Chapter Fourteen #2
The piercings were exactly as distracting, delightfully, torturously distracting, as he'd feared they'd be.
Hopefully that would settle down as he got used to them, or maybe he could cover them with something to make them less distracting while he worked.
For the present, though, all he wanted to do was jerk himself off right there in the woods.
Instead, he focused on his work, bound for his own cabin to do some odds and ends there.
Just as he reached the cabin, though, an awareness rippled through him, and suddenly he just knew that Abhishek had called his name, and he was at the edge of the forest where the military camp had been.
Was this what Euclid felt all the time, when everyone in the forest called for him? Definitely would take getting used to.
Still, Abhishek was back, which was great news. He slipped easily through the shadows to the edge of the forest, stepping out from behind a tree. "Abhishek!"
He noticed too late that someone was with him—the royal steward, Lord Jagadisha.
Dipak tensed to leave, but Abhishek hastened forward and gripped his arms, both in friendly greeting and silent plea to remain.
"Sorry," he said quietly, "I didn't know how to warn you.
But he means no harm. He wanted to apologize and thank you.
Also make you an offer, I think, though he hasn't said as much aloud. "
"An offer?" Dipak stared blankly, thoroughly puzzled. "So everything went well?"
"Very well, but the full telling can wait. Speak with him so he leaves all the sooner. How has everything been here? Euclid?"
"Still asleep. Everything has been great. Even have your house cleaned up and mostly repaired. Did not have time to finish the repairs, though, unfortunately."
Abhishek brightened considerably at that. "You did all that for me? Thank you! You'll have to tell me what to do in trade, I know that's the rule."
Dipak hugged him briefly, faintly amused that he always seemed so surprised by the gesture. "I would say we're even, given you had to do the hard work of going into the city, leading the soldiers, all of that. If anything, you're still owed."
"Call it even, hunter. I'm going to sit and rest a bit while you talk."
Dipak handed off his bag, which had plenty of food in it, and got a small campfire going for him before he finally went to speak with Jagadisha.
They'd never been friends, or even really friendly, but they'd been polite, even cordial at times.
Jagadisha had never trusted his intentions, which was fair, and Dipak found him stiff and tiresome. But they knew how to exist peacefully.
"Lord Jagadisha," he greeted. "What brings you all the way out here, and alone at that?"
"Not alone, but I made my retinue stay back in a show of peace.
" Jagadisha drew himself up, hands clasped in front of him, an old-fashioned gesture that was rarely used anymore, a show of humility.
Odd, to say the least, coming from Jagadisha.
"You are owed many apologies, and I give my own.
You told us, over and over, and we did not listen.
When you did what you must, we punished you for it, instead of admitting you were right and we were to blame for the drastic measures you had to take.
I am sorry I did not heed you. I am further sorry I never trusted you, despite plenty of evidence that I should.
You deserved better than we ever gave you, Master Dipak. I apologize for our failures."
Dipak had most definitely not expected this.
Maybe a letter with a half-hearted apology at best, not this very sincere one personally given.
"It's all right," he said, meaning it. "However bitter I was about all that happened, all that I suffered, it's over now.
Where I am is where I'm meant to be, no matter how complicated and unhappy the path that led me here.
Dismiss the charges, clear my name…and sell my house, send me the funds from it.
I managed to obtain my belongings, but I had no way of settling my affairs.
Attend that for me, let me be cleanly cut from my old life with all I'm owed from it, and I'll be content.
The apology is appreciated, Jagadisha, I did not expect that. Thank you."
"It will be done. I also have these for you.
I promised I would deliver them, I made no promises about replies, and made it clear they would have to wait and see.
" He held out a bundle of letters secured with green ribbon.
The handwriting on top was immediately recognizable, one of the men he'd thought was a friend.
Dipak took the bundle, not really certain what to do with it or even how to feel.
His friends had written to him? Why? Where were these letters when he was in prison?
He hadn't been allowed much, but he would have been allowed correspondence, certain small comforts, even if the guards probably would have stolen them.
Discomfited, he shoved them into one of his pouches and left them to deal with later.
"That brings me to the other reason I came. If you wanted the throne, everyone who matters would acknowledge your claim gladly. The military especially backs you, all the more with the stories coming from what transpired here."
"I'm sorry, did you just say the throne," Dipak replied. "You hated me all these years because you thought that was my ambition."
"I never hated you, I simply mistrusted you, wrongly and to great error. I will have to live with that mistake. You would find me an ally if you wanted to be king, whatever that is worth."
Dipak sighed, because the answer was easy, but the whole mess made him just so very tired.
"I'm sorry, but no. If you had asked me a few months ago, while I was still rotting in that cell, starved and miserable and always wondering what torment would be visited on me next, I might have foolishly agreed.
But the kingdom I served all my life, often bringing harm upon myself in the process, did not hesitate to throw me out when I needed them most. I was cast into the Forbidden Forest, and this is my home now.
I sincerely doubt I will ever leave it again. "
"Yes, I can see that," Jagadisha said softly. "I made the offer because it was the right thing to do, and you would excel at it, but the moment I saw you walking toward me I knew your answer. You're dragonbound now."
Dipak recoiled, hand going reflexively for his sword.
Jagadisha held up a hand in a show of peace.
"Be at ease, I wish no harm upon you. If I'd had any idea a dragon really did live in the forest, I would have done many things differently.
I promise you I did my best to stop the matter before it ever reached the point it did, but I might have used more violent methods if I'd thought he'd do worse than go off and get himself killed by the forest inhabitants.
I'm glad the soldiers survived, minus a few fools. They were my only true regret."
"How do you know about…"
Smirking ever so faintly, Jagadisha replied, "I'm no dragon, but I'm not human either, knowledge I prefer to keep to myself.
Which dragon is it? One of the soldiers interviewed swears the ogre was partially frozen.
I can count on one hand the number of frost dragons running around, and only two of them would leave the Sacred Lands to rule quietly over a forest. Is it Argyros or Euclid?
" The smirk widened. "Euclid. Tell him Mircea of the Faded Star Clan extends him greetings of peace and honors his boundaries.
He'll understand. As you cannot be king, I will leave you in peace as well, Dipak the Dragonbound.
Though perhaps we can meet up from time to time?
It would be nice to have a friend who understands things ordinary humans never will. "
"I…think I would like that. I was always hurt you seemed to hate me."
"I cannot apologize enough. I account myself an intelligent person, but we all fail at times."
Dipak smiled faintly. "I know a bit about that. Forgiven and forgotten, friend. Visit any time, we'll be happy to have you.'
"Then I'll come see you both sometime after everything has settled down. Be well, Dragonbound. Live your long life bravely and wisely. Farewell for now."
He turned and walked off, and Dipak watched him until he was out of sight, cautiously excited at the idea of making a friend of someone he'd always thought much closer to enemy.
Maybe things would have been different if he'd known Jagadisha was an ally all along.
Then again, despite everything, he didn't regret where he was now, and it sounded as though Jagadisha—Mircea—might be around for a long while yet as well.
Shaking his head, he returned to Abhishek and walked with him through the woods to the millhouse.
"This looks amazing," Abhishek said excitedly. "Thank you again."
"There is some furniture as well, enough to get you comfortably through winter.
I doubt I'll use most of the wood I chopped for myself, as I spend most of my time with Euclid, so I'll bring that over as I'm able.
There should be enough already for the next several days.
Food and other basics as well. You know how to find me if you need anything.
I would stay and chat awhile, hear all about what exactly happened in the city, but you look ready to fall over. Get some rest, we'll talk later."
Abhishek yawned, then clapped him on the back. "I appreciate it, thank you. I'll see you in a few hours."
"I'll bring dinner." And probably leave it for Abhishek to find whenever he did wake, but he didn't bother saying that. Let the man get all the hard-earned rest he needed.
Once Abhishek was settled and asleep, he went off to speak with some of the others to let them know he was back and all was most definitely well and the forest would never be troubled again.
After that, he finished up a few trades, wrote out notes on things he would need to tell Euclid when he woke, and then returned to his clearing to move some more firewood for Abhishek.
He stacked it all on the side of the house with the rest, easy to get even when the snow was head-high, then went inside.
Where, unsurprisingly, Abhishek was fast asleep, not stirring in the slightest. Smiling faintly, Dipak fetched the promised dinner, something that would keep well sitting by the fire, left it there, and went about a last few small chores.
By the time he was finally finished with his day, it was well past dark and his stomach was protesting loudly.
After looking in on Euclid and dumping the letters from his former friends on the table in the main room, he finally turned his attention to washing and soaking, enjoying the hot water that eased the soreness of the day, especially as he was still achy and occasionally dizzy from the bond.
Euclid hadn't been kidding when he'd said it would take time to settle into place.
Clean, he piled two plates with food, and put those on a tray with a pitcher of ale and some additional bread, and carried all that to the main room. Once the stove was nice and hot, he settled down in his nest of blankets and pillows to eat.
By the time he was finished, he could barely keep his eyes open. He put more wood in the stove, checked in on Euclid one last time, then settled back in his nest to sleep.
Significant snow had fallen when he rose in the morning, heralding that winter would indeed be long and bitter. If he'd been on his own out here, without all the assistance Euclid had offered—the house that Euclid had led him to, he would have been in dire straits, even with his hunting skills.
Once he was dressed, he went around checking on everyone, helping with any minor issues, catching and delivering fresh meat where it was needed.
As winter really settled in, though, people would turn more and more to their stores, and the need to hunt would go down drastically.
Ideally, he wouldn't be doing much hunting again until late spring, leaving plenty of time for mating, birthing, and growing.
The worst thing a hunter could do was think the forest was his pantry to empty as he pleased, forget that carelessness could rapidly deplete an otherwise infinite resource.
After he'd spoken with everyone, and teased Abhishek for sleeping through dinner while they enjoyed lunch, he turned his attention to more mundane chores: making more arrows, doing laundry, chopping wood, and so on.
He stopped for a snack that was nearly a proper meal, then did more laundry, cleaned the caves, and checked on everyone one last time before having a brief dinner with Minali.
Still he had more food when he returned to the cave, after his routine of checking on Euclid and bathing.
His days continued to pass much the same, most of his meals spent with Abhishek, Minali, or Pitambar. The snow came and went, until finally a truly ridiculous amount seemed to fall over the forest like a blanket, banishing the last hints of autumn once and for all.
Exhausted beyond all measure after a day spent going back and forth between houses, trading where he felt confident doing so, ever so slowly picking up the intricacies of it all—though still a very long way from Euclid, who seemed to track everything so effortlessly—he tidied up his dinner stuff, built up the stove fire, checked on Euclid, and once more fell asleep almost before he was settled in his little nest.
When he woke, he could somehow tell it was still dark out, that he hadn't been asleep for long, though what exactly tipped it he couldn't say.
He yawned and rubbed at his eyes, then looked around to see what had woken him—and broke into a smile as he took in the figure making a pot of tea at the stove. "Sleep well, dragon?"