16. Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
Zev
S oft rain fell, pelting the leaves in a gentle trickle. The gentle touch of the drops landed on his fur as he breathed in the scent of the earth and listened to the chip of birds. The rain’s music calmed his spirit, allowing him a rare peace in the forest.
They trekked for two days across the wilds towards the south. Eventually they left the forest once they neared the signs of civilization. Zev shifted back onto two legs and dressed before they moved onto a paved road. A castle appeared within atop of the rocky peaks of Hydell, the capitol of Argyle. It was a stronghold of stone overlooking the city below, bordering the coastal shores of the Saxe Sea. Deep maroon flags with a black sigil flapped in wind.
There were a few people on the road, and Zev heard the distant hum of voices.
“The Kingdom of Argyle,” Rawn said as they came to a pause. He held Fair’s reins while Dyna sat in the saddle.
“Aye, and a patron of ours,” Klyde told them as he tugged on Onyx’s reins, slowing his canter. “I need to make a short stop here in Hydell to see the king. Go on, I will catch up to you.”
Without waiting for a reply, he kicked his heels and galloped down the western road for the castle.
“To do what?” Lucenna wondered aloud as they watched Klyde ride away.
Zev wondered the same. “Should we wait?” he asked next to her.
“Of course, we’ll wait,” Dyna said thoughtfully, canting her heard as she took in the view. Klyde was the holder of the Skelling dagger after all, so naturally she wanted to remain nearby. Could we get closer? I want to get a better look.”
“Yes, my lady. It is safe.” Rawn clicked his tongue, and Fair followed him along the paved road.
“Have you been here before?” Zev asked him.
“I passed through perhaps five years ago. Argyle is a peaceful kingdom, though it had not always been so.”
“Due to war?” Lucenna guessed.
“Not quite.”
They reached the drawbridge where merchants had gathered to sell goods. Not too many people about beneath the cloudy weather, though enough to notice them. Merchants called out, offering their wares. A few men lingered near an outdoor pub, watching them narrowly but made no attempt to approach. Perhaps due to his size or Rawn’s weapons, or even the guards patrolling the road.
There was a theme, Zev noticed. The wares, clothing, even the kingdom sigil on the breast plates of the guards, all bore the effigy of a black dragon.
“They tell a tale among these parts, about the dark curse once placed upon Argyle,” Rawn told them. “There are many versions of the tale, but all recount the same thing. At the beginning of the second age, a powerful dragon, who lived in the Montezuma Mountains, met with the Argyle King. It declared this land as his but would permit the kingdom to remain under one condition. He must wed the eldest princess. When the king denied him, he placed a dark curse that draped them shadow for decades, keeping them trapped from the rest of the world. Against all odds, the princess broke the spell and slayed him. In so doing, she stole his power and became the new dragon in the mountains, where she now eternally watches over her home.”
Lucenna exchanged an awed look with Dyna, and Rawn chuckled.
“Sounds more like a fairytale than truth,” Zev said, crossing his arms. “I thought dragons lived in the west.”
“Most do,” he said. “However, there exists a race of dragon fae who can take human form. They tend to roam on land or the sea. Nevertheless, whether it is true or not, Argyle has declared it their history and many believe it. No other kingdom has dared to rise against them, for fear of rousing the dragon princess from her long sleep.”
Dyna smiled at a child who offered her a wooden charm painted dark red with the carving of a dragon. She handed him a few russets in return. Well, I like that story,” Dyna said as she tied the charm to her satchel. “I hope she gave him a good death.”
Zev smirked, but Lucenna frowned at him. What? It’s not as if she hasn’t expressed the same sentiment against her enemies.
They bought hot food from a vendor and waited on the side of the road for Klyde. He appeared a few hours later with a frown on his face.
“You waited,” he stated disapprovingly.
“We did.” Dyna stood. “We had an agreement, didn’t we?”
“Aye…” He shook his head. We were offered a place to stay for the night, but I think it’s best to keep going.”
They agreed. Zev handed him a roll of bread, and they went on their way.
“What was your business in Argyle?” Lucenna asked. Did they need another dragon slayer?”
Klyde grunted with an amused curve of his mouth. “I have faced many beasts in my lifetime, lass. But I draw the line at enormous beasts with wings who have teeth larger than I.”
“Mercenary business, then.”
“Bounty business. You would be wise to pull up your cloaks, mates. Many bounty hunters lurk in these parts, and many more looking to score some easy coin.” Klyde narrowed his eyes on two impoverished men watching them as they rode past. They all obeyed, and Zev switched to high alert as he now noticed the few who had been keeping track of them. The King of Argyle knows me well, as I have worked for him in the past. I came to request for his soldiers not to detain us if we are recognized in his territory. He agreed, yet that’s as far as his clemency goes. Others not serving Argyle are free to collect your bounties if they wish.”
Zev growled in annoyance. He had nearly forgotten about their high bounties, thanks to Tarn.
Meaning we need to reach Dwarf Shoe as soon as possible,” Lucenna said.
The free state was made as a refuge away from war and kings.
Klyde nodded for them to follow him off road into the forest. It’s well-known people run there for freedom, and they do have an impressive military in place to protect their citizens, but the best hunters are very determined. They enter Dwarf Shoe discreetly, and once they capture their targets, they are taken out of the state to claim the bounty in the next city. So we need to be careful.”
Well wasn’t that simply grand.
Zev debated if he should shift now, so all his senses were fully heightened to catch any prowlers.
How far are we form Dwarf Shoe, Lord Norrlen?” Dyna asked.
Third River marks their border, my lady. I would say about three days away.”
Third River?”
It’s the last of the Three Rivers,” Rawn explained. They are the longest rivers in Urn, and they cross nearly halfway through the country.”
Curiosity lit her eyes and Zev suspected she was itching to look at Azeran’s map.
Klyde pulled out his map for her instead. Neat fact,” he pointed at a large lake in the center of Urn. Second River appears to end in Naiads Mere, but it continues underground and remerges in Greenwood. It splits in several waterways that cross beneath the Anduir Mountains and into the valley.”
Rawn frowned. Who told you that? Not many know about the hidden waterways.”
The mercenary grinned. “A little water nymph told me. When I found myself at the bottom of the lake.”
Lucenna rolled her eyes. “Do we even want to know how that happened?”
“Only if you’re not squeamish.”
Zev slowed down, letting them walk ahead as he adjusted his pack. He kept his eyes on them, pretending he wasn’t aware of the new scents on their trail.
He continued, letting his keen sense of hearing and smell do the work. A branch snapped. It was very faint, but enough. Rawn glanced at him, communicating with only a look. Klyde laughed at something Lucenna said, but Zev read the tension in his shoulders and the way his hands rested on the knife strapped to his thigh. He looked back at Zev and subtly nodded.
Well, they were in for a night.
Zev lurked in the night, unseen and unheard in the cover of the bushes. He kept his eyes fixed on Dyna’s form straight ahead. She sat with four of the others around the campfire, conversing idly over their evening meal. After some time, she motioned needing to relieve herself and went into the woods alone.
Dyna hummed to herself as she made her way into an open glade, then stopped as if to forage for plants.
The bushes rustled as men appeared from the shadows. The same men that had followed them in Hydell, and others they had called.
Dyna gasped and spun around as they fully circled her.
“I told you it was her,” a dwarf said. “Mighty prize for such a pretty thing. The others have rewards on their heads, as well.”
“Aye, but this one is nearly worth all of them combined,” said a familiar voice.
A large burly man ambled out of the trees. He carried with him a large axe, the rest of him wrapped in leather armor. Four long, jagged scars ran down half his face through one eye, leaving it milky white. Zev bit back a growl once he recognized the poacher they met in the Port of Azure.
“Do you remember me, little minnow?”
Dyna’s eyes widened. “Draven…”
A leer played on his mouth as his men and took out their blades. “Come quietly now, lass. Don’t make me cut that pretty neck. Not until you pay back every cent you swindled from me.”
“No, please,” Dyna whimpered, slowly backing away. Her quick shallow breaths clouded in the brisk night.
“Tie her, Galen.”
A young man with Draven’s features stepped forward with a ring of rope and a sneer. “That half-breed of yours isn’t around is he? This will teach you not to wander into the woods alone.”
“Alone?” Dyna’s frightened expression changed from terror to cold indifference. “Who said I was alone?”
Zev prowled out of the night behind her. The men stiffened.
“I’m afraid you’ve got it all wrong.” She smiled sharply as Lucenna, Klyde, and Rawn appeared from the forest next. “I’m not the one being hunted here.”
Dyna slashed at Galen’s stomach with her blade and twisted around, whipping out her sword in time to parry Draven’s axe. But the force of the man’s weight bent her legs and arms shook with the effort to hold him off. Zev leaped over her head and took down the large poacher. He tore out Draven’s neck and blood gushed free. A fight broke out all around him, screams and clashes of magic and blades filling the forest.
It was over before it started.
“This wasn’t a very fair fight, was it?” Dyna said, wiping the knife. Zev’s heart sank to see her sweet face now harsh and cold as she studied the bodies at her feet.
Galen stumbled away, holding his bleeding stomach.
“What about that one?” Lucenna crossed her arms. “He’s getting away.”
“Let him go,” Klyde said, sheathing his weapons. “He will bleed out by morning?—”
Dyna flicked up her knife and tossed for Galen’s retreating back. They froze, watching it spin through the air. Rawn whipped out his bow and released a shot. The arrow hit the knife, and both whipped past the young man, missing his neck by inches. Galen fled into the trees out of sight.
She scowled. “Why did you do that? You’re letting him get away.”
They all stared at her mutely in shock. And perhaps a little dismay. Zev would have been the first to attack an enemy without mercy, but to witness it from Dyna, he didn’t know how to react.
Noticing their stares, she frowned. “What?”
“You tried to kill him…” Lucenna said.
“He was running away. Why give him the chance to inform others of our whereabouts?” Dyna shot back. “Klyde said himself, Galen will die anyway. I’m merely assuring he does not become a problem later.”
“It’s one thing to defend yourself, lass, but stabbing a man in the back is generally frowned upon,” Klyde said uneasily.
She took in all their expressions of disapproval, then met Zev’s gaze. He offered no defense because … he agreed. Taking a life left its mark and he didn’t want that for her.
Dyna scoffed in disgust as she turned away. “All of you have blood on your hands, and you’ve gained it without questioning your morals because it was done to survive. How dare you question mine?”
Zev whined and tried to follow.
“Stay,” Dyna snapped, pointing at him. He halted, lowering his ears. “All of you. I have nothing else to fear in these woods but your judgement.”
Her wet eyes caught the moonlight as she stormed away. Guilt sank in Zev’s chest. It wasn’t her anger that made him feel ashamed, but the hurt behind it.
Because he was the one she always expected to be on her side.