were uneventful, as the warriors made their way southeast, and closer to the castle at Magdrin. The countryside was peaceful and quiet, but that began to change as the walled city appeared in the distance. People began to line the road and watch them as they passed, but they did not cheer. It was the dead that captured their attention, and they showed their respect for the fallen as the wagons passed them by. By the time Menimeth and the army of the realms reached the gates of the city, and began to enter Magdrin, it seemed as though all of its residents lined the streets.

   Riding slowly, the precession made their way to the castle, and Thadric, the regent of the southern realm. Captain Quinly, who rode at the head of the warriors from the south, approached Menimeth when they reached the gates of the castle.

   "Captain Quinly, you and your men may return to the garrison." Menimeth said, as the captain reached them. "You have done all that we asked of you, and more."

   "Thank you sir." The captain said, and started to turn his horse in the direction of the garrison gates but stopped, and turned back to the dragon rider. "Fighting with you has been an honor, and the men all agree that if you need us again, those that are not already in the dragon guard, will gladly come to your call."

   "Thank you captain." Menimeth replied. "Oh, and you and the men who fought in the battle will be expected to accompany Thadric to the banquet. The men who have wives will be expected to bring them to the banquet as well."

   "As you command." Captain Quinly said smiling, as he turned and signaled to his men before riding to the gates of the garrison, and disappearing inside.

   Those wagons that carried the fallen warriors from the south were taken to the garrison, to await the short ride to the ancient tombs of Magdrin's warriors. Tomorrow they would hold the ceremony, and place the warriors in the tomb in the hall of the fallen. Their names would be inscribed on the wall of heroes at the entrance to the hall, like all of the warriors who had come before them, and the people of the empire would remember them forever.

   The rest of the day went quickly, and the remaining warriors that traveled with the king, placed their camp beside the garrison while Menimeth and Thadric talked inside the castle. Litlorn and Donderan searched out the closest tavern, followed by Darik and Brylen, and found a large table in the corner across from the door. Feran, Kyler, and Javen, waited until the camp was set up, before joining their friends in the tavern, but it was not until much later that the dragon rider joined them. Chanry was never more than a few feet away from Menimeth, since their reunion at the great crossroads, and would not be separated from him for any reason.

   It was in the tavern that the people of the southern realm got their first glimpse of Chanry's abilities, as he followed Menimeth inside. The owner of the tavern informed the boy that he was not allowed inside, but Chanry did not listen to the man, and kept walking instead. One of the patrons that sat closer to the door blocked the boy's way to keep him from entering the tavern any farther.

   "You heard the innkeeper." The man said. "Just because you dress up like a warrior, don't mean you are, one."

   "Please allow me to pass." Chanry said. "I wish to join my master."

   "You talk fancy, for a boy who plays dress up." The man said in a mocking tone, and the men who sat nearby began to laugh. "Now run along boy, before I am forced to teach you some manners."

   "I would not do that, if I were you." Menimeth said, as he stood by the table where his friends sat, which was across the room from where the man confronted the boy. "You may not like the results of your threats."

   "Mind your own business." The man said to Menimeth. "This does not concern you."

   "It does concern me." Menimeth said. "But I will do as you say, and stay out of it, although I will say this. You have my permission to teach him a lessen if you wish."

   The patron believed that Menimeth was speaking to him, and stood to carry out his threat, but the boy did not attempt to escape. He reached out to grab the boys arm, but Chanry pulled his belt knife from its sheath, and left a cut on the mans hand for his trouble.

   "You little brat." The man said, as he jerked his arm back, and looked at the bleeding cut on his hand. "I'm gonna give you a beating for that."

   "You had better quit while you can." Chanry said. "I will not allow you to harm me."

   "We will see about that." The man said, and lunged at Chanry in attempt to take the knife away from him, but received a cut along his arm instead.

   Looking down at the cut on his arm, the man became enraged, and looked at Chanry with hatred in his eyes. The tavern had become quiet, as all of the patrons watched the scene that was unfolding before them. Chanry placed his knife back in its sheath, and looked at the man who still blocked his way. The man could not believe that a boy of no more than nine or ten years of age, could have cut him not once, but twice, and he became even angrier the more he thought about it.

   "Will you allow me to pass now?" Chanry asked the man.

   "No, but if you want to act like a warrior, then I will treat you like one." The man said, and drew his sword from its scabbard, thinking he would teach the boy a lesson, and redeem himself in front of his friends. "You will have to use that big sword you carry on your back, if you wish to escape a few cuts of you own, if you can even hold it."